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Saturday, April 29, 2017

Watching The Time


RARE BRADFORD CLOCK. This banjo-style clock was crafted by Bradford clockmaker Johnson Arad Hardy in the 1850s. It was recently sold at an estate auction in Geneseo, New York. (Courtesy Cottone Auctions)

This steeple clock in Woodsville's Opera House was installed with funds raised by the Woodsville Women's Club after 1924. It is the only area steeple clock not found in a church.  Photos of some of the 14 Church steeple clocks follow the article. 


Haverhill Corner Brick Church Stephen Hasham clock installed 1844.



WATCH REPAIRER AT WORK.  Fred Doe repaired watch at the Doe Brothers store on Bradford's Main Street in the 1939 photo.  Doe was the owner of the store from 1885 until it closed in 1968. The photo was taken by Lee Russell working for the Farm Security Administration (Library of Congress)   
“In the present generation we have become so accustomed to the use of accurate time and the ready means of obtaining it, that we hardly realize how dependent we are upon it,” wrote William Francis Allen in an article entitled “The Reformation in Time”  for the December 1884 edition of Popular Science Monthly.

This column examines the development of watches and clock as reflected in local history. It includes both personal time pieces and town clocks. The Vermont Historical Society’s collection devoted to the history of clockmakers, local town histories, historic publications and online sources provided background.  

This is a timely topic leading up to New Year’s Eve. As midnight approaches that night, more local residents look at their watches and clocks simultaneously than at any other time of the year. 

Simultaneous coordination was also a major event in the fall of 1883. The proliferation of railroads and telegraph created a demand for precision in determining time. To avoid accidents and missed trains, there needed to be uniformity in time.

 “Local time” had been widely used  with each community relying on something like a town clock to set the exact time for activities locally. On Nov. 18, 1883, millions of clocks across the nation were altered to conform to the new system of standardized time developed by the major railroad companies.  Locally, that might have occurred on Oct. 7 when the Central Vermont Railroad adopted the system of standard time.  

Town or tower clocks were introduced into the local area when one was installed in the Norwich Congregational Church in 1816. Over the next 120 years, at least 14 tower clocks were installed in local church steeples. High above the community, these clocks rang out the hour and residents set watches and domestic clocks for uniform local time. Their installation was a source of civic pride for the communities.  In some cases the tax on personal timepieces encouraged the installation of a town clock.

There are at least four clockmakers represented by tower clocks still in place. Stephen Hasham of Charlestown, New Hampshire placed one of his clocks in the Haverhill Corner Brick Church in 1844. Benjamin Morrill of Boscawen installed a clock in the Orford Congregational Church in the 1850s. Of the seven known Morrill clocks this is the only one still in its original location. 

Seth Thomas of Connecticut began working on clocks in 1807. The firm he later created continued to manufacture clocks of all types until the 1980s. There are at least seven Seth Thomas tower clocks in the region. They are located in the following churches: Thetford Hill Congregational (1895), North Thetford Congregational (1895), Thetford Center United Methodist (circa 1904), Groton United Methodist (1912), Post Mills Congregational (1915), Wells River Congregational (1932), South Ryegate United Presbyterian (1936).

 Edward Howard of Massachusetts began manufacturing  clocks in 1842.  As with Thomas, his clocks are of several types. The four local Howard tower clocks are located at Bradford Congregational (1875, replaced with an electronic one in 2015-6), Lyme Congregational (1921), Fairlee Federated (1926) and Newbury Congregational (date unknown).  There two other churches with tower clocks by unknown manufacturers: Warren Methodist and Ryegate Corner Presbyterian.

There is only one tower clock in a building other than a church. In 1924 the Woodsville Women’s Club raised the funds to install a clock in the  Woodsville Opera House built in 1890.

While each clock fulfilled its function as the community’s “common arbiter of time,” each has aspects of its history that are similar to and different from the others. Most seem to be the first town clock in the community.  However several references are made to a Bradford town clock located south of the Waits River bridge on what is now Route 5 prior to the construction of the new Congregational Church in 1875.  

