July 1917 - One Hundred Years Ago This Month

World War One started in Europe 103 years ago this month. It began on July 28, 1914 and ended on November 11, 1918.

The US entered the war one hundred years ago this year on on April 6, 1917. Since January 2016 we have been doing a blog looking at one-hundred year old local newspapers each month. Here is a link to that first “looking back” blog. 

The Reporter newspaper for July 5th 1917 reports on the celebration of Independence Day (click on the images to enlarge them).

 

Some local companies benefited from the war effort...

… and some did not. Not much of a call for finely carved granite in the trenches.

In many ways, it seems like life went on. It’s hard to imagine that recorded music had only recently been introduced. Movies were still silent. If you would like to learn more about the movies and music of the period, contact us at the Conway Public Library's Henney History Room.

There were a number of efforts on the “home front” to support the war effort. Most communities had a group of ladies sewing and knitting for the soldiers.

Children’s playgrounds were militarized. It was considered “splendid” and “thrilling."

Price increases and prohibition were topics of the day.

Rockingham Race Track was turned into a military barracks. Cots were lined up in the grandstands and the track was used for marching.

 Women’s suffrage seemed ironic in that we were fighting for democracy but half of the adults in the country could not vote. This publicity stunt showed that at least twenty-two other countries allowed women to vote.

This article features the fashion of the well-dressed “farmerette” with a specially designed work outfit of “a Russion blouse of khaki, denim or gingham, with a full divided skirt of the same sewed fast under a broad low belt”

So while you might not be able to fight as a soldier, or vote for the President of the United States, at least you could look stylish while being "outstanding in your field."

More Old Iron

It was 48 years ago … yesterday, that man landed on the moon and this piece of old iron (actually aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium) played a key role. It is now encased in plexiglass and on display at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum restoration center in Chantilly, Virginia.

It’s hard for some of us of a certain age who saw this all on television to grasp the fact that what still seems so futuristic is actually history and in our “rear view.” In a previous blog, we searched for "old iron" with Fenway the History Dog. In that case, we explored the changing use of technology and how it affected the historic landscape of Conway village. In a future blog, we will look at how old iron persists and has changed from utilitarian/functional to decorative and symbolic both as lawn sculpture and as interior decoration.

While the space race is now history, it's universe of "old metal" has not yet made it as lawn ornament. Wait that's wrong, as we have a Redstone rocket on display here in New Hampshire in a park in the town of Warren.

In the near future, as artifacts of the space age in fact age and obtain the patina of history, we may in fact see more and more of these items on display.

The development of space technology was spread out through the country. It still is. Recently Kennett High School students were involved in a project with NASA. You can learn about 3-d digital printing, wifi technology and robots through programs at the Conway Public Library. Some of the cooling fans used in the space race were developed by the global Sturtevant Company, that started with Benjamin Franklin Sturtevant and his wooden peg manufactory in Conway New Hampshire (across the mill pond from the blacksmith shop that was replaced by Stan's Auto Repair) - see the previous blog for maps and drawings.

So stay tuned for more adventures with Fenway the History Dog.

While the "rear view" of our truck was busted, Fenway served as co-pilot and looked back to see that the course was clear for us to proceed into the future while we glanced back at the past - back to the future, again.

In Search of Old Iron

Fenway in search of "old iron" for our history blog!
... and we found some at Stan's Service Center in Conway Village. 

A 1956 Chevy Bel Air.

Note the incredible styling and color scheme. At one time all of these curves and chrome was common. However, that has all changed. You just don’t see a combination jet and eagle hood ornament on today’s cars.

However, we can use these wonderful relics of the past as way markers on our historical road trip.

You can see what used to be at the site of Stan’s Service Center if you look at the 1896 Bird’s Eye View of Conway on display near the circulation desk at the Conway Public Library. (click on the images to enlarge them).

In this panoramic view you can see earlier modes of transportation. There are a number of horse drawn vehicles on the streets. A train that just went through a wooden covered bridge can be seen in the middle ground. The Moats and Mount Washington can be seen in the background. That has not changed, but some of the open fields have grown in. 

Near the center of the print, you can see several tall towers with thick black smoke billowing out of them. In the late 19th century this would not have been seen as pollution but as a sign of progress. Clustered around the factories are the smaller houses of the workers and the larger houses of the owners. 

If we zoom in closer we can see that many of the buildings are numbered and tied to a key on the print.

Stan’s is now at the site of number 34. In 1896 this was listed as Geo. C. Wells, Horseshoeing and Jobbing. So while the technology, sources of power, types of exhaust, sights and sounds have changed, the folks who worked there then and now still help keep us moving on the road.

While Mr. Wells would shoe your horse, next door to the north from Stan’s at number 32 L.S. Merrill could repair your carriage if you had an accident. If the accident was really bad, he could also help you out as he was also an undertaker. Not far way, Fred Eaton was a carriage maker and undertaker, so their competition resulted in you having a choice and perhaps helped keep prices down?

The lumber for these workers could have come from building number 25, B.F. Clark’s lumber mill.

At the Conway Public Library’s Henney History Room, you can also compare the bird’s eye view with several of our Sanborn Insurance Maps. 

In this 1908 map, you can see that the B.F. Clark sawmill was actually built out over the water. The map details the logway on the south used to feed the logs to the mill. In the bird's eye view above you can see the logs floating in the pond waiting to be directed into the mill. This mill also generated electricity for village lights. You can also find photographs of this mill on our online collections database for more details.

Comparing the 1908 map with the 1929 Sanborn Insurance Map shows that B.F.Clark sawmill had been removed. The Sturtevant peg factory was now the Fred W. Mears Heel Co. and heel factory. The Majestic Theater has replaced Shaws grocery store and there is now a filling station east of the site of Stan’s.

So stay tuned to this blog as Fenway and I drive around in my daughter’s Chevy in search of history. While this may not quite be a 1956 Bel Air, ….

…. I do have a great co-pilot!

For more information contact us at the Conway Public Library’s Henney History Room