Dedication of Rev. Stephen Farrar's Tablet
September 15, 1909
Dedication of Rev. Stephen Farrar's Tablet
One of the challenges of working with historical photos is determining the location, time the photo was taken and people involve. This news clipping solved all three problems for us. This photo was captioned as being taken in 1920 when in actuality it was taken on September 15, 1909 by our town’s photographer (and chicken farmer) Leonard R. Willard (Lonnie to his friend James Roger).
NEW IPSWICH 1909 Dedication of Rev. Stephen Farrar's Tablet,
The dedication of the bronze tablet, placed on a granite boulder by the New Ipswich Historical society, took place on the afternoon of Sept. 15. An assemblage of representative people from all parts of the town gathered at 3 o'clock. Rev. George F. Prescott, pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Boston, and Rev. John Elliott Bowman, pastor of the local Congregational church, were the only speakers.
Rev. Mr. Bowman spoke of the long pastorate of Rev. Stephen Farrar between 1759 and 1809, when he assumed the pastorate and faithfully maintained it for half a century.
In closing he read a poem by Emerson, written for the ordination of the Second Congregational church, Concord, Mass. Rev. Mr. Prescott, who has a summer residence near the Meeting House hill, followed and made most fitting remarks upon Rev. Stephen Farrar and the church's power in the life of man for vindicating God's work.
Leon R. Willard, local photographer, was present and after the exercises were closed, arranged a group of citizens in front of the boulder and se- cured several views. The bronze tablet bears the following: "Near this spot stood the two churches of Stephen Farrar's ministry, 1759-1809." This boulder was used as a means of mounting and dismounting from the horses in ancient times. 1909Thayer’s One Hundred Formulas
A reader sent some photos of medicine produced using the formulas published by S.A. Thayer in 1883. Photos of the handbook were also included but the text is challenging to transcribe. An ointment for what ails you.
Extract of Lemon
Fresh Oil of Lemon, 6 ozs.; alcohol, 1 gal. Mix color with a few drops of tincture of gamboge or with extract of curcuma. Filter through paper or felt. Put up in 2 oz. bottles retails at 25 cents.
James Roger diary entry
James Roger diary entry
September 25th 1908 (Friday)
Hot and dusty. Watched transfers of Express in morning. Took cars to Nashua and attended Convention for election of Councilor (Mr. Arnet of Jaffrey) then went per electric cars to Lowell, and spent an hour there then took cars to Ayer. After supper took train to Greenville where David met me.
That is one serious-looking boulder to assist one in mounting or dismounting a horse. You’d need help mounting or dismounting the boulder itself.
And now about that ointment. Lemon-scented rubbing alcohol with a hint of laxative if using the gamboge?
I'm curious about the electric cars that James Roger took to Ayer, but didn't take them back.