1900
February 1900
Looking back one hundred years ago at the lives of the people who lived in the small town of Hollis is always interesting, but I am always most amazed when I read about how little things cost back then. The February 1900 issues of the Hollis Times contain several articles that illustrate just how different the value of a dollar was at the turn of the century.
The February 2, 1900 Hollis Times announced a Collector’s Sale of Non-Resident Lands. These properties, which belonged to people who did not reside in Hollis, were to be “sold at auction at G. B. Cleasby’s store, in said Hollis, on Thursday, the eighth day of March next, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, unless prevented by previous payment.” The payment referred to was “the taxes assessed upon each tract respectively for the year 1899, with incidental charges.” There were two properties listed.
The first was described as “Jeremiah Baldwin, Heirs, Old orchard joining G. L. Lund and J. B. Phelp’s land on the north and west. On the east and south by the road leading from G. L. Lund’s place to Brookline.” The property, which was comprised of one acre of land, was valued at $20. Back taxes were listed as $0.36.
The second was described as being the “William H. Lewis, Underhill Farm, formerly owned by William E. Fox and bounded on the west and south and east by road leading from Charles Richardson’s place to Charles W. Read’s Heirs place. On the east and north by Charles W. Read’s Heirs land.” This was a much larger tract of 60 acres, which was valued at $1900, a tidy sum in 1900. Taxes owed totaled $34.20.
It would be interesting to look at an old tax map and try to find out exactly where these properties were located. Without street names or geographical coordinates it is difficult to tell much about the land from these descriptions. Imagine being able to buy an acre of land in Hollis for about $20!
The February 9, 1900 Hollis Times also contained some interesting figures. Under the heading “The Extremes of Life,” the number of marriages, births and deaths for the year ending January 1, 1900 was recorded. There were eight marriages, fifteen births and fifteen deaths, and the deceased were listed by name and age at time of death. I found it interesting that two infants were listed – one age 25 days and one age three months. The person who had lived the longest was Hannah Spaulding, aged 91.
Continuing my search for 1900 statistics, I discovered the following announcement in the February 23, 1900 Hollis Times. “Hollis paid $6.50 for lodging tramps this year while our Brookline neighbors had to pay the sum of $21.” Draw your own conclusions! Finally, this same issue indicated, “The decrease of Town Debt last year was $2,668.39, leaving the Town in debt Feb. 15, $5,574.79.” It would be interesting to know how the town acquired this debt. After all, $5,574.79 was a tidy sum in 1900!
March 1900
March was Town Meeting month at the turn of the century as it is today, almost 100 years later. However, Town Meeting took place on a Tuesday, beginning in mid-afternoon, after which a dinner and a dance were held. The March 9, 1900 Hollis Times announced that there would be a dinner “in the vestry on Town Meeting day as usual. Food [was] solicited from those interested.” After the meeting and dinner, an “Annual Town Meeting Dance” was held in the Town Hall with “music by Wright’s Orchestra of Pepperell, Mass., three pieces.” Obviously the townspeople did not entertain the possibility of marathon meetings in 1900! The March 16, 1900 Hollis Times indicated that “in the vicinity of thirty-five couples enjoyed the Annual Town Meeting Dance.”
School Meetings were held on Saturday, March 10 “at 2 and 3 pm.” I assume that there was no question that the first meeting would be adjourned within an hour! There was no report on the School Meetings in the March Hollis Times except for a brief note stating the name of the new school board member. The paper did, however, print the results of the voting at Town Meeting. The tax rate for the upcoming year was set at .018 percent. $75 was appropriated for Memorial Day, $150 for the Public Library and $2000 for Schools. It was also voted “to have the Town bell rung at noon each week day. Sold at auction for $54, the lowest bidder being Edward E. Wheeler.” There was no indication of how many of the 276 “legal voters” of Hollis participated at the meetings. Both schools were also reported to be closing for two weeks, from March 5 to March 19, for vacation.
It must have been interesting keeping people straight at Town Hall at the turn of the century. The five top town officers elected in 1900, all of whom were incumbents, shared two first names. The first, second and third selectmen were George Blood, George Woodin and Charles Colburn. Town Clerk was Charles Richardson and Town Treasurer Charles Stratton.
Evidently the Hollis Times office took on a few extra tasks in March of 1900 – the printing of Town Reports. The March 30, 1900 Hollis Times announced, “The rush on Town Reports at the Times Office is over. After having completed the reports for Hollis and Litchfield, the report for Dunstable, Mass., of fifty-six pages, has been sent out from this office this week in season for their Town Meeting, April 2.”
April 1900
Three fires occurred in Hollis during an eight-day period in the early spring of 1900, and the Hollis Times reported on all three. The first fire completely destroyed a house and barn; the second, a grass fire, caused no real damage; and the third consumed a barn and burned about 50 acres of field and pasture. In both structure fires “the buildings were burned to the ground in about two hours from the time the fire was first discovered,” despite the efforts of Hollis firefighters.
According to the April 20, 1900 Hollis Times, which described the third fire, “While Mr. C. F. Burge was attempting to burn a pile of brush, Monday morning, the fire caught in the grass and as it got beyond his control an alarm was rung at 10:27 and the ‘Always Ready’ and ‘Defender’ fire engines were on the scene in a very short time. The fire had then caught on the barn connected with the place known as ‘The Ranch,’ belonging to W. R. Farley, of Nashua, and it had gained such headway that an attempt to save it would have been useless.” The fire was finally extinguished after it had burned “over about fifty acres of the surrounding field and pasture.” The report stated that the men of the Always Ready “pumped steadily for two hours, the neighboring brook furnishing a plentiful water supply.”
In the same issue of the Hollis Times, a notice was posted by the Fire Wards, “calling attention of the citizens to the article in the Public Statute, Chapter 277, Section 5, in regard to the careless burning of brush, etc.”
Evidently, Hollis was not the only town to have fought fires in April of 1900. The April 13 Hollis Times reported, “The smoke from the large fire at Pepperell last Saturday was plainly seen by our citizens. The large mill on the outskirts of East Pepperell, known as Parker’s mill, and two neighboring dwelling houses were consumed by the flames. The fire started about noon and was not under control until about 3:50 p.m.”
