REMINDER
The South Pittsfield Church will be open this summer with:
Harold Muzzey - August 3
Nancy Talbot - August 10
Henry Frost - August 17
These service are at 1 PM. All are welcome
REMINDER
Pittsfield High School Class of 1974 is holding their 40th High
School Reunion on Saturday, August 2, 2014 from 4:30 PM to whenever.
Doreen Doucette Wittenberg has graciously offered to hold the
reunion at her home on 21 Oxbow Road, Center Barnstead, NH. Oxbow
Road is the road to Valley Dam. The cost is zero $$$, yet donations
will be gladly accepted to cover the costs for an old fashioned BBQ.
BYOB, tent, bug spray, lawn chair and bathing suit. Telephone Doreen
@ 603-765-3500 or contact one of your class reunion committee
members: Judy Eastman, Teresa Flanders, Darla Keene, Sue Lichty,
Linda Finnegan or Mary Team for any additional information. CHECK
OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE@ Pittsfield High School NH-Class of 1974-40th
Reunion.
Extended Learning Opportunities In Pittsfield
Wouldn’t Happen Without You!
ELOs are the primary acquisition of knowledge and skills through
instruction, study and application outside of the traditional
classroom methodology.
PMHS would like to thank the following Community Partners for
volunteering their time, resources, and efforts this year in
providing extraordinary ELO experiences to our students:
Sergeant Rick Walters, Pittsfield Police Department; Nazzy, 105.5
JYY and Nazzy Entertainment; Officer Mike Matson, NH Fish & Game;
Mrs. Sherry Stevens, NH Midwife; Mrs. Victoria Marcotte, Journey to
Peace Yoga and Wellness; Mr. Ross Morse, Suncook Valley Sun; Mrs.
Lyn Ward, Exit Reward Realty; Mrs. Elizabeth Hitchcock, ASL
Interpreter; Mr. Jay Darrah, PMHS Athletic Director; Mrs. Melissa
Miller, Pittsfield Elementary School; Mr. Seth Lamontagne, TC’s
Service Center; Mrs. Christie Dunlavey, Pittsfield Middle High
School; Mr. Clayton Wood, Pittsfield resident; Mr. Greg Neveu,
Barnstead Elementary School.
For more information about Extended Learning
Opportunities please contact Sheila Ward, ELO Coordinator, at
(603)435-6701 X1117, (603)219-3742, or by email at
[email protected]
Letter To The Editor
Denis Beaudoin for NH State House
The reason for returning with my two younger boys back to Pittsfield
was to support a local friend, Denis Beaudoin, who is running to be
your local Representative. He knows the stress that working families
are under in this economy. The time has come to restore sanity and
moderation to state government and have representatives that put the
people’s business back on the top of the agenda.
While on the topic of time, ten years have passed since our family
has moved from Pittsfield. Seeing the old faces and places was
heartwarming. It was the younger faces that grew up with my older
children, Matt and Sarah who reminded me what a small town like
Pittsfield and the surrounding towns are all about. The feeling of a
village and local community is not easy to come by. Only by having
citizens stepping up and giving of their time and effort can this be
sustained.
Denis Beaudoin is ready and able to step up and be your
representative in Concord. He is a local grown candidate that you
will be proud to have representing your community.
Thank you
Marco Lacasse
Letter To The Editor
I was saddened and angered when I read in the Concord Monitor about
the man from Salisbury arrested for cultivating 30 marijuana plants.
You know, some who want to get high, and smoke without drinking
alcohol, or smoking cigarettes, prefer the ganja (sic). Never mind
that it helps folks who are ill.
The voters of Colorado and Washington have figured out it ain’t no
big deal. But I’m still feeling bad for this guy who’s got to be
involved in the system. How long is it gonna be till we can grow our
own and have liberty and justice for all?
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi
TOPS News
Submiteed Be Terrie Azotea
At Tops
this past week we talked about our Kops Honor Society and how much
of a good time everyone had, how the helping hands were picked, and
an all-around good time with other members and friends. Our Kops of
the week was Pat S. and our Tops of the week was Terrie and Kudos to
those who were runners up. Keep up the good work!
