Poltrack Blog

One of the most recognizable homes along Main Street is ironically a building that is hidden behind a wall. It is registered on the National Register as #57 and the description can be found on this post below the photos. Currently called Scrooge & Marley, the Hurd-Newell House Photo John M Poltrack - Feb 4, 2018 Front Entrance Feb 4, 2018 Feb 4, 2018 Undated Glass Negative Note the top of the rose bushes This view shows a trellis and porch on the left side This is visible in other street views looking down Main Street View down Main prior to 1914 before the wall was built National Register description below Nearly hidden behind the vine-covered riverstone wall in front of its west facing facade, this is an extended frame center chimney 1 1/2 story house on a granite rubble foundation. The entrance, set in the middle of the 5-bay facade, has a molded surround with five light transom over the six paneled door. The windows have 12/12 sash, mo...

The Weston-Brook was originally a 1 1/2 story Greek Revival house, similar to the Preston-Nichols House which can be seen to the right in the third photo. It was built in 1848, renovated with a Mansard roof in the the 1870s. It stood empty for awhile but after being purchased, the present owners are working on renovations. Weston-Brook House circa 1848/circa 1870 (renovated) Photo John M. Poltrack - Feb 4. 2018 NIHS catalog 97.178 NIHS catalog 92.157 Reproduced as a Postcard

Locke-Quimby House circa 1800 #69 on National Register John M Poltrack Feb 4, 2018 The lane (Tannery Road) to the north of the house originally led to a tannery founded by Jeremy Pritchard in 1787 which was located behind the present house. Intersection of Main, Porter and Tannery Road Tannery Road is to the left NIHS catalog 97.179 Locke-Quimby House By 1858, it was owned by Elihu T. Quimby, who was President of the Appleton Academy from 1851-1865, and President of the local Union League, an abolitionist group. Quimby was also the co-founder of the Children's Fair, first held in 1862. Source:  National Register Section 7 page 87 Main, Porter and Tannery Road intersection NIHS catalog 97.181

This morning I heard the male chickadees singing their hey, sweetie song  a sign that Spring is coming eventually. I also saw my first Frost Heaves sign. I can't imagine what mud season was like in New Ipswich after seeing some of these photos of the early roadways. Looking down Maple Street (Main) Barrett House on left NIHS catalog 92.179 donated by Burt Johnson Maple (Main) Street NIHS catalog 92.190 donated by Mrs. Walter Hardy Photo by Leon R. Willard Village Street in front of Preston House NIHS catalog 98.108 It is not clear if Village, Maple and Main were all names for the same road Motoring down Main Street NIHS catalog 92.173 donated by Seven Packard A winter view from the same vantage point taken by Leon R. Willard NIHS catalog 92.151 A shady road which appears to also be Main Street I imagine it was dusty when dry and muddy when wet NIHS catalog 92.192

I make the attempt to identify the location of where the photos in the New Ipswich Historical Society were photographed. In some cases it is quite a challenge, but with this photo it was easy. Intersection of Route 123A (Main Street), Willard and Preston Hill Road Old Town Hall on left NIHS catalog 97.330 Town Hall Corner Membership in the New Ipswich Historical Society starts at only  $10 a year (individual) Send a check to New Ipswich Historical Society Box 422 New Ipswich, NH 03071

Stedman-Houghton House 1839-ca I took a tour of the New Center Village Ipswich Historical District with the goal of photographing the houses cataloged by the New Ipswich Historical Society . I attempted to match the current views with the old photos whenever possible. The absence of leaf cover made this a bit easier. According to the National Historic Register it built after 1838 by Stedman Houghton. Owned later by James Rogers and given to the church in  1956 as the church parsonage. NIHS catalog 97.83 #85 on National Register NIHS catalog 97.84 Feb 4, 2018 Feb 4, 2018