Several clocks were given by donors “for the benefit of the citizens” of the community whereas others were included in the original building costs or purchased with funds raised by taxes or group fund drives

Other variations include the number of clock dials and the material from which they are made.  While most are wooden, several of them are translucent allowing for interior lighting. While earlier clocks often had only an hour hand, all now include minute hands.   

The clocks have stopped from time to time and some are not working presently. Most have had significant repairs over the years. The most frequent repairs are having the internal works electrified, the hands replaced and the clock dial(s) restored. Major work was usually undertaken by accomplished craftsmen.

The question of the use of public funds for the maintenance of clocks located in churches was address by the Vermont Supreme Court in 1890. It determined that since a so-called town clock represented “an object of common convenience and necessity,” public funds could be used for repairs. 

There have been individuals who often spent decades as the “appointed” keeper of the clock. This included winding it and keeping the mechanism in general working order. The timekeeper would have to climbing narrow stairs or ladders to the winding mechanism about once a week.  It also meant removing an occasional bird, bat or squirrel that might have caused the clock to malfunction. 

Before personal watches, domestic clocks and tower clocks became common, there were those who relied on the sun and stars to determine time.  The Newbury history mentions that “most of the houses had their ‘noon marks’ to indicate that hour.” Apparently, “in the absence of clocks, people were often skillful in telling the hour of the night by the position of the heavenly bodies.”    

By the time  local communities were settled  in the second half of the 18th century  some residents had watches and clocks. Some were imported whereas others were manufactured by craftsmen in southern New England.  Early records indicate that those that needed repair often had to be shipped to places such as Newburyport, Massachusetts. By 1830, timepieces were more common and the Ryegate census included a report of one gold and 12 silver watches and 37 brass clocks.  

Soon there were watch and clockmakers in the local area. Between 1770 and 1920 there were over 50 local clock and watch makers, repairers and jewelers specializing in the sale of watches and clocks.  Over time, the number of makers diminished in favor of the latter two groups. 

Industrialization affected the industry.  After the 1820s the increase in cast brass brought an end to wooden clock movements. The introduction of standardized watch parts in 1857 made watches more reliable.

After World War I, wrist watches became popular, replacing men’s pocket watches and women’s pendant watches.  Cheaper watches and clocks reduced the number of those who repaired clocks and watches.  The names Elgin and Waltham were more likely to appear on watches than any local name. 

As space does not allow for all of the information that was gathered about 50 plus watch and clock craftsmen and merchants, I will highlight a few of the most significant local individuals. 

John Osgood of Haverhill was a clockmaker from 1793 to 1840. “His shop had two rooms, the front one a salesroom and the rear one a workshop where was a forge for melting the brass for the clocks…” Each Osgood clock was numbered and a current dealer indicates that he has seen clocks registered in excess of 370.

 Osgood clock were tall-cased or grandfather type standing over 8 feet with eight-day brass works. They featured painted dials and moon phases and calendar apertures.  The cases for Osgood’s clocks were often crafted by his uncles Michael Carleton of Haverhill and Dudley Carleton of Newbury.  

The only other style clock Osgood made was a gallery clock presented to the First Congregational Church of Haverhill in 1838. A photo of one of Osgood tall-case clocks has been posted on my blog at larrycoffin.blogspot.com as part of my article on furniture makers.

The Hardy family of Bradford included several generations of craftsmen who worked with clocks and watches. Oliver Hardy came to Bradford in 1802. A man of many talents he was a tanner, currier, blacksmith and shoemaker. Silas McKeen’s history indicates,  “As there was no one to clean and repair clocks and watches, locals brought them to him.”

Oliver’s son, Johnson Arad Hardy opened “the first scientific clock, watch and jewelry establishment in Bradford” in 1829 a business he continued until several years before his death in 1874.

