Thank You, Mr. Pomeroy

For a very long time, the most common occupation for the citizens of our town was farming. Even those who may have had other specialties, like blacksmithing, or ministering, would also have had a farm. Farms made everything human possible. A properly run farm provided food, shelter, clothing, and transportation (horsepower requires oats and hay!)

Nowadays, we trade our labor for money and use that to buy the things we need. Of course, there are a number of folks in town with chickens, a few with horses, but no one will go hungry if something bad were to happen to these animals… Modern farming in our town, for those who indulge in it, is usually hobby, with one notable exception.

Built in 1812, this barn located on the north side of Amherst road has seen 150 years of continuous use.

Every day in every year for more than 200 years, one family in town has consistently worked to maintain the delicate, cyclical balance required to sustain and be sustained by farming… and they are still doing it today! A lot has changed in all this time, while machines have made much about this process easier, the challenges of agriculture in the modern world have raised the stakes with each passing season.

Current Farmer in Chief: Kevin Pomeroy and his son.

The Pomeroys trace their lineage back to Joseph Trow, who fought as a Minute Man back in the War of Independence. War time economics were terrible, even so, Mr. Trow managed to put together the capitol to acquire land in the Northwest Parish of Amherst (along the road we now know as Old Milford), moving his wife, Martha, and 9 children here from Ipswich, Massachusetts once the war had ended. They would have 3 more children here.

Jesse Trow, 1788-1866

Martha Dodge Trow, 1736-1843

The first of them, Jesse, helped his father construct and run a sawmill powered by Hartshorn Brook. The mill went into business in 1811. Thanks to the careful book keeping of Joseph and his son Jesse, we can refer to the transactions they recorded.

Each page in this ledger represents a family the Trows did business with. Here we see the Joshua Cleaves page. He is listed in our Households book as a “known occupant” of the farm from 1813 to 1868. Our 1906 Town History states that Joshua was born on the farm in 1787, and died in 1868. He would have been 23 years old in 1812, with a wife and a 4 year old daughter. Doubtless he had an eye on the future, and built the sort of barn many farmers had at the time… 5 bays long, and 3 bays wide (a bay is a 12 foot by 12 foot square, with a structural post in each corner). Joshua would have brought logs, likely cut from his property, to the mill, and had them sawn into the lumber he needed. In May of 1812, that amounted to 889 feet of boards, $1.77, 120 feet of planks, $0.37, (this next one is really hard to read but a guess is) 2109 feet B (for boards?), $4.21, and then some other kind of planks for $0.50. Judging from the amount of lumber he had milled in the following years, it may have taken some time to finish the barn.

To read more about the mill, click here.

Joshua’s father, Nathan Cleaves, was the first to farm what is now Pomeroy land. Our 1906 Town History says he was a “tailor by trade” and settled in Amherst’s Northwest Parish before the Revolution. Nathan died at the age of 64 in 1812, allowing Joshua to take over. Joshua’s son, William, farmed with him, but died in 1860. His daughter Lydia Anne married C. B. Tuttle in 1843. They lived on the farm for several years, having 7 children, only one of which survived into adult hood. Mr. Tuttle married a second time after Lydia Ann died, and moved to Milford. Joshua Cleaves’ death at the age of 80 in 1868, marked the end of the Cleaves legacy on Amherst road.

That is the year that Elbridge Trow acquired the farm. Elbridge was Joseph and Martha Trow’s great grandson. At the age of 28 he was three years married and a father, ready and motivated to farm. Farm he did for 22 years before selling the business to his third cousin, Jesse Trow, and moving to New Boston to become a tavern owner.

Jesse grew up in Amherst, and was also 28 years old when he assumed ownership of the old Cleaves farm in 1890. A year later, he married Helen Whiting. They would have a boy, Norman in 1896, and a girl, Lila in 1899. It was Lila who brought the Pomeroy name to Mont Vernon when she married Ray Eugene Pomeroy in 1917. In 1936, the couple took over the farm, raising a daughter and 5 sons. Keith Pomeroy was one of those sons. Born in 1932, Keith took over the farm in 1952 (only 20 years old) and got married 3 years later.

