150th Anniversary of New Ipswich
New Ipswich Historical Society
August 25, 1900
Under the tent, listening to speeches for the 150th Anniversary of New Ipswich.
HILMA STARK REMINISCES:
ELMER ARVID – born Apr. 23, 1925
I was about seven and one half years old when the last of our family made an appearance. I do not remember his birth so it probably happened during the night when we were sound asleep. The only thing I remember is Elmer in his bathtub. He was the prettiest fat baby, all pink and white with big dimples and one on his chin. I can remember Mother admiring him after his bath, although Henry was always the Mother’s boy, very devoted to Mother and anxious to please her.
When Elmer was about five, he came running out of the woods and across the lawn in an obvious rush.Mother asked him “Where are you going?”. He answered “Nowhere” without looking back, but running on. “Why are you running? No reason” still running on without stopping. “What’s happened?” “Nothing” as he passed out of sight into the woods. Pretty soon the mystery was solved when the angry figure of my father came by. It seems Elmer had started a little fire under his favorite pine tree, a grove that he had planted and nursed from seedlings. It was apparent now why it was so vital to keep moving at any cost.
Elmer was only nine and one half years old when Mother passed away and Henry was twelve. (Nov. 4, 1934) They were left with Father as the rest of us were already out working. I guess Lydia went home for a while to help. It must have been a lonely childhood for the two boys. However, they survived and Henry joined the Navy during the war, and Elmer went into the Army later and served in Germany.
Reminisces from Hilma Stark (b. 1917) who grew up in New Ipswich. She was sister to the late Elmer Stark who lived at the family place on Fox Farm Road (uncle of Sharon Anderson Rosenfelder). (probably recorded in the late 1970’s)
James Roger diary entry
25th June 1912
Warm day; wind west; cloudy afternoon. David and Lonie painting at Mrs. Parker’s. I stopped in house all day owing to bowel troubles. David got letter from Chauncey Perry about his luggage.
I know what's it's like to outrun your father. When I was 15 I got into an argument with my father, I don't remember the issue but I called him a name and he came towards me and I ran thinking this 42 yr old man couldn't catch me. I felt a pain in my butt from his right foot and kept running. He retreated having reached his goal.
James Roger mentions that David received a letter from Chauncey Perry who was the father of my friend, Chauncy Perry. My friend tells me that his name and his father's had no 'E' in Chauncy. I just learned that a yr ago. In any case, the elder Chauncy was a professor of electrical engineering at MIT and lived in Waltham but had a summer home on River Rd. My friend was also an electrical engineer who worked on designing the Patriot missile for Raytheon and still lives in the family home in Waltham.