Our Yesterdays
This is where we will store Warren Huse's Our Yesterday columns in a searchable format.
2005
Published July 30, 2005
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125 YEARS AGO (1880)
L.C. Dimond, "a first-class pattern maker," had "opened a shop on the Baldwin place, for the manufacture of patterns for foundry use, and other nice jobs in wood."
100 YEARS AGO (1905)
from The Laconia Democrat
Low water in Lake Winnipesaukee was "already hampering Laconia manufacturers to a considerable extent, and probably the worst is yet to come. The lake is unusually low for this season of the year ... Consequently the water in the lake is being held back as much as possible, and the Winnipesaukee river through this city has not been so low for years, if ever before. Some of our hosiery manufacturers already begin to feel the lack of power, and during the past two or three weeks the Belknap mills have been obliged to supplement their water-wheels by running their big steam engine in order to supply power to their customers. It is understood that other mill owners are also contemplating the possibility of adding steam plants to their equipment in order to keep their mills running during the period of low water."
Ground was "soon to be broken and the foundation put in for the erection of the Ossian Wilbur Goss Reading Room, which is to be erected on the site of the old Goss homestead on Elm street in Lakeport, and was a legacy to ward six (Laconia) under the will of the late O.W. Goss. The affairs have now been adjusted and the building which is to be of brick and stone is to be erected and ready for occupancy before Dec. 1st, and is to consist of a reading and resting room."
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Among the Old Home Week decorations of an interesting nature was "an ancient sign-board which hangs ... on the J.P. Atkinson house on Pleasant street, now occupied by Frank H. Champlin. This sign-board bears the words: Folsom's Tavern, 1813, and close scrutiny reveals the fact that it has been painted over and at one time read Chase's Tavern, 1808. This ancient sign was made for the Atkinson house, which was one of the first taverns at Meredith Bridge and is now one of the oldest buildings in Laconia. The house was erected by John Harper before he was elected to congress, and he afterwards erected the Dr. Prescott house on the same street. The landlord of Folsom's Tavern was Jonathan Folsom, father of Mr. Albert G. Folsom, and at the time he kept the tavern it is claimed there were only thirteen houses in the town." (Note: The Atkinson House still exists and is located directly across the street from the Christian Science Church. Older residents will remember the Dr. Prescott House as the Laconia City Hall (1926-1970) on the site of today's Laconia Savings Bank. The Folsom Tavern sign-board is today in the collections of the Laconia Public Library.)
75 YEARS AGO (1930)
from The Democrat & The Citizen
G.H. Tilton and Sons Co. had "moved all of the dye house machinery from their mill in Tilton to Laconia and have taken many of their old help along. Supt. Crawford has joined the force here ... This makes four mill places empty in Tilton." (LEC)
Steamer Mount Washington would "continue to stop at Meredith on a three days a week schedule according to the decision handed down this week by the Public Service Commission. The petition of residents of Center Harbor for a return to the six-day service which it had enjoyed for years as a port of call for the steamer and which was curtailed some time ago by a reduction of three calls a week, on alternate days, failed to restore the old schedule." (LD)
50 YEARS AGO (1955)
from The Laconia Citizen
A new power station at The Weirs, on Route 11B near the junction with the White Oaks Road, went into operation, July 27. "Half again as great in capacity as the old station diagonally across the street," the new facility was connected to the Gilford Avenue substation, approximately seven miles distant, by a 33,000-volt line. Previously, a 7,200-volt line had extended from the Messer Street substation.
Robert Funesti of Meredith was selected, July 26, "by a screening committee to serve as the new secretary of the Laconia Chamber of Commerce. He replaces Fred 'Davy' Crockett who was forced to resign and return to Vermont due to illness in his family."
Pearl Chertok, "leading New York harpist, who is often seen on top TV programs," entertained at the art exhibit of the Laconia Art Group, held at the Congregational Church hall, July 27. She had returned to her home town for a visit with her mother, Mrs. Max Chertok. With her at the well attended exhibition were her husband, deBlois Bush, critic and writer, "and some enthusiastic young nieces who are studying the piano which one must master before attempting to play the harp."
Amelia G. Hescock, 54, died, July 25. A native of Orono, Maine, she had been a resident of this city for the past 19 years. She was a member and former treasurer of St. James Episcopal Church, a member of the Laconia Business and Professional Women's Club and the Altrusa Club, and had been ward clerk of Ward 3. For the past seven years, she and her husband, Hugh M. Hescock, had operated the Colonial Restaurant at 27 Pleasant St. "Under court order, the estate of Mrs. Amelia Hescock, represented by Atty. Robert V. Johnson, has been permitted to continue operation of the Colonial restaurant. By a coincidence, Mr. Johnson, a former member of the General Court, introduced the statute under which this is permitted when he served some years ago. Fred Warren is continuing to operate the restaurant as he did for Mrs. Hescock."