The younger Hardy cleared and repaired over 33,000 watches. Through advertisement in Bradford’s National Opinion he offered his services to deal with the “real wants of fine watches.” He also made watches and clocks “of different styles and prices.”

 He made and donated a gallery clock to the Congregational Society of Bradford, one that required winding only 12 times a year. Two of Jefferson’s sons, Oliver and William followed their father in the business, the former in Alabama and the latter, who also farmed, in Fairlee.     

Recently I received a call from a person who had purchased a rare J. A. Hardy banjo style clock at an estate sale.  It has a 53” mahogany case with an unusual eight-day skeletonized weight, brass movement and second bit hand.

There may have actually been another early clock and watch maker in Bradford. Beginning in 1805, Isaac Walker operated a business. His later advertisement read:  “Ladies and gentlemen who will favor him with their custom may depend upon having their work done with neatness and dispatch.” His name is connected with the “air clock,” an instrument equipped with bellows from which escaping air regulated the driving weights. 

William K. Wallace was born in Newbury in 1833.  From 1855 to 1872, except for a nine-month enlistment in the Union Army, Wallace operated a watch making and jewelry business on Main Street in Newbury. 

He later moved to Haverhill and opened his business in the Weeks Block on Woodsville’s Central Street, remaining there until 1889. He was also known for raising horses.  His obituary in 1909 called him “one of the best known horsemen of the north country.” 

Peter M. Paul operated a watch shop in Groton beginning around 1856.  He was described as a “fine watchmaker” and equally adept as a cabinetmaker. It was not uncommon for watch makers to have other occupations. For example, J.W. Buzzell, watchmaker in Thetford Center from 1872 to 1880 was also listed as a dentist and pastor.

Major A. Stevens manufactured watches on Main Street in West Fairlee from 1872 until at least 1898.  His nephew Charles Stevens was in the jewelry business there until 1912.

Members of the Doe Family were jewelers and watch repairers in both Bradford and Woodsville.

The Doe Brothers store in Bradford opened in 1885 offering watches along with clothing and other merchandise. Fred Dow was described as a “practical watchmaker,” advertising  in 1897 that the store offered “nice watches at right prices!” In 1955, his son Franklin “Lin” Doe took over operation of the store and continued to do so until it closed in 1968.

The Woodsville store open around 1898 on Central Street. The jeweler’s sign that hung outside the store was a large gilt watch set at 18 past 8 to mark the time President Lincoln was shot. The store relocated several times within the business district before selling to C. Tabor Gates in 1913.     

One of the employees of Doe’s Woodsville store was Samuel F. McAllister Sr. A native of Ryegate, McAllister trained to be a watch maker at the Walham Horological Institute.  He came to Woodsville in 1901 and worked for both Doe Brothers and Gates. He bought the business in 1923 and operated it in the Opera Block. 

In 1953 his grandson David took over the business and moved it to the present location on Central Street  in 1963.  His son Scott has operated the store since 1986 and told me that they still repair some types of watches, but not clocks.

Elwin Chase of East Topsham bought, sold and repaired old clocks in his home from the early 1950s until he moved to Connecticut in 1974.  David Chipman of Shelburne said that Chase “was very skilled.” Chipman  said that he purchased at least five clocks from Chase and still has an American Regulator school clock in his office.   

There are still those who repair steeple and personal clocks.  Norman Boyden of the Green Mt Clock Company in Williston had done so for over four decades. In a recent conversation Boyden said: “It is a thrill to put my hands on a clock that is over 100 years old and make it run again.” That is something that those who rely on modern clocks cannot appreciate.

Whether you are fortunate enough to own a clock that has been in your family for generations or use a modern timepiece, on New Year’s Eve you will join others watching the time displayed as it helps us embrace the move from the old to the new. 