Many of us Mont Vernonites remember Keith Pomeroy, Kevin’s father. Besides farming, he was incredibly active in town, serving as Selectman for 30+ years, assistant Fire Chief, President of the Mont Vernon Historical Society, and much more. Here is how Keith described the Pomeroy history on the farm with words he wrote in 2012. (to see even more, click here)

Jesse S. Trow, my mother’s father, purchased the farm in 1890.  The old barn, built in 1812, has a stable that would house fourteen cows on the second floor.  It also had three horse stalls for a team of work horses and one light driving horse, a Morgan.  

Keith was probably calling this the “second floor” above the barn. Below it is a walk out basement that may have been a “first floor” in his mind.

The cows were milked by hand, and the was milk cooled in a tank of running water (pictured on the right) fed by the spring up on the hill behind the house. (Kevin remembered having the job of pouring the buckets of fresh milk into 40 quart jugs that were cooled by this tank.) In the summer, Jesse would drive the Morgan horse and wagon once or twice a week to get ice from the icehouse that used to set beside Hartshorn’s Pond on the road to Milford to put in the tank to help cool the milk faster in warm weather.

The milk was picked up daily by a neighbor who also had cows and taken to meet the milk train in Milford to be shipped to the Whiting Milk Company in Boston.  Later in life, when my grandfather got too old to take care of so many cows, he cut back and sold bottled milk at the door to several neighbors who no longer had cows.  When he died in 1942, the herd had dwindeled down in size so that we were only making milk for our own use.  In 1946, my brother-in-law, began shipping milk again to Haywoods Dairy in Nashua.

In the fall of 1952 I took over the farm, shipping milk and raising hay.  At that time, there were nine other farms shipping milk from Mont Vernon.   (Kevin points out that his father was able to raise 4 boys with 8 milking cows, a feat that would be impossible in the 21st century!) First I shipped milk in forty quart jugs, then I moved down stairs in the old barn I had twenty four stalls, a new milk house and a bulk tank.  The milk was picked up by a tank truck and taken to Producers Dairy in Nashua.  I shipped milk to them until the early 1970’s when they went out of business.  Yankee Milk picked up our milk until Agri-Milk formed in May 1980 and we have been shipping to them ever since.

“Downstairs” in the 1812 barn. Note the beams in the ceiling retaining their log shape (except for those that have been replaced). Joshua Cleaves would have hand hewn only the top of the log to create a level side to lay the floor on. Wouldn’t Joshua have marveled at the tractors that sport these tires!

Kevin and Gregory wanted to farm with me and in 1978 we built our first barn south of Amherst Road and started using it in 1980.  (pictured on the left) It could handle 66 cows.  We formed Pomeroy Farm Partnership on January 1, 1982.  We needed more space for machinery and built a shop and shed in 1984.  

Inside the 1980 barn, each stall retains the name of the cow that last used it. This barn featured the modern conveniences of a milking machine, and a chain driven gutter cleaning mechanism, that conveys the manure to the back of the building. It still works, though the only the youngest cows kept here these days.

The 1812 barn has a lovely view of the 2009 barn, which holds 4 times the milk cows, and a knee saving milking parlor.

In 2008 and 2009 we built our free stall barn for 100 head of cows with a milking parlor that can milk twelve at a time.  We have had to lease more land over the years to grow hay and corn to feed them, and to buy more machinery to harvest and bring in the crops. (The picture on the left is an example of some leased land. No longer farmed by the Carletons, the Pomeroys harvest hay and fertilize from these fields… continuing a tradition that began in the 1760’s.)

Pictured on the left is the milking parlor. It milks up to 12 cows at a time. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that the milker can stand to apply the milking devices.

Cows, like most humans, like their routines and have difficulties with transition. On the first day in this new barn, the confused 1500 pound cows squished Kevin against the rail near where he is standing in the picture to the right, breaking his back. Fortunately, he had friends and family who helped out while he healed. And he surely does not hold a grudge. I believe that man is always smiling!

This is the barn where the young female cows reside until they have their first calf. These cows are called heifers, and they were very interested in in the little humans that attended our MVHS tour of the farm!

