This C1888  photo of the Hudson Center Common shows the view from the home of Eli Hamblet  on Hamblet Avenue.  Straight ahead is the Baptist Church, the church where he was elected as deacon just a few years earlier in 1882.  The large vestry has not been built, but I am certain the need for it has been discussed among the members.  To the right of the church is the home of Mrs. Mahalia Greeley; the widow of John Greeley, MD.  To the left of the church is the home of Daniel Greeley.  Daniel was known to have a good nature and he was well liked within the community.  In the foreground and on the left of the photo is the Old Hudson Center Cemetery.  Up until a few years prior to this photo the cemetery was in disrepair and the town was considering moving the remains from this site so that the size of the common could be increased.  This proposal did NOT meet with public sentiment and, as it turned out, a former resident of Hudson , John Foster, made a proposal to the town that he would build a stone fence and clean up the cemetery if the town would maintain it.  Imediately beyond the cemetery is a roof of a barn; possible from the barn connected to the Henry Brown House on the opposite side of the common.  Photo from the Historical Society Collection.

This house was a landmark in Hudson Center for many years; standing at  Kimball Hill Road opposite the Hudson Center Common and directly across from the front steps of the Baptist Church.    The first occupant was Dr. Paul Tenny who moved to town about 1791 and later settled here.  The property was sold to Dr James Emery in 1849.  When Dr. Emery retired it was purchased by Henry C. Brown; in 1935 it was purchased by John T. Benson and became part of the Benson’s Wild Animal Farm property.  Vera Lovejoy and her family lived here while she was managing the Benson Farm.  This c1895 photo shows, left to right, Henry C. Brown; Ina Louise Brown, daughter;  Clara Bryant Brown, his wife; and John and Eliza Brown the adoptive parents of Henry.  Photo from the Historical Society Collection.

The First Baptist Church of Hudson was organized in 1805 at the home of Thomas Senter on at what is now the Old Derry Road near the Londonderry Line.  For the first 37 years services were held in members’ homes or at the North Meeting House located just east of the Town House.  The sanctuary of this church at the corner of Central and Greeley Streets was constructed in 1842.  In 1888 a short alcove was added to house the new organ; then, in 1897 the large vestry was added.  This photo was probably taken at the time of the centennial celebration of the church in 1905.  Over these years the exterior of the building has not changed significantly except  for replacing the original steeple which was completed  in 2007.  To the left of the church we see part of the Greeley/Wentworth home, now the church parsonage.   The stacks of wood seen here  were used to heat the building.  The dirt roadway in front of the church is either Central Street or a short cut from Central Street to Greeley Street.  Photo from the collection of the Hudson Historical Society.