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Revisit Winn Farm and the Restaurants at 49 Lowell Road

September 14, 2018 11:43 am / Leave a comment

The farm fields of the Frank Winn farm stretched between what is now Winn Avenue and Winnhaven Drive at Lowell Road. Development included apartment buildings, candlepin bowing lanes, banks, and restaurants. Of particular interest to those familiar with Hudson is the series of restaurants which have existed at 49 Lowell Road. By my count there have been 10 different restaurants at this location since 1964. They are: Winstead, Hayward Farms, Pizza by Giovanni, Straw Hat, Primo’s, Ziggy’s, Stevie P’s, Yaght Club, Charmans, and SOHO. Did I miss any?

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Home of Frank A. and Effie May Winn

This week we visit the homestead of Frank Almon and Effie May (Wyeth) Winn on Lowell Road. Frank moved to Hudson from Pelham with his parents, Franklin A. and Lizzie Winn, about 1883 when he was 8 years old. His family purchased a farm of over 70 acres which stretched from Lowell Road to the river. Across one part of the farm was a large brook which traveled through fields and woods, making it’s course through the rocky gorge to the river. This is where Frank played, grew, and worked with his family. By today’s landmarks, this farm includes most, if not all of , the land between Winn Avenue and Winnhaven Drive (between 35 and 49 Lowell Road) and extending westward to the river. Between these roads and adjacent to Lowell Road was a large tilled field for growing vegetables for market. The family home with the large attached barn was located at what is now 1 Winn Avenue and faced this field. On December 24, 1958 the barn was destroyed by a spectacular fire. The fire fighters were able to save the house.

As a young man Frank made his way across the United States, but he soon returned to his home here in Hudson. Along with his parents, he tilled the farm fields all his life. In due time he came into possession of the farm. In September 1915 he and Effie May Wyeth were married; and it is here that they raised their family. Frank was a tireless worker with both his hands and his head. He not only knew about agriculture, he also knew about the wider world of business and economics.

Effie May was born in Nashua, May 1886, and educated in Nashua schools and Keene Normal School. Prior to their marriage in 1915, she taught school in Nashua. She later did substitute teaching in Hudson, Pelham, Merrimack, and Nashua. Frank and Effie May raised a family of 3 girls; Lillian Emma (b: about 1918), Effie May (b: about 1921) and Frances (b: about 1923).

Frank passed in September 1935, at the early age of 60; Effie May and her daughters continued to live at the homestead. By the end of 1942 all three daughters were married. Lilliam Emma was married to Walter Schindler; Effie May married Clayton Oban; and Frances Stebbins married Alton Drown. Mrs. Winn, Effie May, was a resident of Hudson most of her 97 years. She passed in 1983 at the home of her daughter Frances (Drown) Hosmer, with whom she had lived for a few years. Many Hudson residents remember Effie May; particularly with her involvement with the Hudson Fortnightly Club for over 50 years.

As time advanced and the land usage changed, the Frank A. Winn farm was developed. At first with the apartments and residential buildings in wooded area and adjacent to the river. Later the farm field between Winn Avenue and Winnhaven Drive were developed. The earliest development occurred in 1963 with the construction of LNL Bowl at what is now 8 Winn Avenue. Named for the three owners: Earl Libby, Leon Noel, and Adrien Labrie; LNL bowl offered candlepin bowling lanes, a sport unique to New England, The lanes operated until 1978. By 1979 this site became the home of Dessault Engineering Associates. It is now home to Opti-Sciences.

By 1964 construction began for the first of many restaurants to operate at 49 Lowell Road, likely owned by members of the Winn Family. The Winstead Restaurant began operation in 1965. By 1969 this was the site of Hayward Farms Restaurant. Over the succeeding years a number of restaurants were located here. From what I can piece together the list is as follows: 1972 – Pizza by Giovanni; 1980 Straw Hat Restaurant; 1984 Primo’s. Following Primo’s there were Ziggy’s, Stevie P’s, Yaght Club, Charman’s, and presently SOHO.

Construction for Nashua Federal Savings and Loan at 45 Lowell Road began in 1979. A bank has remained at this site; becoming Bank of America and more recently Enterprise Bank.

