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Pittsfield NH News

February 20, 2013

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



 

Those Celebrating Birthdays are: February 20, Fred Hast, II, Chris Johnson, Amy Thompson, Bill Plummer; February 21, Amber Ash, Staci Bousquet, Robert Bousquet, Gail O’Keefe, Ann Strand; February 22, Dan Dunne; February 23, Sarah Hillsgrove; 

February 24, Andrew Ash, Daniel St. Laurent, Jr.; February 25, Reynold Chase, Bruce Tibbetts, Tom Huckins; February 26, Megan Vien.

 

A Very Happy Birthday To One and All!

 


 

Albert and Nellie Riel celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary by enjoying lunch at the 99 Restaurant with lunch tickets from Melvin and Dottie Mulkhey and the NH Veterans’ Home. They also received congratulations from the Vets and Staff at the home. Nellie and daughter visit Al every Monday and take him out to lunch at different places and have a good visit.

 


 

Providing For Pittsfield’s Needy:

The Vendue System And The Poor Farm - Part II

The Town Farm

 

On March 22, the Town purchased a 100 acre farm “a little past the junction with Leavitt Road,” on Loudon Road for $2,600. Ironically, it was owned by David Fogg, the abuser of Warren Chase.

 

Pittsfield “Poor House,” as it was called, was strongly opposed by many residents. Most vociferous were those who were successful bidders under the old vendue system. These opponents brought suit to test whether the town could handle its poor in this manner. After three years the controversy was settled in favor of the Town.

 

The Residents

Town Farm operation began immediately. According to Historian Richard B. Bartlett, nearly 20 people were sent there between April and October of 1836. Interestingly, they were referred to as “inmates.” Pittsfield notable John Berry kept careful accounts of the farm’s income and expenditures.

 

The following year, 1837, it was voted that the “poor farm be a House of Correction” as well. Thus criminals were placed with the poor, orphaned and infirm. In 1843, the Town voted to remove children from the Farm and put them out “to the best advantage” until they were 14 years old. Perhaps this was in response to placing criminals on the Farm six years earlier.

 

At some point in time the practice of placing criminals on the Farm ceased.  In 1856, however, the voters revisited the issue and once again authorized it to “be established as a house of correction for the time being. . .”

 

Condition Of The Farm

The Farm was likely in poor condition when it was purchased. The former owner, David Fogg had been having financial difficulties for some time. Perhaps as a result of the farm’s poor condition, voters attending a town meeting in June 1845 considered whether to appoint a committee to exchange the Town Farm for a farm where Smith Shaw was living. The idea was voted down, as was a similar measure in a September meeting that year.

 

By 1851, the Farm buildings were in no better shape. At the March meeting voters discussed how repairs would be made and whether to exchange it for another farm. John L. Thorndike, John Berry, Jeremiah Clark, William Knowlton and Nathaniel Batchelder, Pittsfield luminaries, were chosen to be on a committee to look into the matter. The voters also authorized the selectmen to “Furnish one large Room in the Poorhouse . . . with a fire place or open Stove together with a suitable bed, bedding and Furniture for the accommodation of the unfortunate sick in said house.”

 

In March 1850, a proposal was made at town meeting to purchase additional land adjacent to the Farm, property owned by the Pittsfield Manufacturing Company. The idea, however, was defeated.  It was raised again three years later and this time the selectmen were authorized to examine the land and make a purchase if they found it to be a desirable addition to the Farm. They were limited to paying $100.  Apparently the selectmen did not find it desirable, as the town did not purchase the property.

 

One way to improve the Farm was to have it repaired by residents. In 1857 improvements were made to the fields by carting off small stones and cutting the bushes.  Presumably the residents carried out the work.  Extensive repairs were made in 1858. The barn was battened and two large doors and one small one were made for it. The shed was remodeled, shingled and new sills placed under it. A new door was placed on the cider house.  In 1859 a new sill was placed under the left side of the farmhouse and a new floor placed in it.

 

Objectives Of The Farm

As suggested at the beginning, one of the primary objectives of the Farm was to provide a more humane way to treat the less fortunate in the Pittsfield community. Once the Farm was established another clear objective arose, one that was undoubtedly of paramount concern to all taxpayers; that of having it run efficiently and inexpensively. Clearly the goal was to keep costs down, income up, and to make the endeavor self-sustaining if possible.

 

The Cost Of Operating The Farm

Records for the years 1857 and 1858 show that the Farm ran deficits, nearly $383 in the former year, and $136 in the latter. During those years the salary of the Overseer was $180, making the cost to taxpayers rather substantial.