Needless to say, fire-fighting equipment at the turn of the century was rather primitive and ineffective, compared to today’s shiny red engines, which can reach the scene of a blaze in minutes. A structure fire rarely burns for two hours anymore, and houses seldom burn to the ground. Of course, our homes are much safer now, with central heating systems, modern wiring and smoke and fire detectors. However, brush and grass fires are just as easy to start as they were 100 years ago. They may be less prevalent, as there is less open land in town on which brush and grass can grow wild, but they are still dangerous when they get out of control.
May 1900
The opening of a large department in Milford, a total eclipse of the sun and a list of the taxpayers who paid more than $50 a year in Hollis property taxes dominated the front pages of the issues of the Hollis Times published in May of 1900.
The May 4, 1900 Hollis Times announced that the opening of H.H. Barber’s “new big store” in Milford would occur on Saturday morning, May 5 at eight o’clock. The grand opening promised bargains in every department, orchestra concerts during the afternoon and evening, free delivery of any purchases costing $5.00 or more to any railroad station in the state and a free railroad fare for those who made “considerable purchases.” The May 11, 1900 Hollis Times proclaimed that over 2000 people visited the store on opening day and listed the following specials: “5 pieces Ingraine Carpet 25 cents per yard, regular 38 cent grade; 5 pieces extra heavy Ingraine Carpet, 38 cents per yard, regular value 50 cents. A few Golden Oak finish Chamber sets, $12.50, regular $16.00 grade. Extraordinary Bargains in Refrigerators, Ranges, Oil Stoves and all Kitchen goods.”
Also in the May 11, 1900 Hollis Times a lengthy article stated that a total eclipse of the sun would occur in the Nashua area on May 28. It would begin at 8:08 in the morning, with the total stage at 9:03 and the eclipse ending at 10:28. The historical background presented about solar eclipses is interesting. It includes the fact that “not until the European eclipse of 1842 did the true significance of the circumsolar phenomenon begin to be appreciated. For many years it was discussed as to the corona, which accompanies the eclipse, as to whether it belonged to the moon or to the sun, but in 1860 it was proven that the corona and prominences belonged to the sun and not to the moon.” It is amazing to think that some of the people who watched the May 28, 1900 solar eclipse in Hollis had originally been taught that the corona visible at the moment of totality belonged to the moon!
Finally, the May 18, 1900 Hollis Times indicated that the total tax assessed in the town of Hollis for the year 1900 was $10,256.04, of which $1414.26 was upon property owned by nonresidents. A list of the 54 residents who paid a tax of $50 or more was published in the newspaper. The highest tax bill in 1900, owed by Hayden, D. N. and D. W., was $249.66.
June 1900
As frequently happens when I look back through the archives of the Hollis Times, I discovered a common thread when rereading the June issues from five, ten, fifteen and approximately 100 years ago. In three of these years, 1900, 1988 and 1993, a lot of words were written about patriotic observances in Hollis, particularly Memorial Day exercises. I would like to devote this column to this subject. Look back on how things used to be and then reflect on how things are now.
The June 1, 1900 issue of the Hollis Times featured detailed program listings from the town’s Memorial Day exercises as well as exercises held in the schools. It is interesting to note how important the celebration of Memorial Day was to Hollis townspeople at the turn of the century.
The Hollis Memorial Day program began with a procession, which marched from the G.A.R. Hall to the Hollis Town Hall and was comprised of “the Granite State Drum Corps, John H. Worcester Post No. 30 G.A.R., Veterans, Defender Engine Co., W.R.C. No.74, Misses representing states, and school children.” The exercises in the Town Hall included prayers, singing, addresses and recitations. After the exercises, “the procession was reformed and visited the different cemeteries, as usual. One hundred nineteen soldiers’ graves were decorated by the W.R.C.” The June 1, 1900 Hollis Times also listed the names of 14 out-of-town visitors.
The school programs contained an average of 22 presentations (songs, essays, recitations). Schools were decorated for the occasion “with flags, buntings, flowers and evergreen festoons.” It was noted that “fifty-six visited the [District 8] School, including four of the G.A.R. and seven of the W.R.C.” Additionally, “about forty friends of the school, including several members of the G.A.R. Post,” attended the exercises held at the Districts 4 and 10 School.
Under the heading, “South Merrimack News,” a reporter stated that “there were twelve from here who attended Memorial Exercises in Hollis. . . . Everything was very interesting on the program. The oration by Mr. Emery was received with great favor. Hollis is noted for the good order and harmony of arrangement of all her great days. Some one works for this but it is not noisy work. We think the singing was excellent.”
The June 15, 1900 Hollis Times reprinted the complete program from the District 11 School Memorial Exercises. These had been held on Friday, June 8, “postponed on account of the illness of the teacher.”
July 1900
Hollis enjoys warm weather in July, traditionally a favorite month for weddings, family reunions and other social gatherings that may be held outside when temperatures are mild. Many of these local events, which usually feature speeches, toasts, music, gift giving and lots of food, have frequently been described in the Hollis Times and these reports help us to look back and see what life in Hollis was like many or not so many years ago.
The July 1900 Hollis Times described three such celebrations – a barn dedication, a wedding and a lawn party. According to the July 6, 1900 Hollis Times, the barn dedication was attended by “a party of friends of the Pierce brothers, numbering over two hundred.” The dedication ceremony included two songs, music, a prayer and two addresses. Afterwards, “refreshments of ice cream, cake and lemonade was served, followed by marching and dancing.” The article listed stated that several of out-of-town guests were in attendance, who came from as far away as Meriden and Wallingford, Connecticut.
The people from Connecticut may have been in town primarily for the Rhoades-Powers wedding, which was also described, in great detail, in the July 6, 1900 Hollis Times. After stating that the bride and groom were united in marriage “standing under a bower of laurel, evergreen and ferns, the ring being used in the ceremony,” the article continued by describing the bride’s gown and flowers and then actually listed the gifts that the couple received at the reception. Each gift was followed by the names of the gift givers and then their place of residence, if they were not Hollis residents.
Many of the guests were from out of town with several from Wallingford, Connecticut, the hometown of the groom. One had even traveled from Kellogg, Iowa! Gifts ranged from “carpet, morris chair, two fancy rockers, and one hundred dollars, from Dr. and Mrs. O.E. Powers, parents of the groom, Wallingford, Conn.,” to a gift described only as an “ornament’ from a local guest. Another gift, also from a Hollis resident, was “five dollars.” Of course, five dollars was probably considered a proper gift in 1900, when a year’s subscription to the weekly Hollis Times cost a dollar!