Fairlee Federated Church Edward Howard clock added 1926
 
Wells River Congregational Church Seth Thomas clock added 1932
 
South Ryegate Presbyterian Church Seth Thomas clock added 1936 
 

Groton Methodist Seth Thomas Clock added 1912


 

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

World War I: Locals Over There


Journal Opinion April 5, 2017

Haskins Brothers in Uniform:  Brothers Charles, Harold and Earle Haskins of Bradford wore uniforms during World War I.  Joining the AEF in France, Charles served in the infantry as a private and Harold as a 2nd Lieutenant with field artillery.  Earle was a member of the Student Army Training Corps at Middlebury College. (Bradford Historical Society)
Artifacts on display.  This gas mask is just one of the artifacts on display in the Bradford Historical Society's World War I exhibit. Poison gas was widely used during the war, causing 1.2 million casualties and 90,000 deaths.  Soldiers and animals often had to wear gas masks for extended periods of time. (Journal Opinion)

Lunch break from terror.  It has been said that war is characterized by "long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of terror." Supply companies made every effort to provide meals for the troops in the trenches from rolling mess kitchens, "often under the most trying circumstances."
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Academy Doughboys.  Fred Louanis and Martin Murphy dropped out of Bradford Academy in 1917 to join the Yankee Division.  After  serving in France, the two men returned home.  The Academy felt their service warranted a diploma and allow them to graduate with the Class of 1919. (Bradford Historical Society)

One hundred years ago this week the United States declared war. Between April 1917 and November 1918, the nation sent 2 million men to Europe to fight in “the war to end all wars.” 16,000 Vermonters and over 20,000 from New Hampshire joined that force. Hundreds did not return.  

This column is the first of two on the impact of that war on local residents. This one will describe the role of local men in the struggle and a later one will chronicle the impact on the home front. Town histories, online sources and “Vermont in the World War” by Harold P. Shelton provided background. 

By 1917, the war had been going on for three years. The Allied nations of Great Britain, France and Russia were pitted against the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. By the time the war ended in 1918, there were 31 million military and civilian casualties.

The machines of the Industrial Revolution were turned against the soldiers and sailors of the two sides. Tanks, trucks, airplanes, poison gas, machine guns, submarines and heavy artillery all took their toll.

Battles were fought by millions of men and the mega-casualties reflected those larger numbers.  On the 525-mile Western Front, French and British troops faced the enemy.  Major battles often resulted in insignificant advancement and the same territory was repeatedly won, lost and perhaps won again.

The number of casualties were staggering. In the First Battle of the Marne in 1914, 500,000 were either wounded or killed. The 1916 Battle of Verdun between French and German armies was the longest and most costly battle. Between the two sides there were 714,00 casualties. It was suggested that the battle “consumed all the young men of a medium-sized town every day for 10 months.”

At the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, the British suffered over 57,000 casualties on the first day of the battle.

Russia was pitted against the Central Powers on the Eastern Front and after the two sides suffered 12 million casualties the Russian monarchy was overthrown and Russia withdrew from the war. 

By 1917, stalemate characterized the conflict on the Western Front, even as Germany was able to concentrate its forces there.  Germany turned to unrestricted submarine warfare against ships carrying supplies from the United States to the Allies. As a result, President Wilson called for a declaration of war.

Vermont and New Hampshire soldiers, sailors and nurses served in hundreds of Army and Navy units. Local records show that they served in cavalry, machine gun, infantry, aviation, armored, chemical and artillery units. They also served as truck drivers, horse and mule handlers, aero plane mechanics, signal men, ambulance drivers, musicians and in the medical services.  

They served as privates and officers, serving at home and abroad.  Many died in service. There were those who were killed in action and others who died from the influenza epidemic.  

The following from the official Vermont Roster lists each community followed by the total number of individuals that served, the number killed in action or died in service and the number wounded.

Orange County: Bradford 79,3,5; Corinth 33,3,1; Fairlee 16,0,0; Newbury 93,4,8; Thetford 42,4,3; Topsham 20,2,1; West Fairlee 12,0,0. Caledonia County: Groton 36,1,3; Ryegate 52,2,2.  Vermont total casualties were 642 killed and 886 wounded.