We had a small program on eating well and a few tips were shared in
reference to when traveling and stopping at gas stations and what to
eat so that you can stay on track. The tops 5 foods are fruit pops,
beef jerky, snack bars, nuts, and cheese sticks. So, when you are
traveling around and need a protein or something to fill the
stomach, try one.
We had an open mic night and got some new ideas of what to do with
our fruits and veggies.
At Tops we are a weight loss support group that helps each other out
with weight loss struggles. Any questions please call Janis White at
491-5532 or Claire Coll at 435-7271. We meet on Tuesday nights at
the Berakah on Fairview Rd. in Pittsfield at 5:30 for weigh-in and
at 6:30 for our meeting. We always welcome new faces, so I say take
time this week to smell the flowers and sit and relax and enjoy
life. See you all lighter next week!
The Beatles Are Coming!
“Studio Two” an up-and-coming Beatles tribute band, will be
headlining The Suncook Valley Rotary Clubs stage at the 34th Hot Air
Balloon Rally in Pittsfield. The band returns by popular demand! The
band was formed to honor the Beatles 50th anniversary of coming to
America and to show audiences across New England and beyond what it
was like to hear The Beatles live in concert. The band reenacts The
Beatles signature look right down to the mop-top haircuts,
instruments, and musical equipment, on stage banter – and most
importantly , the style and quality of the music.
The concert is set for Saturday, August 2nd around 7pm, at Drake
Field in Pittsfield. Freewill donations accepted.
On Friday evening, August 1st, Jim Barnes will perform starting at
6pm, followed by “Just Sayin’” at 7pm. Just Sayin’ is a local band
playing music from the 50’s to current, good old Rock and Roll.
Come early and watch 18 Hot Air Balloons take flight (weather
permitting), vendors, carnival, entertainment, Night Glow and
Fireworks Saturday evening!
Letter To The Editor
Thanks to all who support the Pittsfield Beautification Committee.
It is because of you and volunteers like Dan Schroth and Joe Darrah
that we were able to re-construct the Washington House lot garden on
Main Street last year.
Our next big project is to install new infrastructure and re-plant
the gardens at the Aranosian Lot, which is located next to Jack’s
Pizza and across the street from Rite-Aide. On Saturday
August 2nd we will be at the Aranosian Lot from 8:00 am until 11:00
am with lots of wonderful yard sale items. All proceeds
will be donated to the Pittsfield Beautification Committee.
Please come and support us and discover some real bargains!
Carol Lambert, Secretary
Pittsfield Beautification Committee
Skin Breathing
By Heath and Nicole Reed and presented by Sage Wellness Center
Our skin is our largest organ and can be considered our third lung.
It breathes. It’s alive. And it has its own rhythm—an inhalation and
an exhalation. It absorbs (inhales) nutrients and oxygen, senses
light and pressure, and regulates heat and cold. It releases
(exhales) carbon dioxide, sheds dead skin cells, and completely
regenerates itself every 28 days. Every minute, you lose
30,000–40,000 dead skin cells, all of which are replaced
immediately. Our skin protects our bones and organs, and allows us
to feel the power of touch! Touch is the first of our five senses to
develop in utero and is fundamental to our existence. Babies can die
from lack of touch; as adults, touch helps to protect us from harm
and soothe us into relaxation. Recent research from DePauw
University and psychologist Matthew Hertenstein reveals touch
communicates emotion. Scientists used to believe touching was simply
a means of enhancing body language and the spoken word. Now, experts
say “touch is a much more nuanced, sophisticated, and precise way to
communicate emotions, like joy, love, gratitude, and sympathy.”
Though often taken for granted, there is much to learn from the
skin. Every square inch is like an antenna receiving a constant
stream of information ranging from the firmness of the chair you’re
sitting on, to the heat of the sun shining through a window, to the
feelings expressed from a hand resting on your shoulder.
In each square inch of skin there are:
• 65 hairs
• 100 sebaceous (oil) glands
• 32 feet of nerves
• 8 feet of blood vessels
• 650 sweat glands
• 9,500,000 cells
• 1,300 nerve endings
• 12 cold and heat receptors
• 155 pressure receptors for the perception of touch.
