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Home of Reuben Greeley now the Parsonage of Baptist Church

April 6, 2018 8:44 pm / Leave a comment

As we continue to revisit the homes around the Hudson Center Common we come to the home of Reuben Greeley. One of the more influential families in Nottingham West (now Hudson) was that of Moses Greeley. Reuben (born 1794) was the oldest son of Moses and his second wife Mary Derby.

Baptist Parsonage C1980

Historians date this house to about 1790 when it, and much of Hudson Center, was a part of the farm of Henry Hale. This became the home of Reuben Greeley about the time of his marriage to Joanna Merrill in 1817. From that time until 1962 this home was occupied by Reuben or a member of his family. After Reuben’s death in 1863 his son Daniel continued to live here with his wife, Joanna, and daughter Edwina. Edwina married John Wentworth and in time ownership was passed to their son Nathaniel. Nathaniel married Jesse Gilbert of Windham who resided here until her death in 1962; after which the Baptist Church purchased and remodeled the home to be used as a parsonage for their pastor and family. The parsonage has been located here at 234 Central Street some 53 years. In this c1980 photo church members are washing windows and cleaning exterior of the parsonage. Photo courtesy of Hudson Baptist Church.

Westview Cemetery on Burnham Road

September 22, 2017 11:13 pm / 2 Comments on Westview Cemetery on Burnham Road

Westview Cemetery Burnham Road

When the Old Hudson Center Cemetery, located on the Common, became nearly covered with graves, the need for additional cemetery space in that part of town became apparent. The Hudson Center Cemetery Association published their intentions on the Oasis, a newspaper published in Nashua for three weeks in a row, in accordance with the laws of the State of New Hampshire. An initial meeting was held at the town house in Hudson Center, now Wattannick Hall, on December 4, 1849. At this meeting a set of by-laws and a slate of officers were elected. Elected as Directors were Jefferson Smith, Joseph Dane, James Smith, 2nd, Dustin B. Smith, and Daniel W. Robinson, Eli Hamblet was elected Clerk and Amory Burnham as Treasurer.

The initial acreage for the cemetery was donated by Reuben Greeley. This parcel is located to the right as you enter the cemetery gate from Burnham Road. The cemetery was laid out into large lots, most of which would allow for 12 burials so as to accommodate large families and multiple generations. Between each lot space was allocated for walkways. The layout also included streets wide enough so that horse and wagons, and later vehicles could enter the cemetery. All of this was located less than one half mile from Hudson Center.

After the Nashua and Rochester Railroad was constructed, a substantial addition of land was made to the cemetery. All the land between the initial parcel and the southerly line of the railroad land was acquired, making a total of nearly three acres. After the railroad ceased to operate, the cemetery purchased the right of way from the railroad. This right of way is clearly visible today and is used as a short cut from Burnham Road to Hudson Center.

So as not to confuse this new cemetery with the Old Hudson Center Cemetery it was called Clement Cemetery. I am not sure why this name was associated with this yard; but, it is often referred as such in the old records. The name Westview has since been adopted and it is known by that name today.

Within this cemetery one will find the final resting place for many Hudson families of the last 167 years. One will also find a number of lots with beautiful and expensive monuments; as well many of the more common markings. Records of the cemetery also indicate burials in some of the lots where no visual monuments were placed by the surviving families. But, thankfully, knowledge of their burials has been preserved by the written records.

I find the most elaborate monuments within Westview to be along the back wall of the old section. These belong to the families of Dr. David O. Smith, Dr. Henry O. Smith, and the Haselton family from Bush Hill. The oldest burial is that of Betsey Beard who died June 1850 at the age of 80.

The most interesting burial site is the unmarked grave of Rev. Benjamin Dean, a minister serving the Baptist Church from April 1828 to June 1830; at which time he left the ministry but remained a resident of Hudson Center and continued to live in his home on Hamblet Avenue. When he passed in 1856 he was buried in the Potters Field section of the cemetery. Many years later when additional lots were laid out, the Potters Field and his burial site was included within one of the new lots. But, the location of Rev. Dean’s burial site has not been lost to history. It remains unmarked; but, has been included within the written record of this newer lot.

The photo showing the entrance to Westview Cemetery at 20 Burnam Road was taken by the author and is a part of the Historical Society Collection.