Here is the lucky bull whose only job is to greet visitors and tend to the young lady cows. Once they become mothers and grow accustomed to being handled by humans, Kevin inseminates them artificially. There used to be a company he could hire to do the job, but the milk industry infrastructure is drying up, and this service no longer exists.

All those cows gotta eat! Kevin’s cows get grain, silage and haylage which he grows in fields in and around Mont Vernon. Once chopped, the grass and corn ferments in these “pits”, the fermentation helps preserve and digest the plant material. They also get brewers grain from the Anheuser Bush plant in Merrimack… Cows love it!

He uses the loader to put the cow chow in a big mixer, six times a day, 365 days a year…

Here is the barn that houses the cow food that has been processed by the cows. The objective is to store the stuff until it can get recycled… as fertilizer on hay and corn fields!

Here are the mommas in the newest barn. It can handle up to 100 milking cows. Kevin has divided them into 3 groups. The best milkers get the most grain, the middle group gets a bit less, and the gals at the end a smidge less than that. Every bit of the milking process is part of a delicate balancing act, with the end goal being to earn enough of a profit to continue on next year.

Here is the cooling tank that gets used today. Kevin has 2 in this room. This bigger one can hold 2500 gallons of milk, the other a mere 1500. Several times a week Agrimart’s 18 wheeler tanker truck picks it all up, then heads over to Fitch’s for their milk.

We are surely blessed to have the dairy tradition surviving and thriving in our town! Kevin, his family, and network of supporters have a passion for this work that is an absolute privilege to witness! Thank you, Mr. Pomeroy!!

~~~~~~~In Other News~~~~~~~

Our July MVHS meeting falls on July 4rth this year, and has been cancelled due to the Holiday. Have a safe and Happy Fourth, All!!

~~~~~~~MVHS Museum Hours~~~~~~~

The Historical Society’s Museum is located on the second floor of the Town’s Hall. It’s a great way to experience Mont Vernon’s history, and it’s FREE! Here are the official opening hours:

Saturday, July 15 from 1:00 to 4:00
Saturday, August 19 from 1:00 to 4:00
Saturday, September 16 from 1:00 to 4:00
Saturday, October 21 from 1:00 to 4:00

As Always, please send along any inquiries by clicking our CONTACT option, here or in the menu. We love hearing from you!

1852: The Only Road to Milford…. Part 4

Our trip to Milford technically ended in Part 3, as we reached the southern most border of Mont Vernon. Amazing to think that there was so much going on in the bottom quarter of our little town back in 1852. However, we’ve only traveled one third of the total distance to the Depot on Cottage Street where Elbridge will part with his milk delivery. (Don’t worry if you missed those other parts, click on the following links and you will be all caught up in no time! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Let’s have another look at the passage that got all this started:

“In 1853 was built the new road from “the Maple tree” to Milford, a direct line through the woods and passing what is now Hartshorn’s Mill. Formally to get to Milford, Mont Vernon people had to go round by the south school-house, and the Raymond and Hutchinson places. The new road is much shorter and easier.” (1907 History of the Town of Mont Vernon, p. 47)

What about that Hutchinson place? There seems to be several options here. The first, in terms of proximity to the Raymond place (and perhaps most significant) is the actual birthplace of the Hutchinson Family singers (underlined in pink on the map below). The 1858 map makers would have known these singers because they were world famous in the days before the internet, television, or even radio! If you are unfamiliar, read up on these folks, and their connection to Mont Vernon here.

However, there were a few other Hutchinson options. There is D. Hutchinson, just to the south (the farm at the intersection of the road we know as Joslin Rd.) and another Hutchinson where North River Road connects to Rt. 13.

This is the last house on the old road to Milford marked with the Hutchinson name on the 1858 map. We see it here from North River Road. The location has seen some changes recently, including the removal of its barn (which was built in the mid 1900’s) to make room for all the condos that now exist around it. This historian is glad they saved the old brick building. They just don’t make them like that anymore! (Image captured in October, 2022)

Perhaps this last one is not really an option, because it is near the old and new routes, and would not be a helpful landmark for any reader.

It is possible that the historian who wrote that quote may have had a completely different Hutchinson place in mind as he composed that thought. It’s another one of those details that has grown fuzzy over the last century.