The skin is also our first line of defense, protecting the rest of
the body from illness or imbalance. It eliminates approximately 2
pounds of waste a day in the form of perspiration. The toxins
removed in this process are formed from the air we breathe, the
water we drink, and the food we eat. They are created in the body
through metabolism, shedding of dead cells, relentless stress, and
constant churning of emotions. Keeping the skin pores clean, clear,
and open is one way to help relieve the body of ongoing buildup of
toxins. Exfoliating scrubs boost our immune system. In traditional
Chinese medicine, the skin’s pores are seen as the “doors of qi,”
and must be kept clear to maintain the body’s defensive energy (“wei
qi”).
I enjoy incorporating scrubs, especially during the changes of the
seasons, to cleanse, smooth, and moisturize the skin, and restore
its natural balance. I find sugar scrubs less abrasive than salt
scrubs and use these most often, but my husband, Heath, loves the
feel of a coarse salt scrub (maybe it’s a yang thing).
Credits
Rick Chillot, “The Power of Touch,” Psychology Today, accessed March
2014,
www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201302/the-power-touch.
Milady’s Standard Esthetics, 11th edition (New York: Milady, 2012).
Alison Finn, “Cleansing the Organs of Elimination,” The
UK Centre for Living Foods, accessed March 2014,
www.livingfoods.co.uk/pages/articles/inner-cleansing.php.
ABMP
First Congregational Church
To Hold Services At Senior Center
First Congregational’s regular services will be held at the normal
10 a.m. time the Sundays of August 17 and 24, but at an alternate
location -- Pittsfield’s “Senior Center” at the Community Center.
The entrance is at the lower level on Broadway, around the corner
from the main Community Center entrance at 74 Main Street. Parking
is permitted on Broadway.
This alternate location is perfect for the services as the center
was where the congregation first met 225 years ago. The change of
site is due to repair work and the installation of new carpet at the
church’s location at 24 Main Street, Pittsfield.
During the weeks from August 11 through August 30, the church will
not be available for other activities. Please join us for Sunday
services at 10 a.m. and watch for more information in The Sun about
the church’s 225th anniversary celebration events coming in the next
few months.
For more information, call the church office at: 603 435-7471.
Letter To The Editor
Regarding the response to my letter on July 23 by N. Heath about
women’s rights:
It’s so true that a liberal democrat only hears what he or in this
case she wants to hear. Whether one makes a good point or just
babbles nonsense, it doesn’t matter. I thought I made a good point
that women have the right in this modern America to do whatever they
want to do with their bodies. My point was that I don’t want to be
forced to PAY for something I find despicable. Use your own money
for such things. I am not controlling your uterus. You’re in control
and you pay for it.
This is a metaphor of American liberalism: A spoiled little child
gets all the toys and fun that a doting parent can afford. But there
is a certain toy that even that easy parent says no to. Of course
that little brat will throw a temper tantrum, which he often does.
Will this parent give in? Most likely, yes, if the child persists.
This is the state of our fine country today. The liberal democrat is
the spoiled brat and the parent is from the stupid party - usually a
RINO. Where are all the adults?
Gene Matras
Pittsfield
Globe, DuPont, And NVFC Name First Three Winners
In 2014 Gear
Giveaway
Departments in NJ, CA, and Canada will each receive 4 sets of new
Globe gear
Globe, DuPont Protection Technologies (DuPont), and the National
Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered for the third year to
provide new, state-of-the-art turnout gear to fire departments in
need.
This year, a total of 13 departments will receive four sets of gear
each. The first three recipients of the 2014 Globe Gear Giveaway
Program are the Highlands (NJ) Fire Department, Nicasio (CA)
Volunteer Fire Department, and Osler Fire Department (Saskatchewan,
Canada).
“We are very pleased to announce the first three winners of the 2014
Globe Gear Giveaway,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “We
received over 500 applications for gear, demonstrating the real need
that exists for this type of program. Many departments are
struggling to provide gear to their members and often have to make
do with gear that is old, non-compliant, ill-fitting, and otherwise
inadequate, putting the safety of the firefighters at risk. Thank
you to Globe and DuPont for recognizing this need and supporting our
nation’s volunteer fire departments through this remarkable donation
initiative.”