Blodgett Cemetery

September 1, 2017 4:45 am / Leave a comment

Blodgett Gate at Pelham and Lowell Roads

Our next cemetery to visit is the Blodgett Cemetery, located on Pelham Road at the intersection with Lowell Road and about 1 1/2 miles south of the Taylor Falls and Memorial Bridges. It is the third burial yard, in order of age, in Hudson. It contains about 1 acre of land and was acquired by the town on or before 1748 from Benjamin Whittemore for a meeting house and public uses. The state boundary with Massachusetts was established in 1746, leaving the residents of town in need of a meeting house site more central to it’s people. This site was selected and by 1748 the second meeting house was erected by the town. Kimball Webster in his History of Hudson describes the site of the meeting house as on the south side of the yard and near the present gate of the cemetery. The burial plots were the church yard, surrounding the house on the rear and on both ends.

In time the meeting house was moved away, and the No 4 school house built on the site. By the winter of 1855 the school house burned. Prior to this time a question was raised about the town’s title to this lot on the north side. At the town meeting of 1839 the town appointed a special committee of Thomas Wason, Jeremiah Smith, and Daniel Davis to investigate. This committee met with Reuban Greeley, Esq. the abutter on the north end. After this meeting, all parties agreed to establish an east west boundary on the north side of the town owned land.

After the schoolhouse fire in 1855 that site was abandoned in favor of a location nearby. As the land upon which the schoolhouse had stood belonged to the town it was added to the cemetery and a short time later a cemetery association was organized. The yard was then enclosed by a stone wall with an iron gate. The grounds were cleared of bushes and rubbish and other improvements were made. Family lots were located and laid out using the vacant grounds. Unfortunately, either from carelessness or willfulness, new lots were plotted upon grounds of some ancient graves and they were obliterated. In Webster’s History he reported this as inexcusable and lacking the respect which should have been due to these early settlers.

The most ancient date found among the inscriptions of this place is that of Priscilla Chase who passed October 5, 1749. The most frequent surnames found on the headstones are Blodgett, Greeley, Burns, Chase, Pollard, Winn, Wason, Hale, Caldwell, Page, Wilson, Cross, Merrill, and Burbank.

Within this cemetery are four generations of Blodgetts with the name Joseph. Joseph, born 1760, served in the Battle of Bennington in 1777. Being a lad of 17 he did not receive credit for his service at either the local or the national level until 2007, some 229 years later. His service has since been registered at the national level by Ruth (Baldwin) Williams, a descendant of his from Oak Forest, IL. when she applied for membership is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Young Joseph served with his father and the records for his service were credited to his father. His grave site in Blodgett Cemetery received a Revolutionary Soldier marker at a Memorial Day ceremony in 2007. Mrs. Williams coordinated this event with the Cemetery trustees, the American Legion of Hudson, and the Hudson Historical Society.

The photo shows the gate into this cemetery in 2007 and is part of the Historical Society collection.

Ford Cemetery at Musquash Road

August 24, 2017 7:45 pm / Leave a comment

Entrance Gate Ford Cemetery

The Ford cemetery is located on Musquash Road less than 1/4 mile south of the site of the first meetinghouse of Nottingham. and on the same side of the road. The location of the meetinghouse is at the entrance to the Musquash Conservation Area and is identified by a granite marker. This cemetery, also known as the South End cemetery and the Musquash cemetery, was laid out and dedicated as a burial place in 1734, just a short time after the building of the meetinghouse.

The custom of the early settlers in this part of New England was to have a public burying ground, or church yard as often called, connected to and often times surrounding it on three sides of the meeting house.. This was not practical at this location because the land in that vicinity was rocky and ledgy, not suitable as a place for the internment of the dead. The selected site is as near the church as as a suitable plot of ground could be found.

To locate this cemetery one needs only to travel south on Musquash from the conservation area less that 1/4 mile. On your left you will find a gravel driveway; the cemetery will be found a short distance in on this driveway. Be careful as the cemetery cannot be easily seen from Musquash Road. This burying ground contains about 1/4 acre, enclosed by a stone wall with an iron gate. Above the iron gate is perched a long granite post laying horizontal with the ground and supported on each side buy a similar granite post. You walk under this post as you open the gate to enter the cemetery.

The most frequent names found within this yard are Snow, Merrill, Ford, Fuller, Gowing, Barron, Wilson, and Connell.