The “Bee Hive” on Central Street

December 15, 2017 11:09 pm / 2 Comments on The “Bee Hive” on Central Street

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The “Bee Hive” on Central Street

We’ve heard the expression “A picture is worth a thousand words”. That is the case with this early 1940’s photo of the house, known as “the bee hive” located on what is now 73 Central Street; opposite what many remember as the home of Leon and Gerri Hammond. To the right and slightly behind this house we see two homes; the right most of these is located at 65 Central Street, home to Henry Frenette. The second, smaller home, is at 1 Lowell Road and home to Alfred Bastien.

A few first hand memories have been documented about the “bee hive”. The first is from Maurice “Nick” Connell who grew up in Hudson and later recorded some of his memories via a series of occasional articles in The Hudson News. In one such article (August 24, 1984) “Nick” recalls the “going’ swimmin'” routine of his gang of friends in the 1930’s. They would swim and dive in the Merrimack River near the railroad bridge abutments; then walk the tracks to the Lowell Road underpass and explore the “old haunted house” on Central Street near the overpass. He remembered this two storied, weather beaten structure also known as the “bee hive”. This nickname was applied to the house because of the strange and shady goings on there. This reputation added to the excitement of the barefoot summertime explorations of a group of young boys. They would walk the tracks to Melendy Pond, another popular “swimmin hole”. According to Nick, this house was torched by some unnown arsonist on November 1, 1945 and torn down on November 27, 1945.

Another memory of this house was left by Leo J. Gagnon. He recalled Anton’s restaurant and their parking area on the opposite side of Central Street – where a house called the ‘bee hive” once existed. By his memory this house was a half-way house. Other memories I have heard suggest it was a frequent and convenient “overnight” stop for individuals catching a free ride on the train as it passed through Hudson then on to West Windham, and Rochester, NH.

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1942 Hudson Zoning Map

Speaking of the railroad, the second photo shows a portion of the Hudson zoning map for 1942 from the Hudson Town Report. This map traces the route of the steam railroad from the river to the overpass at Lowell Road where the tracks crossed over Lowell Road and ran behind the ‘bee hive” house and continued on to Melendy Road, “Long crossing” and Hudson Center.

A few additional details are known about this house. According to the town report for 1947, the Walton land on which was situated the so called “bee hive” was purchased (at least in part) by the Town of Hudson from the State of NH.

By 1870, and possibly before, this house was home to Samuel Walton, (age 49), his wife Fanny (age 48), and their daughter Sarah (age 21) and son James (age 19). Samuel was born about 1817 in England and was employed in a shingle mill. Based upon census records Samuel lived here until his death in February 1892, at which time the home was passed to his daughter, Susan (Walton) Brown, and his son, James Walton. His wife, Fanny had predeceased him by a year. At the time of his death he had an ownership interest in the Melendy Mills. With Central Street in your front yard and the railroad tracks in your back yard, the lot upon which this house existed was likely reduced in size and attraction through the years. By 1897, Susan and James sold the house to William Fitzgerald of Nashua. Samuel Walton purchased the property from Joseph Fuller and Fred Steele in 1868. After being sold by members of the Walton Family this house had a variety of owners, tax issues, and foreclosures.

In February 1999 in an effort to remember those fire fighters who had fought and those who have fallen the Hudson Fire Department announced they were seeking to build a new and larger memorial. A modest memorial for fallen firefighter James Taylor did exist in front of the Library Street Station. Their plan was for a larger memorial which would be dedicated to all men and women of the Hudson Fire Department. A Memorial Committee, chaired by David Moran was organized and they proceeded to design and raise funds for such a memorial. The committee reached out to town and school officials for a suitable location. A number of sites were considered and by April 2000, their plans had cleared the final hurdle. Ground breaking began and by May 21, 2000 the Hudson Fireman’s Memorial was dedicated upon a grassy knoll at the intersection of Central Street and Lowell Road. The location of this memorial has been named Hammond Park in memory of firefighter and neighbor Leon Hammond. Hammond Park and the fireman’s memorial is located upon or near the site of the Samuel Walton home, more recently known as the “bee hive”.