To be eligible to apply for the four sets of new Globe gear,
departments had to be all-volunteer or mostly-volunteer, serve a
population of 25,000 or less, be legally organized in the U.S. or
Canada, demonstrate a need for the gear, and be a member of the
NVFC. To help departments meet this last requirement, Globe
sponsored NVFC Department Memberships for the first 200 non-members
to apply.
The Highlands (NJ) Fire Department is comprised of 50 volunteer
firefighters who respond to an average of 170 calls per year. When
Hurricane Sandy hit on October 29, 2012, the department was
inundated by about 15” of water due to the storm surge. The small
town of Highlands was under 8-10 feet of water, and the firefighters
rescued over 90 people that were stranded in their flooded houses.
In the days following the storm, the firefighters supplied food,
water, cleaning materials, life safety for power restoration, and
set-up of a temporary borough hall, police station, and first aid
squad, putting their own flooded houses on hold until the needs of
the community were met.
Despite their best efforts to secure equipment and supplies before
Sandy hit, the Highlands Fire Department still lost crucial
equipment in the storm. The unexpected costs created by Sandy has
left the department struggling to fulfill their normal operating
expenses, including replacing outdated gear. The donation of the
four sets of new Globe gear will enable the department to keep more
firefighters in compliant gear while they focus their limited funds
on other expenses created by Sandy.
The Nicasio (CA) Fire Department is an all-volunteer organization
with 15 active firefighters serving a population of 1,200. Half of
the 10 sets of gear the department has available are over 10 years
old.
Relying entirely on grants and donations, the department is unable
to provide all of its members with the gear they need to be safe.
The firefighters respond to all emergencies in their rural, wooded
area, as well as provide defensible space and fire prevention
consultations and materials for local residents. The four sets of
new Globe gear will help the department better outfit their
volunteers so they can be safer when protecting their community.
The Osler Fire Department in Saskatchewan, Canada, is an
all-volunteer department serving a population of 1,500. The
department is currently operating out of the town shop as it works
to build its first fire hall. With fundraising over the past 10
years focusing on the fire hall, the gear and equipment has started
to suffer. Much of the gear is mismatched and ill-fitting, and over
half of it is more than 10 years old. Despite these limitations, the
department provides vital protection to the community in addition to
serving as part of a mutual aid agreement with four other volunteer
departments. It also maintains a robust fire prevention education
and community outreach program, and participates in community
charity projects. The four new sets of gear will make a big
difference in helping the department provide proper protection for
those who serve.
Additional awards through the Globe Gear Giveaway Program will be
made monthly throughout 2014. A total of 52 sets of gear will be
distributed to departments in need. Stay tuned to the NVFC web
site,
Dispatch newsletter, and page on Facebook, as well as the Globe page
on Facebook, for additional information and announcements regarding
the Globe Gear Giveaway Program.
About Globe
Firefighters need to be prepared to perform at their peak, on every
call. That’s why, when it comes to turnout gear, fit matters.
Globe’s turnout gear is designed to protect you, move with you, and
improve your performance.
It’s athletic gear for firefighters. Learn more at
www.globeturnoutgear.com.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and
engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative
products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes
that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought
leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as
providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing
dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life
and the environment. For additional information about
DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit
www.dupont.com.
About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the
leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests
of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as
the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides
invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first
responders across the nation. Learn more at
www.nvfc.org.
Jonathan and Jo Anne Ward celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary
July 22 with family and friends. They renewed their vows with their
sons, Adam and Brandon, by their sides with help from Bea Douglas. A
great time was had by all. Happy 25th Jo Anne, I love you - Jon.
Watering Horses In Pittsfield*
Submitted By Larry Berkson
[Editor’s note: Thanks go to Eleanor Joyce who so patiently perused
the Pittsfield Annual Town Reports for much of the basic information
contained in this article.]