There is no debate as to the antiquity of this place; in fact some historians have claimed that it is the most ancient of all Hudson;s cemeteries. The earliest date found in this yard is that on the headstone of Ensigh John Snow, “who departed this life March the 28th, A.D., 1735. Aged 68 years, 4 month, and 3 days. This headstone is a very thick, wide and heavy one and not very high. This is the most ancient inscription of any, not only in this yard, it also predates the earliest date of 1738 found in Hills Farm cemetery or any other cemetery in town. Ensign John Snow resided nearly on Musquash Road. The first town meeting of Nottingham, MA was held at his house on May 1, 1733.

This yard is the final resting place of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, the first minister settled in this town. and his wife Betsey. He preached here for more than 50 years.

Without a doubt the most intriguing headstone within this yard is the double stone indicating the death of Capt. Thomas Colburn, age 63, and his 3 year old son, Thomas. Both were killed on August 30, 1765 while asleep in their bed by a single flash of lightening.

The most recent, and I believe the last, internment to be made in this place, were those of Leslie Shunaman (died 2005) and his wife Leslie (dield 2004). Louise and Leslie were well known residents of Hudson and life members of the Historical Society.

I have a mystery concerning this cemetery and perhaps some of our readers can help! Allen Morgan grew up in South Hudson and recalls visiting this cemetery with some of his ‘buddies’. He recalls an inscription within this cemetery which reads “here lies the body of x who was lost at sea and never found”. I have searched the cemetery and the inscriptions printed in 1908 by Kimball Webster and can find no reference to this!! If anyone has an idea they can sent email to Ruth at HudsonHistorical@live.com or leave a message at 880-2020.

Hills Farm Cemetery

August 18, 2017 12:32 am / 6 Comments on Hills Farm Cemetery

Cemetery and Chapel Gate

There are eleven cemeteries or burial places in Hudson. They are Hills Farm, Ford, Blodgett, Hudson Center, Senter, Sunnyside, Westview, St. Pattrick, Holy Cross, Cemetery of the Unknown, and the Presentation of Mary’s cemetery. Last week we looked at the Senter Burying Ground at Potash Corner. This week we will visit the Hills Farm Cemetery.

Early settlements of Dunstable, MA (now Hudson) clustered around the Hills Garrison in the north and the Blodgett Garrison in the south end of town. The earliest of these occurred about 1710 when three sons of Samuel Hills (Nathaniel, Henry, and James) erected and settled in the Hills Garrison. The original part of the Hills Farm cemetery was located on level, sandy land about half way between what is now the Derry and Litchfield Roads and adjacent to Derry Lane. This was the south-east corner of the Hills farm where Nathaniel and his brothers settled. The exact date when this cemetery was first used as a burial place is not known but must have been some years after the Hills brothers settled at the garrison, and probably not earlier than about 1730. It is known that Nathaniel Hills buried two or three of his children in the in the ancient burial ground in South Nashua near the entrance to Royal Ridge Mall. The early settlers seldom erected head stones to identify the graves of their deceased loved ones; so, the markings we do find do not indicate the earliest interments.

The earliest date found in this cemetery is 1738, crudely cut into a common stone with no inscription to indicate the individual interred there. The next date found is that found in the inscription found on a headstone for Joseph Greele , who departed this life March 7, 1745, in his 95th year.

Even though this cemetery was on the Hills property and likely laid out by Nathaniel Hills it was it was used as a public burial place. The early families of Hudson found among the headstones include Hills, Greeley, Spalding, Marsh, Marshall, Pierce, Cross, and Sprake.

About 1872 small additions of adjacent land were added to the cemetery. These additions with some other vacant land in the yard were laid out into lots, streets were graded, the brush removed, and other improvements were made thus improving the overall appearance of the cemetery. The cemetery contained a little less than one and one half acres. In 1885, as permitted by state laws, the yard was incorperated as “The Farms Cemetery’ The charter was amended in 1905, changing the name to “Hills Farms Cemetery”. About this time Dr. Alfred K. Hills, realizing the need for expansion of the cemetery, purchased a large tract of land adjacent to the cemetery and extending to the Derry Road. He then had six acres of this parcel surveyed for an addition to the cemetery. Upon part of the remaining land Dr. Hills built Alvirne Memorial Chapel in 1908 as a memorial for his wife Virginia.

