Home » Schools (Page 3)

Category Archives: Schools

Area Surrounding Library and Webster School C 1910

February 26, 2016 12:12 am / Leave a comment

2013006004

Area Surrounding Library and Webster School C 1910

From this early post card of Webster School, Hills Memorial Library, and the surrounding area we get an idea of what this section of town looked like about 1910.   Kimball Webster School (right) had been in use since it’s completion in 1896.  The new Hills Memorial Library (left) was  completed in 1908.  The photo  for this post card was taken from an open field across the street from Webster School at the corner of School and Library Streets.  In fact, what is now Library Street was barely a dirt road in this picture.  One can locate the road by following the utility pole.  An 1892 map of Hudson shows an ice house where the Hills Library is located and what is now Library Street was called Sanders Street.
Looking beyond these buildings and along Ferry Street we see very little construction.  On Ferry Street and opposite the library is the home at what is now 42 Ferry Street; known by many as the Cunningham home and now owned by Kurt Smith.  On the knoll behind the library and the school we see another early home;  most likely the home at what is now 55 Ferry Street.
Today this open field is the site of the Leonard Smith Fire Station and the Town Office Building; built in the  the 1950’s and 1960s respectively.  Before these buildings this field was a popular playground; used during pre-school,recess, and after school activities for Webster School.  During the spring and summer months this field was used by the Recreation Department for a ball field, basketball court, and playground for the younger kids.  As a point of memory, Hudson resident Dan O’Brien has fond memories of little league games played here, as early as 1950 or 51,under the direction of Manager Brown.  These may have been some of the earliest little league games in Hudson.  The year construction was underway for the new fire station Dan recalls breaking a window in the station while throwing rocks.  Yes! He was busted by Chief Andy Polak.  In Andy’s  way all he did was report Dan to his parents.  But, that was enough!  Photo from the Historical Society collection.

Alvirne Barn

February 12, 2016 11:13 am / Leave a comment

1977031003

Alvirne Barn C 1970

The subject of today’s photo is well known to most of our readers; the Alvirne High School barn.  Hudson is fortunate to have a working farm as part of it’s educational program and also to have an  historic farm which dates back for several generations in the Hills Family.

Alfred Kimball Hills, Hudson benefactor, was born on this farm in 1840.  This was his father Alden’s, farm, and his grandfather Elijah before that; going back to James.  James was the youngest of three brothers who established the Hills Garrison about 1710. Their grandfather, Joseph Hills of Malden, MA received a grant of some 500 acres of land within the boundaries of the present town of Hudson from the Commonwealth in 1661.  
 
Alfred married Martha Simmons of Rhode Island, studied medicine at Harvard, and established his medical career in New York City.  Martha passed while he was still a young man.  He married a second time to Ida Virginia Creutzborg of Pennsylvania.  Alfred and Virginia purchased The Hills Family farm and built a summer home on the premises.  He called the farm and his summer home Alvirne.  Today we refer to the High School and farm as Alvirne; the summer home is called The Hills House.  Dr. Hills continued the operation of the farm by a farm manager.  Ida Virginia passed in 1908.  A short time later he married Jessie Norwell, a Nashua native.  Dr. Hill passed in 1920 and by his will he established the funding for an ‘industrial school’  to be called Alvirne.  His will was met with many challenges; but, on June 7, 1948 Alvirne High School opened it’s doors for the first time.  A six week summer session was held for 22 girls and 15 boys.  Classes were held within the Hills House and on the surrounding farm land.  This brief session, taught by Maude French and  KennethGibbs, was sufficient to secure the funds for the town of Hudson.  Through the encouragement Jessie Norwell Hills Alvirne High was built on the site of the Hills family estate and the Alvirne farm became part of the educational program of Hudson.  The first graduation was held in June 1950.  
 
This photo was taken C 1970, before the expansion of Alvirne to include the Palmer Vocational Technical Center.  It was taken from a roadway which led from the north end of the high school to the farm.  We can see the herd, barn, and some of the students.  
 
As most readers recall,  Alvirne suffered a severe fire in 1974 and was rebuilt one year later.  What may have been forgotton or not realized is that the Alvirne barn was also destroyed by fire on the last day of March 1993.
Alvirne Barn 2016 comp

Alvirne Barn 2016

 The new barn, very similar to the original, is shown in the second photo.  One sure way of distinguishing photos of the barn is the weather vane (called by many a ‘Web vane”) on the new barn.  This vane was placed upon the cupola of the barn in honor of Web “Wilbur” Palmer, long time Vot-tec director and agricultural teacher of Alvirne.  Both photos are from the Historical Society collection.

Presentation of Mary C 1975

July 24, 2015 11:56 am / Leave a comment

1977032002

Presentation of Mary C 1975

In July 1924 representatives of The Congegation of the Presentation of Mary in Canada were invited by Bishop Guerton of Manchester to choose a site for this school.  Bishop Guerton wished to have a bi-lingual boarding school in his diocese which served the franco-american population.  By August of that year Alexander McDonald sold 128 acres to the community.  The Presentation of Mary was incorporated by the State of New Hampshire and construction began.  By September 1926 the building was blessed and the first school year began with 114 students – 70 of which were boarders.
In 1933 the first class of advanced studies began and by 1935 Governor Styles Bridges signed the charter authorizing Rivier College to grant bachelors degrees.  Rivier remained at this Hudson location until 1941 when it moved to the former Shea property on South Main Street in Nashua.
 Today’s photo was taken in 1975 in preparation for publication of “Town in Transition” the updated history of Hudson 1913 – 1977 and is a part of the photo collection at the Hudson Historical Society.   Today The Presentation is a day school with students from pre-school through junior high school attending from Hudson, Nashua, and surrounding areas in both NH and Mass.

