Past Times

Worms gear up for Claremont race; Grantham woman stunned by lightning

1979

CLAREMONT

Activity in preparation for the second annual Greater Claremont International Invitational Annelid (Worm) Race Thursday is intense as worms and trainers have begun flooding into the city from many parts of the country Clare DeClene, head librarian at the Fiske Free Library, which sponsors the race with the American Annelid Association, said the race should go smoothly tomorrow despite the feverish pre-race mood here. The race last year drew 100 entrants and more than 300 spectators.

The city has purchased one mill that can’t be matched with federal money, Community Development Director Kenneth R. Lurvey confirmed Tuesday. But Lurvey said in all likelihood the city can sell the building to a developer before it affects the taxpayers. The purchase of Monadnock Mill No. 1 for $35,000 was ruled ineligible under the $75,000 Challenge Grant issued by the U.S. Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

Interim City Manager Donald R. Price ran himself out of town Monday, submitting a letter of resignation to the City Council and firing off a burst of parting shots at the city and its community development office. The council accepted Price’s resignation and quickly appointed City Solicitor and Newport Atty. Louie C. Elliott Jr. to fill the post of city manager until Edward Brookshire assumes the position permanently. In a letter, which was hand written on legal stationary, Price wrote: “Before I become victim of a crisis, which arose prior to my arrival, I am resigning in order to preserve my integrity and reputation.

Advertisement—As Pretty as its Picture, both inside and out, this immaculate home with its two large bedrooms, kitchen and dining area, a 23 foot by 14-foot fireplace living room and a nicely landscaped one-half acre lot make this our home of the week, priced at $43,000, Town and Country Realty, Claremont.

NEWPORT

Mr. and Mrs. U. Richard Koski, Unity Road, visited their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. David Melvin, Newfields, over the weekend.

Sabine Hurd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hurd, Alexander Avenue, Newport has joined the U.S. Army and will receive her basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Miss Hurd, who graduated in June from Newport High School, enlisted in Claremont.

Betty Holsgrove, Wallasey Liverpool, England, who has spent the past six weeks visiting her sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wells, Sunapee Street, returned home last week. The Wells’ daughter and her children, Mrs. Maurice Nelson Jr., and Sammy and Marie, Barton, Vt., spent last week in Newport to visit their aunt.

Edward A. Hackwell, DeWalt Avenue, received a 75-year Masonic membership medal in ceremonies recently at his home. Mr. Hackwell was “raised” to a Master Mason degree, March 14, 1904, in Fitchburg, Mass. He has been a resident of Newport since 1934, having moved here from Worcester, Mass. He marked his 96th birthday Nov. 5, 1978.

Lanea Witkus, 25, whose accomplishments have been recognized since she graduated in 1971 from Newport High School, has opened law offices on the second floor of the Newport Savings Bank Building. She is Newport’ s first woman attorney. Miss Witkus, who graduated from George Washington University School of Law in May 1977, took the New Hampshire State bar exams in July that year, and learned in October that she had passed them.

SUNAPEE

Howard G. Sargent, Sunapee, has been appointed by The Prudential Insurance Company as agent for the Newport, Sunapee, New London, Croydon, Grantham and Unity areas. He succeeds Harold M. Smith, Newport, who retired. Mr.

Sargent is a graduate of Sunapee High School, Class of 1973, and Thompson School, University of New Hampshire, Class of 1975.

CROYDON

Willis Ballou, Croydon, was honored by approximately 250 friends, relatives, town officials and former teaching associates, at an 80th birthday party Sept. 3 in Croydon Town Hall. The tribute was planned and attended by Mr. and Mrs. Ballou’s 11 children and several of their 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

GRANTHAM

Mary Hutchins and Mary Matthewman were appointed to two and three-year terms on the Conservation Commission by the selectmen at the Sept. 2 meeting. They are to fill the terms vacated by the resignations of Charles L. Moore Jr. and Everett R. Reney.