After annotating the bride’s gift registry, the lengthy report concluded with an account of the very first leg of their honeymoon trip. “The happy couple left on the afternoon train amid showers of rice, which continued to fall at intervals until they reached the next station; this with flyers and other devices kept everyone on the train informed of their presence.”
This was obviously quite a social event. I can only wonder who submitted the article to the Hollis Times!
Finally, the July 13, 1900 Hollis Times featured a story titled "Bailey District Lawn Party", which was reportedly attended by about forty citizens of the old Bailey district in the north end of Hollis. Party-goers enjoyed “a regular Fourth of July entertainment, consisting of fireworks, fife and drum music, singing of patriotic songs by the young ladies and a wandering minstrel [who] happened along and entertained the company with harmonica solos.” The article stated that “all entered heartily into the sports of the evening, from the little boy to the man about seventy years old.”
The July 27, 1900 Hollis Times announced a “basket picnic” at Silver Lake on August 1, sponsored by the Sunday School and Y.P.S.C.E. of Hollis; a “musical, literary, and dramatic entertainment followed by a dance” at the Town Hall on August 15, for the benefit of the Boston Floating Hospital; and “the annual reunion of the N.H.G.A.R.,” to take place at the Weirs August 20 to 24. Hollis residents certainly had quite a few social gatherings at the turn of the century.
August 1900
Editors of the Old Hollis Times frequently reported unusually fine crops, probably because they knew their readers would be interested in the good fortune of their neighbors.
The August 3, 1900 Hollis Times stated, “Among the many beautiful flowers and plants which adorn the home of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Moss Sr. is a night blooming cereus, which put forth its best effort Wednesday evening to outdo the other flowers by sending forth a blossom ten inches in diameter and extending sixteen inches from the plant. During the evening many of their neighbors and friends called to admire this rare blossom.” Most likely Mr. and Mrs. Moss submitted this story themselves.
Others seemed to prefer to let the staff of the Hollis Times see their wonders of nature first-hand and give an unbiased report to the paper’s readers. The editor was glad to oblige. In the August 31, 1900 Hollis Times, he wrote, “S. F. Wood left at the Times office a stock of Frederick’s Perfected Golden Beauty field corn which measured 13 feet 4 inches and was taken from a field which will average 12 feet high. If you have any taller corn than that spoken of above, send it in and have it mentioned.” In the same issue, the editor reported that another farmer, who also obviously had a green thumb, left at the Times office “the best melon we have tasted this year, it was also a large melon.”
Meanwhile, the August 17, 1900 Hollis Times announced that warrants had been posted by the selectmen “for a special town meeting to be held in the lower town hall, Saturday, August 25 at 1 pm. The subject of the meeting was one that should have been of great interest to all residents – procuring a water supply for the town. There were several references in the August 1900 Hollis Times to a drought. In fact, according to the August 31 edition, “A large number of wells in this town have gone dry, and the water is low in many more, obliging people to team water both for household purposes and for their horses and cattle. There are very few wells that would furnish a supply for any length of time for either fire engine in case it should be needed.” So obviously, one would expect a lot of interest in the August 25 meeting. Surprisingly, however, the story in the August 31 edition was brief because “the special town meeting was not very well attended. Not enough voters were present to do any business in regard to a supply of water for fire purposes. The report of the committee was given and it was voted that they continue to investigate and report at the next March meeting.” Perhaps the farmers were so busy growing record-breaking crops that they were not concerned about the danger of fire.
One of the most amusing anecdotes I have read in the old issues of the Hollis Times was printed in the August 10, 1900 edition. Titled “A Fishing Party,” this lengthy story described in detail how several Hollis residents went on an all-day deep sea fishing excursion, became becalmed, got quite seasick and were stuck with their misery until the tide brought them in. The writer, who must have been there, described the indelicacies of being seasick in the most delicate language imaginable. “The seats of the cabin were covered by the recumbent figures, and then they had laid themselves upon the floor – when they were not holding their heads over the side of the vessel. . . . Their dainties were all untouched. Frequent contributions were made to old Neptune. The fish, not being particular about their diet, were glad they came.” This feature story, as all of the stories mentioned above, was front-page material in August of 1900.
September 1900
You may remember that the August 1900 issues of the Hollis Times chronicled a severe drought and a concern by some that the Hollis town well might not be able to supply enough water to the “Always Ready” to put out a large fire in town, should one occur. The Selectmen called a special town meeting but very few people came, and those who did attend made no decisions. The drought evidently lasted into September, and according to the September 1900 Hollis Times, those who were concerned had reason to be so.
According to the September 7, 1900 Hollis Times, “The well which supplies the town pump was cleared out Wednesday. It took the ‘Always Ready’ engine nine minutes to pump the water out of this well, which has been considered the best supply for fire purposes in the village.”
This same issue reported a fire which was extinguished quickly, thanks to “the timely discovery and the contents of several chemical fire extinguishers.” And a brush fire on September 12 was also put out before too much damage was done. It was noted that the Always Ready engine was sent for and “twelve lengths of hose were used to reach from the nearest water supply.” Evidently the water in the pumper had to be supplemented by pumping water from a not-so-nearby fire pond.
Luck ran out on September 14, however, when a large one-story house in the south part of town owned by Luke Blood burned to the ground. Mr. Blood and his neighbors, who fought the fire “with chemical fire extinguishers and pails of water,” were able to save the barn. And according to the September 14, 1900 Hollis Times, “W. A. Colburn drove the ‘Always Ready’ engine to the scene of the fire, a distance of over three miles, in twenty-six minutes from the time the alarm sounded.” Obviously, those who lived on the outskirts of town had more than one problem when fire broke out on their property. Perhaps these were the farmers who were unconcerned about how much water was in the town well. By the time the pumper reached them, it was usually too late anyway.
The scarcity of water continued well into September. The September 28, 1900 Hollis Times reported still another house fire. This blaze “was supposed to be upon Proctor Hill, but proved, upon arrival at the height of the land, to be many miles beyond on West Hill in Townsend, Mass. near the Brookline line. The family only had time to get out of the house.”