Google Earth image: Route 13 runs from the north (left) to the south (right), crosses the Souhegan river and the Railroad tracks (dark line roughly parallel to Rt. 101). The round about Old Milford Rd. route is traced in gray, along the bottom half of this screen capture.

As noted in the year 2000 by Keith Pomeroy, “Roads are built in Mont Vernon for only two purposes, to build houses on or to facilitate travel to other areas of Mont Vernon or other towns.” Old Milford Road’s construction began well before the town of Milford existed. It was originally traveled by Farmers looking to get to a neighboring farm, or to church which was located in the Amherst Village until 1781.

The town of Milford was incorporated 1794, but it became a real destination when the first Rail Road was completed in 1850. At that time, every farmer with in a day’s wagon ride suddenly had access to every market from Milford to Boston.

Many gallons of Mont Vernon’s milk departed here for the big city. Elbridge Trow, along with the many other dairy producers in and around Mont Vernon, would have known this station well!

The new road to Milford, currently known as Rt. 13, shaves a whopping 1.6 miles off a round trip to the train station. That may not sound like much to the modern day traveler, but as Mr. Pomeroy observes, “You must remember that the only means of travel was with horses, oxen or by foot and direct roots were most important.”

The next time you need to run to Milford, try taking a little extra time on Old Milford Road. Look for the older houses and think on the footsteps of the 200+ years worth of travelers that have passed this way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~In Other News~~~~~~~~~~~~

MEETING: If you enjoyed this Only Road to Milford series, maybe you should think about getting more involved with our little society! We have a great group of folks, and there is ALWAYS room for more! Come on over to the Town Hall on Tuesday, June 6. We start to gather around 6:45 in the Selectmen’s meeting room which is on the first floor, and try to get down to business at 7:00.

~~~~~~~~~~~~June Museum Hours~~~~~~~~~~~~

We were mightily pleased to have many visitors for our first opening of the season. Rain or shine we were prepared for Spring Gala and the Gala-ians did not disappoint! If you missed that opportunity, have no fear. Our next opening will be Saturday, June 17th from 1 to 4. Our museum is located on the second floor of Mont Vernon’s iconic Town Hall, stop by and check it out!

~~~~Spring Gala Parade 2023~~~~

Martha Dodge Trow promised a MVHS presence in the Parade and here is the photographic proof:

On behalf of the Society, I would like to thank Tim Berry for his help preparing the trailer and pulling it down Main Street with his beautifully cleaned tractor. Thanks to Mike Fimbel for procuring the trailer. Thank you to Zoe Fimbel, Tom Wahle, Anna Szok and Chris Kolb for donning costumes to play Nancy Adams, William Bruce, Martha Dodge Trow, and Deacon John Carleton respectively. It sure was a lot of fun! Thank you to you, too, if you gave us a wave!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~Pomeroy Farm Tour~~~~~~~~~~~~

MVHS is looking forward to another summer of historic events! We’ll get started with an insider’s tour of the Pomeroy Farm.

It turns out that the Pomeroys are direct descendants of Martha Dodge Trow. She explains here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~Ideas?~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got an idea for an MVHS Event? Newsletter article? Have a historic question? We would LOVE to hear it! Please follow this link and let us know!!
Thank you!

Byways To And From Mont Vernon

written by Keith E. Pomeroy in June 2000

Roads are built in Mont Vernon for only two purposes, to build houses on or to facilitate travel to other areas of Mont Vernon or other towns.

There are two roads that pass through Mont Vernon that were built for purposes other than to serve the needs of the residents of Mont Vernon and if you follow them you will determine that they more or less travel in a straight line from beginning to end.

The second New Hampshire Turnpike was one and Brook Road/Rt. 13 north of the Tator Street junction was the other.

The turnpike was built in 1802 by two corporations to connect Boston, Massachusetts and Windsor, Vermont. It was a toll road for 35 years, from 1802 until 1837, the act of incorporation was repealed by the New Hampshire legislature. The towns that it traveled through had to maintain the portions that were located within their boundaries after that date. Some of the tolls that were charged: 2-wheeled carts, two cents; 4-wheeled wagons, three cents, with 2-horse wagons 1.5 cents extra; and, a horse and rider, on cent. One of the toll gates was located in Mont Vernon near the New Boston line on the Francestown Turnpike.