 

In 1859, there was only a $21.22 deficit but this did not include the salary of the Overseer.  During 1860 the Farm apparently ran a large deficit because it did not produce well primarily because of frost damage to the corn and a poor crop of hay. The auditors assured the Town that no fault should be attributed to the then Overseer, Lewis Joy. In fact, they thought that he deserved a commendation for the way the Farm was run. “Everything in and about the Town Farm House, Barn and out Buildings” was neat and orderly, they stated. “Mr. Joy is an experienced and practical farmer,” they concluded. He was “well qualified for the position he occupies managing . . . [the Farm] with faithfulness and ability . . . .”

 

In 1861 the deficit expenditure on the Farm was again substantial. However during the years 1863-65 the Farm operated at a profit.

 

Expenses Of The Farm

Among the items that the Town had to purchase to keep the Farm operating properly were such personal items of clothing as coats, hats, boots, shirts, shawls, capes, stockings, and vests. The cost of medicine was a regular expenditure. Food items that were purchased included flour, salt, fish, molasses and sugar. Other items regularly purchased were rum and tobacco, items that would elicit serious controversy today. 

 

Other expenses included the costs of purchasing livestock such as cows, calves, horses, and pigs. Naturally, seed had to be purchased so that crops could be planted. Materials were purchased that allowed residents to manufacture goods for sale such as shoe leather to make shoes and calico to make clothes. 

 

Among the miscellaneous items purchased during those years were ashes, coffins, rope, pots and covers, a cheese safe, nails, paint, coal, baskets, plow points and the use of bulls and boars for stud.

 

The Farm also had expenses for specific services such as blacksmithing, sawing lumber, planning boards, thrashing grain, handling funerals (including the use of hearses, digging of graves, etc.), and doctoring for both people and livestock. John French, who ran a general store in Pittsfield, charged for taking people and supplies to the Farm and also for attending funerals there.

 


 

Letter

 

Dear Pittsfield Voter:

I am running for reelection to the planning board, and I ask for the honor of your vote.

 

An important reason for you to vote for me is that I save taxpayers money month after month. As planning board secretary, I keep records and do routine research that the board would have to pay an administrative secretary or lawyer to do if I were not doing it for free. My work saves taxpayers thousands of dollars each year.

 

When I was elected two years ago, I said that I support land-use regulation when and only when the regulation is clear, lawful, and necessary for a public purpose. My voting record shows that I remain committed to that position.

 

I do a lot of homework to stay current on the law.  I try to help applicants find the easiest way through the process. I help the planning board avoid mistakes.  Sometimes my knowledge lets me find solutions that others miss.  In this way, I help the town and save taxpayer money because the town uses the town attorney less when the planning board stays inside the law and treats everyone fairly.

 

Although I try to help applicants whenever possible, I never forget my own years of experience as an abutter in the audience.  All people must be treated fairly--both applicants and abutters.

 

I am proud of the work that I have done to save taxpayers money and to make Pittsfield better. Please honor me with your vote (Tuesday, March 12, 2013) to let me continue.

 

Thank you,

Jim Pritchard

 


 

Plymouth State University Fall 2012 Dean’s List

 

The following students have been named to Plymouth State University’s Dean’s List:

 

Northwood

Michael Dodge

 

Epsom

Lucile Godek, Kylie Pinsonneault

 

Pittsfield

Sydney Shahin, Sheldon Vogt

 

To be named to the Dean’s List at Plymouth State, a student must achieve a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.69 during the fall semester and must have attempted at least 12 credit hours during the semester. These credit hours must be in courses that earn grade points and the student must have completed all such courses attempted.

 


 

TOPS News

Submitted By Terrie Azotea

 

Once again we had a net loss this past week at TOPS... That is always nice. Our Best Loser of the week was Stewart. Great Job! Officers of the week were Thom and Diane. Kudos to you guys for the weight loss. We set a challenge for the week for a no gain week! That means we have to stick with our journals and what we put in our mouths. It helps to write down what we eat everyday. At the end of the day we can say “I had a good day” or we say “Wow... I really need to do better!” So I say “Think before you eat.” 

 

We would like to welcome a new member who joined last week! Good Luck on your weight loss journey. One of our members did a speech on “The Egg McMuffin” and we learned some interesting facts from the diet detectives. Once again, this is when I say “Think before you eat.” 

 

A contest was started that will be running for six weeks and is always a good thing to get us motivated. 

 

If anyone is interested in joining us on a Tuesday night, we meet at the St. Stephen’s Church downstairs at 5:30 for weigh-in and at 6:30 for our meeting. 

 

We love to see new faces and now is the time of the year where we are looking in the mirror and saying spring is on its way and I can’t hide behind these clothes much longer. We have to face it, mirrors don’t lie and those spring clothes might not fit as good as they did last spring. So come out and meet new friends.