Still no action was taken to address the water shortage. This same issue stated that at the September 20 Hollis Grange meeting, “a discussion took place upon the subject: Is a better water supply needed for this village? If so, how is the best way to obtain it?” The reporter wrote few details on this discussion – only that “the question was opened in the affirmative by S.F. Wood and the negative by F.B. Wheeler, followed by other members.”
October 1900
One of the biggest news stories in Hollis in October of 1900 was the visit of Special Agent Norton to the town to study the possible establishment of a rural postal delivery route in Hollis, to originate in Nashua. According to the October 26, 1900 Hollis Times, before such a route is set up, “the special agent has to make a complete report of the condition of the highway, the number of residences, their condition and the general prosperity of the owners of the farms. Mr. Norton stated that this route was especially favorable for the establishment and fulfilled every condition.”
Agent Norton called the route “one of the best routes he had ever laid out.” He said, “The road the whole distance is in perfect condition, the farms well kept and in a thrifty condition.”
The route was stated as being 24 miles long with 193 houses (some not directly on the roadway). It would serve about 1000 people. It started in Nashua and then went “within a mile of the Hollis post office, passing Captain Blood’s place, to the Gilman farm, Blood’s Crossing, Humphreyville, Ayer’s Corner.” Mail would also be left at the “fish hatchery” and delivery would stop at the “sanitarium.”
Making no stops, a trial run took two and three quarter hours with a pair of horses, and the agent estimated that the trip would take six hours with mail pickup and delivery.
Newcomers to town may not realize that up until the early 1980’s, most Hollis residents except those who lived in or near the town center received their mail through rural route delivery. According to Where the Past Has Been Preserved, the rural route described above, which originated in Nashua and covered the west part of Nashua and the east part of Hollis, was established when over a hundred people petitioned for the service on June 22, 1900. Another petition, signed in February of 1903, resulted in a second RFD originating from Pepperell, Massachusetts, to serve the south end of Hollis. Before 1910 there were at least five routes in town, and in 1950 Nashua had two routes in Hollis, and East Pepperell, Brookline and Milford each had one.
When we moved to town in early 1982, the Hollis Post Office served the center of town and its “Star” route, which encompassed Monument Square, Depot Road and some of Depot Road’s major access roads. Most of the rest of town residents still got their mail through RFD’s in Nashua, Milford and even Pepperell! Those who wanted a Hollis address had to rent a P.O. box at the Hollis Post Office.
I wonder how long a landowner’s property had to be “well kept and in a thrifty condition” to qualify for mail delivery. Perhaps this qualification was dropped when motorized vehicles were used on the route instead of horsepower. I expect that some of the concern could have been about falling-down fences that might not adequately secure livestock.
It is also interesting to note that according to the October 12, 1900 Hollis Times, between 1890 and 1900 the population of Hollis had decreased from 1000 to 910 and there were 274 names on the voting list.
November 190
November marked the end of the harvest season in Hollis at the turn of the century, and the November 1900 issues of the Hollis Times chronicle several ways in which Hollis residents celebrated the gathering-in of their crops.
The most interesting was reported in the November 23, 1900 Hollis Times under the headline “Mace’s Annual Husking of Maize.” According to the article, “About forty persons gathered at Mace’s barn last Friday evening to enjoy their annual hunt for red ears. After husking about seventy baskets of corn, they adjourned to the house where a bountiful supper was served. Among the desserts was pumpkin pie made from pumpkins that were harvested over a year ago. A musical and literary program followed the supper and it was past midnight before the merry party left for their homes.” I wonder what the significance was of finding a red ear and how many were usually found in seventy bushels.
Another tradition evidently celebrated annually in late 19th century Hollis was a concert and dance on Thanksgiving evening. The November 23, 1900 Hollis Times announced that this annual concert and dance would feature music by the American Orchestra of Nashua. Tickets admitting a gentleman and two ladies cost seventy-five cents and the oyster supper cost twenty-five cents per plate. The ticket price admitting one gentleman with two ladies may be an indication that more women than men enjoyed this event!
Also in November, the members of the Always Ready and Defender Engine companies enjoyed a supper and social time at the Grange Hall. The Hollis Times reported that these members, accompanied by their lady friends and a number of invited guests, made a party of about seventy, who partook of an oyster supper and spent the rest of the evening “in a social way.”
Of course, the Grange was the social center of the Hollis farming community at the turn of the century. It brought farmers together on a regular basis to share information and ideas and to provide a support network throughout the community. According to the Hollis Times, a special meeting of the Hillsborough County Pomona Grange with Hollis Grange on Tuesday, November 20 “was well attended, over eighty being present from out of town and seventeen of these were from outside the county and represented the Granges of Townsend, Mass., Pepperell, Mass., Groton, Mass., and Ashburnham, Mass.” The meeting began in the forenoon, included a dinner at noon and continued with a long afternoon session. After supper, the regular meeting of the Hollis Grange was held, with over 200 in attendance. No social gathering of any Hollis organization even approaches such high attendance 98 years later.
December 1900
The top news stories in the Hollis Times in December of 1900 involved issues that hardly seem newsworthy to us, 98 years later. The December 7, 1900 Hollis Times reported that the rural mail delivery system, which had been established in Hollis one month before, was “a great accommodation to the people.” The following circulation figures were published: “Registered letters, 1; letters, 438; postals, 66; newspapers, 1229; circulars, 58; packages, 24; total, 1229.” The circulation of the Hollis Times was listed at 620 copies.
Residents were also excited about the proposed electric railroad from Nashua to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, via Pepperell, Massachusetts. According to the December 21 Hollis Times, this route “has been quite freely discussed by many of our citizens . . . and it has been many times mentioned that the route from Nashua to Pepperell through this town would be but little longer and would cover a more thickly settled area.”
Other noteworthy stories in December of 1900 included the installation of a private telephone line between two residences and the announcement of a gentleman’s proposed trip to Florida. “He was to go via Boston to Savannah, Ga., by steamboat, then by rail to Mohawk, Fla., his final destination.”
Every time I get nostalgic about the simpler lifestyle Hollis residents lived 100 years ago, I consider all of the conveniences we now take for granted that our ancestors did not have, like a modern transportation system, central heat, telephones in our homes, television, and computers! Then I realize that I am glad to be living at the end, not the beginning of the 20th century!