Melbourne Everett Nutting, 91, died, July 26. He had come to Laconia in 1886 as a machinist for the old Mayo machine shop and had worked in Franklin and at the Crane Manufacturing Co. for some years before returning to the Mayo company which became Scott & Williams. "During World War II, he came out of retirement at the request of the company and was again on his old machine."
25 YEARS AGO (1980)
from The Laconia Citizen
Recently retired newsman Earl O. Anderson was honored, July 30, with a surprise reception by 150 friends and civic leaders at Pheasant Ridge Country Club. Anderson had served as the Union-Leader bureau chief in Laconia for 30 years. In addition to a host of awards, accolades and tributes, Master of Ceremonies Mayor Roger McGrath presented Anderson with a key to the city,
By the year 2000, "all the best farmland in New Hampshire" would be "gone if the conversion of farm land to other uses continues at its present pace ... The National Agricultural Lands Study reports that New Hampshire has been gobbling up 19,000 acres of farmland each year, taking it for highways, shopping centers, house lots, roads, industrial parks and other non-agricultural uses." Prices "paid for prime farmland have made it difficult for farmers to turn down offers to sell, aggravating the problem. Since 1970 the average value of farm land has increased by 226.5 percent."
Hal Oldham, commander of Post 1670, Veterans of Foreign Wars, announced, July 25, that the post had "accepted the sponsorship of the Lakes Region-Aires Drum & Bugle Corps. The officers and 400 members have pledged themselves to the project of revitalizing the organization."
From the Lucerne area of Switzerland "with its beautiful lake to the shores of New Hampshire's Lake Winnipesaukee" had come "two well known chefs— Franz Dubach and Peter Bossert. Franz, noted throughout the area for his William Tell Restaurant at Waterville Valley, has just purchased the Glen Gables Inn, Route 11 between Gilford and West Alton, which Peter will manage. The establishment, that includes a 12-unit motel, will now be known as the William Tell Inn."
A storage building on the Chertok property on Court Street was being renovated "and will soon be the city's newest professional building." At one time, the structure had been used as an annex to the old Chertok's furniture store, which burned flat in 1961. Later, it housed the Lerman Press for a number of years. Architect Steve Stokes had redesigned the frame building and would relocate his offices on the top floor. Office space would be available for rent on the first and second floors.
A new business, Uniformly Yours, had opened in the former Forest Park Ambulance Service building on Messer Street. Owner-operator was Patrice Frawley, daughter of Francis and Patricia Frawley, proprietors of Lakes Region Linen.
Highlight of the New Hampshire Music Festival's fourth week, this season, would be a production of Donizetti's opera, "Don Pasquale," directed by Center Sandwich resident Kiki Rice, a faculty member at Milton Academy in Massachusetts. Performances would be given at Silver Hall in Plymouth, the Gilford Middle-High School and at Inter-Lakes High School. A free pops concert at Gunstock, July 26, drew some 3,000 people. On Aug. 3, the Festival orchestra would present another free pops concert at Opechee Park, near Memorial Middle School, and would return to Gunstock, Aug. 9, for a free concert of classical music.
The Gilford Playhouse was presenting "Some Like It Cole," music of Cole Porter.
10 YEARS AGO (1995)
from The Citizen
Laconia Downtown Association officials handed over a check for $1,574, "generated from its summer ice-out contest, to the Winnipesaukee Skating Club. Now, the skating club needs roughly $220,000 more to complete the first phase of the skating arena."
Daniel J. Sullivan, 82, died, July 26. A resident of Laconia for more than 50 years, he had taught Industrial Arts at Laconia High School and in Franklin for many years before retiring in 1978. He had also been the owner of Sullivan Wood Products.
2007
Published January 13, 2007
125 YEARS AGO (1882)
From the Laconia Democrat:
Rail passenger cars "standing on the track at the depot the past week," and marked "St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita," were noted: "The western road was in such a hurry for cars that it was glad to purchase some old ones of the Eastern railroad and send them up to the Laconia Car shops to have them put in order. They stood on the tracks waiting the arrival of the agent to pilot them out toward the land of the setting sun. The Eastern road will replace them with new cars in season for the summer business."