Scottie Industries on Roosevelt Avenue

October 27, 2017 2:49 pm / 1 Comment on Scottie Industries on Roosevelt Avenue

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Scottie Industries Roosevelt Ave. C 1975

Researching the history of an area makes one aware of the changes which occur over time.  This is as true with  Hudson as perhaps any other town; particularly along our major roadways like Lowell Road where we have seen a major shift from  agricultural use to industrial use.  By the 1960’s land use was changing and land values were on the increase.  As a result taxes were also on the increase and local farm families  were finding it harder and harder to earn a living.  Younger generations were attracted to good jobs and professions off the farm.  At the same time the older generations were of retirement age and were attracted to selling their land at what was, for that time, a good profit.
By 1969 a small industrial area off of Lowell Road on  Roosevelt Avenue was under construction.  By the summer of 1970  Scottie Industries, Inc was operating a plant for manufacturing canvas footwear.  The facility included a warehouse, office area,  and an outlet store. For the employees and their families Scottie’s also had a 42×18 foot indoor swimming pool maintained by reliable personnel.   New Hampshire and Hudson offered an excellent business climate:  lower acquisition costs, lower taxes, and an available labor force.    Many from Hudson, particularly women, were employed here.  In time full operation was moved to Hudson from Lowell, MA.  Scottie’s also had a line of custom neck ware.
Scottie Industries remained in operation into the 1990’s when once again we see changes brought on from competition from larger shoe/sneaker manufacturers.  The building at 8 Roosevelt Avenue is currently used as a warehouse  for Ashley/Ashbrook Furniture.
This photo of Scottie Industries on Roosevelt Avenue was taken c1975 for use in preparation of “Town In Transition”.

Frank A. Winn Farm on Lowell Road

October 20, 2017 3:35 pm / 1 Comment on Frank A. Winn Farm on Lowell Road

Home of Frank A, and Effie May Winn

This week we visit the homestead of Frank Almon and Effie May (Wyeth) Winn on Lowell Road.  Frank moved to Hudson  from Pelham with his parents, Franklin A. and Lizzie Winn, about 1883 when he was 8 years old.  His family purchased  a farm of over 70 acres which stretched from Lowell Road to the river.  Across one part of the farm was a large brook which traveled through fields and woods, making it’s course through the rocky gorge to the river.  This is where Frank played, grew, and worked with his family.  By today’s landmarks, this farm includes most, if not all of , the land between Winn Avenue and Winnhaven Drive (between 35 and 49 Lowell Road)   and extending westward to the river.  Between these roads and adjacent to Lowell Road was a large tilled field  for growing  vegetables for market.  The family home with the large attached barn was located at what is now 1 Winn Avenue and faced this field.  On December 24, 1958 the barn was destroyed by a spectacular fire.  The fire fighters were able to save the house.
As a young man Frank made his way across the United States, but he soon returned to his home here in Hudson.  Along with his parents, he tilled the farm fields all his life.  In due time he came into possession of the farm.  In September 1915 he and Effie May Wyeth  were married; and it is here that they raised their family.  Frank was a tireless worker with both his hands and his head.  He not only knew about agriculture, he also knew about the wider world of business and economics.
 
Effie May was born in Nashua, May 1886, and educated in Nashua schools and Keene Normal School.  Prior to their marriage in 1915, she taught school in Nashua.  She later did substitute teaching in Hudson, Pelham, Merrimack, and Nashua.  Frank and Effie May raised a family of 3 girls; Lillian Emma (b: about 1918),  Effie May (b: about 1921) and Frances (b: about 1923).
Frank passed in September 1935, at the early age of 60; Effie May and her daughters continued to live at the homestead.  By the end of 1942 all three daughters were married.  Lilliam Emma was married to Walter Schindler; Effie May married Clayton Oban; and Frances Stebbins married Alton Drown.  Mrs. Winn, Effie May, was a resident of Hudson most of her 97 years.  She passed in 1983 at the home of her daughter Frances (Drown) Hosmer, with whom she had lived for a few years.  Many Hudson residents remember Effie May; particularly with her involvement with the Hudson Fortnightly Club for over 50 years.
 
