Life of John Preston (Ledger Paper)

Town Historian

Life of John Preston

Boyhood Memories 

   In a recent interview, Mr. Preston told the Ledger that his earliest memory dated back to 1918 when he was 2 years old. At that time, he remembered watching his ill father, an insurance agent with whom he was very close, sit in a chair by a window sucking cracked ice. 

   Two winters later, the town's wooden rolling machine, which "stood as high as a man in a little boy's imagination," got stuck outside the Preston home packing snow for the sleighs. He watched in wonder, he said, as the drivers dug but the machine and the team of nine horses. During the dedication of the town's World War I monument, when it stood in its original loca- ion on Main and Academy Streets, his father carried him across the street to shake the hand of the Commander General of the Yankee Division. Surrounded by men in olive drab, he said that it was a strange sight for a boy from a small town. 

   He also mentioned the ability of is mother, Bertha Preston, to make great cakes. "A little boy remembers those," he added. 

   As a Harvard undergraduate, Mr. Preston was present for the university's 300th anniversary during which many nations of the world sent distinguished scholars colorful gowns to honor the institution. "All except for Nazi Germany and Russia," he said. Later, he was able to apply his education ancient languages and classical studies to identify Latin inscriptions on ancient buildings in  Rome.In 1940, the fall of France moved him to enlist in the military, and while in Italy, he remembered the moment when he first heard about the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

   After returning home from the war, he became involved in land surveying, for which he earned an appointment by the governor to the state Board of Architects, Engineers and Surveyors, according to State Representative and New Ipswich Selectman Bonnie Packard. 

   "It is the passing of an era," she told selectmen Monday night.. 

   "What a tremendous amount of history went with that man," added Police Chief Raymond Brodley. 

   A lifelong resident of New Ipswich, Mr. Preston resided his entire life except for a time in the military only a few feet away from where he was born. Mr. Preston attended grade school at Appleton Academy, and in 1934 graduated from Tilton Academy. He attended Harvard University, graduating in 1938 with a degree in classical studies. 

   During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as a radar technician in North Africa and Italy in an antiaircraft unit. Active in community service, his list of associations include town moderator, 1952 to 1964; school district moderator, 1972 to 1984, and moderator of the New Hamp shire Conference, United Church of Christ, 1980 to 1981. 

    He was a trustee of the New Ipswich Congregational Church from 1973 to 1979, and 1981 to 1984. 

   He served as immediate past president and trustee of the New Ipswich Library from 1954 to 1989. 

   He also donated his time as trustee for the Monadnock Community Hospital and Mason Village Savings Bank. 

   At the state level, he was chairman of the state Board of Licensure for Land Surveyors for the past four years, and was a member since 1983. 

   Mr. Preston was the son of William A. and Bertha Preston. He is survived by his wife, Dorothea (Delyannis) Preston, son George F Preston of Portland, Ore., and two daughters, Sarah W. Cering of San Jose, Calif., a nurse, and Elizabeth F. Preston, Ph.D., of Pittsburg, Penn., and six grandchildren. 

   The funeral was held Monday at 2 p.m. in the New Ipswich Congregational Church with burial in Central Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New Ipswich Library, in care of Mrs. Lorraine Smith, treasurer, Route 1. Box 224-1 New Ipswich 03071

Moving the Tiger 1 Engine

Moving Tiger 1 Engine to Historical Society Building in 1940. John Preston, James C. Barr & Charles Pratt. Photo given by James C. Barr.

Formulas

Stephen A. Thayer’s “One Hundred Formulas” was published in 1883. It contains recipes from everything from printing ink to pain killers. Toothache?

WARNING: Please don’t try any of these “remedies”, many contain ingredients which have been shown to be harmful.

James Roger diary entry

November 29th 1908 (Sunday)

Very fine bright day, wind west. Mr. Peacock preached on Great Financiers, Statesmen and Christ. S.S. After the topic “Temperance”. C.E. Prayer &; Praise Mrs. Wheeler leader.