Thumbing the files: Week of Feb. 18-25

Thursday, February 18, 2010

From the files of The Cabinet Feb. 18-25

100 years ago

1910: A train struck and killed a horse in Milford.

In Milford, Mrs. Verne Whitman won the basket of candy in the guessing contest at Miss Trow’s, guessing 1,450 pieces. There were 1,417.

Also from Milford, David Dube “struck the ice rather hard last week, which lamed him up considerably.” Joseph Poleti, 32, formerly of Milford, was arrested “in the cellar of his home in Somerville, Mass., on a warrant charging him with violating federal laws relating to the inspection of meat. Poleti is wanted in New York, where it is alleged that he passed a large quantity of sausages in 1907 without having them inspected.” And finally from Milford, A.W. Merrill purchased a new horse.

But in Bedford, “Charles Roberts has a cow and a pig” and “Fahey Shorthey sold his horse to A. Trudo.” In Wilton, it was reported that Stanley H. Abbott returned from his trip to Washington, D.C., where he was the guest of his brother, Charles. Also, Fred L. Frazer was in the village Saturday. He was still limping from the fall he got about a week before. He had been up a tree about 15 feet off the ground cutting a limb “when the limb snapped, throwing him down onto a pile of logs.” And also from Wilton: “Jacob Kendall, the father of the grey squirrel law, says that the squirrels know who is their protector, as a nice plump fellow is living in his cellar.”

75 years ago

1935: Because the business was unprofitable, the McLane furniture company filed for bankruptcy and closed.

From Mont Vernon the news that Mrs. Mary Blood was much better and “has quite recovered from her heavy cold.” Also from Mont Vernon, “at Hohenmieh, Fred Stucklen has grown sufficient rhubarb for their use for several days.” (Editor’s note: Anyone have any idea what this means?) From Amherst this news: Wallace Chilson from Concord was in town Saturday. And this news: Miss Fannie S. Clement of Pelham was a caller at Miss Lucy R. Fletcher’s.

From Milford: Marry Cheney Jr. sustained a badly cut lip and other facial bruises when he fell from a swing at the elementary school grounds.

Sad news from Brookline: “Mrs. William Malloy had the misfortune to slip on the ice at the United Church and received a compound fracture of the left wrist.” Was it contagious? This news from South Lyndeborough: “Mrs. E.B. Barrow had the misfortune to break her wrist last Friday.” In Greenfield, Mrs. Dorothy Spalding was ill with grippe.

From Wilton, another bobcat was hanging in front of C.H. Dunbar’s market, “swelling the number on display this winter to over a dozen.” In the classified ads, a 1931 Hupmobile sedan was offered for $295.

50 years ago

1960: Martha Rotch of Milford and Pamela Johnson of Peterborough were chosen to attend the Girl Scouts’ “All States Wilderness Camp” in Oregon for two weeks in the summer.

Helen Hollis, daugher of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hollis of Amherst, was one of the two top winners from Hillsborough County in a 4-H dairy quiz.

The Amherst PTA play would be “Nude With Violin.” From Lyndeborough came the news that our correspondent, Mrs. Ray P. Bishop, had received a card from the George Parkers, who were spending a few weeks in Florida. The card “tells us they are enjoying beautiful weather.”

From Amherst, the news was that Mrs. Erik Brown of Middle Street had been hospitalized with pneumonia, but was recuperating at her home.

A shed on the Lorden Lumber property was damaged after sparks from a nearby trash fire landed on it.

Samuel G. Proctor of Wilton was elected a director of the Milford Cooperative Bank.

25 years ago

1985: Milford Area Senior High School won the state ski championship.

Milford’s town warrant would include 66 articles.

Evan Applegate, 33, of Milford was killed when his car crashed into a tree in Vermont.

William Kennedy of Milford was named state director for the American Association of Retired Persons.

The roof went on the Pine Hill Waldorf School’s under-construction building on Abbot Hill Road two years after its Bennington Battle Trail school was destroyed by fire.

The Amherst Ways and Means Committee came out against public kindergarten.

Marcia Houck of Amherst was named to head the central New Hampshire emergency medical services office.

Dennis Galligher of Mont Vernon placed second in the North American Skeleton Championships and ninth in the Casio North American Skeleton Bobsled Championships.