Looking back one hundred years ago at the lives of the people who lived in the small town of Hollis is always interesting, but I am always most amazed when I read about how little things cost back then. The February 1900 issues of the Hollis Times contain several articles that illustrate just how different the value of a dollar was at the turn of the century.
The February 2, 1900 Hollis Times announced a Collector’s Sale of Non-Resident Lands. These properties, which belonged to people who did not reside in Hollis, were to be “sold at auction at G. B. Cleasby’s store, in said Hollis, on Thursday, the eighth day of March next, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, unless prevented by previous payment.” The payment referred to was “the taxes assessed upon each tract respectively for the year 1899, with incidental charges.” There were two properties listed.
The first was described as “Jeremiah Baldwin, Heirs, Old orchard joining G. L. Lund and J. B. Phelp’s land on the north and west. On the east and south by the road leading from G. L. Lund’s place to Brookline.” The property, which was comprised of one acre of land, was valued at $20. Back taxes were listed as $0.36.
The second was described as being the “William H. Lewis, Underhill Farm, formerly owned by William E. Fox and bounded on the west and south and east by road leading from Charles Richardson’s place to Charles W. Read’s Heirs place. On the east and north by Charles W. Read’s Heirs land.” This was a much larger tract of 60 acres, which was valued at $1900, a tidy sum in 1900. Taxes owed totaled $34.20.
It would be interesting to look at an old tax map and try to find out exactly where these properties were located. Without street names or geographical coordinates it is difficult to tell much about the land from these descriptions. Imagine being able to buy an acre of land in Hollis for about $20!
The February 9, 1900 Hollis Times also contained some interesting figures. Under the heading “The Extremes of Life,” the number of marriages, births and deaths for the year ending January 1, 1900 was recorded. There were eight marriages, fifteen births and fifteen deaths, and the deceased were listed by name and age at time of death. I found it interesting that two infants were listed – one age 25 days and one age three months. The person who had lived the longest was Hannah Spaulding, aged 91.
Continuing my search for 1900 statistics, I discovered the following announcement in the February 23, 1900 Hollis Times. “Hollis paid $6.50 for lodging tramps this year while our Brookline neighbors had to pay the sum of $21.” Draw your own conclusions! Finally, this same issue indicated, “The decrease of Town Debt last year was $2,668.39, leaving the Town in debt Feb. 15, $5,574.79.” It would be interesting to know how the town acquired this debt. After all, $5,574.79 was a tidy sum in 1900!
March 1900
March was Town Meeting month at the turn of the century as it is today, almost 100 years later. However, Town Meeting took place on a Tuesday, beginning in mid-afternoon, after which a dinner and a dance were held. The March 9, 1900 Hollis Times announced that there would be a dinner “in the vestry on Town Meeting day as usual. Food [was] solicited from those interested.” After the meeting and dinner, an “Annual Town Meeting Dance” was held in the Town Hall with “music by Wright’s Orchestra of Pepperell, Mass., three pieces.” Obviously the townspeople did not entertain the possibility of marathon meetings in 1900! The March 16, 1900 Hollis Times indicated that “in the vicinity of thirty-five couples enjoyed the Annual Town Meeting Dance.”
School Meetings were held on Saturday, March 10 “at 2 and 3 pm.” I assume that there was no question that the first meeting would be adjourned within an hour! There was no report on the School Meetings in the March Hollis Times except for a brief note stating the name of the new school board member. The paper did, however, print the results of the voting at Town Meeting. The tax rate for the upcoming year was set at .018 percent. $75 was appropriated for Memorial Day, $150 for the Public Library and $2000 for Schools. It was also voted “to have the Town bell rung at noon each week day. Sold at auction for $54, the lowest bidder being Edward E. Wheeler.” There was no indication of how many of the 276 “legal voters” of Hollis participated at the meetings. Both schools were also reported to be closing for two weeks, from March 5 to March 19, for vacation.
It must have been interesting keeping people straight at Town Hall at the turn of the century. The five top town officers elected in 1900, all of whom were incumbents, shared two first names. The first, second and third selectmen were George Blood, George Woodin and Charles Colburn. Town Clerk was Charles Richardson and Town Treasurer Charles Stratton.
Evidently the Hollis Times office took on a few extra tasks in March of 1900 – the printing of Town Reports. The March 30, 1900 Hollis Times announced, “The rush on Town Reports at the Times Office is over. After having completed the reports for Hollis and Litchfield, the report for Dunstable, Mass., of fifty-six pages, has been sent out from this office this week in season for their Town Meeting, April 2.”
April 1900
Three fires occurred in Hollis during an eight-day period in the early spring of 1900, and the Hollis Times reported on all three. The first fire completely destroyed a house and barn; the second, a grass fire, caused no real damage; and the third consumed a barn and burned about 50 acres of field and pasture. In both structure fires “the buildings were burned to the ground in about two hours from the time the fire was first discovered,” despite the efforts of Hollis firefighters.
According to the April 20, 1900 Hollis Times, which described the third fire, “While Mr. C. F. Burge was attempting to burn a pile of brush, Monday morning, the fire caught in the grass and as it got beyond his control an alarm was rung at 10:27 and the ‘Always Ready’ and ‘Defender’ fire engines were on the scene in a very short time. The fire had then caught on the barn connected with the place known as ‘The Ranch,’ belonging to W. R. Farley, of Nashua, and it had gained such headway that an attempt to save it would have been useless.” The fire was finally extinguished after it had burned “over about fifty acres of the surrounding field and pasture.” The report stated that the men of the Always Ready “pumped steadily for two hours, the neighboring brook furnishing a plentiful water supply.”
In the same issue of the Hollis Times, a notice was posted by the Fire Wards, “calling attention of the citizens to the article in the Public Statute, Chapter 277, Section 5, in regard to the careless burning of brush, etc.”
Evidently, Hollis was not the only town to have fought fires in April of 1900. The April 13 Hollis Times reported, “The smoke from the large fire at Pepperell last Saturday was plainly seen by our citizens. The large mill on the outskirts of East Pepperell, known as Parker’s mill, and two neighboring dwelling houses were consumed by the flames. The fire started about noon and was not under control until about 3:50 p.m.”
