Past Times

Newport Selectmen turn down $5,000 offer for Nettleton House

1979

CLAREMONT

Several members of the Claremont Garden Club received awards at the recent meeting of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs. Among them were a first for the club scrapbook and a third for the yearbook. A silver certificate was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dumontier for outstanding support of the Claremont Club. Special citations were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parent and son, Gary, and Vernard Gardner.

Staying on top of the competition is the name of the game in the fast food business, and Harold Coughlin is one of the first to admit it. That’s part of the reason Coughlin, who owns the McDonald’s restaurant in the city, is spending $35,000 this season to build a new drive-up window at the Washington Street enterprise. A new Burger King restaurant will be opening soon, just down the street, and it has a drive-up service in the plans.

One of the developers that did the highly successful Quincy Market-Faneuil Hall renovation in Boston will be involved in the mills revitalization project. The city’s Community Development office announced last week that George B. Macomber Company will be the contractor for the River Street project in the city. The company will remove the old Sullivan Machine warehouse and Old Grist Mill on River Street into a complex of low and moderate-income housing and small businesses, said Community Development Director Ken Lurvey.

NEWPORT

Raymond L. Barrett, Burma Road, Sunapee, chairman of the Newport Airport Commission, has withdrawn his name from the Newport checklist and entered it upon the Sunapee checklist. Henry Rodeschin, Guild Road, Newport, has filed an action in Sullivan County Superior Court to have Mr. Barrett’s name removed from the Newport checklist because Mr. Barrett lives in Sunapee. The case was to have gone before Judge Charles J. Contas in Sullivan County Superior Court, but a letter from Priscilla Spanos, supervisor of the Newport checklist, informed the court that Mr. Barrett had withdrawn his name as a Newport voter.

Newport selectmen refused an offer of $5,000 June 14 for the Nettleton House, Central Street, which is said to have historic value, but decided to try to sell it anyway. The house was build about 1825 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Charles M. Carroll, Realty Development Group, Camden, Maine, offered the $5,000 so he could turn the building into apartments. The planned purchase would have been part of a wider plan by Mr. Carroll, who is considering the former International Shoe company building on Canal Street, now owned by United Construction Company, Newport, and General Auto Sales Inc., Claremont.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dunham Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dunham Jr., Regina Dunham, Martha Dunham, Kelly Dunham and Kirsten Dunham, all of Paso Robles, Calif., are spending two weeks with Mr. Dunham’s family, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dunham, Claremont, and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Wentzell, Goshen.

CHARLESTOWN

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was crowded to capacity Sunday afternoon as family and friends joined the Rev. John Howard Evans to celebrate to 35th anniversary of his ordination. Officiating at the service was the Right Reverend Charles P. Gilson, retired bishop of Taiwan. Assisting were Father Evans’ eldest brother, the Rev. David E. Evans, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Holyoke, Mass., and the Rev. Clifford Nobes, also retired after serving in Southwest Africa and the Philippine Islands.

GRANTHAM

Grantham pupils in Grantham-Springfield Kindergarten who will graduate into first grade in September are David Beaulieu, Jeffrey Hastings, Sarah Howes, Annalee Lewis, Joshua Menard, Robin Sanville and Heather Sorenson.

Police Chief and Mrs. Edgar Masone attended the annual police chiefs’ convention at The Balsams in Dixville Notch this past weekend.

GOSHEN

Mrs. Bernard Richardson, Washington Road, and her daughter, Jean Holmes and daughter Hillary, Newport, were guest of Mrs. Richardson’s sister, Margaret Carter at her home in Charlestown recently.

SUNAPEE

Dana Morrow, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Morrow, Jobs Creek Road, joined the U.S. Navy delayed entry program. He will go on active duty Oct. 1 after graduating from Sunapee High School and take basic training in Great Lakes, Ill.

1964

CLAREMONT

Eighteen Claremonters were graduated from the University of New Hampshire on Sunday, June 7. They were Patricia A. Goodhue, Carol A. Haubrich, Landra L. Sklar, Stanley Peitrusewicz, David H. Remick, Malcolm L. Currier, Jean E. Brownell, Ronald H. Fecteau, Betsy A. French, Mary S. Helie, Duncan U. Hunter Jr., Susan A. Knowles, Donald G. Morrison, Elaine M. Paradis, Peter Parker, Wayne A. Roy, Carol A. Wright and Robert M. Silva.

