Since we started our trip to the Milk Train with Elbridge Trow, we have passed several houses and farms. (Click here to read Part 1.) We’ve met some school children beginning their day of lessons, and some farmers making their way home from the local saw mill. (Click here to read Part 2) Now we are closing in on the Trow Farm where Elbridge’s great grandparents, Martha and Joseph Trow, first began sustaining themselves and their family in the 1780’s. (Click here to see a 10 minute video of Martha telling her story).
Elbridge hands us the reigns to search out his pipe and get it lit again. This proves to be a bit of a challenge as a breeze has picked up and keeps blowing out his matches. Soon enough, he adds a puff of earthy, hay like aroma to the air whirling around our milk wagon. He clears his throat and tells us his Trow and Dodge ancestors came here from the area of Beverly Massachusetts. It was pretty rough at first, but folks worked hard to turn this wild area into productive farms. The Trow family was more successful than some, and not as successful as others. One thing is for sure, they are a productive family. Elbridge explains that Great Grandma and Pa had 12 children in all living together in their log cabin when they first started out here in what was then the northwest corner of Amherst. Elbridge’s Grandpa Joseph was the oldest, and the first to venture out to start his own family. He took up with Betsy Perkins (remember that first house by the Old Maple Tree at the four corners? Yup, that’s where she grew up.) They married and started farming in the north end of town. They raised 6 children; Elbridge’s father and 5 sisters. All but one of those sisters married and had children of their own, mostly in town or nearby. As soon as he was able, Elbridge’s father, Joseph Trow the third, acquired Abidjan Wilkin’s farm. That’s where Elbridge and his sister Almira, and brothers Joseph and Henry live currently.
We’ve had a view of the Trow Homestead for the last mile of our trek. Now we are close enough to hear the cows low and the sheep bleat in hopeful expectation at the sound of our wagon. Elbridge does not slow the wagon, however. Great Uncle Jesse’s cows are in need of freshening, so they are not making enough milk to sell just now. We catch a glimpse of a young man splitting wood near what must be the kitchen door, and learn that he is Elbridge’s second cousin Danny, named after the famous New Hampshire Congressman, Daniel Webster. Elbridge figures Danny’s brother Arthur Allen is probably down at the mill with Uncle Jesse.
Click here to read more about the Trow Family Farm and see more pictures!
We’ve been heading almost due south on this rolling dirt road, but as we pass the Trow farm, we turn more towards the west. The stone walls lining both sides of the road, are broken periodically by sets of gates, placed almost, but not quite, across from each other. It really is like another world without all the trees we have become so accustomed to in our modern age. As we crane our necks to look behind us, we are afforded a stunning view of the village surrounded by fields neatly defined by more stone walls countless lines of maple trees planted on either side of almost every road.
The horse plods along and we begin to realize what a time commitment any sort of travel is when relying on horse and wagon. Elbridge is naturally unfazed. He begins to tell us his hopes for having a farm in town one day. It is a dream his brothers Henry and Joseph have as well. He figures the number of Trow Farms in Mont Vernon is likely to double, or maybe even triple in the next decade or so.
Much of the land along this part of Old Milford Road came to be farmed by one Trow or another, hence the name of this road. Here we are in March of 2023, and we still have a Trow descendant living on Trow road.
The road begins to climb upwards again, and we catch a glimpse of another house between the Maple tree trunks. Elbridge points with the stem of his pipe and comments on how the Hopkins family first settled right here in the 1780’s. James Hopkins built the house, and his son, James Jr., who is an old man now, continues to live there with his wife Azubah. They raised 8 children together, and all have gone off to start their own households. Their daughter Margaretta and her husband, Alexander Carson do most of the farm work these days. Once our wagon reaches the peak of the hill by their house, we can see clear across the Souhegan river valley, to the hills on the south side. Like most of the country side, they are covered with fields. The only wooded areas are on hillsides too steep and rocky to be useful for farming or pasture.
The road curves to the left, and we are back to heading due south. On our right, where the Isola Mansion is in current times, we notice another old farm. Elbridge tells us that the Tupper family lives and works there. Mr. Tyler Tupper has started his second family. His first wife died and he had to give up their three children. Now he has married again. As our horse plods along, we can see a girl in her teens attempting to wipe mud off a two year old’s face with the hem of her apron. At this age, boys and girls are dressed very similarly, but Elbridge tells us that the young one is Henry, and the face washer is his older sister Abby. He calls out to Abby, asking after her mother who has been sick for sometime. Abby thanks him for his concern, and tells him they are all praying that Mother feels better soon.