Roadway to Hills Farm

At the present time the Alvirne Chapel and the main entrance to Hills Farm Cemetery share access from 160 Derry Road. There is a secondary entry to the cemetery from Derry Lane. The entrance from Derry Road is through an iron gate between two granite posts inscribed with Hills Farm Cemetery on one and Alvirne Memorial Chapel on the other. Access to the cemetery is then through a right of way through the parking lot to a shaded, wooden drive which takes you to the cemetery. Hills Farm Cemetery is incorporated and under the management and direction of a Board of Trustees. This cemetery is open for new burials and there are lots available for purchase. The contact person for the cemetery is George LaRocque. The photos were taken by the author.

Senter Cemetery at Potash Corner

August 11, 2017 1:46 pm / Leave a comment

Senter Burial Ground at Potash Corner

First a few words about Potash Corner and how it may have received its name. The term Potash refers to a variety of minerals which contain the element potassium in a water soluble form. The early settlers recognized the benefits of potassium both in gardening and as an ingredient for making soap. Its presence in the soil is a contributor to healthy plants and larger yields. Potash can be found in natural deposits; it is also a by-product of burning plant material such as wood. Thinking about it, every early New England home with their huge chimneys and fireplaces in each room had a ready source of potash.

Back to the naming of Potash Corner. The name may have been the result of natural deposits of potash and the early farmers had developed a method of removing the potassium by soaking in water. It is also possible that the corner had become a central location to deposit excess wood ash and thus sharing the potash with others – like a community compost pile for potassium. It is also possible that some combination of both these events lead to the naming of potash corner. Whatever the origin, the name survived and still remains on many of the maps of Hudson.

A small burying place, containing almost 3/4 acre, called Senter Cemetery or Senter Yard, was first located in the south west corner of Londonderry at Potash Corner. Likely set off from the Senter Farm from which it was named. Lookng at the names and dates on the inscriptions one can see it was used a burying place for Londonderry residents several years before the annexation to Nottingham West (now Hudson) in 1778.

We do not know the date this yard was first used for burials. From the inscriptions recorded by Kimball Webster in 1908 the oldest date found was upon a rough stone marked E.L. K.I.D. Feb. 24, 1759 which probably stands for Kidder. The next to the oldest is the marker for Jean Senter, wife of John Senter, died Jul 10, 1765. John and Jean Senter were the grand-parents of Deacon Thomas Senter. If John Senter was laid to rest along side his wife his marker, along with many other, have long since been destroyed or disappeared. In 1995 the descendants of John and Jean Senter placed a memorial marker at the cemetery in their memory.

John Senter Memorial

At some early point in time the yard was enclosed within a respectable stone wall. As time passed and interest in the upkeep of the cemetery waned, the wall fell to disrepair and fell down is some places. Cattle could enter at will from adjoining pastures and the grounds became so covered with brush that the cemetery’s appearance was not a credit to the Town of Hudson. In 1897 the selectmen of Hudson caused the walls to be repaired and an iron gate erected. About the same time the brush was removed and the appearance of the yard was improved.

Within this cemetery the surnames most frequently found are Andrews, Farley, Greeley, Hobbs, Kidder, and Senter. A large number of grave sites in this cemetery are not marked with head stones and inscriptions. Some of these sites may have never been marked; for the others the markers have long since been removed or destroyed.

For the past several years the Senter Cemetery has been maintained in excellent condition by the Hudson Highway Department. A few years back the original iron gate was replaced by the Town Cemetery Trustees and Anger Welding. These photos ware taken by the author in August 2017.

The Senter Homestead on Old Derry Road

August 3, 2017 11:00 pm / 1 Comment on The Senter Homestead on Old Derry Road

Senter Farmhouse Old Derry Road

Best known as the home of Deacon Thomas Senter this farm was home to five generations of the Senter Family, beginning with Samuel the father of Thomas. The farm were settled in the South West part of Londonderry near “Potash” Corner. This was the part of Londonderry annexed to Nottingham West in 1778. We know the location today as the intersection of Old Derry Road with Robinson Road and a bit north of the Senter Cemetery.