 

Any questions call Laurel Tiede at 269-8721 or Pat Smith at 435-5333. 

 

“To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.” (William Shakespeare) 

 

Hope everyone has a good week and see you lighter next week!

 


 

Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association Offers Strategies To

Assist In Resting Well Presentation In Pittsfield

 

Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is offering a free presentation “Good Night Sleep Tight: Strategies to Assist in Resting Well” on Thursday, March 7 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Senior Center, 74 Main Street in Pittsfield.

 

Sleep is essential to your physical and emotional well-being. The way you feel during the day is dependent on how well you sleep at night. Changes in our sleep patterns may occur as we age, but our total sleep needs to remain the same. Discover how much sleep we really need, suggestions for a quality night’s sleep, and strategies on speaking with your healthcare provider about difficulty sleeping.

 

For more information, call (603) 224-4093 or (800) 924-8620, ext. 5815.

 


 

Bugsy Malone, Jr. Opens At Scenic Theatre

Pittsfield Sam_&_Tallulah.jpg

Fat Sam (Chris Garcia) and his girl Tallulah (Bailey Jennings) will entertain you at Fat Sam’s Grand Slam Speakeasy in the Pittsfield Players’ Kid’s Theater Workshop presentation of “Bugsy Malone, Jr.”

 

The Pittsfield Players’ Kids’ Theater Workshop will present “Bugsy Malone, Jr.” a riotous romp back to the gangster days of the 1930s, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 21, 22, and 23, at 7:30 pm each evening. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids under 13, and they can be reserved by calling 435-8852.

 

This year, director Maye Hart has 46 kids, ages 8 to 18, participating in the workshop, and they’ve all worked very hard to bring this wonderful production to the Scenic stage. The Kids’ Theater Workshop is a program that brings kids into the total experience of theater arts. They not only act and sing on stage, but they also handle the set painting, stage management, lighting and sound for the show. The production is then performed before other kids from area schools, as well as for the general public.

 

The cast includes Caleb Molloy as Bugsy Malone; Chloe Rattee as singer Blousey Brown; Chris Garcia as Fat Sam, the owner of the Grand Slam speakeasy; Bailey Jennings as Talullah, Fat Sam’s girlfriend and lead performer at the Grand Slam; Turner Jennings as Dandy Dan, inventor of the Splurger and rival of Fat Sam who is determined to take over Sam’s territory; Meghan Smith as super-star Lena Marelli; Tucker Wolfe as Knuckles, Fat Sam’s right-hand man; Weston LeMay as Fizzy, the janitor at Fat Sam’s Grand Slam who longs for an audition and who aspires to be a dancer; and a host of gang members, flappers, and policemen, played by cast members Ashley Connor, Gillian Robidas, Deanna Scruton, Ashley Pence, Megan Wilkens, Tessa Keyes, Lexie O’Brien, Alex Keyes, Essence Bourque, Katie O’Brien, Kira Wood, Taylor and Sabrina Sargent, Erin O’Brien, Cora LeMay, Sarah May Schultz, Kendra Luba, Jolene Wood, Molly and April Keys, Courtney Butler, Kianna Vincelette, Eileen Manteau, Abigail Cote, Halah Abdelwahid, Riley Luba, Cecily Schultz, AJ Robidas, Justin Greene, Joseph Garcia, Jordan Atherton, Joseph Molloy, Joseph and David Cote, Dalton and Matthew Swenson, Dylan O’Brien and Logan Connor.

 

The show is directed and produced by Maye Hart, with choreography by Dee Dee Pitcher, set and lighting design by Jim Hart, and costuming by Margot Keyes, Kathy Pence, Melissa O’Brien, Tina Rattee, and Cathy LeMay. Dennis O’Brien will be handling lights and Joshua Painter will be handling sound. Cassidy Kearns will be stage manager. 

 

Call 435-8852 and reserve your tickets now for another wonderful Kids’ Workshop performance of this year’s production of “Bugsy Malone, Jr.”

 


 

March 1st World Day Of Prayer

 

On Friday, March 1, 2013, people throughout the world will celebrate the World Day of Prayer. This is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together every year to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday in March. Services begin at sunrise in the Pacific and follow the sun across the globe on the day of celebration.

 

Each year a different country’s World Day of Prayer committee writes the worship service. This year’s highlighted country is France and the women of France have chosen the theme “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”  Through visual interpretation and personal stories, participants will experience the current struggles in France concerning immigration as they put themselves in the shoes of “the stranger.”

 

This year’s service will be held at 7 pm on March 1st at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 50 Main St., Pittsfield, NH.  All are welcome! Light refreshments will be served after the service.  RSVP would be helpful but is not required. 

 

For more information, please contact Connie Mitchell by phone at 776-4281 or email at [email protected] or Bernie Cameron by phone at 463-7076 or email at [email protected].