As time advanced and the land usage changed, the Frank A. Winn farm was developed.  At first with the apartments and residential buildings in wooded area and adjacent to the river.  Later the farm field between Winn Avenue and Winnhaven Drive were developed.  The earliest development occurred in 1963 with the construction of LNL Bowl at what is now 8 Winn Avenue.  Named for the three owners:  Earl Libby, Leon Noel, and Adrien Labrie; LNL bowl offered candlepin bowling lanes, a sport unique to New England,    The lanes operated until 1978.  By 1979 this site became the home of Dessault Engineering Associates. It is now home to Opti-Sciences.
By 1964 construction began for the first of many restaurants to operate at 49 Lowell Road, likely owned by members of the Winn Family.  The Winstead Restaurant  began operation in 1965.  By 1969 this was the site of Hayward Farms Restaurant.  Over the succeeding years a number of restaurants were located here.  From what I can piece together the list is as follows:  1972 – Pizza by Giovanni; 1980 Straw Hat Restaurant; 1984 Primo’s.  Following Primo’s there were Ziggy’s, Stevie P’s, Yaght Club, Charman’s, and presently SOHO.
Construction for Nashua Federal Savings and Loan at 45 Lowell Road began in 1979.  A bank has remained at this site; becoming Bank of America and more recently Enterprise Bank.
More recently, two additional sites have been developed.  First the retail/office mall at 43 Lowell Road known as Bell Tower plaza.  The second is the two unit mall at 35 Lowell.  This later unit was actually constructed on the portion of the original parking area for LNL Bowl.
The Winn House at 1 Winn Avenue razed about 2006 and replaced with the current building.  The first occupant was European Deli with a speciality menu including European style ice cream, coffee, and sandwiches.  It has since been used as Tokyo Joe’s Karae Studio.  It is currently doing business as Dojo Sante; karate, kickboxing, and fitness.
Our photo is courtesy of the Winn Family and is a part of the Historical Society Collection.

Blodgett Cemetery

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

 

Blodgett Cemetery

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.

St. Kathryn’s Church

March 3, 2017 3:55 pm / 2 Comments on St. Kathryn’s Church

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In July 1966 the Roman Catholic Diocese purchased approximately 4.9 acres  and the  former Blanchette  home  on the corner of Wason and Lowell Road from  Armand Blanchette.  Back through history this intersection was called Gowings’ Corner; in part because of this home, but also due to the large Gowing homestead located across from this house on Lowell Road.  Samuel Gowing (born 1842) built this home around 1885 and lived here until his death in 1933 after which it remained in the Gowing family until sold to the Blanchette’s in 1942.  In August 1966 the Catholic Diocese announced plans to establish a mission chapel in south Hudson as part of the parish of St. John Evangelist.  The  chapel was built on this site and the building blessed in June 1968.
The chapel was built by Caron Construction Co. of Manchester.  The result was a modern, unusual, and graceful building.  The roof reached to the ground at each of the 4 corners; known to be a favorite climbing spot for a number of unidentified young folks!  Inside the windows flanked the altar and reached from the floor to the domed wooden ceiling.  Beams stretched from the center of this dome to the middle of each side.  The overall affect was one of simplicity, augmented by natural materials used in construction. The free standing bell tower, which some may remember, was added in December 1993.
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St Kathryn’s Church C1977

