Holt's Mill
New Ipswich Historical Society
Detective Work
Much of what we do at the Historical Society is akin to detective work. We have fragments of documents, photos with no captions, and most importantly a lack of witnesses. We rely on tips from the public which is one of the reasons for this newsletter. Maybe someone can recognize a place or knows some background information. Speaking of which, I have a photo that I would like to learn about.
Holt’s Mill
This photo had the caption Holt’s Mill. We have no idea where it was or what it produced.
On this day March 4, 1908
James Roger diary entry
4th March 1908 (Wednesday)
Frost (14 degrees) wind west to North. Trees still coated with ice. David and Lonie painting big wagon and drawing wood for Lonie afternoon.
Notes:
David Maynard was a friend and a New Ipswich policeman
I suspect that Lonie was Leon R. Willard, a painter, chicken farmer and the town photographer
See https://www.etsy.com/listing/846621594/ashby-mill-village-1875-old-town-map?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_ps-b-art_and_collectibles-other&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiAjoeRBhAJEiwAYY3nDOTEN6nvHAB9Cv345NyqD4QsjzYBLsrUC-37cn3OrWSXq7cJj9tq3hoC3n8QAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_12565614191_126327480904_507187164663_pla-314954651973_c__846621594_105764821&utm_custom2=12565614191&gclid=CjwKCAiAjoeRBhAJEiwAYY3nDOTEN6nvHAB9Cv345NyqD4QsjzYBLsrUC-37cn3OrWSXq7cJj9tq3hoC3n8QAvD_BwE for historic map of Ashby showing the residence of an A. Holt at that location. My guess is correct, I'll wager.
Just a guess but the lay of the land reminds me of Rt 123A in Ashby just south of the state line and before Pillsbury Rd. The pond and dam under the road would have supplies the water power.