Hollis Historical Society
www.hollis-history.org 603-465-3935
Newsletter for Fall-2007
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Greetings Members! I welcome the opportunity to assist the Society as your new Editor! My interest in historical "stuff" goes back many years, probably from when I was around 12, growing up and exploring the great woods of Milford. I never appreciated the historical significance of the many abandoned quarries and cellar holes that we explored until I was much older, but marveled that the folks had worked these quarries and lived here for the last 150 years or more. |
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Another part of growing up in this small town was hearing the fire "whistle" blow calling all the volunteers to the report of a fire. Over the years, I developed a keen interest in the history of the fire service, antique fire apparatus and their related histories. There was always a story to tell! The very same goes for the history of Hollis and the stories to be told. Hopefully, I'll keep some of those stories alive.
Mark Piekarski
Editor.
News:
In recent meetings, there has been much discussion of "capitol" and "maintenance" projects in our Society, mainly involving the Wheeler House and Always Ready Engine House. Though there is always ongoing building maintenance needed, such as a partial roof replacement at the Wheeler House, a visit by Fire Chief Richard Towne highlighted our total lack of fire protection in both buildings! Since there is no wired. alarmed fire detection system in either building, a small fire could easily destroy either building and all its historic contents. Hence, our new President is asking your consideration in additional donations to aid the Society in some major maintenance items and fire protection for all that we have worked for over these years.
Welcome to the New Board and Directors:
As you will note in the attached flyer/program roster we have a new
Board of Directors, lead by incoming
President, Dick Lates. There are a lot of new
ideas being discussed with this enthusiastic Board and we welcome members to
attend any upcoming meetings!
Upcoming Programs:
OCTOBER: On Oct. 18th we will have Peter Smith the Natural Resource Manager from Beaver Brook. 7:30pm at the Lawrence Barn.
NOVEMBER: On Nov. 15th, Carl Hills, Manager of Kimball Fruit Farms will speak at 7:30pm at the Lawrence Barn.
March: On Mar. 27, 2008, Our own Fire Chief, Rick Towne will give us a history of Hollis Fire Dept. at the Lawrence Barn at 7:30pm
April: On April 17, 2008 brings Rebecca Rule, Humorist. All are invited to bring their favorite humorous Hollis story. Again, 7:30pm at the Lawrence Barn.
May 15, 2008: Come Celebrate our 50th ANNIVERSARY of the Society Dinner with a special program at the Alpine Grove at 6:30pm.
See the "Program Flyer" for further details on upcoming events.
TIMES PAST: September and October
(Big thanks to Sue Birch and the Hollis Times for these
excerpts in Hollis History)
Hollis Times SEPT, 1912:
"Some of you may feel that you need an electric line. Think
carefully before, for the sake of convenience, you give up the distinctive
seclusion that now places the town in a class almost by itself, giving it a
charm not possessed by more public places."
"There is a law (in town) for the protection of shade trees which forbids the nailing of signs upon them. However, this week some traveling man has been nailing signs upon trees telling about protecting them!"
"PRICE OF ICE NOT ADVANCED", "The people of Hollis have been extremely fortunate for an ice supply during the summer season. While in other places the price has been advanced from forty cents to one dollar per hundred pounds, the price in Hollis has remained the same as in past years, although the expense of handling has been heavier. G.A. Ladd, the ice man, was loyal to his townspeople. He could have sold all the ice he harvested at wholesale to out of town parties and received a much higher price."
Hollis Times OCT, 1906: (Regarding the origins of Route 101-A...how some things never change...)
"It is perhaps too much to expect that Amherst and Merrimack
would cooperate with Milford, Wilton and Nashua in the building of a state road
system connecting Nashua with Wilton, but if the same were done it would
be a mighty nice thing and one of the most popular boulevards in Hillsborough
County. It is not without the pale of possibility." (Milford Cabinet)
"The above would make a very practical route for a state highway but it is safe
to predict that both Amherst and Merrimack would be more apt to do their part
than the city of Nashua, which at the present time has some of the meanest
highways in southern New Hampshire!"
As
most of you know, there's been much talk and recent publicity about the future
of the Hayden Mill Pond Dam. Thought it would be timely to look back at the days
that the Mill stood on the site.
(Left, from the postcard collection - H.H.S.)