Deacon Thomas was born May 1753 in Londonderry, NH the son of Susan Taylor and Samuel Senter. Thomas married Esther Greeley, daughter of Ezekiel Greeley, circa 1775. Their family consisted of 7 daughters (Kate, Bridget, Susan, Charlotte, Esther, Rebecca, and Nancy) and 2 sons (Thomas, Jr and Charles). His wife, Esther passed at the age of 51 in 1800. Thomas married a second time to Mercy Jackson and a third time to Eunice White. There is no record of children born to these later marriages. Thomas was a farmer and he enlisted in the spring of 1775 for 8 months and served at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

On May 1, 1805 the Baptist Church of Christ of Nottingham West (now the First Baptist Church of Hudson) was organized in this home by a council called for that purpose. The new church consisted of 65 members who had been “sett Off” from the Baptist Church in Londonderry. That very same council held an ordination for The Reverend Thomas Paul. For several years following the new church did not have a settled pastor. The pulpit was supplied by various pastors, one of whom was the Reverend Thomas Paul. The early church had two deacons. Thomas Senter was chosen as one of the deacons, the other was Moses Greeley. The anniversary of the organization of the Baptist Church (now at 236 Central Street) is recognized annually on or near May 1 as a Roll Call. Members meet, enjoy a meal, fellowship, and call the roll. When a member’s name is called they respond with a verse of scripture.

This homestead remained with the Senter family until May 1889 when it was sold to Jeremiah Heath and his son George M. Heath. The Heath family owned the place until about 1921 when it was sold by Cora Heath, wife of George. Either just before or soon after being sold by the Heath family the ancient home was destroyed by fire. It is not clear if this was an intentional burn or not. From the June 30, 1921 article in the Nashua Telegraph we get a description of the house. The centerpiece of the house were two large brick chimneys probably made from Litchfield bricks. These massive structures remained standing after the fire; showing the huge arches in the cellar which supported 8 fireplaces. One for each of the rooms in the house. Cooking was done in an open fireplace. The house had a front and a back door which led into a hallway from which one you access any of the four rooms downstairs. The roof timbers were unusually strong and could have supported the extra weight of a slate roof. To my knowledge, all evidence of this house has been replaced by more recent developments.

While researching Moses Greeley for last week’s article and Thomas Senter for this week, I began to understand the significant role each of these gentlemen had to our town’s history; and the similarities of their lives. Let me share: They were farmers and neighbors, settling on the Derry Road. They had adjacent farms and their houses were within 1/2 mile of each other. They were both charter members of the First Baptist Church and both were elected as one of the two deacons for the church; a position held for life or until one resigned. They were not related but their lives and the lives of their families were interwoven. You see, Moses and Thomas married sisters. Moses’ first wife was Hannah Greeley. Thomas’ first wife was Esther Greeley. These ladies were the daughters of Ezekiel Greeley. The relationship between these two families continued beyond Moses and Thomas.

This photo of the Senter Homestead is courtesy of John Senter of Nashua; a direct descendant of Deacon Thomas Senter.

Greeley/Lambert/Nadeau Farm

July 27, 2017 10:35 pm / Leave a comment

98 Old Derry Road Early View

Do you have memories of the Nadeau Dairy Farm at 98 Old Derry Road? Perhaps you stopped by and visited the cows; taking pictures while they grazed in the field or lay resting while they chewed their cud to take digestion to the next level!! Perhaps you drove past and saw the tractor and hay baler getting the crop ready for winter storage. One of my memories is intentionally driving past the farm near Halloween to see the numerous Jack-O-Lanterns positioned along the side of the road, gazing out of a barn window, or perched and lighted from the top of the blue silo. This was a local tradition prepared for us by the Nadeau family with help from friends and neighbors.

This four generation dairy farm had it’s beginning in 1902 when Joseph Lambert and his wife Mary were living in Nashua but looking to move to a dairy farm. In July of that year they purchased this home and farm from the heirs of Jackson Greeley. Joseph ran a milk route into Nashua. He later added chickens and pigs with the remainder of the farm was used for grazing and growing feed for the cows.

Joseph and Mary raised a family of six. Their daughter, Marion, married Emery Henry Nadeau in 1935. They lived on and worked the farm with her parents; purchasing from them in 1941. For another two generations and most of 70 years the farm continued; first with Marion’s son Emery E. and later with her grandson, Emery E.,Jr. The senior Emery E. was responsible for the day to day operations of the farm since the age of 14 when his dad, Emery Henry, took a job in Nashua. By 1961 Emery E. and Shirley (Craig) were married. They raised a family of 3 children; Lori, Emery E. Jr, and Elizabeth. The younger Emery joined the family business upon graduation from Alvirne High School in 1982.

