100 years ago, 1913

The Milford High School football team was defeated by Nashua, 32-0. Fans said it was Milford’s best game of the season.

Mail delivery on holidays was optional with local postmasters, and in Milford, Postmaster McIntire ordered one delivery on Thanksgiving because the mail was so much heavier with the beginning of the Christmas rush. Milford carriers had days off on July 4 and Labor Day.

Charles S. Pettigrew of Massachusetts bought the S.T. Worthen farm in Mont Vernon, one of the largest fruit farms in the state and the largest apple ranch in the county.

A large gang of painters from the Boston & Maine railroad were painting the railroad bridges in Wilton a bright red.

Wilton Police Chief Hickey notified all the places where turkey and chicken raffles have been held “to cut it out this year.” Also the minor law was to be enforced to the letter: All children under the age of 18 could not go to any sociable, basketball game, picture show or any entertainment unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or someone over 21. The same law applied to pool rooms.

70 years ago, 1943

Joseph White, a Navy yeoman and former teller at the Milford Souhegan National Bank, was coming home for Thanksgiving after being slightly wounded when his ship was sunk in the attack at Salerno. He had telephoned his wife from New York to say he had 30 days leave but had lost everything when his ship went down and his clothing consisted of one pair of dungarees. As soon as he could get a shirt and a pair of pants, he said he would start for home.

Representatives of 44 nations signed an agreement for the relief and rehabilitation of Europe, with each country providing supplies to the limit of its capacity. The agreement was signed at the White House. Of the 46 million tons of food, seed, fuel, clothing, raw materials, machinery and medical supplies needed, the U.S. was to furnish nearly 9.5 million, Great Britain 3.5 million, Europe 29 million, and other regions 4 million tons.

The Tremont Theatre in Nashua was showing “The Oklahoma Kid” with Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney, and “Chance of a Lifetime” with Chester Morris.

Our Mont Vernon correspondent, Mrs. Annie Perham, said that the white turkeys from the Joseph Blood flock would be popular at Thanksgiving dinner.

Sgt. David Tuttle of Wilton had a two-week leave from his post in Shreveport, La., but was to return to duty at Camp Maxey, Texas.

Frederick and Dorothy Douglas of Lexington were visitors to the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Douglas of Lyndeborough.

50 years ago, 1963

State officials were discussing the possible construction of a Route 101 bypass to be done possibly by 1969. The route would, they said, avoid Amherst, swing far south of Milford, and rejoin the present road to the west near Jones crossing.

Troy Klein, 2, of Manchester drowned in Pulpit Brook between Amherst and Bedford when a car driven by his father skidded off Route 101 and came to rest on its roof in the swiftly flowing water after rolling down an embankment. The cause was a slipper patch of ice on that road. The driver, his wife, a 20-year-old passenger and the toddler were thrown from the vehicle and into the icy water.

The Souhegan National Bank in Milford was paying out $104,000 in Christmas Club checks, representing 806 accounts.

Pinnacle Grange in Lyndeborough celebrated its 90th anniversary with 94 members present.

Nick Ricciardi, the top science student at Milford High School, was to receive the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award Medal at graduation and would be eligible to compete for a national scholarship to the University of Rochester.

The Latchis Theatre in Milford was showing “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” starring Kirk Douglas.

Margaret Manning, president of Milford’s Harley-Sanford VFW Auxiliary, presented a cake to Jane Knight who, at 101, was believed to be the oldest resident of Milford. She was living at the Cox Nursing Home.

Frank H. Lamson of Mont Vernon was installed as master of Hillsborough County Pomona Grange.

25 years ago, 1988

William Degnan of the state Fire Marshal’s Office, said that fires responsible for destroying the Pine Hill School in October and the Amherst Country Club the previous March were both caused by the improper disposal of rags soaked in the same linseed oil product.

In an editorial bemoaning property tax assessments, William B. Rotch wrote, “I’m not exactly eager to see a state income tax, but I think it would be far more equitable than forcing people who happen to own real estate to support the schools and town government.”

Junior Jason Walker won the Milford Area Senior High Vocational Education Department’s trivia contest.

Vandalism at Amherst recreation areas was costing the town thousands of dollars a year, recreation commission members reported.

The Town Hall Theatre in Wilton was showing “Pink Floyd The Wall.”

Because of a fire that seriously damaged the school, the Pine Hill Christmas fair was to be held at Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School.