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Northwood NH News

April 16, 2014

The Suncook Valley Sun News Archive is Maintained by Modern Concepts. We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.



 

PRESCHOOL OPENINGS!

 

Are you thinking about enrolling your child in preschool for next fall?  The Center School in Northwood is accepting registrations for the 2014-2015 school year.  The Center School is a parent cooperative preschool located next to the town hall in Northwood, which provides a developmental program for three, four, and five year-olds of Northwood and surrounding towns.  There are openings in our two-day (T/Th) program and three-day (M/W/F) morning programs.  Call or email us soon to get an information packet or to make an appointment to come for a visit!  For information, please email at  director Karen Andersen [email protected] or call her at the school at 942-7686.  Check us out on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/TheCenterSchoolNorthwood

 


 

What Is A Pung?

Northwood NW_Pung.jpg

From left: Bob Bailey, Arlene Bassett, Les Barton and Aaron Lizotte attended the recent unveiling of the restored pung.

 

Northwood NW_Pung_2.jpg

Many interesting stories were shared around the pung being displayed at Bailey’s garage after months of restoration work were completed.

 

On a chilly Saturday morning in April, Bob and Joann Bailey hosted an “Open Garage” at their homestead on Catamount Road in Northwood. The 40+  people in attendance came to view a restored pung, which was revealed in a manner country folk truly appreciate: in the center of the garage with plenty of hot drinks and homemade breads to warm visitors. What is a pung and what does it have to do with Northwood history? What is the story of this particular pung?

 

Carl Wallman purchased the pung at an auction in northern NH and placed it at his Harmony Hill farm in Northwood. It immediately drew attention for its likeness to the “horse drawn sleigh” or pung on the Northwood town seal. Arlene Bassett drew the design for the town seal for the Northwood Bicentennial coin in 1973 and was one of the guests at the event. She readily admits that the scene featured on the seal was from her imagination, with reference to pictures for historical accuracy. Although no particular pung existed for the picture featured on the town seal, this one brings to life a matching example that carries history forward for future generations.

 

After seeing the pung at the farm, Steve Bailey approached Carl and suggested he consider donating it to the Northwood Historical Society. Carl agreed and the pung was first exhibited at Northwood’s Bean Hole Bash in July 2013. Overall, the pung was in good condition for its age but was in need of restoration to insure it would be around for many more years. Bob Bailey took on the project in August 2013. The pung was taken to Les Barden in Farmington who makes and repairs horse drawn vehicles, along with his assistant Aaron Lizotte. Necessary repairs were made to all parts of the pung before it was returned to Northwood this winter. Vintage sleigh bells were found and added to the front shafts. The main body of the pung was left as it has weathered over time, revealing the faint lettering of its last business owner, a brass and iron founder.  Thanks to Bruce DeTrude and Heritage Hardware a sample of the original paint on the runners was matched and Bob Bailey gave the runners, shafts and seat a fresh coat of paint. It is the goal of the Northwood Historical Society to include the pung in their permanent exhibit where young and old may see an example of how life was lived in a time gone by.

 

What does a pung have to do with Northwood History?

 

Northwood, like many towns in southern New Hampshire, was once a shoe town.  The industry lasted here for about eighty years, from the 1840’s to the 1920’s. Most of the shoe making in Northwood was  part of the much larger shoe industry in northern Massachusetts.  A great amount of freighting was involved as shoes and shoe parts were carried back and forth between the shoe shops and their suppliers. Some of the freighting was by rail, to depots in closer places, including Hampton, even Epsom.  The men in Northwood who were freighters made the connection from depots to our town.  Some freighters did go all the way to Haverhill.  A long journey!  

 

During the winter months the freighters ceased using horse drawn freight wagons and, instead, carried their crated cargo in what were known as pungs.  These pungs were sturdy, low sided bodies, with a single seat, mounted on a pair of runners one in front of the other.  The front runner could turn to the right or left, the back one could not.  Like the wagons, the pungs were usually pulled by a single horse.

 

The newly acquired Northwood Historical Society pung, though not originally used for freighting shoes or shoe parts, is similar to the one depicted on the Northwood seal and the pungs used by Northwood men including Irving Dow and James Bryant.

 


 

Letter

 

To the good citizens of Northwood,

I thought I would give a report on the stonewall we are building at Dave Docko’s rock pit on Mile Stone Hill (Rt. 4). 

 

We started in the fall of 2011. We have 80 days of work in it so far. We are getting closer to the end with every rock set. 

 

I am a little concerned that we have no corner rock for the end. We still need more ledge rock to cap and mix in with fieldstone. My brother, Mark, has been helping me on the weekends. My son, James, helps when he can. My other son, Justin, has been on leave, but soon will be considered AWOL.

 

As you can probably see, I don’t want this job to end.

 

Dan Schroth Piermarocchi

 


 

Northwood Recreation Update

Kayaking Club

 

Kayaking Club is a new program offered by the Northwood Recreation Department for adults.  This program is designed for adults age 60ish (give or take a few) in mind.

 

The group will be planning trips on Wednesday mornings to a variety of local waterways.  All adventures will vary at the beginner level. 

 

We will also be offering a basic training session on dry land for beginners.  The training would answer all the questions you have about kayaking as well as teach about safety while kayaking. The training session is scheduled for Monday, May 19th at the Community Hall at 135 Main St. The class will meet at 10:00 AM.

 

Please register with the Northwood Recreation Department.  Find additional details and registration information in our Spring-Summer Brochure on our website, www.northwoodnh.org. Call the Recreation Department at 942-5586 x209 with questions.

 


 

 

 











 
 

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