By 1995 Emery E. then age 50 was working a herd of 75 milkers which produced about 205 gallons a day!! The electronic milking machines delivered the milk directly into a storage tank where it was cooled and kept at temperature until drained by a milk hauling truck in the small hours of the following morning. At that time this farm was the last commercial dairy farm in Hudson with the exception of the farm in operation at Alvirne High School. Working the farm was hard work which was done by the entire family with help from neighbors during haying and harvest time.

The Farmhouse 2017

The Lambert/Nadeau farm operated for nearly 100 years; from 1902 until 2000. Within a short time machinery, livestock, and property were sold. The homestead and farm buildings on the south side of the road were purchased by Keven Slattery. Using much of the old farm buildings it is the location of Nadeau Industrial Park. The farmhouse has had many improvements and is now a 2-unit rental. The acreage on the north side of the road is under development as Senter Estates.

In 2009, following his avocation for the dairy farm, the younger Emery was hired as the Alvirne Farm Manager. His mother, Shirley remains active; working at Checkers Restaurant within the culinary department of Alvirne. This past month, as part of the Second Annual Historical Society Gala, Emery Nadeau, his mother Shirley, sisters Lori and Elizabeth and their families were awarded the Community Service Award for their work to make the Alvirne School Farm a valued resource in Hudson.

The house at 98 Old Derry dates to 1793. Jackson Greeley, the youngest son of Moses and Mary (Darby) Greeley was born in Hudson November 1815. Moses Greeley was born in Haverhill, MA in 1787. By 1793 he had moved to Nottingham West and was a single father with two young daughters. His first wife, Mary Greeley, had recently passed, and he was (or soon would be) married to Mary Darby. It was Moses Greeley who was responsible for building this farmhouse. He and his wife Mary had 10 children of their own; plus Moses’ daughters from his first marriage. Moses lived in this farmhouse until his death in 1848 at the age of 83. Ownership of the farm passed to Jackson Greeley who likewise resided here until his passing in 1894. It has been said that this home was used as a tavern because of the location on the roadway between Nashua and Derry. This may have been the case but, based upon what I have read to date, I cannot state it as a fact .

34-36 Old Derry Road

June 23, 2017 12:20 am / 1 Comment on 34-36 Old Derry Road

34 Old Derry Road With Windmill

This farm at 34-36 Old Derry Road has been known by many names. To many it is Jasper Farms Annex #2; to others the George N. Dooley Farm; and still others the Stephen D.Greeley place or even the Henry Hills Farm. This is another of the farms which originated from Nathaniel Hills’ 900 undeveloped acres. It was first conveyed by Nathaniel to his oldest son Enoch (born March 1741 in Newbury). It is not clear if Enoch ever lived on the farm or in this town once he reached his majority (age 21). If he did it was before 1746 when the property was a part of Litchfield, MA. Before 1762 it was occupied by members of the John Marsh Family and Deacon Roger Chase. By 1762 it was occupied by Henry Hills, Jr who remained on this farm until he passed in October 1773. His father, Henry Hills, Sr was the middle of the 3 brothers (sons of Samuel and grandsons of Joseph, the immigrant ancestor). who built and settled at the garrison. Henry Sr. was the last member of the Hills family to own the garrison. He sold it to Roger chase. As it was common practice to dismantle a building and use the materials to build another, there is speculation that the dwelling at 36 Old Derry Road may contain pieces of the timbers used in the garrison.

At any rate, Henry Hills, Jr remained on this farm until he passed in October 1773. His widow Hannah and son William continued to live there. William (born 1754) occupied this place for many years–certainly until some time after 1804. It was later owned by Stephen D. Greeley (born 1811 a son of Moses Greeley) and then by George N. Greeley (born 1871) These two men, although a generations apart, had similar backgrounds. Both were farmers and both were active in town and state affairs. Each served as selectman and in the state legislature. In 1881 Greeley served on a committee to examine the wooden Taylor Falls bridge and recommend repair or rebuilt. The actions of this committee resulted in replacing the wooden covered bridge with the iron bridge. Likewise in 1909 Dooley served on a committee which coordinated the replacement of the iron bridge with the cement bridge.