     In June 1969 the Parish of St. Kathryn’s in Hudson was dedicated and Rev. Gerald Chalifour named as the first pastor.  The name St. Kathryn was chosen for St. Catherine of Siena (using the Gaelic spelling of her name) and in recognition of a gift of money made to the church by William Henry of Exeter in memory of his wife Kathryn.
     The white farmhouse shown in our first photo became the first rectory of the newly dedicated parish. This farmhouse was used as the rectory until early 1970’s at which time  the pastor moved to a house at 5 Wason Road just beyond the church.  The farmhouse was rented for various purposes and ultimately became home to the Christian Life Center.
In June 1973 the church purchased a 1.8 acre parcel of land  including a house from the estate of Brenton Morgan.  This parcel encircled the  existing property on the east and south.  This was a portion of what remained of his farm after a large part  had been taken by the State of New Hampshire for the circumferential highway. The house was soon used as the rectory.  Shortly afterwards a former chicken coop in Hookset was purchased and moved in sections to Hudson and reconstructed into St Kathryn’s Hall by October 1974.
        Father Gary J. Beliveau came to St Kathryn Parish in 1993.  At age 34 he was the youngest pastor in the Manchester Diocese.  When he arrived the plan was to build up the parish but also to realize the parish may merge with another or potentially be closed.  Under his leadership the parish grew from a small dedicated and enthusiastic parish to a vibrant, larger parish.
        Within two years of his arrival the parish embarked  upon Project 2000 – to become a growing and going church.  The congregation  outgrew it’s present site  by June 1999 and land was purchased on Dracut road  for a new church.  Approximately 1 year later the old buildings at the corner of Lowell and Wason were formally closed.  For a few months Sunday masses were held in the cafeteria of Presentation of Mary.  Weekday masses were held at the former Oblate Retreat house.  The new St Kathryn’s church on Dracut Road was constructed and dedicated by  August 12, 2000.
     Changes occur so quickly in Hudson that it may be difficult to remember the St Kathryn’s buildings at Lowell and Wason.  The property was sold to Manny Sousa in May 2000. The old farmhouse was used as a training site by the Hudson Fire Department.  The church building itself was dismantled.   The site was then developed into a retail center; the first tenant being Shop and Shop Supermarket.  Over the past few years Shop and Shop closed their  operation and the buildings have been re-purposed into a Goodwilll store and donation center.  Both photos are from the Historical Society Collection.

Tiny’s Garage Atwood Avenue

December 9, 2016 12:23 am / Leave a comment

Tiny's Garage Atwood Avenue

Tiny’s Garage Atwood Avenue

         This week we again travel down Lowell Road with a right turn onto Atwood Avenue and a stop at number 7,  the site of Tiny’s Garage.  We remember the man called ‘Tiny’, his business, and the  family who worked with him.
          Chester ‘Tiny’ Sojka grew up  in Derby, CN and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps as a young man.  After Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Army and served as a tank mechanic; being stationed in North Africa and Italy.  He met his wife Mary while on leave and they were married in December 1944.  After his discharge in 1945 he started a garage repairing and towing cars.  They settled in Nashua and later moved to Hudson and opened his business here.  Over time the business evolved to include salvaging and selling used car parts, especially those which were hard to find.  His business included the entire cycle:  towing wrecked cars, recycling automotive liquids (gas, oil, antifreeze), breaking down the wrecked vehicle for usable parts, maintaining an inventory of these parts, and selling them to other mechanics and ‘do it yourselfers’ as they repaired vehicles of the same or comparable model.  I’m sure many mechanics or DIYers remember going to or calling ‘Tiny’ to see if he had the needed part in stock.  I myself recall an ad for Tiny’s that said:  Please Drive Safely – We Don’t Need your Business.
        ‘Tiny’ and his brother John were noted for their inventory control prior to the computer age. Much of the inventory was well cataloged in their minds augmented by books that cross referenced replaceable parts.  All customers, professional or not received the same service and same price.  This became a highly competitive business.  A 2-way street with insurance companies was established:  biding for the wreckage in all parts of New England, salvaging usable parts and placing then in stock, then selling to insurance companies or their mechanics to get damaged autos back on the road.
      This was a family business.  He was helped by brother John; his wife Mary acted as the bookkeeper, and son Eric grew up with the business and took over from ‘Tiny’.  He had a passion for miniature Dachshunds. He rode his motorized scooter with pet Dachshund Holly on board  in the early 2000’s.  ‘Tiny’ passed in 2004 at the age of 87 leaving behind memories which defy his nickname.
           Information on Chester ‘Tiny’ Sojka and his business was previously published in The Hudson News November 12, 1969  and in the Nashua Telegraph at the time of his passing in November 2005.  The photo is from the collection of the Hudson Historical Society.

