1929 Berlin Centennial Celebration

This past February, BCCHS received a call from the Berlin Recreation Department concerning an important discovery with regards to a milestone in Berlin’s history. While doing a major cleanup in the cellar of the recreation building, workers found a box hidden in a vault containing documentation and posters pertaining to the 1929 Berlin Centennial Celebration. The Berlin Recreation Department was originally built as the Berlin National Guard Armory in 1926 and was used for many local events. The “box” found in the vault contained large advertising posters that promoted Berlin’s centennial celebration as THE BIGGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN NEW ENGLAND. The celebration took place on July, 1-2-3-4-5-6, 1929.The remainder of the box contained about two dozen file folders from all of the individual committees involved with the celebration, e.g. : Parade committee, Logging Committee, Boxing committee, entertainment committee, etc. Even to this day, the 1929 Centennial Celebration is the biggest event in Berlin’s history. The detailed committee notes and posters showed that there was a two mile long parade with 100 floats and 5000 people, $5000 worth of fireworks, an air show, a pageant/play about Berlin’s history with 1000 actors, 50 rounds of boxing, a governor’s ball, bands playing every day and night, baseball games, etc. Of course, this all occurred just before the depression when Berlin’s economy was booming and had a population of 22,000. It was obvious that Berlin’s Citizenry was very proud of their community and many participated in making this the grandest event in Berlin’s history. It will not be long when Berlin will be celebrating its 200^th anniversary. Hopefully, we will all party again like they did in 1929. Everyone is welcome to view these documents at the Moffett House Museum and Genealogy Center.

1829  CENTENNIAL  POSTER  1929

      BCCHS Computer Project

 The Moffett House is coming into the 21st century big time!  We have recently begun what will be an extensive, long term project to digitally bring the contents of the Moffett House on line to better serve the community, other museums, and researchers. The first phase began in January and we are excited to say that we have photographed and indexed the contents of 9 of the 22 rooms and halls in the Moffett House. All pertinent data associated with each item will be cataloged and cross- referenced for research purposes. We are at the data collection stage which will continue into this next year. We will keep you updated on our progress.

 Pictured is Ray Daigle, Odette Leclerc and Jan Ely photographing one of thousands of items stored and on display at the Moffett House. They have been meeting weekly on this phase of the project. Walter Nadeau has applied for a grant to purchase an Apple MacPro laptop computer, a digital document scanner, camera and photographic equipment to make this project possible 

                                                      BCCHS WEB SITE

There is a lot of activity on our web site.  The Brown Bulletins have been especially very popular.  It’s a great way to research relatives’s activitiies who worked in the mills.  Some articles are very amusing while others are informative. You can now explore the many Berlin Neighborhoods. By clicking on a particular neighborhood, you read about its history.  Check out our website at www.berlinnhhistoricalsociety.org.

                                        Museum Hours and Things to See

The Moffett House Museum & Genealogy Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 4 PM.  The main floor displays artifacts, albums, and numerous memorabilia from the past. Upstairs, are three rooms jam-packed with records and books for those who wish to explore their roots in genealogy or to research historical documents.  We encourage schools, home schools, civic, church, school reunion committees, nursing homes, or other groups and individuals to contact us for special visits, which may be arranged by calling (603) 752-4590 or (603) 752-7337.

E-mail contact is bcchs@hotmail.com.  Admission is free.

Contributions and Membership

Because of the generosity of so many people, the museum has seen a great deal of growth since its establishment in 1997.  To maintain this growth, financial aid is needed from various sources.  Please remember the Society in your will and estate planning.  Donations in memory of a loved one or direct contributions are received with appreciation.  Gifts of artifacts and memorabilia are very important as well.  We have a tax exempt classification of 501(3)(c).  The Historical Society is a non-profit organization and it also relies on support through its membership dues.  We sincerely hope you will remain a member by renewing your membership when it is due.  If you are not already a member, we invite you to join to help support the preservation of the area’s rich heritage.                                 The price for membership is $10.00 for individuals and $20.00 for family                                  

                                                       Research  

The Moffett House has seen a steady increase of activities in the genealogy and records departments of the museum.   Many people are coming in to research their roots as are organizations and groups doing research for historical documentaries and other projects.

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LeTourneau Cough Syrup

A BCCHS member was in town last fall and he stopped by the Moffett house to visit the staff. While he was visiting he mentioned that he had just come from St. Anne’s Cemetery, and that he had found some LeTourneau graves that had hidden in the overgrown grass. When a BCCHS research staff member heard him say the name LeTourneau, she asked if he knew of Albert LeTourneau because she was researching an old bottle of LeTourneau Cough Syrup that had just been donated to the museum.   The member replied that Albert was his uncle, and his grave stone was one of the ones that he had just found, and that he had recently received several pictures of him from his grandson, including a picture of him in City Drug Store.