At that time, the toll house and toll gate were located in the town of lyndeborough. It wasn’t until 1853 that this portion of the turnpike became part of Mont Vernon, 16 years after its discontinuance as a toll road.

In a small cemetery near the road on the New Boston town line are buried one of the toll takers, James McCauley and his wife.

Mont Vernon maintained all of the highway that ran through town from 1837 until the fall of 1869, when a great rain and flood washed out the lower end on October third and fourth. At a special Town Meeting called in November 1869, it was voted not to repair this part. Everything south of Hillcrest Avenue to the Amherst town line was discontinued and the road reverted back to the abutters.
You can still see the remains of this road as it has stone walls on both sides. Beginning at the north end of Amherst’s Boston Post Road North and following it in a northwesterly direction, you will cross Carleton Road, near the brook that comes from Jew (now Carelton) Pond, continue on behind the Bruce Holt land until you reach the junction of Hillcrest Avenue and Old Amherst Road. Old Amherst Road to North Main Street to the Freancestown Turnpike and then to the New Boston Line.

The other road that was laid out and built to accommodate persons not directly connected with Mont Vernon is our Brook Road/Rt. 13, north of the Tater Street junction. Built in 1827 and 1828 to connect Amherst, the county seat, and Weare, another major town. This allowed the residents and businesses of New Boston, We are, Henniker and others to have a more direct route to Nashua and below, as it joined the Second New Hampshire Turnpike in Amherst. The 1907 Town History noted that “its construction and maintenance have been a heavy burden to this town.” I would assume because of its proximity to Quohquinnepassakessananognog Brook as it has overflowed and washed out sections of Brook Road many times in my lifetime.

Except for the two aforementioned roads and Old Milford Road most of the older roads ran east and west off the turnpike. Secomb road to Trow sawmill, Amherst Road to Purgatory Road and onto Lyndeborough, Hillcrest, Harwood and Upton to join with Purgatory and Beech Hill Road to also go to Lyndeborough. The north and south roads were put in later and usually piecemeal to accommodate residents that either wanted to leave town or come to the village more quickly and easier, such as bypassing steep hills. You must remember that the only means of travel was with horses, oxen or by foot and direct roots were most important.

Our two other major routes to the south are Rout 13 and Wilton Road, miss-called Old Wilton Road as the correct name is Wilton Road, adopted by the Town Meeting vote on March 10, 1953.

Route 13 south was built in two stages. The section from the Town Hall to Amherst and Purgatory roads was approved by voters on September 30, 1823. The lower end from the four corners on Mont Vernon Hill to the former Hartshorn’s Sawmill was not built until 1853, thus making a quicker route to Milford other than the use of Old Milford Road.

Wilton Road was built at several different times to serve different purposes. The oldest part os from Hutchinson Road to Lorren Pelletier’s farm more of a driveway at first. In 1878 an addition was made from that point to connect with Purgatory Road. The most northern portion, Main Street to the Upton and Harwood Road corner was built in 1860. This section was also known as “Lover’s Lane.” In 1893 the part connection Upton and Harwood to Purgatory was built to give landowners in that part of town a chance to get to Mont Vernon village without having to climb Mont Vernon Hill. The most southern portion, from Hutchinson Road to Milford town line was part of a greater project. They intended to connect with the North River Road at Pitch’s Corner to have better travel to Wilton and beyond. Because the building of this road entailed going through parts of three different towns, the court laid out this road with the Fitch house as a starting point. It runs from Mont Vernon into Milford, then through a small part of Lyndeborough, back into Milford, ending at Fitch’s Corner.

The material for this article came from the May 15-21, 1996 “The Yankee Post,” Secomb’s History of Amherst 1728-1882, Mont Vernon Town Histories of 1907 and 1958 and town records.

1852: The Only Road to Milford… Part 3

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.

Joseph Trow II’s home on Lamson Road, our Households book credits him as being the first owner. When the Ryder family purchased the house in the 1960’s it was in terrible shape. Image captured March 2023.