New Hampshire figures taken from other sources: Bath 31, 2, N/A; Orford 38, 4, N/A; Piermont: 16,1, N/A; Haverhill 136,4,12; Lyme 36; Warren 23,2, N/A. New Hampshire suffered a total of 697 killed.  Those who died in service of illness or non-combat accidents include Lee Parker and nurse Josephine Barrett of Bradford, Charles Spear of Newbury, John Ross of Haverhill, William Greenleaf of Corinth, George Clayburn of Piermont and Byron Buchanan of Ryegate.

Among those who died from combat wounds were Arthur Currie of Orford, Earl Brock of Newbury, Alexander Wilson of Bath, Clarence Robinson of Post Mills, Arthur Jesseman of Warren and Walter Mason of Topsham.

Many soldiers and units received commendations for their actions. The Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism was awarded posthumously to Maj. Fred Cook of Post Mills. It was said that Cook “was an inspiration to his men and that they would follow him in the face of murderous fire.” Cook was killed while “directing an attack on a strongly entrenched machine-gun position.”

The British and French governments also bestowed recognition on Americans. The French Croix de Guerre was presented to privates Ralph Lyman of Bradford and Preston Slack of Thetford for actions under fire. Lyman was recognized for rescuing his wounded officer. Slack for carrying messages while under “violent artillery and machine-gun fire.” His story is especially interesting because he was initially rejected for service because he had hammer toes.  He went to a surgeon and had his feet surgically altered to allow him to serve.

Vermonters served in every division that saw action in France. The 26th Division is representative of the units in which local men served.  Known as the Yankee Division, this unit of 28,000 included 1,764 men from Vermont and 2,700 from New Hampshire along with those from other New England states.   

Like the famous Rainbow Division, the 26th integrated soldiers from a number of states in order to avoid the impact of a large number of local soldiers becoming casualties simultaneously.  Both divisions were part of the American Expeditionary Force under the command of General John J. Pershing.

The 26th began sailing for France August 1917 and was the first complete American division to arrive there. What they found was a situation “so intense that no time could be allowed in which the newcomers might adjust themselves to the terrible work set out for them to do.”

In February 1918, the division went into battle in support of war-weary French troops at Chemin des Dames. This was the division’s first exposure to trench and gas warfare.

That spring and summer, the Yankee Division responded to the German offensive at Toul and Chateau-Thierry. At one point Germans threatened to capture Paris. The response by the 26th  gained the soldiers the title “Saviors of Paris.”

In his book, Shelton describes one night during the battle of Chateau-Thierry. “The night was hot, black and thunderous.  To the infernal roar of the artillery the heavens added the tumult of a terrific thunder storm. The world had become an inferno of flame, water and flying hissing steel.”

The New England men suffered greatly at Chateau-Thierry. They were involved in eight days of continuous fighting, often without food. In that battle 594 were killed, 1,254 seriously wounded and 169 severely gassed.  Replacements from other parts of the nation joined the division’s depleted ranks.

That summer, Vermonters in Army and Marine divisions coordinated with British and French troops to prevent a major German offensive at Belleau Wood. “The Huns paid dearly.” As with earlier engagements, the New Englanders won considerable praise from their allies.

In a drive to bring the war to an end, the Allies fought battles at St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest. It included “heavy fighting on the most terrible terrain” with concrete pill boxes, machine gun nests, barbed wire and hand-to-hand combat.

Despite rumors among the Germans that the savage Yankees scalped and tortured prisoners, many Germans volunteered to surrender.   

In the closing hours of the war, men of the 26th were order to storm Hill 265 with casualties resulting. Those who made that decision indicated, “the enemy must not be allow to discern any slight sign of weakness” less that encourage them to fight on. 

During the war, a number of letters from local soldiers were printed in The United Opinion.  Addressed from “somewhere in France” or Britain and passed by the military censors, they gave very few details of combat.  A letter from Irving L. Preble of Piermont reflected a less than explicit message: “We are having a fine time in France as there is plenty of excitement mixed in to break the monotony.”