The first auxiliary source of water for the City of Claremont will be tapped next week, City Manager George Benway said this morning. Benway is starting a full month ahead of schedule, to “pad” a city water supply which he feels is “dwindling too fast already.” He said that water use limitation would be imposed on residents by June 30 unless there is considerable rainfall. Benway said the water level in White Water Brook Reservoir, the city’s main source of supply, is down one foot below capacity. “But what worries us even more,” he said, “is the fact that the brooks are slowing down very rapidly.

Three Claremont men were assigned recently to N Company of the fourth Training regiment here for eight weeks of basic training in conjunction with the1955 Reserve Forces Act. They are Army Pvt. David B. Verboncoeur, Pvt. Gerald G. Moore Jr. and Pvt. Edmund Thomas. The three are members of Battery B. of the First Howitzer Batallion, 197th Field Artillery, the Claremont unit of the National Guard.

NEWPORT

Students attaining honorable mention with only one mark below 85, and that one not less than 80, for the year at Towle High School were Lawrence Cote, Rosemary Heath, Linda Hodgman, Kathryn Mosley and Jean Patten, Grade 12; Anna Caron Ann Coggeshall, Betty Cote, Brenda Diotte, Gail Emerson, Donald Jackson, Kathleen Lewko, Kathleen McCarthy, Eric Peirce, Bryan Sargeant, Michael Tenney, Susan Wright and Sandra Zullo, Grade 11; and Barbara Aiken, Willis Ballou, Sarah Blair, Pamela Juris, Nancy Niemi, Calista Teague and Vicki Wiggins, Grade 10.

The eagle from the Eagle Block has been sold. The 137-year-old landmark and trademark of one of Newport’s first hotels was hand carved out of wood and bronzed by Stephen Hasham of Charlestown. It was one of three made by this artisan, who was the grandfather of Robert Hasham, a former Claremont realtor and longtime secretary of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce. One of these eagles stands over the door of Charlestown Town Hall. The other was destroyed by fire.

Alfred Moore was installed president of the Newport Lions Club June 22 at the final meeting of the club year, which took place in the Dupuis Banquet Room, South Main Street. Other officers installed were John Cummings, first vice president; Anthony Kulesza, second vice president; Benedict Zukauskas, third vice president; H.C. Worthen, secretary; Delwyn Robator, treasurer; Norman Glazier, tail twister; John Fell, lion tamer, and Francis Collins, Patrick Zullo, Alfred St., Martin, Harold H. Campbell, Chris Armen, Charles Henault, Alfred McDonald and Peter Anastos, directors.

SUNAPEE

William Moore and his daughter, Betsy Ann, Salem, W.Va., spent the weekend at Harborside. Betsy Ann will remain for the summer with her mother, Mrs. William Moore, who is an assistant manager at Harborside.

Dawn Wiggins has returned home to spend the summer with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wiggins. Miss Wiggins is attending X-ray school at Conrell Hospital, New York City.

GRANTHAM

Rebecca Pillsbury has been elected president of the newly formed North Grantham School Club. Sandra Hasting has been elected vice president; Larry Moulton, secretary; Robert Moulton, treasurer, and Barbara Willis, reporter.

GOSHEN

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Baker are entertaining Miss Nellie Fike, Brookline, Mass., and Mrs. Dorothy Smith, Cambridge, Mass., this week. Miss Fike and Mrs. Smith have been associated with the Bakers for a number of years in their work connected with the Post Office Department.

SPRINGFIELD

Mr. and Mrs. Barney Abair, Lebanon, spent the weekend with their son, Edward Abair and his four sons, Philip, Albert, Peter and David. Mrs. Abair returned from New London Hospital yesterday.

CROYDON

Nelson Freak and Joy Freak, Three Rivers, Mass., and Mr. and Mrs. David Crosby, New London, Conn., were guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Freak Thursday.