Joseph Trow III’s home on Pond Road. In the fall of 2022, the barn caught fire and burned. Image captured March 2023.

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.

Jesse Trow 1788-1866

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.

Looking back up Old Milford Road, to the northeast. Except for the abundance of trees, and the modern fence, not much has changed in the last 170 years. Image captured March 2023.

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.

To see the far side of the Souhegan River Valley in modern times, you must climb the hill Trow Road is built on and look south. Our current Trow resident has cut down the woods that were growing on this hill, and the elevation allows us to see what Elbridge could see during most of his commute to the milk train. Mystic Brook runs through what is left of this farm land, which continues to support horses, sheep, goats, chickens and other poultry to numerous to mention. This image was captured in March of 2023.

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!

The Raymond Homestead. Image captured October 2022.

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!

Our Households book says the oldest parts of this house were built in the 1760’s. In this image, we are looking to the north-east. Back in the day, this farm had a first rate view all the way up Mont Vernon hill, to the town, and eventually the Hotels. Image captured in April, 2023.

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!

Braving the muddy, snowy, driveway…

Fimbel Household on the Cleaves Sawmill sight. Images captured March, 2023

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.

Claire Choiniere (on the right) poses with the cast of characters she wrangled into informative entertainment in October 2022.

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!

CONTACT MVHS

1852: The Only Road to Milford… Part 2

Let us continue our virtual trip down to Milford to meet the Milk Train in the year 1852. (This is the route marked by orange dots in the 1858 map here.) When we left off in Part 1, we were in a horse drawn wagon with young Elbridge Trow. He has lived his whole life in town, and made this particular trip countless times. Elbridge is glad to have our company and happily shares his knowledge of the families and landmarks along this arduous, round-about route that will be improved upon in 1853 with the creation of a more direct route connecting the Maple Tree with Hartshorn’s Sawmill (marked with blue dots in this picture).

So far, we have traveled due west along a road we now know as Purgatory. We’ve passed a cluster of houses, and then some lovely fields on both sides of the road. We notice the sound of the harness rhythmically swaying with the horses stride change slightly as the road begins to lose elevation. Rather than pulling the wagon, the horse is now pushing backwards on it, slowing it down… a literal brake made of muscle and bone. The line of maples on the right side of the road is interrupted by a driveway that loops up around a large white house. Elbridge knows something of the previous owners, the Langdell family. He tells us they were some of Mont Vernon’s original settlers. William Langdell was born in England, settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, then moved to the Northwest Parish of Amherst with his son, Joseph. Joseph’s son Mark Langdell ran this farm until 1829. Elbridge isn’t sure who owns it now. A Mr. Langley lived there for a year or two, but he was only renting. The house looks rather run down compared to the one we know today.

The Langdell house as it looked after Henry Dodge bought and improved it in the 1880’s. A descendant of the Langdells, Henry is the 14 year old we are about to meet on our 1852 journey to Milford. He would be the one to bestow this building with the name, “Sunnyside Farm”.

Sunnyside Farm as it looked in 2021. The porch is gone, save the portion that has been converted to an all season room. Note how much the Maple tree has grown in the last 120 years!

In front of this house, the road forks. Either way presents a fairly steep hill, a familiar obstacle every Mont Vernon traveller must learn to contend with. If we were to continue west, we would pass the farm the Carleton family has cultivated since the 1760’s. Elbridge stops the wagon and hops out to place a neat metal skid under one of the rear wheels. A chain keeps the skid solidly under the wheel. When we head down a steep slope, the skid will stop one of the wheels from moving, making the horse’s decent down the steep hill much less work.

But before Elbridge can hop back on the wagon and urge the horse on the southerly route to the left, we notice three children carrying lunch pails climbing the hill to our right. The oldest, a boy of about 14, calls out a friendly good morning, and Elbridge offers them a ride down the hill on the wagon’s tailgate. These are the Dodge children, Henry (pictured in the vintage photograph above), is the oldest. He lifts his littlest sister Emily (7 years old) onto the wagon, while his other sister Abbie (12 years old) deftly climbs aboard. Their family’s farm is on Purgatory Hill, and the children walk this route daily for lessons at the South School House. Like many families in Mont Vernon, the Dodges place great value on education. Emily is cute as a button and tells us how much she loves reading and writing.