Now that summer is upon us, imagine for a moment that you need to go
over Catamount Mountain, ride to the top of Concord Hill or get to
Upper City. Imagine also that you cannot walk and there are no
automobiles. How do you get there? Naturally, by horse, the way most
people did for well over 100 years after the town’s founding.
Water Tubs Outside of Town
Crucial to the journey was water for one’s steed. In the earliest
days, people riding on horseback, in wagons or carriages stopped at
a stream or pond located near the road, where they refreshed their
animals. The town made provision for this by clearing these areas
for easy access. For example, in 1884 Samuel M. Emerson, a Civil War
veteran, was paid $3.00 for clearing a place at Carter Brook so that
people could water their horses. Today it is known as the Gashouse
Brook, located at the bottom of French Hill.
When the first watering tubs, or troughs as they often were called,
were placed at strategic locations around Pittsfield has not been
learned, but it was likely at an early time. The first mention of
watering tubs in Town Reports was in 1869 when Reuben L. French and
John True were paid $6.00 and $2.00 respectively for attending them.
The following year David Marden was paid $3.00 and believe it or
not, that same amount was generally paid to those tending tubs until
they were discontinued in 1933.
The location of some of the tubs is known today. There was one on
top of Concord Hill as may observed in the accompanying picture
(Picture 1).
John True and then J. C. Foss, both living on the road, were paid
to attend to it for many years beginning in 1871. It predated the
establishment of the Pittsfield Aqueduct Company which brought water
from Berry Pond to the village and thus it was likely supplied by
hauling water from a nearby well. It may have been attached to the
town water supply when it was extended up Concord Hill in 1897.
There was also at least one, and perhaps several, tubs located on
Catamount Road. The sole surviving tub is located near the entrance
to the Sargent Town Forest hiking trail part way up the mountain
(Picture 2).
This is just below the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Wood. At the
beginning of the 20th Century the property was owned by Philester
Elliott who was undoubtedly the man who cared for it beginning in
1899 through 1924.
Perhaps the tub lauded in the Snow Flake in 1883 was located further
up the hill. According to the writer, it was installed by Alexis
Davis, probably a member of the Davis Family that lived in the old
Sanderson Place on Sanderson Road. He claimed that it was “one of
the most convenient watering places for horses we have . . . in
Town.”
There were almost certainly other tubs on Catamount Road. John S.
Berry, who lived in the Hunsberger Place on the outskirts of town,
was paid $13.00 in 1871-72 and $6.00 in 1872-73 for attending a tub
or tubs. Likely, it or they were near his home and certainly not
further up the mountain. During those same years, A. J. Pillsbury,
who lived much further out, near Eaton Pond, was paid to attend a
tub as well.
There was a real trough, as opposed to tub, on the road to Upper
City (Picture 3).
It was located at the bottom of the hill just past Maxfield’s
Hardware Store and fed from Granny White Spring, named after a lady
who lived up the road. Water ran through a pipe to the trough and
then into an oaken bucket. It appears that no one was paid to tend
this site.
Water Tubs in Town
There were several tubs located in Pittsfield village. In 1881 “the
citizens of Blood Corner” established a “free watering trough” in
front of George N. Foss’s Store which was located on Carroll Street
just up from the building now occupied by Town Pizza. Whence the
water came from has not been learned.
In 1885 the selectmen installed two new watering tubs in town,
likely. They were likely connected to the new Pittsfield Aqueduct
water system. One was in Railroad Square, now called Depot Square
(Picture 4).
It was made of cast iron from Clapp & Co and was the largest of the
downtown tubs. At some point after 1887 when the gas works began
operating, a gas light was placed above it to illuminate the area.
The year after the tub was installed it apparently was damaged by
Charles T. Emerson. He paid $15.00 to have it repaired, but it only
cost the Selectmen $8.00.
The second tub installed in 1885 was located between the Washington
House Hotel and the Post Office, then located in the Union Block. It
may have been filled from the huge cistern located just below the
hotel, now under the floor of 16 Main Street, former offices of
Berkson Property Management. Most likely, one of the men tending the
tub was Jeremiah J. Purcell. He lived on Oak Street and was paid for
tending a tub for 13 years.