In a more realistic vein, Pvt. Royal Downing of Wells River wrote “Been at the front continually…came through unharmed, although mighty good not to hear the big guns or smell gas continually.”

More frequently, there was mention of the blessings of a warm bath, clean clothes, a hot meal, undisturbed sleep and a chance to talk with a pretty woman.  The writers reported the joy of receiving letters and packages from home. 

Two letters are of particular interest.  John Russell wrote to his parents in Newbury in March 1918 of the housing of troops “in an enormous cave, formerly a chalk mine. The capacity was upward of five thousand. Good bunks, electric lights, a canteen, reading room” were a few of its features.

This past month the Smithsonian Channel had a program on that cave, mentioning that members of the Yankee Division were among those that occupied that “underground city” at one time.  

The one letter that provided details of the conflict was written by Capt. Ernest Harmon of the 2nd U.S. Calvary and address to his wife in West Newbury. He wrote at length of his participation in the largest cavalry engagement of the war during the St. Mihiel salient in September 1918. 

“The roads were full of German prisoners and wounded men while all thru the fields were scores of fresh corpses and mangled bodies,” Harmon wrote.  He described leading a cavalry unit forward, being lightly wounded several times and having a horse shot out from under him.

“I had not slept for three days and at one point nearly fell out of my saddle from sheer exhaustion and strain.  I am lucky.  I have had a hundred chances to die.”

 Harmon survived, was a general in World War II and went on to become president of Norwich University.   

Lt. Harold Haskins of Bradford, one of three Haskins brothers to enter the service, fought with the 313 Field Artillery Regiment of the 80th Division.  He was often sent forward to relay information on enemy positions back to the artillery.

When speaking to my history class, he recalled a rainy night when, knee deep in mud, he came under a gas attack.  Without lights and wearing his gas mask he struggled to put a gas mask on his horse.  It was an episode, he said, he would never forget. 

 On Nov 11, 1918 at 11 a.m. the war came to an end.  The influence of American troops and supplies had favored the Allies. Less than 30%of the original members of the Yankee Division remained. The rest were either casualties or transfers. All were ready to come home.  

Between the end of the war and the beginning of transport home in March, the troops were held in camp. Some took the opportunity to explore the French countryside and, in some cases, stayed away from camp longer than their passes allowed. 

As the 26th was the longest serving American division they received a presidential visit at Christmas.  Accompanied by Gen. Pershing, President Wilson inspected the troops, visited their quarters and asked to eat a holiday meal similar to that enjoyed by the men. 

On April 4, the first ship load of returning soldiers landed in Boston. On April 25th, a full-dressed parade was held at nearby Camp Devens before an estimated crowd of 300,000.  Local communities such as Ryegate and Bradford welcomed soldiers home with celebrations.

As with the soldiers of the Civil War, the conflict’s physical and emotional wounds continued for a lifetime for some. Shelton wrote that many disillusioned veterans believed “the paths of glory lead to hell.” They would, he wrote, “be haunted…by nightmare dreams of horrors unspeakable.”

 Just as the veterans of the earlier conflict created GAR posts, these veterans created American Legion Posts. Local posts included ones in Haverhill, Newbury and Bradford.    

 Beginning in 1919, November 11 was commemorated annually as Armistice Day. It became a national holiday in 1938 and in 1954 was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of other conflicts. That day is set aside to recall the service and sacrifice of our armed forces.   

And we have not forgotten that service and sacrifice. On April 6 at 7 p.m. the Bradford Historical Society will present a program honoring the Bradford residents who participated in the Great War. Entitled “A Salute to World War I: Bradford Answered the Call,” personal stories will be told, war-related songs will be recalled, and letters from the front will be read.

The society’s new museum exhibit “Bradford in World War I: At Home and Abroad” will be available for viewing that evening from 6 to 7 p.m., following the presentation and during open hours through October. While the display’s focus is on Bradford, the artifacts and photographs are representative of all area communities and all are welcome to this free program and exhibit.