Masonic Lodge Number 24
New Ipswich Historical Society
Masonic Hall Number 24,
Owned by Bethel Lodge since 1903. Notice the box located in front of the porch. That is a hay scale. The town of Temple also has a hay scale near their town green. It is currently being renovated presumably in time for the town’s Harvest Fair. Wouldn’t it be nice if New Ipswich had a working hay scale? We could use it for pumpkin weigh-offs at our Autumn Fest at Memorial Field?
Newspaper Clipping
November 26, 1922 - New Ipswich News
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Barr of Pittsburg were guests of Miss Caroline F. Barr, Nov. 18. Mr. Barr has not visited town for 15 years, although formerly he was a frequent visitor here, and at one time registered on the check lists. He has lately sold his residence in Pittsburg, but has not as yet relocated.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene B. Beard have been the guests of Mrs. Hattie P. McKown recently during the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Churchill, in Greenville, N. H.
Charles F. Stone of Wheeler farm recently shot during one afternoon a deer with six points that weighed 175 pounds, and a doe estimated to weigh 100 pounds. Mr. Stone besides has al- ready this season secured one fox and seven coons.
Mrs. George French and child, also her sister, Miss Alice Tenney of Rindge, were recently in town at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace 0. Tenney and Mrs. Reed Tenney.
New Hampshire's taxable property has greatly increased, according to recent figures. The total valuation of taxable property is now $511,456,583. The defeat of the proposed amendments to the constitution shows that there will be about a score of new members in the New Hampshire House of 1921. Manchester will have nine additional members. But 11 towns are shown by the recent census to have fallen below the 600 population, which is the present unit of representation.
Friday afternoon the Historical society met in the town public library. The president, Herschel W. Lewis, opened the meeting; the secretary read the report of the last meeting which was accepted. Mrs. Abbie L. Phelps gave a report of the Hannah Davis meeting held in Jaffrey, N. H., and last September, which was attended by Mrs. George W, Sargent and Mrs. Abbie L. Phelps. They transported a large number of the Hannah Davis band boxes belonging to the N. I. Historical society and to private persons. Forty- six band boxes were exhibited in the display and many articles were read descriptive of the birth and early career of this expert. Her trade extended from Jaffrey to Cape Cod. The boxes ranged from small sizes capable of containing the lace caps of ladies to those of huge dimensions. The prices ranged from five cents to fifty cents, according to size. The lining of all consisted of newspapers, neatly pasted, containing the day's news as well as the dates. Externally some kind of wall paper was used, which gave in some cases a wonderfully finished de- sign. The printed name of Hannah Davis, Jaffrey, N. H., was pasted on the inside cover. Mrs. Anna J. McLaughlin, Mrs. Bertha A. Preston and Mrs. Frances L. Nash read articles pertaining to the career of this remarkable personality. A collection of these band boxes is displayed in the Metropolitan museum, New York City. Mrs. Abbie L. Phelps was instrumental in awakening local interest so that upwards of 30 band boxes were exhibited in the afternoon. A man's tall hat was shown bearing the stamp, King & Clark, This was manufactured in a former hat shop, which the N. I. history says stood on the street between the Barr homestead and the Major King house.
James Roger diary entries
23rd August 1912
Cloudy & muggy; wind southwest; thunder about 11 p.m. last night and thunder today. Also an uncommon windstorm about 1:30 blew down a birch tree at Hearse House and broke down a peach tree. Very heavy shower with it. David choring round and beating carpets at Newcombs’. I fixed Vestry and filled lamps for Men’s Social tonight.
In case you were like me and wondering what a bandbox was: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/bandbox
I think that there were 2 Caroline Barrs in that family. From the Fitchburg Sentinel 1931: Barr Hearing Is Continued (Special to The Sentinel) NEW IPSWICH, N. July 22 -The hearing scheduled for Monday on the motion of James C. Barr of this town to have his wife's petition for a legal separation dismissed on the ground that the New Hampshire courts were without jurisdiction, was continued until Friday. Mrs. Lalla G. Barr-, the complainant in the action, who is acting as her own attorney, could not attend because of illness. Atty. Roy Pickard of Keene, former county solicitor of Cheshire County, has been named master to hear the case. Atty Thomas j. Leonard of Manchester has been counsel for Mr Barr, the litigation involving the Barrs has been in the courts of this county for more than three years.
The Barrs were at one time prominent in Washington, New York and Boston social circles. Both now are living in town. Since Memorial day Mrs, BaiT has occupied the Appleton inn, which she rented of George S. and Charles Wheeler. Mr. Barr Is the owner and proprietor of WJIowbrook tavern and lives in the ancestral home, which has betn In the family in the vicinity of a hundred years. It was the home of Mr. Barr's grandfather, Dr. James Barr, and his aunt, Miss Caroline F. Barr, lived there until her death eight or nine years ago.