City Drug Store circa 1930’s

Albert is on the left; the woman in this picture is unknown.   Albert was the proprietor of City Drug Store for several years prior to his death in February 1940. Albert also served on the Berlin Board of Health in 1937-38. Osgood was the name of the photographer.

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NEWS FROM THE HOUSE

             PRESERVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

VOLUME 37                                                                                                 FALL 2014                                                         Thompson Barn Restoration

  Over the Summer months the Berlin & Coos County Historical Society completed the stabilization of the Thompson Barn and are a big step closer toward the complete restoration of the 120 foot long structure. This was made possible with a grant of $24,083 from New Hampshire Land & Community Investment Program, $16,055 from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Foundation of the New Hampshire Charitable Trust and $1,022 in donations from local individuals and businesses. The Thompson Barn is one of two barns on the same 2.83 acre site that have been in the restoration process since 2003. The other is the Maynesboro Stud Barn. The Thompson  Barn is so named because the property was own by the Benjamin Thompson Family from 1827 until it was purchased by the Berlin Mills Company (later Brown Company) in 1891. Benjamin Thompson bought a house and five acres from William Sessions in 1827; in 1891 the farm consisted of 450 acres. From 1880 to about 1903 Brown Company owned over 900 work horses. During mud season, from March to June, the horses were taken out of the woods. Brown Company kept many of them at the Thompson Farm, while the remainder were housed at other farms. Bryan Felice of Undustrial Timber Frames, Rumney, NH. was the contractor who did the structural work. Don Leclerc and the late Maurice Lavertue already replaced 70 feet of sill in 2010. The remaining 250 feet of the barn was jacked up anywhere from two inches to 19 inches on the Northwest corner. Eight foot sections of four tie beams in the rear section of the barn were replaced. About 110 feet of 8 x 8 spruce was used to replace or strengthen rotten sections of the sill. Once the structural work was completed, Dave Connolly and his crew from D&M Painting thoroughly scraped the building, applied one to two coats of oil primer paint and two top coats of latex paint. The barn now looks solid and almost new. In 2015 work will begin on the barn’s 55 windows.  

Museum Store   Offered for sale in our Museum Store are unique books by local writers, including Ray Daigle’s book, Berlin Mills along the Androscoggin River, a DVD documentary film of Berlin, and many postcards. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 PM for your shopping convenience. Prices and titles may be obtained by phoning the museum at 603-752-4590 or 603-752-7337. You may wish to visit our web site: www.berlinnhhistoricalsociety.org. The web site will give you access to the list of all items available and more information about the Museum with lots of pictures and stories of past events.                                                                    

Barn Sales   BCCHS thanks everyone who donated their left over yard sale merchandise for the barn sales as well as those who shopped in the Maynesboro Stud Barn during one of the six sales held from June through October. BCCHS had close to record sales and are looking forward to the summer of 2015 to satisfy all of your shopping needs. Thanks to your support, we are able to operate the Moffett House Museum and continue with the restoration of the Brown Company Barns.

Notre Dame Arena Much needed up grades on the Notre Dame Arena are almost complete thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Foundation of the New Hampshire Charitable Trust.    BCCHS director Walter Nadeau wrote and submitted the grant application for the Notre Dame Arena Corporation to help finance the $300,000 project. BCCHS accepted and managed the $100,000 grant for the Arena. The Notre Dame Arena cannot accept grant money because they are not a 501(3)(c) organization and BCCHS took the role as fiscal agent.   As shown in the photo collage on page three, the front of the Arena has a new beautiful facade with seven faux stone columns and a bright red steel roof. With this new facade, no more water, snow and ice with fall in front of the main entry doors. There is also a drainage system to carry away the rain water. The 2600 square foot Spartan Weightlifting Club, which is over the lobby area, is receiving many upgrades, including electrical, energy, structural and cosmetic upgrades. Once completed the Arena will use 2500 to 3000 gallons less fuel to heat the front area of the building. In 1932 a Mr. Coulombe built an ice skating rink on the Notre Dame Arena site. There were small bleachers about five steps high that surrounded the rink with a wall behind them and a small roof. In 1945 Father Omar Bousquet bought the Coulombe rink with his personal funds and began to raise money to build the Notre Dame Arena. Construction of the Arena was completed in 1947 for $38,000 and took only 65 days to build and was the second covered arena in New Hampshire. On any given day, up to 300 volunteers would show up to work on the building. Man made ice was installed in 1966 for $70,000. As most know from that time period, in February 1969 the Arena caved in from snow load resulting in the death of 15 year old goalie Normand Boucher. However, Berlin rallied and hockey was played again in the “new” arena one year later.   The Notre Dame Arena was the home of the Berlin Senior A Maroons team. The Berlin       Maroons played Hockey from 1937 to 1972, won the New England championships seven times, along with three Amateur National titles in 1954, 67 and 68. The Notre Dame Rams played there from 1947 until the school closed in 1972. During this time, they were NH champs 19 times, New England champs once and New England runner-up once. Berlin High School still plays hockey in the Arena today. Berlin High School has had a hockey team for 85 seasons since the 1921/22 year. It has been state champions nine times, New England champs once and runner-up twice.     BCCHS considers the Notre Dame Arena to be a significant part of Berlin’s History and Culture. We took great pleasure in supporting this project.      