Hudson Shopping Center

November 18, 2016 3:06 am / Leave a comment

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Hudson Shopping Center C1977

By the mid 1960’s business at the Hudson Shopping Center and their main store, The Hudson Super Market, was expanding and the Provencal Family would soon be expanding yet another time.  In early 1968 the State of New Hampshire was searching for a site in Hudson for a State Liquor Store and this shopping center was soon selected as the site.  By July of that year the ground breaking ceremony was held.  Construction of a multi-unit building was started immediately and completed in November.  By the first week in December what was slated as the most modern self service facility operated by the state was opened at the corner of Birch Street and Lowell Road and part of the  Hudson Shopping Center.  Our first photo shows the building  as it appeared In 1977.    At that time  the building was the site of  Gio’s Pizza on the Birch Street side with Giovanni’s Blue Whale Restaurant, Gosselin’s Pharmacy, and the NH State Liquor Store facing Lowell Road.
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TBones Plaza 2006

Today this is knows as T-Bones Plaza.  T-Bones moved into Hudson in 1991 and soon became a popular place for lunch and/or dinner.  In 2006, when our second photo was taken, this was the location of T-Bones as well as Postal Center, Supercuts, Subway, a dance academy, tanning spa, and a dry cleaners.  Both photos are from the Historical Society Collection.

 

Hudson Super Duper Market

November 10, 2016 11:20 pm / Leave a comment

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Hudson Super Duper C 1970

As early as the mid 1950’s the ‘go-to’ grocery store for many Hudson residents, especially those living on or near Lowell Road, was the Hudson Super Market owned and operated by Robert “Bob” and Doris Provencal.   Hudson was a fast growing town and business expanded so that by September 1970 the Provencal family held the grand opening of The Hudson Super Duper as shown in this week’s first photo.   This event included onsite broadcasting of a local radio station, door prize of 18 inch portable TV, and special sale prices from all departments within the store.
The story of The Hudson Super Market, The  Super Duper, and later The Piggly Wiggly, is also the story of Bob and Doris Provencal and their family.  It began  as early as 1936.  Bob, then 16, lived with his family a short distance from what would later become the Super Duper. Bob needed extra money to buy a car.  He had the idea of making bleach water and selling it for .20 a gallon to neighbors and friends.  His efforts were profitable enough so he could purchase his first car.  At 18 he took over his father’s filling station in Hudson as a mechanic.  Again he was successful and needed to hire extra people.
After our country became involved with World War II, Bob wanted to enlist in the Army.  His classification made him not eligible.  Wanting to do something to help, he closed the gas station and went to work at Fort Devens where he ran a dynamometer and tested White Engines.  By 1945 he met and married Doris Ledoux, also of Hudson.  Soon thereafter he resigned from Fort Devens and re-opened the gas station, hoping to settle in Hudson; but there was a lack of housing in town so they settled in Nashua while making plans for and building an apartment building in Hudson.  The rent they received would help pay the mortgage plus they would have a place to live in Hudson.  As things were looking bright for the young couple, they were saddened by the loss of their first born son at the age of 10 days.
For her own health Doris knew she should keep busy.  She suggested they put an extension onto their house so she could open a small store.  This they did, and Doris ran the store where she met people while Bob ran the business of his own across the street.They added a grill and soda fountain and the endeavor became an immediate success.  When not busy in the station he would help Doris in the store.  One could say ‘the rest is history’.
The Hudson Super Market was opened in October 1952.  Business grew and the store was expanded.  A  few years later the family realized the existing store could not accommodate the growing demands.  On September 2, 1970 the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hudson Super Duper took place.   That same year Bob Provencal was named Grocer of the Year by The NH Grocers Association.  Doris and Bob had a family of 2 sons (Greg and Donald) and 1 daughter (Charlene).  The family grew up with the grocery business; and by 1970 Charlene was studying floral arrangement in Boston.  She would later open her own Charlene’s Flower Shoppe nearby on Lowell Road.  Donald was managing the frozen food department in the family store; and Greg was studying business in a local college.
By 1972 the Provencal family aligned their Super Duper Market with the Piggly Wiggly enterprise.  This Super Market, along with Shop and Wash, and Richard Coiffures were located on Lowell Road, a major part of The Super Duper Shopping Center in Hudson.
 By 1977 The Nashua Trust Company,  which held the mortgage,  foreclosed on the The Piggly Wiggly building.   Two business remained there as tenants:  Richard Coiffures and the Shop and Wash Laundromat and Dry Cleaners.  In 1979 Nashua Trust announced its  plans to build a new banking facility on this location and the two remaining tenants had to vacate.  By 1980 construction was completed and The Nashua Trust moved from its location at 1 Derry Street to open its Hudson Community Banking Center at 71 Lowell Road.  Since that time due to bank mergers and closures  the Nashua Trust became The First NH Bank and later Citizens Bank. Our second photo shows this site in 2006 – home to Brooks Pharmacy, Citizens Bank, and Hudson Chamber of Commerce.  
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Citizen’s Plaza 2006