Meg Gourley, Wealton Heath Drive, has entered the freshman class at the University of New Hampshire, Durham.

GOSHEN

Brenda Tate, Ellsworth, Maine, was a guest of her aunt and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Nelson over the weekend.

SPRINGFIELD

Theodore Morgan Jr., Goshen, recently visited his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Justin Nichols, Howard Avenue.

LEMPSTER

Renovation of the Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School to solve a space problem was favored by 40 of the 51 persons who responded to a recent school board survey. Thirty-four responses to the questionnaire came from Lempster residents and 17 from Goshen. Options for solution of the space problem are to eliminate the present cafeteria and convert the area into one or two classrooms or a general purpose area, or to rent a portable classroom, according to the survey.

1964

CLAREMONT

James S. Woodman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence F. Woodman of First Street, has been promoted to airman second class in the U.S. Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., He is a graduate of Stevens High School.

Curly metal scraps, some a foot long, nails and steel chips are plaguing local motorists on many Claremont streets. City highway crews and police were out checking the origin of the widespread scrap this morning. Police Chief William Lynch said his department’s investigation of local industries and junkyards dealing in the scrap would be completed today. City Manager George Benway said Mrs. Rena Gaffney of Roosevelt Road, reported to him this morning that she had four flat tires, caused by the scrap yesterday. Other residents have also complained of finding chips between their tire treads, he said.

Photo caption—Claremont’s Betsy Weston has her hands full of “silver hardware” she was awarded for placing fourth in the Vermont State Women’s Amateur Golf tournament, which concluded recently at Crown Point Country Club in Springfield, and for taking first place in the driving and putting contest.

Raymond P. Keating, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Winston Keating of 271 Mulberry St., Claremont, has been promoted to first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force at Westover AFB, Mass. The lieutenant’s wife, Jean is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Woodard of 21 Summit Road, Newport.

Mrs. Jennie Sorell, longtime Houghton and Simonds saleswoman, will be greeting customers from behind the counter for the last time today. She is retiring after almost 22 years with the local department store. Mrs. Sorrell has no definite plans for the future other than to devote more time to her hobby, which is needlepoint. She lives with her daughter, Mrs. Gerald (Shirley) Maynard at 32 Middle St.

A Claremont man stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, with the U.S. Air Force, was chosen as his squadron Airman of the Month recently. He is Roger T. Lacasse, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donat Lacasse of Airport Hill.

NEWPORT

A half ton of fudge will leave Newport this weekend for the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Mass. It will be sold as part of a benefit program. It was made in Newport because a Springfield man some time ago happened to taste some of the fudge made at the Priscilla Sweet Shop. He came back for more. He liked it. He sent some friends to try it. They decided it would sell at the exposition. It was the biggest bath of fudge ever made in Newport, and was produced with a recipe Arthur Saggiotes has been using here for nearly half a century.

Property owners using the North Newport water system received letters this week informing them that the Board of Selectmen intends to recommend to the 1965 town meeting that the water system there be abandoned A similar proposal was put before the 1963 town meeting and was defeated since then, Town Manager Alvin Heidner pointed out to the Board that most of the users have discontinued using the system, so that only three remain.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. St. Cyr, Boston, were weekend guests of their son, Paul R. St. Cyr, and his family at Summer Street Extension.

Mrs. Arnold Grantham, president of Brewster-Gould Unit, American Legion Auxiliary, appointed committee chairmen for the year at the Sept. 2 meeting in the Veterans Club Hall. They are Mrs. Leo Pepin, Mrs. John Pavlik, Mrs. Robert Gould, Mrs. Dexter Collins, Mrs. Francis Collins, Mrs. Howard Webster, Mrs. L.M. Perkinson, Mrs. Ralph Peabody. Mrs. Harold I. Campbell, Mrs. Bert Davis and Mrs. Lena Bedard.

CROYDON

Mr. and Mrs. Jules Pellerin spent Labor Day weekend as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Spaulding, Birmingham, Mich. They flew by private plane. Mrs. Spaulding is a sister of Mrs. Pellerin.