                          Keeping Tabs on a Thousand Horses     Up to 1901 there was no systematic record of the Berlin Mills Company (later Brown Company) work horses. The Company removing most of the logs out of the forest with horses. On October 09, 1901,  William Robinson Brown called a John Farrington into his office and asked him to get some branding irons. WR Brown told Farrington to begin in the Berlin stable and then go to all the places where the company had horses, brand and make a record of them. The record was a documentation all pertinent information on the horse. For example, horse # 1 was a bay mare, ten years old, weighed 850 pounds and valued at $75. When the horse died, the record was made in another book and charged out to profit and loss.             It was necessary to mark each horse for identification. This was done branding numbers into the hoof of the horse near the top. This was the most pain less way to do it. Some horses became so agitated that it was necessary to cover their heads with a blanket so they would stand quiet for the branding. As the hoof grows downward, the branding mark would grow down and off in about 6 to 8 months. Because of this, the horse was branded twice a year. The horse was branded on the left hoof in the fall and the right in the spring. The highest number recorded was 928. The Company’s ownership peaked in 1903 and diminished to 75 horses in 1930 as most of the logging was contracted out. This size herd was maintained until the mid sixties.

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Lew Cody, Silent Movie Actor

Feb. 22, 1884 – May 31, 1934

        Lew Cody is the stage name for Louis J. Cote, who was born in Waterville, Maine, and brought up in Berlin. He was a famous silent movie actor during the 1920,’s but also adapted well to acting in “talkies” in the early 1930’s.  Lew Cody was the son of Louis Cote, Sr., who was a prominent  pharmacist and business man in Berlin for 35 years. Louis Cote, Sr. built the Cote Block on Main Street in 1904 and was Berlin’s largest individual tax payer when he died in 1919.

    The following story of Lew Cody was written by his sister, Cecile Cote, for the 1935 edition of the Berlin High School yearbook.                                          

Lew Cody was born Louis J. Cote in Waterville, ME. His early ambition was to become a physician, and he studied at McGill University in Montreal. Finding that amateur theatricals interested him deeply, he put medicine aside and attended the Stanhope Wheatcroft School of Dramatic Art. There, he worked hard and served a novitiate of one-night stands, experiencing all the heartbreaks of a small-time actor.Gaining experience and a certain amount of approbation, he entered vaudeville, and then toured in stock companies, later entering the silent motion pictures. In his roles, he portrayed the suave villain of society and adventure, attaining considerable popularity. Being a skilled actor, wise in the tricks of the silent screen, he quickly adapted himself to the technique of talking pictures.

      The pictures for which he is particularly remembered are: Klondike; Madison Square Garden; Wine, Women, and Song; the Sign on the Door; His Secretary, The Valley of Silent Men; The Gay Deceiver; Monte Carlo; 70,000 Witnesses; What a Widow; X Marks the Spot;, and Shoot the Works.   

     Lew was famous, in Hollywood, for his corned beef and cabbage dinners at which he entertained many movie celebrities. The “piece de resistance” of the dinner, conceived by the host who loved a “gag”, was the final course. James Glenn, who had been Lew’s butler so long that he called himself James Cody, always passed the bicarbonate of soda.  

      In the death of Lew Cody, Hollywood lost one of its veteran actors of the legitimate stage, the silver screen, and the “talkies”

. 

