Post Office History

1916 News Clippinh

1916 Article

New Ipswich Postoffice History. 

   This office was established in the autumn of 1800, and therefore has a record of over 115 years. The postmasters and the date of appointment were Samuel Batchelder, Jan. 1. 1801; Benjamin Champney, Feb. 2, 1802; Sampson Fletcher, July 8. 1822: Josiah W. Spaulding, Mar. 23, 1839; Charles Hastings, Jr., Mar. 10, 1843; Charles Chickering, July 31, 1845; Edward M. Isaacs, April 23, 1849; John Peabody, Feb. 3, 1855; John U. Davis, July 23, 1855; John G. Leonard, Oct. 24, 1857; Charles A. Whitney, May 31, 1861: Henry O. Preston, June 13, 1878; Charles S. Brown, Aug. 24, 1885: Joseph E. F. Marsh, Jr., Feb. 10, 1890; Bessie M. Tarbell, July 22, 1893: Bessie M. T. Thompson, June 29, 1896: Bessie M. Cushing, Sept 27, 1909. 

   Samuel Batchelder opened the office In his store, then located in Davis Village. Benjamin Champney established the office in his law office, then located near the Dr. Barr residence. Later it was moved to the Old Corner store. In 1822 Sampson Fletcher removed the office to Fletcher block. Charles Hastings, Jr., opened the office in Dr. Preston's drug store, Charles Chickering kept the office in the old hotel block. Edward M. Isaacs established the office in the old Corner store. John G. Leonard officiated in the Nichols house Charles A. Whitney restored the office to the old Corner store in 1861, where it has continued to remain. 

   For many years the postal facilities have been exceptionally fine for a town of this size, with three outgoing mails each day to Boston and elsewhere and three incoming mails. In 1801 history states that one letter was received. In 1913, the aggregate of letters mailed from this office was about 30,000, and a larger number were received. 

   In 1884, Bank Village postoffice was opened. Charles L. Tarbell was ap- pointed first postmaster and Mrs. Ida M. Frye in 1895, who held the office until it was abolished. In 1892 Smithville postoffice was established. The following postmasters continued to serve until this office was discontinued: Lyman M. Chandler, 1892-1895; Carrie E. Chandler, May, 1895; Herbert W. Chandler, December, 1895.

Mail Delivery

Post office on Main Street (currently the parking lot for the library)

James Roger diary entry

Sunday 13^th 1908 (Sunday)

Fair and muggier getting cool in evening wind SW to S.  Mr. Peacock preached on “Love one another”.  Meeting after to appoint a committee for Children’s Fair.  Mr. Wheeler, Whittemore & Peacock, Mrs. Wheeler, Buckman, Miss Taylor.  No S.S.  C.E. 730 Topic “Church Attendance”  Leader Mr. Corbett.  David and Lonie at Whittemore camp at Hubbard Pond

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September 14, 2024 - 13:30

New Ipswich Historical Society cordially invites the public to its Annual Meeting and Program.

FINNS:  An Oral History of Finnish-Americans
in New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region

Presented by Patricia Kangas Ktistes

New Ipswich Museum of History (72 Academy Road) - formerly Appleton Academy

   Our 30-minute business meeting will be followed by this year’s featured speaker, Patricia Kangas Ktistes, who will describe her experience of interviewing Finnish-Americans in New Ipswich and surrounding communities for the purpose of preserving their stories for future generations. 

   In addition to sharing interesting anecdotes and audio clips that she collected for her Master’s thesis in the 1990s, Patricia will provide participants with her recommendations and useful tips for collecting family histories before elders pass and their knowledge and experiences are lost to time.

   Patricia Kangas Ktistes was born in New Ipswich in 1952, and attended town schools through ninth grade. In 1967, she moved out of state with her family. In 1987, she earned a B.S. from Colby-Sawyer College and received her MALS degree at Dartmouth College in 1997. Her master’s thesis is entitled FINNS: An Oral History of Finnish-Americans in New Hampshire's Monadnock Region. Patricia has two daughters and five grandchildren; she and her husband John Ktistes reside in Rockport, MA

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