1949

CLAREMONT

Miss Barbara Dodge of Concord, formerly of Claremont, was a recent graduate of Modern School of Fashion and Design, Boston.

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Smith and son Howard of Brooklyn, N.Y., are visiting her mother, Mrs. Edward Ruffel, and her sister, Mrs. Gladys Coran on Pleasant Street.

St. Mary High School Alumni Association held its banquet and annual meeting at the Colonial Hotel on Saturday evening with more than 125 in attendance, including members of the Class of 1949. Brief remarks were made by Coach Omer Rousseau and the Rev. Father John T. Sullivan, both stressing the many advantages that are to be found in the opportunities afforded by the new St. Mary Gymnasium and urging that all possible financial support be given the pastor.

Mrs. Philomena Devoyd was elected senior regent of the Women of the Moose at the meeting held Thursday in Moose Hall. The retiring senior regent, Mrs. Leona Fecteau, presided. Other officers elected were Mrs. Adelia Mosher, junior regent; Mrs. Mabel Bergeron, chaplain; Mrs. Dorothy Butleweicz, recorder; and Mrs. Edith King, treasurer.

More than eight tons of reinforcing steel and scrap iron to be used in the construction of the Claremont Outdoor Swimming Pool has been delivered. A work crew from Claremont American Legion Post 29 unloaded the steel immediately and contractor Doug Page, in charge of this particular operation, stated that the steel should be installed today so that the cement may be poured tomorrow.

NEWPORT

Approximately 500 parents and civic-minded Newporters attended the open house and inspection of the new Richards School Annex Friday evening. Visitors expressed pleasure with the color scheme, the floor plan and visibility. All the rooms in the addition will be occupied by junior high pupils next fall at the opening of the school after a consolidation of schools in outlying areas of the district.

Vincent J. Smith of West Haven, Conn., is employed in the mechanical department of the Argus-Champion for the summer. Kenneth Roberts is also employed for the summer.

Thomas Riley, Newport’s oldest blacksmith, is featured by Yankee Magazine this month in an article titled “Yankee Blacksmith Retires,” based on a feature story printed in the Argus-Champion several months ago. The article, written by Argus editor Evan Hill, was done for the magazine after Yankee editors had read the Argus story and requested a special story for the magazine.

“Whitie” Kurbawski, Erick Kromphold, Donald Brault, Hugo Nelson, Louis Silverman, Drusilla Nelson, Betty Harlow, Jane Chworowsky, Richard Keane, Conrad Starr, Edmund Kublinski and Donald Marbo have completed their studies for the year at the University of New Hampshire.

The opening of Newport’s newest business establishment is scheduled for next Friday when Florence K. Downing opens the doors of The Town Shop at 2 Korn Alley in the Gamash Block. The Town Shop will deal exclusively in a high quality line of women’s hosiery and lingerie, blouses, handkerchiefs, scarves, bags, etc.

CROYDON

While Mr. and Mrs. Pillsbury were gone Tuesday, their cousin Albert Pillsbury of Pepperell, Mass., called. Finding them away, he visited with Mrs. Charles Walker.

Mrs. Roland Dent accompanied friends to Boston on a shopping trip Saturday. The party spent Sunday at the beach, returning home at night.

GOSHEN

Dr. and Mrs. DeMonseigle have arrived at “Skyhome” and intend to make Goshen their permanent home.

Mr. Marvin Booth is working at Stevens Garage.

LEMPSTER

Mrs. Russell Martin and little daughter, Judith, who have been on the sick list, are much improved.

GEORGES MILLS

Mrs. Charles Almeder attended the postmasters convention in Burlington, Vt., on Monday and Tuesday.

Mrs. Lawrence Collins attended the post office here in her absence.

CORNISH FLAT

Members of the Baptist Church chosen as delegates to the Baptist Convention in Newport Wednesday were Mrs. Grace Pardy, Mrs. Rollins, Mrs. J.W. Cole and Miss Margaret Eastman.

WEST UNITY

Mrs. Dorothy Moore, Mrs. Charles Bailey and Mrs. George Manning attended the Sullivan County Home Demonstration meeting in the Claremont Grange Hall last week, Tuesday.

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