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 NEWS FROM THE HOUSE

     PRESERVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

               FALL 2013       VOLUME 36                     

Genealogy Center on the Road

Walter and Jacklyn Nadeau with Odette Leclerc traveled to Manchester, NH, on Thursday, April 18, to participate in the New England Genealogical Conference by setting up a display table to offer visitors a glimpse as to what the Moffett House Museum & Genealogy Center has for research material. It was a good networking opportunity for the museum.

A one hour class in starting your family tree was given by Jacklyn Nadeau at the 3rd Annul White Mountains Writers’ and Book Festival held Saturday, September 28 at the White Mountain Community College, in Berlin. A table was set up in the hallway to sell some of our books with Raymond Daigle there to sign copies of his new book Berlin Mills on the Androscoggin River. Walter Nadeau assisted in manning the table while Jacklyn presented her class.

Filles du Roi

The Moffett House Museum & Genealogy Center co-sponsored this year’s Franco-American Festival held annually at the St. Kieran’s Art Center in Berlin. This year the November 3rd Festival honored the Filles du Roi  or King’s Daughters who are marking the 350th anniversary of the first women arriving in Canada from France. Sponsored by King Louis the XIVth, these brave women came alone, usually without a family, to marry the many single men who made up most of French Canada. Our genealogy Center was busy finding descendents among the French-Canadian population in Berlin. Some of the local families who can trace their origin in Quebec to a King’s Daughter include: Audet dit Lapointe, Bacquet dit Lamontagne, Bisson, Blais, Dube, Dumont, Nadeau, and Rheaume, among others.

Museum Store

Offered for sale in our Museum Store are unique books by local writers, a DVD documentary film of Berlin, and many postcards. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 PM for your shopping convenience. Prices and titles may be obtained by phoning the museum at 603-752-4590 or 603-752-7337. You may wish to visit our web site: www.berlinnhhistoricalsociety.org. The web site will give you access to the list of all items available and more information about the Museum with lots of pictures and stories of past events.

Barn Sales

BCCHS thanks everyone who donated their left over yard sale merchandise for the barn sales as well as those who shopped in the Thompson Barn during one of the six sales held from June through October. BCCHS had record sales and are looking forward to the summer of 2014 to satisfy all of your shopping needs. Thanks to your support, we are able to operate the Moffett House Museum and continue with the restoration of the Brown Company Barns.

In Memory: Maurice Lavertue, Jr., June 26, 1941-June 26, 2013

The Berlin & Coos County Historical Society regrets to announce the passing of one of its charter members. Maurice Lavertue, Jr  passed  away this past June at the age of 72. To all who knew him, Maurice was not only a tried and true friend but also one who always was there to accomplish any task. Maurice was instrumental in the progression of the Historical Society and is credited for much of its success. From being an integral part of the team in acquiring the Moffett House with Walter Nadeau and Renney Morneau, to being the driving force behind the acquisition of the Brown Company Barns, Maurice was dedicated and task oriented. Without his efforts, one might wonder what our Historical Society would look like today. We thank you, Maurice, for your many talents and for all of your expertise, whether it was to replace the original furnace at the Moffett House, rewiring, re-roofing the Moffett House and coordinating the roofing of the Brown Company Barns, helping to stabilize these historic properties. You will be truly missed and always kindly remembered.

Author Ray Daigle’s Book Signing a Hugh Success!

Sunday, September 8, 2013 served as the perfect day for a book signing. Beneath clear, blue skies and the panoramic backdrop of the presidential range, crowds gathered at the historic Maynesboro Stud Barn on East Milan Road to witness BCCHS member Raymond Daigle unveil his latest work,” Berlin Mills on the Androscoggin River,” The Golden Years: 1852 to 1935. This long awaited historical work was the culmination or four years of research. In this interesting book, Ray chronicles the rise of Berlin mills operations. His intricate work on this period in time affords the reader a glimpse into a fascinating time capsule documenting the history of the paper industry in Berlin. The rare historical images which enhance the work only further succeed in bringing this forgotten story to life.

The book signing could only be compared to an old home day, with several hundred well-wishers coming to this historic barn to congratulate Ray on his success. It was indeed a sight to behold, as Ray not only autographed the many books but also told of the many stories of the old mills and their bygone days. Visitors were also treated to a tasty reception, including a special occasion cake which was created by Ray’s son, Peter, to resemble Ray’s book.