Needless to say, fire-fighting equipment at the turn of the century was rather primitive and ineffective, compared to today’s shiny red engines, which can reach the scene of a blaze in minutes. A structure fire rarely burns for two hours anymore, and houses seldom burn to the ground. Of course, our homes are much safer now, with central heating systems, modern wiring and smoke and fire detectors. However, brush and grass fires are just as easy to start as they were 100 years ago. They may be less prevalent, as there is less open land in town on which brush and grass can grow wild, but they are still dangerous when they get out of control.
May 1900
The opening of a large department in Milford, a total eclipse of the sun and a list of the taxpayers who paid more than $50 a year in Hollis property taxes dominated the front pages of the issues of the Hollis Times published in May of 1900.
The May 4, 1900 Hollis Times announced that the opening of H.H. Barber’s “new big store” in Milford would occur on Saturday morning, May 5 at eight o’clock. The grand opening promised bargains in every department, orchestra concerts during the afternoon and evening, free delivery of any purchases costing $5.00 or more to any railroad station in the state and a free railroad fare for those who made “considerable purchases.” The May 11, 1900 Hollis Times proclaimed that over 2000 people visited the store on opening day and listed the following specials: “5 pieces Ingraine Carpet 25 cents per yard, regular 38 cent grade; 5 pieces extra heavy Ingraine Carpet, 38 cents per yard, regular value 50 cents. A few Golden Oak finish Chamber sets, $12.50, regular $16.00 grade. Extraordinary Bargains in Refrigerators, Ranges, Oil Stoves and all Kitchen goods.”
Also in the May 11, 1900 Hollis Times a lengthy article stated that a total eclipse of the sun would occur in the Nashua area on May 28. It would begin at 8:08 in the morning, with the total stage at 9:03 and the eclipse ending at 10:28. The historical background presented about solar eclipses is interesting. It includes the fact that “not until the European eclipse of 1842 did the true significance of the circumsolar phenomenon begin to be appreciated. For many years it was discussed as to the corona, which accompanies the eclipse, as to whether it belonged to the moon or to the sun, but in 1860 it was proven that the corona and prominences belonged to the sun and not to the moon.” It is amazing to think that some of the people who watched the May 28, 1900 solar eclipse in Hollis had originally been taught that the corona visible at the moment of totality belonged to the moon!
Finally, the May 18, 1900 Hollis Times indicated that the total tax assessed in the town of Hollis for the year 1900 was $10,256.04, of which $1414.26 was upon property owned by nonresidents. A list of the 54 residents who paid a tax of $50 or more was published in the newspaper. The highest tax bill in 1900, owed by Hayden, D. N. and D. W., was $249.66.
June 1900
As frequently happens when I look back through the archives of the Hollis Times, I discovered a common thread when rereading the June issues from five, ten, fifteen and approximately 100 years ago. In three of these years, 1900, 1988 and 1993, a lot of words were written about patriotic observances in Hollis, particularly Memorial Day exercises. I would like to devote this column to this subject. Look back on how things used to be and then reflect on how things are now.
The June 1, 1900 issue of the Hollis Times featured detailed program listings from the town’s Memorial Day exercises as well as exercises held in the schools. It is interesting to note how important the celebration of Memorial Day was to Hollis townspeople at the turn of the century.
The Hollis Memorial Day program began with a procession, which marched from the G.A.R. Hall to the Hollis Town Hall and was comprised of “the Granite State Drum Corps, John H. Worcester Post No. 30 G.A.R., Veterans, Defender Engine Co., W.R.C. No.74, Misses representing states, and school children.” The exercises in the Town Hall included prayers, singing, addresses and recitations. After the exercises, “the procession was reformed and visited the different cemeteries, as usual. One hundred nineteen soldiers’ graves were decorated by the W.R.C.” The June 1, 1900 Hollis Times also listed the names of 14 out-of-town visitors.
The school programs contained an average of 22 presentations (songs, essays, recitations). Schools were decorated for the occasion “with flags, buntings, flowers and evergreen festoons.” It was noted that “fifty-six visited the [District 8] School, including four of the G.A.R. and seven of the W.R.C.” Additionally, “about forty friends of the school, including several members of the G.A.R. Post,” attended the exercises held at the Districts 4 and 10 School.
Under the heading, “South Merrimack News,” a reporter stated that “there were twelve from here who attended Memorial Exercises in Hollis. . . . Everything was very interesting on the program. The oration by Mr. Emery was received with great favor. Hollis is noted for the good order and harmony of arrangement of all her great days. Some one works for this but it is not noisy work. We think the singing was excellent.”
The June 15, 1900 Hollis Times reprinted the complete program from the District 11 School Memorial Exercises. These had been held on Friday, June 8, “postponed on account of the illness of the teacher.”
July 1900
Hollis enjoys warm weather in July, traditionally a favorite month for weddings, family reunions and other social gatherings that may be held outside when temperatures are mild. Many of these local events, which usually feature speeches, toasts, music, gift giving and lots of food, have frequently been described in the Hollis Times and these reports help us to look back and see what life in Hollis was like many or not so many years ago.
The July 1900 Hollis Times described three such celebrations – a barn dedication, a wedding and a lawn party. According to the July 6, 1900 Hollis Times, the barn dedication was attended by “a party of friends of the Pierce brothers, numbering over two hundred.” The dedication ceremony included two songs, music, a prayer and two addresses. Afterwards, “refreshments of ice cream, cake and lemonade was served, followed by marching and dancing.” The article listed stated that several of out-of-town guests were in attendance, who came from as far away as Meriden and Wallingford, Connecticut.
The people from Connecticut may have been in town primarily for the Rhoades-Powers wedding, which was also described, in great detail, in the July 6, 1900 Hollis Times. After stating that the bride and groom were united in marriage “standing under a bower of laurel, evergreen and ferns, the ring being used in the ceremony,” the article continued by describing the bride’s gown and flowers and then actually listed the gifts that the couple received at the reception. Each gift was followed by the names of the gift givers and then their place of residence, if they were not Hollis residents.
Many of the guests were from out of town with several from Wallingford, Connecticut, the hometown of the groom. One had even traveled from Kellogg, Iowa! Gifts ranged from “carpet, morris chair, two fancy rockers, and one hundred dollars, from Dr. and Mrs. O.E. Powers, parents of the groom, Wallingford, Conn.,” to a gift described only as an “ornament’ from a local guest. Another gift, also from a Hollis resident, was “five dollars.” Of course, five dollars was probably considered a proper gift in 1900, when a year’s subscription to the weekly Hollis Times cost a dollar!