 


 

Rise Again Outreach Holds Silent Auction

 

Rise Again Outreach, a local non-profit community outreach organization, will hold its first of two Charitable Silent Auction Fundraiser events at 6:30 p.m. on March 23, 2013 at Grace Capital Church, 542 Pembroke Street, Pembroke. Formerly held at New Beginnings Church, this new venue is expected to be even bigger and better with more than 100 auction items that include air travel, vacation venues, date nights, theater, fine dining and a whole lot more.

 

Past silent auction events have generated upwards of $10,000 for Rise Again Outreach’s community mission of taking free clothing, food and personal care items to low income areas of our communities and providing families and individuals in crisis situations some real help and hope. 

 

Mark your calendars and come support a great charitable outreach mission – and get some great items to take home!

 

A second fundraiser is scheduled for the Manchester area. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 20, 2013 at Manchester Christian Church. Both events are free and open to everyone. These are Rise Again Outreach’s largest fundraising events of the year. 

 

Five-dollar bags of personal care items will also be sold at each event for distribution to homeless and less-fortunate people throughout central New Hampshire. For every bag purchased, attendees receive one ticket for a great Rise Again Outreach gift basket raffle. 

 

Help Rise Again Outreach make a difference in New Hampshire communities by supporting one or both of these gala fundraising events!

 


 

Dorcas Guild – February 2013

 

The Dorcas Guild of the First Congregational Church met the evening of February 12 with twelve members attending. President Nancy Fogg conducted the meeting, which opened with devotions by the hostesses, Gail Ann Newton who read “Love Like My Lord” and Peggy Jacobs, who offered Bible readings from Isaiah.

 

Secretary Joan Riel gave her report of the previous meeting, read many thank-you notes and circulated lots of cards to be signed and mailed. Reny Boyd gave her financial report.

 

The food basket was taken by Bev Murdough who will bring it to the next monthly meeting for Peggy. Elaine Coffey has the apron and will bring it in March for the next person on the list. The mystery package, brought by Reny was won by Gail Ann.

 

It was noted that a donation was made to the Chichester Fuel Assistance Fund. The church Bus Ministry was discussed and it was reported that they are okay for now. Mary Jo Powelson reported on the nursery project of diapers, which is in good supply for the present time. The possibility of a child’s booster seat for Fellowship Hour was discussed. Gail Ann will look into possibilities. Reny reported favorably on the flowers we purchased that she and Corine Miller delivered to Wayne Case and Elsie Morse.

 

Christmas Fairs were mentioned and previous chairpersons of each agreed to chair them again. A few monthly program revisions were discussed and changes made. The booklet will be done at a meeting other than December. Prayer Partners will now be drawn in March and revealed in April. A donation was voted to the Building Fund in loving memory of Wayne Case. It was mentioned that the World Day of Prayer service would be held Friday, March 1, 7 pm at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Nella Hobson has been asked to participate to represent our church. 

 

Final plans were made for the collation of Wayne Case and the February 24 Fellowship Hour. Members were invited to assist Jaime Koladish on March 10 for the coffee hour. Mary Lawson was here to discuss the Easter Breakfast and solicited necessary items from the group. She plans to help with setup the night before.

 

After the meeting, members enjoyed “Banana Split Night” – bananas, ice cream, and a great variety of sauces and toppings, served by Gail Ann and Peggy.

 

The next meeting will be held March 12 with Reny Boyd and Nancy Fogg, hostesses. Members are to bring toiletry items for the food pantry. This will be a craft demo night with Bev Murdough.

 


 

Letter

Unopposed Still Means Working Hard

 

After the closing date for being a candidate came and went, I found out that I am running unopposed. I want to assure everyone that I will continue to run my campaign. In the last two weeks I have been meeting with town officials and introducing myself and learning their responsibilities and their functions performed for the town. As I continue to meet with more town officials, attend meetings and talk to the citizens of Pittsfield, I am constantly learning and reviewing town issues which will bring me up to date with what the Selectmen are currently dealing with. I am anxiously looking forward to working with the town officials, town committees, School Board and most importantly the citizens of Pittsfield once I become your Selectman.

 

Regarding my campaign, I will be getting signs and flyers ready for distribution. Also, I want to thank those who have already given me support and for those who have not decided yet, I ask for your support and vote on March 12th. On candidates night I hope to have the opportunity to meet as many of you as I possibly can.

 

I am looking forward to becoming your Selectman and preparing myself for the hard work that lies ahead. If you wish to contact me please feel free to do so. My home phone is 435-6314 and my email is [email protected]. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and please come out and vote!

 

Sincerely,

Albert Douglas

  


 


 

 











 

 

 

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