The Democrat ventured "the suggestion that our evening entertainments do not begin so early as they should. It is a little curious that the usual hour with us should be 8 o'clock, when in the larger number of Boston theatres the curtain rises at 7:45. There can certainly be no reason for making our hours later than the prevailing ones in cities. In a manufacturing village like ours, where early rising is a necessity, it seems every way as reasonable that our places of amusement should be closed at ten o'clock as those of our large cities at eleven. People who wish to attend lectures or concerts and other entertainments aside from dances, can go as conveniently at half-past seven as at eight o'clock. Any one who has been present at our political meetings and noticed the large numbers who leave the hall immediately on the ringing of the nine o'clock bell, will need no farther proof that a large part of our Laconia audiences will vote in favor of earlier hours. We believe half-past seven will accommodate more people than our present time, a half-hour later."
100 YEARS AGO (1907)
from The Laconia Democrat
Contractors Guay & Wallace had "commenced the erection of a store house and other buildings on their recently purchased property opposite the Winnipesaukee gas company's plant on Messer street. They have put in a side-track, and will utilize the property for a lumber yard and storehouses, besides establishing a plant for the manufacture of the new cement building blocks for which there is an immense bank of excellent sand included in the purchase."
At Lakeport, the Independent Ice Co. had "shipped two carloads of horses here, and expect to get to work cutting ice the last of the week. The ice is 14 inches deep, of very good quality."
Dedicatory services at Trinity Methodist Church, in Lakeport, Jan. 13, "were of especial interest and called out large audiences throughout the day. Three of the former pastors were present and took part in the exercises ... Presiding Elder G.M. Curl had charge of the afternooon meeting, at the close of which $250 was pledged which nearly wipes out the indebtedness of the church as it now stands. Work upon the interior of the vestry has been begun this week." (Note: The church building was a replacement for the one consumed in the Great Lakeport Fire of 1903. In latter years, the edifice was home to the Second Advent Christian Church. Today, it is privately owned.)
Mrs. John Morrison was "agent for the Draper & Maynard Co., and she will be glad to teach people how to sew base balls and gives out work any Tuesday at 123 Court street."
75 YEARS AGO (1932)
from The Democrat & The Citizen
Master 1932, Maurice Joseph Paradise, was born, Jan. 6, at the Laconia hospital, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Paradise of Paradise Farm, Belmont. First girl to be born at the hospital this year arrived, Jan. 7, to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hassett of 77 McGrath St. (LEC)
The Province Road electric line extension "which has been a prospect for several years," had almost been completed. An extension of the Sanbornton Bay line by the Meadow Schoolhouse and to the place owned by H.N. Andrews would "probably be built in the spring. The extension of rural lines in Belknap County has progressed rapidly in the past three years, bringing electric current to over 100 farms within that time." (LD)
Laconia's 1932 city directory, compiled and published by H.A. Manning Co. of Springfield, Mass.," had been distributed throughout the city. It is the first Laconia directory published since 1927. An increase of 1,733 in the estimated population in the past five years is shown in the recapitulation table ... An innovation in the new publication is a numerical street directory (the first of the "pink pages"). A description and historical resume of the city, its inhabitants, its mercantile and financial institutions and educational and recreational facilities as well as a record of city, county, state and U.S. Governments, societies, churches, etc., are included in its 272 pages. A directory library has been opened at the Chamber of Commerce and the directories of many New England cities are available for reference purposes." (LD)
A 12-piece Boy Scout orchestra from Troop 54 of this city, sponsored by the American Legion, would play at the second annual banquet of Daniel Webster Council, Jan. 16. "This is the first Boy Scout orchestra to be organized in the state. Members of the orchestra are Paul Phillips, piano, director; Walter McGloughlin, first violin; Roland Dorval, first solo cornet; Armand Roux, first trumpet; Richard Robinson, second trumpet; Justin McGowan, second cornet; Leo Roux, first saxophone; Joseph Abbachias, first clarinet; Robert Morin, second clarinet; Paul Douglas, French horn; Maurice Aldrich, bass; Burlon McGowan, trap drum. The boys range in age from 12 to 16." Charles Morse was Scoutmaster. (LEC)
50 YEARS AGO (1957)
from The Laconia Citizen
Marsha Metalious of Gilmanton "was guest of honor at a farewell party given for her by a group of her closest friends," Jan. 5, "at the home of Miss Betty Louise Jessup. Marsha leaves for California this week for a long stay in Hollywood, where her mother will supervise the making of the motion picture from the nation's top best-seller, 'Peyton Place.' With such a close contact in the motion picture industry, Marsha plans to meet all her favorite stars. The Metalious family have rented a house complete with swimming pool, and have made arrangements for the three childrens' schooling and a most interesting and happy stay in California is anticipated."
