Bicentennial Parade - NIFD
New Ipswich Historical Society
August 26, 1950
Members of the New Ipswich Fire Department - Carl Sillanpaas, Theodore Karnis, Chief William Currier, Hamish Roger, James Albree.
A “new” pumper for the New Ipswich Fire Department
New Ipswich Bicentennial Parade - The Tiger Engine No. 1. Driver Charles Fish, Albro L. Balch, Otto Weisman, Willis F. Mansfield, Edward R. Wheeler, Willmore D. Ashley, Walter E. Hardy.
On these days - November 17 & 19, 1897
William Jurian Kaula diary
Two November entries for today, catching up. December entries will be published afterwards. No entry for November 18th.
17 Nov 1897
Martinez, the Mexican, who has a studio in our building, is an odd freak. He brought seven trunks full of stuff from the Pacific coast. His place is now a curiosity shop of Aztec relics, pottery, guns, pictures, and worst of all is a huge saddle that must have almost filled one trunk. I do not wonder that he had trouble at the custom houses when he landed in France. He entered the Beau Arts a few days ago and they found him a tough customer to haze. The colony of San Francisco men are very thick with the Boston boys.
Miss Shuttleworth and Miss Lufkin were anxious to inspect our studio after they had contributed so much toward the furnishing in making our sofa pillows, lamp shades, and advising us as to our various needs. Last Sunday we visited the "Temple," a famous place across the city where on Sundays there is a special sale of bargains in every conceivable article of clothing, rugs, hats, shoes, bric-a-brac and old curiosities. The building was crowded with the common people and the quality of the air was so bad that it was necessary to take one good breath before entering. Here we found many rugs and purchased two, one to hang on the wall and one to cover the floor. We finally purchased them at twenty francs apiece after considerable bargaining. Each rug in American would cost as many dollars as they cost francs over here. Our studio is now very cosey [sic] and we are therefore now very proud of it and ready to receive our various friends where we are "at home." So, as I started in to [illegible] about Misses L. and S. and we were ready to receive them. Meanwhile Cartwright borrowed Logan's teakettle and lamp besides various cups and saucers. Then he went out after tea and sugar, etc. The young ladies gave us a lesson in tea making so that we will be able to treat the next visitors in good style. But this washing dishes and cleaning up every speck of dirt is no small job for one who is unaccustomed to doing housework, like me. When our studio is filled with dirt from neglect I suggest that I go out and invite someone in so as to force us to clean the place up and appear to be respectable.
19 Nov 1897
Miss Shuttleworth left Paris for Rome this afternoon. Cartwright was unable to go with me to the depot so I went with Miss Lufkin. I did not know what was the matter with Cartwright at the time but when I came back I found him in the most delapitated [sic] state with a huge bump over the left eye and a most gorgeous colored eye and surroundings. In coming upstairs after the lights were out last night, he fell and hit on the balastrade [sic]. He will undoubtly [sic] have this decoration for two or three weeks and will have to avoid all inquisitive friends.
On this day - December 11, 1908
James Roger diary entry
11th (Friday)
Frost then dull and cloudy. Wind S.E. snow began about 10 am, and full steady all day. David at Greenville with Lonie Willard painting. I chored round hen houses in forenoon. Corbett’s team broke down today. He got our one horse team to bring some wood home.
On this day - December 11, 2019
View from Taylor Road bridge in Smithville
Met Lucy, a South African Boerboel Mastiff during my walk.
The first picture of the parade includes my father, Carl Sillanpaa, in the front row. He ultimately became Fire Chief and New Hampshire Fire Warden. The second picture is of the Ford chassis cab truck that my father and his friend, George Koski, built the equipment on the back. It was basically a tanker truck with storage for pumps and hoses. The tank had not baffles in it so it was a BEAR to drive. I drove it once on a fire run with my father since I was a member of the Junior Fire Department which consisted of teen boys trained to help the fire department.
My father was very active in the community including building New Ipswich's first community playground with a baseball diamond and swimming pool. The New ipswich Sportsman's Club led the project with Carl Sillanpaa, George Koski, Hjalmar Maki, Alfred Parhiala and others I don't remember. I believe Alfred Partial donated the land.
The view on Taylor Road this morning looks remarkably similar to 2019. Brrr.