 
Both photos are from the Historical Society Collection.  Much of the history of the Provencal family appeared in  February 24, 1971 edition of The Hudson News.

The Captain Joseph Blodgett House C1899

November 3, 2016 7:55 pm / 2 Comments on The Captain Joseph Blodgett House C1899

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Captain Joseph Blodgett House C1899

The Captain Joseph Blodgett Homestead was located on Lowell Road across from the intersection with the Pelham Road.  This Joseph Blodgett was born in 1785 and  married Sarah Spalding sometime prior to 1813.  He likely built this house prior to or soon after their marriage.  After raising a family of 2 boys (Spalding Joseph and Austin)  and 2 girls (Sarah Louisa and Martha), Joseph and Sarah continued to live here until they passed; she in 1865, he in 1866.  His military rank of Captain was likely received with the local militia.
Captain Joseph was the 4th generation of Blodgetts from this town to have the name Joseph.  His father 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 national level until 2007, some 229 years later.  His service has since been registered at the national level in 2006 by Ruth (Baldwin) Williams, a descendant of his from Oak Forest, IL, when she applied for membership to the Daughters of The american Revolution (DAR).  You see, young Joseph served with his father and the records credited the father for the service of his son.   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 Blodgett Cemetery Trustees, The Hudson Historical Society, and the American Legion of Hudson.

Captain Joseph’s grandfather Joseph was born in 1718;  his great grandfather Joseph in 1689 in Chelmsford,MA.  This first Joseph and his wife Dorothy Perham moved to Hudson, then a part of Dunstable, MA, and built a garrision house.  The site of this garrison and the birthplace of their son Joseph (born 1718)  is identified by an historic marker on Hampshire Drive off Lowell Road and a short distance behind Fairview Healthcare.
Back to Captain Blodgett and his wife Sarah.  Of their children, their youngest son, Austin  and their youngest daughter  Martha, are significant to this story.  Martha was born in 1825 and married Royal Burns Buxton of Nashua.  This couple remained in the Nashua/Hudson area and became the ancestral parents  to the Paul and Hazel (Reynolds)  Buxton family.  Austin remained on the homestead as a farmer with his parents.  He married Susan Davis and they raised a family of two sons (Elmer H born 1852 and Austin J born 1861) and a daughter Vinnie (born 1859).  Elmer married Hannah Clyde in 1876.  They lived on Central Street in Hudson until their last few years when they moved the Hunt Community in Nashua,   Elmer was a carpenter, musician, and an outdoors man.
Vinnie and Austin J. remained on the homestead and did not marry.  She passed in 1911 while hospitalized after complications from a fall.  Austin J. passed in 1946 at age 85. Vinnie was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (now the Community Church) of Hudson.  She was knows as a kind neighbor and friend to all in trouble.  Austin J. remained on the homestead until the mid 1930’s when he retired and moved to Nashua.
The photo of the Joseph Blodgett home shown here is from the Historical Society Collection.  It was taken by a Mr. Howe of Ashfield, MA in 1899.  The woman in the photo is Vinnie Blodgett, at about 40 years of age. The property remained in the family from Austin to his son Austin J.  The house was torn down about 1934.  The records of the early church of Nottingham, MA as kept by Rev. Nathaniel Merrill were found in this house at about that time.  A handwritten copy has been given to the Hudson Historical Society and the originals placed with the New Hampshire Historical Society.  In 1935, through the efforts of historian Dr. H.O. Smith the vital records were published by the New England Historic and Genealogical Society.  The site of this home is now part of the Fox Hollow Condominium Community.

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