WASHINGTON

Mrs. Lawrence Pye, who has been confined by illness, is much improved and is able to go out riding.

GEORGES MILLS

Bernard Dunbar and his family who spent the summer on Job’s Creek Road, have returned to Concord where Mr. Dunbar will resume his teaching position.

SPRINGFIELD

Jennifer Howard went to Portsmouth Sunday where she will be employed this year as a music teacher. Her sister, Sandra Howard, who has been attending summer school in the mathematics department of Berkeley College University of California, Los Angeles, in Berkeley, Calif., is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Howard.

GOSHEN

Ruth Nelson is home from her summer camp duties and has returned to Keene State College.

LEMPSTER

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Randall Jr. were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Randall at Arnel Ranch. They returned home with their daughter, Dorothy, who had spent last week on vacation at her grandparents’ home.

1949

CLAREMONT

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Griggs and daughter, Karen, of Worcester, Mass., arrived today to spend a week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. DeCamp of Pleasant Street.

Mrs. Priscilla Densmore of Jacksonville, Fla., is arriving this week to spend several days with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Densmore of 19 Henry

Street.

A $100,000 municipal bond issue to finance the Maple Avenue sewer project was authorized by the City Council last night. There were no dissenting votes. In other news, the Board of Health, in a letter to the Council, said a change in Claremont’s method of refuse disposal is imperative. An incinerator was recommended. The board is to be informed that the City Manager and council are working on the dump problem.

White Water Brook Dam is a potential menace to persons and property according to the New Hampshire Water Control Commission. This disclosure was made to the City Council last night by City Manger Philip L. White, who read an order from the commission concerning measures apparently intended to lessen any danger that the dam might collapse.

Fewer persons were unemployed in Claremont last month than in the preceding month, but the June 1949 total was much higher than in June a year ago. According to figures released by the State Bureau of Labor, Claremont had 1,500 unemployed last month, 2,000 the month before, and 750 in June, 1948.

NEWPORT

The Brewster Gould Drum and Bugle Corps won second place in an open competition held Labor Day at Somerset, Mass., The corps had a score of 88.3 out of 100. First place went to a VFW drum and bugle corps from Fitchburg, Mass., which received more than 90 credits.

The average Newport resident who owns a home valued at $2,500 is paying a tax of $145, according to figures in a pamphlet sent to each taxpayer by the town. The pamphlet is enclosed in each tax bill that is sent out and explains the cost of running the business of the Town of Newport and the distribution of each tax dollar. This information, usually discarded by Newporters when they receive the bill, answers many questions citizens have about their town government and expenditures.

The last resort in attempts to install a sewage system for the 40 families on Newport Heights now rests with the families themselves. A letter received by Town Manager Leon E. Fitts from the Water Pollution Commission in Concord states that “the commission has no authority to allow new and additional pollution to enter the Sugar River.” The only step that can now be taken is for the residents of Newport Heights to petition for a special town meeting to appropriate money and grant authority for a septic tank to serve the families.

Although Towle students appeared bright and early Wednesday for the first day of the new school year, the electrical system that operates the lights and class bells failed to follow the pupils’ lead. The lights flashed off and on at intervals through the day and the bells refused to function when time came for the most important signal—that of dismissal.

SUNAPEE

The swimming classes at Dewey Beach, under the direction of Frank Mark Jr., instructor, are completed and the Red Cross certificates have been issued to the following pupils who passed the final exams: John Davis, Jean Shirley, Jeffrey Larry, Richard Somerville, David Loverin, Donald Perkins, Roberta Shirley, Frank Davis, Peter Wasserman, Donald Loverin, Jack Larry, Donald Perkins, Bruce Cronin, Jack Segal, William Larry, Wayne Osborne, David Slattery, Robert Buswell Wayne Johnson, Barbara Butler and Ann Fairbanks.

GOSHEN

The contract for painting the Goshen schools was awarded Harry Guillow and Son of Newport.

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