The Charles Barrett Sr. house was built in 1780 on Main Street in New Ipswich, NH. It is one of the historic homes in the New Ipswich Center Village Historic District . Charles lived there while he built the Barrett House in 1800 as a wedding gift for his son Charles Jr. and daughter in law Martha Minot. The first photo was reproduced as a postcard, the second was a print. The photographer was Leon R. Willard . The first two photos show the house after it was altered in ther 19th century with Victorian embellishments, including a Mansard roof, roof dormers with ornamented gables, French windows, an enclosed entry portico, and a front piazza with a decorative wooden railing. Source: National Register section 7 page 88 NIHS catalog 92.177 Printed as postcard NIHS catalog 92.187 Donated by Mrs. William Hardy The Charles Barrett House is the only hip-roofed 18th century extant within the Center Village. Under the direction of the Society for the Preservation of New E...

Miss Caroline Lowe donated this photo to the New Ipswich Historical Society in 1957. She was born in 1873 and lived in this house on Main Street when this photo was taken in 1880. In the second photo she is standing on the left with her friend Ella Beard. The dog is not identified. NIHS catalog 99.160 Miss Caroline Lowe and Ella Beard

The W.L. Phelps General Store was located on the corner of Turnpike Road and Main Street, next to the Post Office. It would be interesting to see what items were available at the store when the photo was taken. Wilbur L. Phelps must have been a successful businessman, along with F.W. Preston, John Preston and Eugene Beard, they built a telephone line from Greenville to Center Village. They owned it for 5 years and sold it to AT&T. Even back then cell coverage was poor in this town. Post Office and W.L. General Store NIHS Ref 99.18 View down Main Street. Note the location of the library on left for reference Glass Negative NIHS Ref 2015-07-020 Click to learn more about New Ipswich

Prior to 1932 what is now the New Ipswich Market was the location of a cigar factory owned by Stephen Thayer. A group photo was taken of the workers on the porch in 1872. I've listed the names in text to assist with blog searches. New Ipswich Historical Society collection Reference 97.35 Detail from print Stephen Thayer, Mrs. Charles E Isaacs, Hattie E. Houston, David Leroy, Michael P. Donley, Charles E. Wallace, Charles E. Isaacs, William Henry Fletcher, Charles H. Smith, Archie Kendall, Archibald C. Fowler, Eugene F. Appleton, Maurice W. Pindey, George Kehue, Michael J. Curley, James L. Hassall, James W. Moreland, L. Barton Hardwick, Stephen G. Newman, Harry W. Larkin Additional New Ipswich History Resources Website:  http://newipswichhistoricalsociety.org/ Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/nihistsoc/ Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/NIHistSoc/ Email:  info@newipswichhistoricalsociety.org

Leon R. Willard a photographer in New Ipswich photographed the remains of the Thayer House and Bake Shop after it was burnt in a fire on May 11, 1894.  This photo was taken at corner of Route 123A and Turnpike Road. Silver's store (center left) was made into the Masonic Lodge in 1903. The Thayer Cigar shop (center right) was converted to what is now the New Ipswich Market in 1932. To the right of the market the standing chimneys and a partial wall mark the location of the fire. Photo from the New Ipswich Historical Society Gift from Mrs. McLaughlin Reference 92.131 I used Photoshop to touch up the original scan Scanned Jan 19, 2018 - 4:10:18 (I get up early) Additional New Ipswich History Resources Website:  http://newipswichhistoricalsociety.org/ Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/nihistsoc/ Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/NIHistSoc/

The New Ipswich Historical Society dedicated a new sign to mark the New Ipswich Center Village Historic District, followed by refreshments at the Library. It was snowing. The old sign was a bit crooked Greg and Sergeant Pepper  (Dan Zianik) Members of the New Ipswich Historical Society n front of the 1808 house (and new sign) Yummy snacks and cider Historic homes in the district NIHS meeting The NEW sign was funded via a grant Learn more about the New Ipswich Historical Society Website Link Facebook Page Link Facebook Group Link