Thursday, January 14, 2010

From the files of The Cabinet Jan. 13-20.

100 years ago, 1910

State Sen. Robert Bass was talked about as a possible gubernatorial candidate, but he was uncommitted.

Ethel Arnold was to lecture in Concord on the issue of women’s suffrage. The title of her talk was to be, “Women Vote in Colorado, Why Not in New Hampshire?”

J.B. Heald sold his jewelry and repair business on South Street in Milford to Leon E. Merrill of White River Junction, Vt.

Milford Police Chief James B. Ryan had a humane way of keeping “tramps out of trouble” (as the headline said): He provided them with food and a place to sleep. Where? In the Town Hall basement.

In Mont Vernon, the “many friends of Mrs. Belle Courtwright will be glad to hear that she is improving in health.”

Also in Mont Vernon, “Mrs. Harry Blood returned from Nashua on Tuesday after passing a few days with her mother and sister.”

In Wilton, “Fred W. Proctor, for three years with the Boston & Maine R.R., has gone to Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass., as chief engineer.”

Also in Wilton, “Chief of Police Cooley notified the pool rooms in this town today that all minors must be kept out of these places. This will mean quite a loss to the owners as a great many under 21 years of age play pool and make these places their headquarters these cold nights.”

75 years ago, 1935

Milford firemen had their annual pay night and each firefighter received $50 from Town Treasurer Frederick Sawyer.

Milford was planning to celebrate the birthday of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on Jan. 30 with a ball. James Cassidy was chairman of the event.

Burglars broke into the Standard Oil office on Nashua Street and smashed the safe. They got nothing of value, however.

The Milford Rifle and Revolver Club held its second meeting at the American Legion.

Mrs. C. Edward Powers “is being urged by friends to be a candidate for member of the school board at the school meeting in March.”

In Brookline, Mrs. and Mrs. George Davis had as their guests Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Chester King, of Leominster.

In Milford, “Miss Leona Petazzi is confined to her home by illness” but “Judge B.F. Prescott, who has been ill, is able to be out this week.”

In Amherst, a fourth whist party was planned by the Souhegan Grange.

The cast of the Amherst High School play, “The Perfect Getaway,” included Robert Currier, Theodore Underwood, Geneva Roby, Eleanor Aikins, Barbara Murphy, Clarence Frost, Francis Gaidmore, Verna Goodale, Leo Bono, Edward Larner, Aili Soini, and Pauline Currier.

50 years ago, 1960

Beverly Bagnell, of Milford, and Margaret McGettigan, of Wilton, were named the “Good Citizens” of the year by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Democrats were hoping that Sen. John F. Kennedy would speak in Milford before the March 8 primary.

Milford High School senior Martha Rotch was invited to be one of seven young people and 19 adults to represent New Hampshire at the White House Conference on Children and Youth in Washington.

The Milford Rotary was planning a discussion on Algerian independence, a subject the Cabinet called “a burning issue in many parts of the world.”

The Amherst town library trustees voted to increase library hours because of an increase in circulation.

The Rev. and Mrs. John H. Wilson, of Wilton Center, left to spend the next two months in Florida. Perhaps they would run into Miss Nellie Perham, of Wilton, who, the paper reported, “is spending the winter in St. Petersburg, Fla.” where she recently attended the N.H. State Club of Florida “and reports a most interesting time.”

Pauline Chabot, of Wilton, flew to Switzerland after winning the grand prize in a Manchester newspaper contest for “newsboys.”

25 years ago, 1985

Six residents of the Town and Country Mobil Home Park asked the selectmen to help them avoid eviction by the park’s lessee, Michael Mills of Merrimack, who has an option to buy the property “and hopes to build 92 condominium units on the site.”

The German shepherd Zorro joins the Milford Police Department. His handler was Patrolman Michael White.

Milford police got a report of a UFO sighting on Jan. 10. A resident told them that a “large red ball” was seen flying over the high school “at a high speed toward Nashua.” Police were investigating.

Bradford Craven was named director of Andy’s Summer Playhouse.

Wilton School Board member Sandra Trow announced her retirement.

Amherst school officials discussed a plan to move first grade classes to Wilkins School, which would allow them to institute public kindergarten.

The Lyndeborough School Board was discussing the possible expansion of the Central School.

In Mont Vernon, Blood Road residents asked selectmen to restrict truck traffic.