After annotating the bride’s gift registry, the lengthy report concluded with an account of the very first leg of their honeymoon trip. “The happy couple left on the afternoon train amid showers of rice, which continued to fall at intervals until they reached the next station; this with flyers and other devices kept everyone on the train informed of their presence.”
This was obviously quite a social event. I can only wonder who submitted the article to the Hollis Times!
Finally, the July 13, 1900 Hollis Times featured a story titled "Bailey District Lawn Party", which was reportedly attended by about forty citizens of the old Bailey district in the north end of Hollis. Party-goers enjoyed “a regular Fourth of July entertainment, consisting of fireworks, fife and drum music, singing of patriotic songs by the young ladies and a wandering minstrel [who] happened along and entertained the company with harmonica solos.” The article stated that “all entered heartily into the sports of the evening, from the little boy to the man about seventy years old.”
The July 27, 1900 Hollis Times announced a “basket picnic” at Silver Lake on August 1, sponsored by the Sunday School and Y.P.S.C.E. of Hollis; a “musical, literary, and dramatic entertainment followed by a dance” at the Town Hall on August 15, for the benefit of the Boston Floating Hospital; and “the annual reunion of the N.H.G.A.R.,” to take place at the Weirs August 20 to 24. Hollis residents certainly had quite a few social gatherings at the turn of the century.
August 1900
Editors of the Old Hollis Times frequently reported unusually fine crops, probably because they knew their readers would be interested in the good fortune of their neighbors.
The August 3, 1900 Hollis Times stated, “Among the many beautiful flowers and plants which adorn the home of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Moss Sr. is a night blooming cereus, which put forth its best effort Wednesday evening to outdo the other flowers by sending forth a blossom ten inches in diameter and extending sixteen inches from the plant. During the evening many of their neighbors and friends called to admire this rare blossom.” Most likely Mr. and Mrs. Moss submitted this story themselves.
Others seemed to prefer to let the staff of the Hollis Times see their wonders of nature first-hand and give an unbiased report to the paper’s readers. The editor was glad to oblige. In the August 31, 1900 Hollis Times, he wrote, “S. F. Wood left at the Times office a stock of Frederick’s Perfected Golden Beauty field corn which measured 13 feet 4 inches and was taken from a field which will average 12 feet high. If you have any taller corn than that spoken of above, send it in and have it mentioned.” In the same issue, the editor reported that another farmer, who also obviously had a green thumb, left at the Times office “the best melon we have tasted this year, it was also a large melon.”
Meanwhile, the August 17, 1900 Hollis Times announced that warrants had been posted by the selectmen “for a special town meeting to be held in the lower town hall, Saturday, August 25 at 1 pm. The subject of the meeting was one that should have been of great interest to all residents – procuring a water supply for the town. There were several references in the August 1900 Hollis Times to a drought. In fact, according to the August 31 edition, “A large number of wells in this town have gone dry, and the water is low in many more, obliging people to team water both for household purposes and for their horses and cattle. There are very few wells that would furnish a supply for any length of time for either fire engine in case it should be needed.” So obviously, one would expect a lot of interest in the August 25 meeting. Surprisingly, however, the story in the August 31 edition was brief because “the special town meeting was not very well attended. Not enough voters were present to do any business in regard to a supply of water for fire purposes. The report of the committee was given and it was voted that they continue to investigate and report at the next March meeting.” Perhaps the farmers were so busy growing record-breaking crops that they were not concerned about the danger of fire.
One of the most amusing anecdotes I have read in the old issues of the Hollis Times was printed in the August 10, 1900 edition. Titled “A Fishing Party,” this lengthy story described in detail how several Hollis residents went on an all-day deep sea fishing excursion, became becalmed, got quite seasick and were stuck with their misery until the tide brought them in. The writer, who must have been there, described the indelicacies of being seasick in the most delicate language imaginable. “The seats of the cabin were covered by the recumbent figures, and then they had laid themselves upon the floor – when they were not holding their heads over the side of the vessel. . . . Their dainties were all untouched. Frequent contributions were made to old Neptune. The fish, not being particular about their diet, were glad they came.” This feature story, as all of the stories mentioned above, was front-page material in August of 1900.
September 1900
You may remember that the August 1900 issues of the Hollis Times chronicled a severe drought and a concern by some that the Hollis town well might not be able to supply enough water to the “Always Ready” to put out a large fire in town, should one occur. The Selectmen called a special town meeting but very few people came, and those who did attend made no decisions. The drought evidently lasted into September, and according to the September 1900 Hollis Times, those who were concerned had reason to be so.
According to the September 7, 1900 Hollis Times, “The well which supplies the town pump was cleared out Wednesday. It took the ‘Always Ready’ engine nine minutes to pump the water out of this well, which has been considered the best supply for fire purposes in the village.”
This same issue reported a fire which was extinguished quickly, thanks to “the timely discovery and the contents of several chemical fire extinguishers.” And a brush fire on September 12 was also put out before too much damage was done. It was noted that the Always Ready engine was sent for and “twelve lengths of hose were used to reach from the nearest water supply.” Evidently the water in the pumper had to be supplemented by pumping water from a not-so-nearby fire pond.
Luck ran out on September 14, however, when a large one-story house in the south part of town owned by Luke Blood burned to the ground. Mr. Blood and his neighbors, who fought the fire “with chemical fire extinguishers and pails of water,” were able to save the barn. And according to the September 14, 1900 Hollis Times, “W. A. Colburn drove the ‘Always Ready’ engine to the scene of the fire, a distance of over three miles, in twenty-six minutes from the time the alarm sounded.” Obviously, those who lived on the outskirts of town had more than one problem when fire broke out on their property. Perhaps these were the farmers who were unconcerned about how much water was in the town well. By the time the pumper reached them, it was usually too late anyway.
The scarcity of water continued well into September. The September 28, 1900 Hollis Times reported still another house fire. This blaze “was supposed to be upon Proctor Hill, but proved, upon arrival at the height of the land, to be many miles beyond on West Hill in Townsend, Mass. near the Brookline line. The family only had time to get out of the house.”