Emily Francilla Dodge is remembered as an “accomplished woman and a poetess of merit” (p. 59 in our 1906 History). We know she attended school in the South School House because of this notation on p. 51 in the same book, “June 17, 1884. New school-house in the South District dedicated, with historical address by the Hon. Charles J. Smith, and a poem written by Mrs. Emily Dodge Simpson of New York, daughter of Henry C. Dodge, and in girlhood a pupil of the school.” Emily’s poems are utilized in several ceremonies recorded in our 1906 history.

The top of Old Milford Road as it looked in February 2023.

The wagon starts forward, jostling its riders and cans of milk. Elbridge tells us we are coming up to the farm that has been in the Trow family since the 1780’s. At the bottom of the hill, we can just make out a small white house on the east side of the road. It was built for his Great Uncle Levi Trow who was the last son born to Elbridge’s great-grandparents Joseph and Martha Trow. In 1811, it was the first house built with wood milled up in the newly completed Saw Mill located just a bit further down the Hartshorn Brook valley. Henry jokes that Levi must have really wanted out of the Trow family log cabin for that house to be such a priority! Elbridge laughs, but clarifies that his uncle got married 1812, which is often the inspiration for house building in these parts. However, something must have soured his relationship with his parents, because Great Grandpa Joseph left Uncle Levi the sum of one dollar in his will, a cold last wish considering how well the family farm was doing when he passed 30 years ago, and how evenly he divided the rest of his assets… Perhaps it was of little consequence, as Great Uncle Levi left town in 1825 and moved to Goshen where he assumed the honorary title of “Captain Levi Trow” the most remarkable Tavern proprietor there. (Trow’s Tavern).

As we near the house, Elbridge tells us that Rodney K. Hutchinson lives there now, with his father-in-law John Hartshorn. Mr. Hartshorn has two grown daughters and a son, Rodney will marry and father 5 children with the older Hartshorn daughter, Susan, and then 4 more with the younger daughter, Sarepta upon Susan’s death. (page 82 in our 1906 Town History). Sounds like a made for TV movie to our modern ears, but this sort of thing was quite common. Back in the day, single parenting was practically unheard of!

The house originally built here in 1812, (8 Old Milford Road) was for Levi Trow and his young bride, Betsy Averill. The couple never had children, and moved to Goshen, NH 14 years later. In 1889 the house burned. Elmer E. Carleton built the one we see today. This image was captured in February, 2023.

Hartshorn Brook as it flows towards Old Milford Road from the west. This image was captured in February 2023.

As we near the bottom of the hill, we can hear the soft song of Hartshorn Brook finding it’s way through the woods to the west, then under the road and into the field to the east. Elbridge gives the horse a signal to stop, and jumps down to remove the skid. Henry, Abbie and Emily jump off as well, choosing to walk the rest of the way with the three Hutchinson children who have appeared at the end of their driveway. Alfred, 10 years old, shows Henry the bat he is carrying, and asks about playing ball later. Rodney, 10 years old, hopes to play as well. Mary is 6 years old, and runs to hold her friend Emily’s hand. Abbie remembers to thank Elbridge for the ride before heading up the road with the other children.

The Old South Schoolhouse was built in 1815. The original building may have burned, or just fell into disrepair. Our 1906 town history tells us it was fixed up and rededicated with pomp and circumstance in 1884. The school was closed in 1912, as all students reported to the center school in town (it had plenty of room and 2 teachers!). In the 1920’s the Old South Schoolhouse was converted into a residence and has been occupied ever since.

This image captured by current resident, Anna Szok, in February 2023. As of this date, the house has been in her family 52 years.

Ahead, we see another wagon making its way across the rocky, wet field on our left. Elbridge recognizes the rig as belonging to John Carleton Sr., and believes he has his son, John Jr. with him. Their flatbed wagon has a heavy load of freshly sawn boards. Elbridge has heard that the Carletons have plans to construct a new building on their farm, and is interested in the details. When we arrive at the “gate” pictured below, Elbridge tells the horse to Whoa, and fishes around in his coat for a pouch of tobacco. He fills his long stem pipe and has a few puffs while we wait for the Carleton team to reach the road.