Another tub in the village was located in front of the
Congregational Church (Picture 5).
It may have been installed by 1868. If so, it is likely that Rueben
L. French tended it for many years. He was a devout member of the
Congregational Church and may have felt it his duty. Among others
who may have tended it were O. M. Davis, agent for the Cotton Mill,
and Mary A. Parsons, who lived on Central Square, better known today
as Washington Square. In 1906 the tub was painted green.
In 1889 the Town paid Clapp & Co. $163.50 for drinking fountains,
and Charles M. Bailey and Harvey M. Nutter $37.00 for labor and
materials to install them. How many there were and where they were
located has not been learned.
However, it is known that one was attached to the water tub in front
of the Congregational Church about 1934. Richard Foss recalls that
there was a continuous feed of water into and out of the basin. It
flowed down Factory Hill and in the winter the gutter along the
roadway built up with ice several inches thick.
These then, are the known watering tubs situated in and around
Pittsfield. There were certainly others. Because we know who was
paid to care for them, and where these people lived, we can
speculate about the general areas in which they were located. The
underlying assumption is that water tubs would have been located
near where people lived.
Possible Locations of Other Water Tubs
There may have been a tub at the top of French Hill on South Main
Street. Christopher A. Welsh who lived at the top of the hill in the
house now owned by Donald and Katheryn Bergeron, was paid to tend a
tub for 12 years, 1892-1905.
Almost certainly there was a tub or tubs located on Dowboro Road.
One was likely at the top of Hanson Hill. Several people who lived
in the South Pittsfield area were paid to tend a tub including Moses
Brown, Horatio Page, and Edwin C. Emerson. There also may have been
a tub further down Dowboro Road, perhaps in the vicinity of the
Quaker Church, at the top of the hill leading toward Tan Brook.
Several people named Barton, who lived in that region, were paid to
tend a tub.
There is some evidence that there may have been a tub on Webster
Mills Road, perhaps somewhere at the top of the hill after crossing
the Suncook River up past the Marston Farm. Clara Locke and M. K.
Locke, both of whom lived on the road, were paid for tending a tub.
A tub, or tubs, were also likely located on Loudon Road. John A.
Walker, who lived on the road, was paid for tending a tub from
1871-90. An indication that there may have been two tubs on Loudon
Road is that others who lived near Rings Corner were paid at the
same time to tend a tub. Among these people were Samuel S. Ring,
1880-85, E. B. Ring, 1888, and Edgar F. Ring, 1889-91.
Mountain Road was almost certainly the site of a watering tub. Known
in the 1870s as Brighton Road and later as Harvey Road and Sunset
Hill Road, it began an almost continuous climb to Knowlton’s Corner
from South Main Street. The steepness would have required one or
more water stops before reaching the top. Elder Harvey, who lived
just above where Mr. and Mrs. Carl Sherblom currently reside, was
paid to care for a tub from 1875-1882, and thereafter his son John
T. Harvey, from 1892-1901. No one has been located who remembers it.
Another likely location of a tub was at the top of Tucker Hill above
Jenness Pond. Fred Tucker who lived in the region was paid to tend a
tub from 1909-23.
Several people in the Watson Street-River Road area were also paid
to tend a tub. Where this would have been located is a bit of a
mystery. With the river so close and the availability of water in
the small pond, now filled in, at the corner of River Road and
Watson Street, it would seem that there would not be a need for a
tub in the area. If there was one, perhaps it was on Lyford Hill or
Leavitt Road.
One major hill on the east side of Pittsfield has not been
mentioned, Tilton Hill. It seems very unlikely that there would not
have been tubs on the way up that lengthy hill. Nonetheless, it
appears that, with one possible exception, people living in that
region were not paid to tend a tub. The exception was Sherburne J.
Winslow who owned the large colonial house at the top now owned by
Mr. and Mrs. James Allard.
Conclusion
These then are the known and likely locations of horse watering tubs
in and around Pittsfield. Largely forgotten today, they are an
important part of the community’s history. About 80 different
individuals tended the tubs between 1868 and 1933. Thirteen men
tended them for 10 or more years. The longest were Hiram Paige,
about 27 years, Philester S. Elliott, 23 years, F. A. Brown, 22
years.