George N. and Ella (Hadley) Dooley raised a family of 4 sons (Arthur, Walter, George H and Phillip) )and a daughter Ella. Growing up they attended the nearby No 9 School House then to Nashua for High School. From personal memoirs we know that George H rode his bicycle the 4 miles to attend High School in Nashua, graduating in 1936. . George N. passed in 1928 at the age of 57 the result of complications resulting from a farm accident. Ella and the family continued to live here until 1935 when the farm was sold to neighbor Grant Jasper who retrofitted existing and build new structures for his expanding poultry business. By 1940 Mrs. Ella Greeley and daughter Ella, sons George and Philip were living on Ferry Street.

Farmhouse at 36 Old Derry Road

Our earliest photo shows the barn at Annex #2 after expansion from 3 stories to 4 stories with the windmill over the well. This windmill was built by George N Dooley and removed in 1958 by the Jasper Family. Our second photo shows the farmhouse C 1912. The first is courtesy of the Jasper Family and the second from the Town of Hudson records.

Minuteman Marker at Hudson Center Common 1975

May 13, 2016 3:40 pm / Leave a comment

Minute Man Marker Hudson Center Common

Shortly before midnight on April 18, 1775 a detachment of 800 British troops began their march from Boston to Lexington and Concord. The word of the impending battle was immediately sent by mounted messengers throughout the country; including the Merrimack Valley and Nottingham West, a distance of about 40 miles. Tradition says the news reached Nottingham West before noon of April 19 and mounted messengers again sent the word out to the various sections of our town. The message and the response was so quick that by that very same afternoon, 65 men equipped for war with muskets and ammunition had gathered at the Hudson Center Common ready to march to Lexington. These men were organized under the command of Captain Samuel Greeley and awaited his orders. The old military records are lost or destroyed but we do have the muster roll of this company of 65 men – all from Nottingham West. These men left for Lexington on the evening of April 19.

Before reaching their destination they were met by a courier who informed them of the retreat of the enemy. The command returned to Nottingham West. After this, many of these men enlisted in the army at Cambridge and at least 16 of them later fought at Bunker Hill in June of the same year.

Samuel Greeley was the oldest son of Samuel and Rachel Greeley. In 1740, at the age of 19, he came to Nottingham West from Haverhill and settled with his father on the Greeley Farm. This was a 200 acre farm just north of the Joseph Blodgett Garrison place on Lowell Road. Samuel married Abigail Blodgett, daughter of Joseph and Dorothy (Perham) Blodgett of the Blodgett Garrison in May 1744. He lived here until 1777, when at the age of 56, he and Abigail moved to Wilton; leaving the farm to his sons Joseph and Samuel. He died in Wilton. After his passing, his wife Abigail returned to town where she lived until the age of 95. While in Nottingham West Samuel was Town Clerk for about 28 years and on the Board of Selectmen for 14 years. He is remembered in our history as the Captain of the company of militia from Nottingham West who turned out 65 men as volunteers at the time of the Battle of Lexington April 19, 1775.

The Town Common at Hudson Center, originally about 2 acres of land, was used for many events including training for the town militia, Old Home Day activities, Chautauqua Programs, and recreation. In the early 1960’s the State of New Hampshire built the present route 111 through the center of the Common and eastward to West Windham. In 1962, the Board of Selectmen received a letter from the Hudson Fortnightly Club recommending that an historic marker commemorating the town’s minutemen be placed on that part of the Common which was not taken by the state for the highway. This was done by the town in 1963.

On April 19, 1975, some 200 years after the Battle of Lexington and as part of the United States bi-centennial activities a wreath was placed at this monument. For this event the carillon bells of the Baptist Church were played, and a floral wreath was placed by Phyllis Keeney, Selectman and a Past President of Fortnightly. The floral wreath was made by club member Mrs. Florence Bogan. Following the raising of the American Flag with color guards from Veteran’s Auxiliary and Girl Scouts and the singing of the National Anthem by Mrs. Bruce Cole, the Muster Roll of the 65 men was read by John Beaumont. A benediction and playing of God Bless America on the carillon bells closed the activities. This marker is located at the point of land on the common near Kimball Hill Road at the intersection with Central Street. Photo from the Historical Society collection.

Remember Hudson NH When…