It is difficult to see in any season, but there is a break in the stonewall here on the east side of Old Milford Road. The field it opens onto is comparatively narrow, with thick stonewalls on the north and south sides. Back in the day, this was the wagon road to the Trow Sawmill and up to the Towne House and shop. The old trail continues on downstream, then crosses the brook (the abutments can still be seen for the low bridge that has long since washed away). After the bridge, the road turns north, and heads uphill, back to the mill, and then on to the road we now know as Secomb Road. All of these roads are easily more than 100 years older than the road that became Rt. 13!

We hear a distant shout of “Hurry Up!” and two young boys appear on the wagon road. Their pace quickens as the school teacher begins ringing the school bell. Elbridge remarks that they are James and George Towne, 12 and 10 years old, his second cousins. He tells us their father, James Towne, married Jane Trow, something of a shotgun wedding considering how soon after the nuptials young George was born. James works at the mill and farms some, and is quite active in the running of the town. Great Uncle Jesse gave the couple some land near the mill to build their house on the year they were married. As the boys approach our wagon, Elbridge calls out, “Where is Nancy?” to which young George replies, “Our little sister was coughing some this morning, Sir, so Ma kept her home.”

The school bell heard by these students, has been preserved with the house. Click here to see it and hear it ring.

By now, the Carletons have pulled their wagon alongside ours. There are some congenial remarks about the weather before Elbridge asks about the freshly milled lumber securely tied to their flatbed wagon. “We’ve been talking about building a black smith shop for a while now” says John Sr., “Decided to use the trees we felled for the back pasture towards that end.” Over the last several weeks, the men have brought several loads of logs to the mill. Elbridge asks how much wood they have. John Jr. answers, “We’ve got 1619 board feet milled up, of course, it will take a few trips to get it all to the building site.” They have arranged for Rodney Hutchinson, who is a carpenter, to help with the framing, and hope to be shoeing their own horses before summer’s end.

This vintage photograph was swiped from the internet. It shows a pile of 1500 board feet of wood to the left of the serious looking gentleman.

According to the Trow Mill Ledger, John Carleton did quite a bit of business in 1852:

to sawing boards 1619 feet
to sawing posts 25
to sawing one bunch log
to taking lone and carting to Milford one bunch log
Cr by one bunch log
Cr by plank 644 feet
Cr by birch timber
Cr by account
Cr by Cash to balance account
January 27 1853……….$40.23

His curiosity satisfied, Elbridge bids them good day, and urges his horse onward. On our right, the lush Trow Farm hillside fields form a sun-hugging bowl with the road making a sweeping curve along the bowl’s lip. As we travel southwest, the neat lines of a Hickory Tree grove hypnotically change perspective. When we crane our necks to look back up Mont Vernon Hill, we can see most of Purgatory road. At this point in our round-about trip to Milford, we have traveled about half the distance from the Maple Tree to Mont Vernon’s southern border. There is plenty more to cover, but for now, faithful readers, we will pause our story.

In the left picture, we enjoy the view looking northeast. There was a time when the Grand Hotel could be seen from here. The right picture, taken from roughly the same spot, shows the view to the south east. A variety of buildings have been built, repurposed, and/or torn down around the Trow homestead. Click on this link for more about the Trows and view some vintage photographs of the farm and its inhabitants.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In Other News~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MVHS Members will be meeting on Tuesday, March 7. We are pleased to gather in one of our most Historic Buildings, Mont Vernon’s own Town Hall (circa 1781!!) where we will make use of the Selectmen’s Meeting room on the first floor. We like to start at 7:00, but feel free to come a little early for the pre-meeting chat. All are invited, and count me grateful for each and every attendee!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

History Hangout: Due to popular demand, we are planning a second History Hangout in March! This one will be graciously hosted by Zoe Fimbel. I will send out an email with the finer details. If you are interested in this event, but are not on my email list yet, please let me know by contacting me at annaszok@yahoo.com.