Post Office On Ferry Street 1948
In the spring of 1947 the Hudson Post Office was the center of a controversy. A plan to consolidate Hudson service into the Nashua office was being considered by the Postal Department. Town officials and approximately 1,000 Hudson residents submitted a 30 foot long petition expressing the need for and confidence in the existing Hudson Post Office. The decision was made to not only retain but to enlarge the office. The Morey Building on Ferry Street, just above the intersection with Webster Street, was remodeled under the supervision of owner Ernest Morey. The result was this two storey, brick veneer building. The new Post Office occupied 1/2 of the first floor; the remainder was rented out to Trombley’s Shoe Repair. The second floor provided a small number of apartments. This was the location of our Post Office from 1948 until 1959 when town growth required the move to 15 Derry Street. Those serving as Post Master during this time were Paul Richards and Roger Boucher. This building was demolished during bridge and road construction in the late 1960’s. Photo from the Historical Society Collection.
Post Office Corner Derry and Highland Streets
Remember when all services of the US Post Office in Hudson were located in a single building located at the corner of Derry and Highland Streets? By the late 1950’s growth of our town was reflected in the increased demands on postal services; revenues had increased from $10,000 in 1949 to $39,000 in 1959. This building on 15 Derry Street was dedicated as the new US Post Office in Hudson on March 28, 1959. Those serving as Postmaster at this location were Roger L. Boucher, Clayton E. Smith, and Gerald Winslow. By 1976 postal revenues had exploded to $341,490. About 1986 the service locations were moved to 36 Executive Drive and 77 Derry Road. The Derry Street building was re-purposed for commercial uses and is now the home of Showtime Computers. Tune in next week to see where the Post Office was located before 1959! Photo from the Historical Society Collection.
Railroad Station at Hudson Center 1896
In this 1896 photo, we are looking east from the Greeley Street crossing at the Hudson Center Station (left) and the rear of the Town Hall (now Wattannick Hall) on the right. From this point the tracks the headed towards the crossing at Windham Road, on to the crossing at Clement Road and then to West Windham. A Post Office was established in this station in 1876 and Eli Hamblet was the Postmaster; a position he held until his death in 1896. It was at this station that animals and patrons arrived to go to Benson’s. Animals were shipped here and some were walked along the road to the farm. The Jungle Train from Boston brought people on excursions. There was a freight house (center right) and siding for handling goods. At the height of railroad traffic there were as many as 13 passenger trains plus freight activity each day on this line. Considering a single track line, this made for a very busy and dangerous section of the line. The railroad station was later made into a dwelling, but when it was no longer in use it was moved to Benson Park and can still be seen there. Photograph from the Historical Society Collection.
Steam railroad crossing at Greeley Street in 1896
The steam railroad crossed the Merrimack River into Hudson just south of what is now Veterans Memorial Bridge as you cross from Nashua into Hudson. It then made a path easterly and slightly north through Hudson. The tracks crossed Lowell Road at Central Street and then on to Hudson Center and West Windham. The one railroad station in town was at Hudson Center just off Greeley Street and behind the Town Hall (now Wattannick Hall). In this 1896 photo we are standing on the tracks near the station looking west along the tracks and the Greeley Street crossing. The corner of the station house can just be seen in the right of the photo. Greeley Street is a narrow dirt road and the area on the opposite side of Greeley appears as a wooded area or field. Today there are few reminders of the railroad bed. The area on the left is now the parking lot of the Baptist Church and the area on the right is the Greeley Street playground. Photo from the Society collection and courtesy of Len Lathrop. (Published in HLN October 24, 2014.)
Friends and Neighbors
John T. Benson(L), founder of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, and Dr. Henry O. Smith(R), beloved medical doctor, were friends and neighbors as both lived in Hudson Center. John T. came to Hudson in 1922 when he purchased property as a representative of the Hagenbeck Company of Germany. He was known world-wide as an animal trainer and trader. After accompanying President Theodore Roosevelt on a trip to South Dakota, Roosevelt presented him with 2 Great Dane pups which John T. raised and enjoyed for many years. John T. passed away in 1943. Henry O. Smith was born 1864 in Hudson, studied medicine and returned to his home town. A dedicated country doctor, he was fondly called Dr. H O or Dr. Harry. He served the town not only as a doctor but also as historian and member of the School Board. Dr. Smith passed in 1945. Mr. Benson and Dr. Smith are shown here with one of the Great Danes, Freda. Photo from Society collection and courtesy of Len Lathrop. (Published in HLN October 17, 2014.)
Number 9 School House Built 1886
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
Hudson Center School circa 1909
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
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
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.)
Remember Hudson NH When... 