Barr House, Library and Willowbrook Tavern
New Ipswich Historical Society
Along the Turnpike
This photo shows the location of several of the landmark buildings in the Historic District. The Library is the most recognizable. The Willowbrook Tavern became the 1808 house and and is now the ReMax office complex.
William Jurian Kaula diary
16 MAY 1898
I left Paris yesterday afternoon. The timetable of the trains and omnibus line had changed. When I reached Esbly there was no but to take me over to Crécy. It was about six o'clock in the evening and I immediately set out to walk to Crécy. It had rained hard during the day (as usual) but the roads were hard and dry enough for a lively gait. It is about seven or more miles to Crécy and I covered the distance in about an hour and a half. I cannot walk so well as I could at home a few years ago when I often took a ten-mile stroll.
Back to war chronicals [sic] again. There is a lull in the war as no one seems to know what is taking place. The new Spanish Ministry is organized and it is said that they may make for peace. It is more likely that they will make efforts to push the war vigorously. The Spanish Squadron has reached Martinique from the Cape Verde Islands. It had been reported many days ago that they had put back to Cadiz! They reached the West Indies without molestation. The Spanish admiral ran no great risks of meeting the American squadron. Admiral Sampson has failed in his search for the enemy. It is not at all surprising as the Spanish took a course far out of his reach. The cablegram from Martinique announcing the arrival of the Spanish fleet was delayed twenty-four hours which allowed the Spanish admiral ample time to get away again for unknown parts. A naval battle is evidently imminent. Admiral Sampson has bombarded San Juan, Porto [sic] Rico without effect. What his motives were are unknown whereas the Spanish are delighted with what they call a victory.
James Roger diary entry
16th May 1912
Rain, steady heavy showers; wind northeast. David at Spoffords’ with W. Hardy in forenoon and teaming freight for Mr. Newcomb from Depot. Ladies’ Sewing Circle today.
These accounts from Kaula and Roger are wonderful parallels and offer such contrast. Thanks so much for making them available to us. There's Mr. Kaula, Our Man in France, painting and trying to sort through the sometimes frustrating Continental artistic and political scene; and here's Mr. Roger, keeper of the local flame, doing practical work for townsfolk and helping social institutions continue to thrive.