St, John’s and Library Street School c1977

May 15, 2015 11:02 am / Leave a comment

St John's and Library Street School c1977

St John’s and Library Street School c1977

This familiar school on Library Street was built in 1957 by St. John’s Church as a private parochial school.  During the year 1974-75  the church found it necessary to close the school.  The Hudson School Board and officials of the church worked  on a mutually agreeable contract so that all Hudson students could be accommodated.  St. John’s school was re-opened in the fall of 1975 as part of the public school system of Hudson.  The town leased the school from St. John’s for that first year with an option to renew for up to 2 years.  As a part of this lease agreement St. John’s Church would use the facilities during non-school hours for it’s confraternity christian doctrine (CCD) classes.  The town purchased the property in July 1976 at a cost to the  district of $616,000;  a significant savings when compared to the cost of new construction at the estimated 1.2M.  After this purchase the school was renamed Library Street School. Today this school at 22 Library Street is part of the town’s Early Learning Center;  as such all preschool and kindergarten classes are held here.  Photo by John Allison and a part of the photo collection of The Hudson Historical Society.

French Home on Derry Street 1956

February 27, 2015 6:58 pm / Leave a comment

Harold French c1956 comp

After Hudson adopted a unified school district  in 1896, a number of local school houses were purchased and converted into private dwellings houses.  Such was the case with the house shown in this 1956 photo.  The #6 (Farms District)  school house  was built in 1852 on what is now the vacant lot just north of 107 Derry Street and almost opposite Hudson Hardware.  By 1898 the school house was converted  into a dwelling by Menzell French.  It remained in the French family until destroyed by fire in January 1980.  For years this was the home of Harold and Maude French and family.   Harold began The French Insurance Agency in the front room of this home; notice the sign along Derry Street.  Maude is fondly remembered for her work with the 4-H clubs,  Fortnightly Club, and her prominent role in securing funds for and the beginning of Alvirne High School.  The insurance agency was continued by their son, Gordon, and now by grandson Rick and family at 12 Derry Street.  Photo compliments of the French family and now a part of the Historical Society Collection.

Number 9 School House Built 1886

January 13, 2015 11:46 am / 2 Comments on Number 9 School House Built 1886

1983012032

Before 1886  the No 9 house  (Kidder District) house was located on what is now Robinson Road.   The approximate location was on the left side of Robinson (as you turn up the hill from Old Derry Road) towards the top of the hill.  The No 10 house (Hills Row District) was located on what is now Old Derry Road (earlier Derry Road) just north of the intersection with Greeley Street.  These two districts were merged into a single district and this  No 9 School House was built by the town of Hudson in 1886.   It operated as a one-room school house until 1932.  In the mid-1930’s Grant Jasper purchased the property from the town.  The No 9 Schoolhouse is the only one  which survives intact as a school house.  In the late 1970’s it was renovated by Mr. Jasper’s grandson, Shawn.  The school house is owned by Jasper Corporation. (Published in HLN October 10, 2014.)

District School at Musquash

January 13, 2015 11:41 am / Leave a comment

1976026001
Early school history of Hudson shows the town divided into 10 districts, each with its own school house.  Shown here is a sepia photo of the No 1 District Schoolhouse known as Musquash. with some of the students standing in front.   The school was located on the east side of the Back Road (now called Musquash Road) at or near the site of the First Meeting House. This house was used for school purposes until 1933.   Relics of the foundation of this school house can be seen in the wooded area behind the marker for the First Meeting House at Musquash. (Published in HLN October 3, 2014.)

Hudson Center School circa 1909

January 13, 2015 11:37 am / Leave a comment

 

2003024009

After the D.O. Smith School on Windham Road was destroyed by fire, the school district voted to build a new school of similar size.  The sum of $900 plus the amount received from insurance was allocated for this purpose.  A conscious decision was made to not re-build on the Windham Road location.   The Hudson Center School, a two room house, was built on the east side of Pelham Road (now Kimball Hill Road)  just a short distance from Hudson Center.   This school remained in use until 1956 when it was closed.  The students were combined with the classes at Webster School.  Of the two teachers:  Florence Parker became a reading supervisor and Mrs. Marguerite Gilman  taught a second grade.  This building remains today and is privately owned.  Photo from Historical Society Collection. (Published in HLN September 26, 2014.)

D.O. Smith School built 1896

January 13, 2015 11:31 am / Leave a comment

1974004001

Smith School – Last week we shared that Hudson erected two new school houses in 1896.  The second house was the D.O. Smith School  in Hudson Center on what is now Windham Road.  The building committee was authorized to spend up to $3,000 to build and equip the Smith School; which was named in honor of Dr.  David O. Smith.  In his younger years David O. was a successful teacher, he then studied medicine and became a very skillful physician.  After becoming a doctor he retained his interest in the schools of this town, doing  more for our schools than any other person during his long lifetime.  This school house was completely destroyed by fire and was replaced by the Hudson Center School on Kimball Hill Road in 1909.  The Smith School was located on the north side of the road at or near the present address of 42 to 44 Windham Road.  This picture is from an old sepia photograph from the Historical Society collection. (Published in HLN September 19, 2014.)

Kimball Webster School

January 13, 2015 11:29 am / Leave a comment

2001008031

Kimball Webster School – In 1896 Hudson erected two new school buildings.  This large school house, situated on Sanders (now Library) Street was named in honor of Kimball Webster.  A serious fire occurred in January 1929 which  shot up through the roof and destroyed the cupola and  bell.  Repairs were made at a cost of $12,625.  School continued there for many years.  This building is now the Administrative Office of the Hudson School District. (Published in HLN September 12, 2014.)

Post navigation

← Older posts Newer posts →