To order copies of Berlin Mills on the Androscoggin River send a check to:

BCCHS

PO Box 52

Berlin, NH  03570

Soft cover –   $25 x ______book(s) =   $______

Hard Cover – $40 x ______book(s) =   $______

Shipping – $3.88 + $2.00 for each

additional book                               =  $_______

Total           $_______

Name________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________

City__________________________State________________zip__________

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 NEWS FROM THE HOUSE

     PRESERVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

        SPRING 2013       VOLUME 35                      

                                                                   Barn Sales

Since the BCCHS acquired the Brown Company Barns at 137 East Milan Road, Berlin, barn sales have been held during the summer months in the small barn to raise funds to support the operations of The Moffett House Museum and Genealogy Center. Barn sale items are donated to BCCHS from the people in the community who have no more need for these items. The following are the dates for the barn sales this year: June 01 (craft supplies), June 22,  July 13 (book sales), August 10 (book sales), September 07 (Halloween sale), October 05 (Christmas Sale). So save your change, come shop at the barns and have a hot dog while you are there.

Web Site

The BCCHS web site has added an index to the Brown Bulletins. The Brown Bulletin was a monthly publication published by the Brown Company during the late teens, 1920’s, early thirties. late forties, fifties and sixties. Several years ago Odette Leclerc and Medora Snigger created an index for the Brown Company Bulletins by name. Thousands of people mentioned in the bulletins now are searchable at our web site, www.berlinnhhistoricalsociety.org. The search results in information explaining exactly where a person is mention in a Brown Bulletin. The information from the index can be located in the Brown Bulletins which are on the BCCHS web site. Also, we want to again thank Paul Gilbert of Greenland, NH for making the web site possible and continues as a consultant working with Don Leclerc to continually add updates and improvements.

Museum Store

Offered for sale in our museum store are unique books by local writers, a DVD documentary film of Berlin, and many postcards. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 pm to 4 pm  for your shopping convenience.  Prices and titles may be obtained by phoning the museum at (603) 752-4590 or (603) 752- 7337.  You may wish to visit our web site: www.berlinnhhistoricalsociety.org.  The web site will give you access to the list of all items available and more information about the museum with lots of pictures of past events. 

ReportI2012 Financial

Income$29,291

   Expenses$24,406  

       Total assets         $57,201             

                                           Ken  Fysh story                                                                                                                                                 From  The BerlinHigh School Meteor 1942                                                             .

                  Story from Berlin  Daily Sun

Sport’s Exhibit

 Our sport’s exhibit was rearranged  to include objects recently acquired. Along with Notre Dame Hockey memorabilia, Berlin High Hockey objects are now exhibited to satisfy BHS sports fans. Among the BHS hockey objects are the following: A goalie stick used by Ron Villeneuve, goalie of the BHS hockey team that won the 1967 NHIAA  Hockey and New England championships; hockey gloves that were worn by BHS Hockey coach Dick Bradley during practices from the 1954/55 through the 1964/65 hockey seasons; The game puck from the 1963 Hockey championships, donated by Sam Paquette; this was the first one among nine titles foe BHS; finally, a 1976 BHS Hockey jersey that was worn by Gerard Fillion; this was the last year that BHS won the State Championships

Spanish-American War Uniform

 Carole Lamirande and Robert Dalphonse gratiously donated a Spanish-American War uniform to the Moffett House Museum and Genealogy Center  which belonged to their grandfather, Thomas McCarthy. This is an exciting addition to the Moffett House military exhibit.  Thomas McCarthy enlisted in 1898 to serve his country in the Spanish-American War, which began that same year. In 1904 he became employed by Brown Company in the Cascade Mill and worked for many years in the mills. In 1906 he was one of the original  organizers of the the first National Guard Company in Berlin and became a drill instructor for recruits.

   In the group photograph Lt. McCarthy is the tallest man, standing on the right side of the Spanish-American War Memorial which was dedicated on October 13, 1940.

                     First LT.McCarthy uniform          

Station Master’s Book

Olive Hancock of Milan, NH donated a Station Master’s book that she found in her home which is the white house across from the Milan General Store. Olive’s daughter, Elizabeth Eastman, now owns the house. This book has entries dating from 1880 to 1887. During this time period, rail cars entered the Berlin Mills’ (later Brown Company) property and were loaded with finished products for transportation outside of Berlin. This book refers to deliveries and payments from the Forest Fibre Company, C.C. Gerrish & Company, Glen Manufacturing Co., among others. It also reported a man falling off the train and horses and oxen being killed by the train. Most entries were made by A.K. Cole. There is a signature on a receipt of merchandise of A.P. Blake, a Milan Businessman. A.P. Blake lived in the Hancock House from 1874 to 1902. BCCHSthanks Olive Hancock for saving this important object and presenting it to the Moffett House Museum and Genealogy Center to preserve for the future.

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The staff at the Moffett House has just released the Brown Bulletin name index.

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