Eight women also tended water tubs, Mrs. Josiah Barton, Fannie
Barton, Mrs. J. S. Brown, Clara Locke, Nellie Peaslee, Abbie Paige,
and Mary Parsons. Fannie Barton tended them the longest, 1898-1906.
*The names of those who were paid to tend to water troughs were
drawn from Pittsfield Town Reports. To determine on what road they
lived, two sources were consulted: the United States Census of 1910;
and John L. French, “Pittsfield Directory,” Pittsfield Times, March
23, 1872.
Obituaries
Ruth May Staniels Cram
Ruth May Staniels Cram, 98, of Pittsfield, loving wife of the late
Clifton Swett Cram for over 50 years died, Sunday, July 20, 2014, at
home surrounded by her family.
Born December 12, 1915, in Hopkinton, she moved to Concord as a
young child graduating from Concord High School, January 1934. She
was the daughter of the late Arthur H. and Belle Healey Staniels.
She moved to Pittsfield where she held various jobs using her skills
of stenography and bookkeeping. She was secretary to the
Superintendent of Schools, was Dr. Eplingʼs secretary, and later
became secretary to the president of Adams Brothers Shoes. She was
office manager at Catamount Woven Label Company / Universal Label
and retired in 1980.
Ruth and Clifton were married during the flood of March 1936 at her
parentʼs home in Concord. He was in the National Guard on active
duty and went AWOL to get married and the news made headlines.
Ruthʼs strong Christian faith was evident in her care of others.
Feeling that God had provided them with their home, she and Clifton
opened it to those in need and to eight foster children. She was
devoted to the Advent Christian Church where she served as Sunday
School Teacher, deacon, was the pianist for many years, and a member
of the TUXIS Class. She maintained a cottage at the Alton Bay
Christian Conference Center since 1957 and was active in its
program.
She was a member of the Pittsfield Historical Society where she kept
and created scrapbooks from articles of historical significance in
the newspaper. A room in the Historical Society Building was named
for her.
She enjoyed reading, painting, camping, boating, playing games and
traveling. Ruth served as PTA President and in her retirement was an
elementary classroom volunteer teaching children to read. As as
artist she was involved in oil and tole painting. A group often met
to oil paint around her kitchen table and later she taught painting
to friends who came to learn. Her great love was the gathering of
family and friends at her home or at the cottage. She spent lots of
time visiting family, and in her later years wintered in Florida
with her daughter Jennifer.
She is survived by her brother, Rev. James A. Staniels of West
Chicago; daughter, Sherideth D. Seeley and son-in-law, Rev. Dr.
Richard Seeley of Middletown, Conn.; daughter, Jennifer Elkins
Warren of Penacook; and son, Linden S. Cram and daughter-in-law,
Jean Cram, of Pittsfield; and son, Wayne Hall, and daughter-in-law,
Lucille Hall of Barnsted; grandchildren are Calvin Seeley and Karl
Seeley of Connecticut, Ruth Seeley Smith of Chichester, Joyce Elkins
Sullivan of Hopkinton, Jill Elkins Miller of Plymouth, Matthew Cram
of Loudon, Heidi Hall of Pittsfield and Corey Hall of Lebanon; four
nieces, Joyce Goss Strickler, Leone Hoover Van Der Jagt, both of
Florida, Bonnie Staniels Navaro, Betty Staniels Tregay both of
Illinois; and a nephew, Rev. James A. Staniels of California. She
has 19 great-grandchildren and a wealth of friends of all ages.
She is predeceased by her grandson, John Clifton Elkins.
The family wishes to thank all her friends for their devotion and
love these many years. We also thank CRVNA for all their support and
care.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, July 23rd, from 2 to 4 and 6
to 8 p.m. at the Perkins & Pollard Funeral, 60 Main St.,
Pittsfield.
A service was held Thursday, July 24th, at the Advent Christian
Church, 68 Main St., Pittsfield.
Burial followed at Floral Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the Advent Christian
Church in Pittsfield or Pittsfield Historical Society.
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