In 1885, while the Parsonage was being moved to make room for the new Victorian Shingle Style Church, Mr. Charles Isola was demolishing the farmhouse and outbuildings that existed here since before the American Revolution. He purchased the property in 1894, and needed the buildings razed to make way for his dream house designed by the Church’s Architect. All of this happened 30 years after our trip down Milford Road with Elbridge. (Read more about the Grandest House in Mont Vernon here) Image captured March, 2023
Elbridge leans onto the back of the wagon’s bench, and inhales deeply. All around us are lush fields, sturdy stone walls, a few orchards, and the ubiquitous Maple tree. Eventually, we see an astounding barn built into the hill on the west side of the road. The end near our road seems conventional enough, but the other end is several stories taller than you would think a barn should be. Elbridge urges his horse over to the barn’s door, then hops out to tie him to a handily placed hitching post. We get out, too, to stretch our legs, and peer over the edge of the road and marvel at the engineering feat accomplished by the barn builders. Way down below, behind the barn, a growing pile of manure ripens while it awaits the manure spreader for relocation. As we head round to the south side, we see a cow yard, an enclosure that allows bovine access to the second level of the barn. Elbridge brings an 80 pound milk can out and places it in the back of the wagon. He takes a second to point out how hay, stored in the loft of the barn, can be tossed down to the cows. Milking takes place on the main, or road level floor of the barn. We hope the cows enjoy the view as much as we do!
Once the wagon is loaded with the day’s milk, Elbridge hops aboard, tells the horse to, “walk on” and guides the wagon past the farmhouse. He explains that his great grandmother’s younger sister, Phebe Dodge moved here after marrying Nathaniel Raymond, back before the war of Independence. The sisters were so close, Martha’s husband, (Joseph Trow the First) acquired land just to the north of the Raymond homestead, and Phebe named her first daughter Martha. That was 2 generations ago, and like the Trows, Raymond progeny has spread through out the town, while maintaining continuous occupation of the original farm. Elbridge observes that the trend is continuing as Andrew Raymond and his wife Abbie have had 4 children already, and will likely have more before they are done!
There is a bit of a hill as we pass the Raymond place. We cross a small brook, and the wagon begins to climb again. To our left, we can’t help but notice another farm, tucked in along the brook’s valley. Elbridge assures us that this property, like so many of the others we’ve seen, has been farmed continually since the second half of the 1700’s. The original owner was Captain Benjamin Parker, a man who fought in the War of Independence. Mr. James Averill took over the place in 1810 and raised 3 daughters with his wife, Lucy. Mr. and Mrs. Averill live there still, with their eldest, spinster, daughter, Mary Ann. Elbridge tells us their youngest daughter, Helen, married Joseph Crosby Fitch, and they are basically running the farm now. He expects they will inherit the property eventually.
And this concludes the Mont Vernon portion of our ride down to Milford’s Milk Train. Please tune in next month as we attempt to find the “Hutchinson Place(s?)”
~~~~~~~~~In Other News~~~~~~~~~
Our Second History Hangout was attended by our Hardiest Historical Society Members who’s enthusiasm for history motivated them to brave the snow and make their way to the Cleaves Sawmill Site in the northwest section of town. We learned that this part of town was Lyndeborough up until 1853 (Whaaat? A new road to Milford AND an expansion of town in the same year? Coincidence or connection? Historical minds want to know…). The mill ruins are lovingly conserved by the Fimbel Family that has resided here since the 1980’s. There is an exceptional dam, and mill foundations. They have found the remains of a house nearby, the existing house being of more modern origins. The water that powered the mill is the same stuff that carved the rock around Purgatory Falls, which is not a far hike directly through the woods downstream. The Historical Society would like to thank Zoe and Mike Fimbel for being such lovely and informative hosts!
We did livestream the event through Facebook. Click here to check it out.
~~~~~~~~~Secretary Wanted~~~~~~~~~
The talented and lovely Claire Choiniere is stepping down from her role as MVHS Secretary. All of us on the board agree that she has been a wonderful secretary to our little group. She demonstrated a calm, firm force that kept things in the proper places, and motivated us to be organized as any proper society should be. What’s more, she consistently participated in a kind and thoughtful manner. Claire spearheaded last summer’s Cemetery Walk which, under her direction, gave MVHS a brilliant shot we very much needed. Ms. Choiniere will be missed more than she will ever know, leaving a large hole in our group, but also a wonderful blueprint of how this position is to be filled. We all wish her great success and happiness moving forward. We will always be grateful for the talent and time she shared with Mont Vernon Historical Society.
And so we are now looking to hire a replacement. In these desperate times, we are ready to offer twice what we paid Claire… Click here to send your letter of interest.
~~~~~~~~~MVHS April Meeting~~~~~~~~~
The next meeting of Mont Vernon’s Historical Society will take place on Tuesday, April 4. All members, and potential members are invited to attend! We meet on the first floor of our Historic Town Hall in the Selectman’s meeting room. The official start is 7:00, but there is some nice unofficial chat time if you come a little early! Hope to see you there!
~~~~~~~~~The Next History Hangout~~~~~~~~~
We’ve had a Hangout at an old Schoolhouse, and we’ve had one near a saw mill, where will the next one be? It is guaranteed to be somewhere historic. This event is proving to be a most interesting way to share and learn about Mont Vernon’s history! If you are on my email list, I’ll send you details for April’s gathering. Not on my email list? Click on the Contact link and tell me! I will be happy to get you on it! Live in an old building? Perhaps you would like to host?! Just let me know!
Mont Vernon Historical Society News Letter 