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New Ipswich History, 1735-1914. The Souhegan Country Club. In 1899 eight men bought the Jonas Woolson farm on "Sol Davis Hill and they lease it to the club. The house, built in 1743. Retains the vast fireplaces, the huge chimney, and the steep and narrow stairs, otherwise it has been modernized most tastefully. The owners are Edward O. Marshall, Ralph E. Parker, Frank W. Preston and John Preston of New Ipswich; Frédéric W. Ely and Herbert J. Taft of Greenville; Simpson C. Heald of Wilton and John W. Bemis if Temple.

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Thanks Carl for that history. I came across this recently:

The first permanent settlement of the town was made in 1738 by

ABIJAH FOSTER, who, with his wife and daughter, Mary, then one year

old, came from Old Ipswich. His son, Ebenezer, was the first white

male child born in the town. Both father and son were in the French

War, and died near Crown Point in 1759.

JONAS WOOLSON was one of the five earliest settlers, and is said to

have been here in 1739, and to have worked about three summers on his

land in company with BENJAMIN HOAR JR., returning to Littleton during

the winter. It is supposed that they both removed their families

here in 1742, soon after his marriage. He is mentioned as one of the

resident grantees under the Masonian charter. His name is often

noticed in the proprietors' and town records, under both of which he

was often appointed to important offices. His farm was located on the

east side of the river, on "Town Hill." It was occupied by him and

his descendants for seventy years. Mr. Woolson was at the taking of

Burgoyne [Revolutionary War], where he lost a valuable horse.

About the same time (1739) came BENJAMIN HOAR and MOSES TUCKER. Mr.

Hoar was from Littleton, Mass and came from Townsend by marked trees,

before any path had been cleared. He settled on the lot below Woolson,

near the river, near where the first bridge was built and still

continues. He was a blacksmith and also kept a public-house, and was

a very useful citizen. He was the third settler, and his wife the

second woman in town. CAPTAIN MOSES TUCKER settled on the west side of

the river, cornering on Mr. Hoar, and his house stood on the side of

the hill near the corner where the roads going to the river divide,

the farm long owned and occupied by Judge Champney.

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I cannot find any feature in the two Country Club photos to rule out the conclusion that they are of the same building. Which photo is older? Was the porch added or taken off?

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