A Boy Scout troop got underway at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish. Leo Sasseville would be Scoutmaster, assisted by James Cooper and Roger McGrath. The Rev. Paul McDonough was sponsor; the Rev. James Moran, chaplain; and Roger Morin was named institutional representative.
From the "Whatnot" column: "Gerard LaPointe, former owner of the Shore Diner and Gerry's sports goods store, is developing a real estate tract in Florida, we hear. For the principal thoroughfare he has chosen the name 'Laconia Drive.' Boston, Mass., and Biddeford, Me., have Laconia streets, and the town in Connecticut which this city befriended after the flood last year has named one of its new streets, Laconia."
25 YEARS AGO (1982)
from The Laconia Citizen
Lewis & Saunders Inc. was cited, Jan. 12, "for manufacturing excellence in connection with its work on the NASA Space Shuttle. In a special noontime ceremony, with most of the firm's 105 employees looking on, officials of Aerojet Liquid Rocket Co. presented its Outstanding Achievement Award to the Laconia company for its success in making the tubing used on the spacecraft Columbia's three orbital maneuvering engines. It was, said one Aerojet official, only the 11th time in over a quarter century that the Sacramento-based aerospace contractor has given the award ... The award, which Aerojet official Stan Rushton called the company's most prestigious, is presented for 'technical performance, outstanding quality control and on-time delivery.' Lewis & Saunders, Rushton noted, was one of only a few East Coast companies which has competed successfully for NASA contracts.
The School Board discontinued use of the gymnasium at Memorial Middle School, Jan. 7, "in response to several potentially serious problems with the ceiling structure." A team of structural engineers was conducting an "intensive examination" of the interior roof area on shoring platforms erected this week by Bonnette, Page & Stone.
The city had launched a coast-to-coast advertising campaign "to lure commercial development proposals for the Laconia railroad station. The Planning Department has bought space in two national professional magazines and a Boston newspaper in hopes they will draw proposals from businesses interested in restoring and occupying the downtown landmark. Two proposals to turn the station into a restaurant have already been submitted, but a blue ribbon panel last fall postponed any decision, figuring the plan deserved wider exposure."
Construction of Gilford's new bank continued on schedule and Village Bank & Trust was expected to open in February.
Helen E. Park, 80, died, Jan. 10. The widow of Kenneth E. Park, she had been a former resident of Governors Island and Wellesley, Mass. She had been The Evening Citizen's Governors Island correspondent for many years.
10 YEARS AGO (1997)
from The Citizen
Six people were left homeless, Jan. 12, when a two-alarm blaze leveled an apartment building and former deli at 688 Union Ave. Owned by Richard and Alice Allen, the building's first floor had been vacant but once housed Steam Burger Heaven and, more recently, Lakeport Roast Beef & Deli. Fighting the late afternoon fire was complicated by a strong wind "which fanned the fire and whipped up the smoke." Firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to another building just a few feet away. "Laconia Police closed a section of Union Avenue extending from Lakeport Square as a safety precaution as firefighters fought the intense blaze. Onlookers lined Union Avenue to watch as the fire consumed the building, shooting both orange flames and thick black smoke skyward." (Note: Original owner of the house had been Stephen B. Cole, captain of the steamer, Lady of the Lake, cashier of the Lakeport National Bank and treasurer of the Citizens Telephone Co.)
Stephen Hodges was sworn in as Belknap County Sheriff for a fourth consecutive term.
After six years without a deputy fire chief and safety officer at Laconia Fire Department, the vacant position was filled by Stephen Carrier, who joined the department after 12 years with the Gilford Fire Department, where he had been a lieutenant. The Laconia department "lost the position in the fiscally conservative Straight Arrow years" and "with following councils there were tight times." The current council, however, had reinstated the position.
Two manufacturing firms at O'Shea Industrial Park received conditional approval to construct additions to their buildings. MacNeil Worldwide, "which produces cleats for athletic shoes, will construct a 38,000 square-foot addtion" to the back of its building. "MacNeil moved into its current 40,000 square-foot facility in June 1996." New Hampshire Ballbearing Inc., across the street, would build a 33,500 square-foot addition to the back of its plant. The board also gave the go-ahead to a plan proposed by Meridan of Gilford to build a 4,800-square-foot building on Artisan Court near Lily Pond Road.