Still no action was taken to address the water shortage. This same issue stated that at the September 20 Hollis Grange meeting, “a discussion took place upon the subject: Is a better water supply needed for this village? If so, how is the best way to obtain it?” The reporter wrote few details on this discussion – only that “the question was opened in the affirmative by S.F. Wood and the negative by F.B. Wheeler, followed by other members.”
October 1900
One of the biggest news stories in Hollis in October of 1900 was the visit of Special Agent Norton to the town to study the possible establishment of a rural postal delivery route in Hollis, to originate in Nashua. According to the October 26, 1900 Hollis Times, before such a route is set up, “the special agent has to make a complete report of the condition of the highway, the number of residences, their condition and the general prosperity of the owners of the farms. Mr. Norton stated that this route was especially favorable for the establishment and fulfilled every condition.”
Agent Norton called the route “one of the best routes he had ever laid out.” He said, “The road the whole distance is in perfect condition, the farms well kept and in a thrifty condition.”
The route was stated as being 24 miles long with 193 houses (some not directly on the roadway). It would serve about 1000 people. It started in Nashua and then went “within a mile of the Hollis post office, passing Captain Blood’s place, to the Gilman farm, Blood’s Crossing, Humphreyville, Ayer’s Corner.” Mail would also be left at the “fish hatchery” and delivery would stop at the “sanitarium.”
Making no stops, a trial run took two and three quarter hours with a pair of horses, and the agent estimated that the trip would take six hours with mail pickup and delivery.
Newcomers to town may not realize that up until the early 1980’s, most Hollis residents except those who lived in or near the town center received their mail through rural route delivery. According to Where the Past Has Been Preserved, the rural route described above, which originated in Nashua and covered the west part of Nashua and the east part of Hollis, was established when over a hundred people petitioned for the service on June 22, 1900. Another petition, signed in February of 1903, resulted in a second RFD originating from Pepperell, Massachusetts, to serve the south end of Hollis. Before 1910 there were at least five routes in town, and in 1950 Nashua had two routes in Hollis, and East Pepperell, Brookline and Milford each had one.
When we moved to town in early 1982, the Hollis Post Office served the center of town and its “Star” route, which encompassed Monument Square, Depot Road and some of Depot Road’s major access roads. Most of the rest of town residents still got their mail through RFD’s in Nashua, Milford and even Pepperell! Those who wanted a Hollis address had to rent a P.O. box at the Hollis Post Office.
I wonder how long a landowner’s property had to be “well kept and in a thrifty condition” to qualify for mail delivery. Perhaps this qualification was dropped when motorized vehicles were used on the route instead of horsepower. I expect that some of the concern could have been about falling-down fences that might not adequately secure livestock.
It is also interesting to note that according to the October 12, 1900 Hollis Times, between 1890 and 1900 the population of Hollis had decreased from 1000 to 910 and there were 274 names on the voting list.
November 190
November marked the end of the harvest season in Hollis at the turn of the century, and the November 1900 issues of the Hollis Times chronicle several ways in which Hollis residents celebrated the gathering-in of their crops.
The most interesting was reported in the November 23, 1900 Hollis Times under the headline “Mace’s Annual Husking of Maize.” According to the article, “About forty persons gathered at Mace’s barn last Friday evening to enjoy their annual hunt for red ears. After husking about seventy baskets of corn, they adjourned to the house where a bountiful supper was served. Among the desserts was pumpkin pie made from pumpkins that were harvested over a year ago. A musical and literary program followed the supper and it was past midnight before the merry party left for their homes.” I wonder what the significance was of finding a red ear and how many were usually found in seventy bushels.
Another tradition evidently celebrated annually in late 19th century Hollis was a concert and dance on Thanksgiving evening. The November 23, 1900 Hollis Times announced that this annual concert and dance would feature music by the American Orchestra of Nashua. Tickets admitting a gentleman and two ladies cost seventy-five cents and the oyster supper cost twenty-five cents per plate. The ticket price admitting one gentleman with two ladies may be an indication that more women than men enjoyed this event!
Also in November, the members of the Always Ready and Defender Engine companies enjoyed a supper and social time at the Grange Hall. The Hollis Times reported that these members, accompanied by their lady friends and a number of invited guests, made a party of about seventy, who partook of an oyster supper and spent the rest of the evening “in a social way.”
Of course, the Grange was the social center of the Hollis farming community at the turn of the century. It brought farmers together on a regular basis to share information and ideas and to provide a support network throughout the community. According to the Hollis Times, a special meeting of the Hillsborough County Pomona Grange with Hollis Grange on Tuesday, November 20 “was well attended, over eighty being present from out of town and seventeen of these were from outside the county and represented the Granges of Townsend, Mass., Pepperell, Mass., Groton, Mass., and Ashburnham, Mass.” The meeting began in the forenoon, included a dinner at noon and continued with a long afternoon session. After supper, the regular meeting of the Hollis Grange was held, with over 200 in attendance. No social gathering of any Hollis organization even approaches such high attendance 98 years later.
December 1900
The top news stories in the Hollis Times in December of 1900 involved issues that hardly seem newsworthy to us, 98 years later. The December 7, 1900 Hollis Times reported that the rural mail delivery system, which had been established in Hollis one month before, was “a great accommodation to the people.” The following circulation figures were published: “Registered letters, 1; letters, 438; postals, 66; newspapers, 1229; circulars, 58; packages, 24; total, 1229.” The circulation of the Hollis Times was listed at 620 copies.
Residents were also excited about the proposed electric railroad from Nashua to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, via Pepperell, Massachusetts. According to the December 21 Hollis Times, this route “has been quite freely discussed by many of our citizens . . . and it has been many times mentioned that the route from Nashua to Pepperell through this town would be but little longer and would cover a more thickly settled area.”
Other noteworthy stories in December of 1900 included the installation of a private telephone line between two residences and the announcement of a gentleman’s proposed trip to Florida. “He was to go via Boston to Savannah, Ga., by steamboat, then by rail to Mohawk, Fla., his final destination.”
Every time I get nostalgic about the simpler lifestyle Hollis residents lived 100 years ago, I consider all of the conveniences we now take for granted that our ancestors did not have, like a modern transportation system, central heat, telephones in our homes, television, and computers! Then I realize that I am glad to be living at the end, not the beginning of the 20th century!