Rustic Bridge
New Ipswich Historical Society
Could this be the bridge at Bank Village, on Old Country Road? If so where is the pond?
On this day - February 27, 1898
William Jurian Kaula diary
27 FEB 1898
Mr. and Mrs. Lufkin left Paris for London today. I went to the Luxumburg galleries to look at the pictures but the crowd was so dense that I soon left and made my way toward the huge dome of The Pantheon which looms up so high over the Gardens. I have been to the Pantheon several times but have made no mention of the great mural decorations which cover the walls inside. The building occupies the sight of the tomb of St. Geneviéve, the patron saint of Paris. It was once a church and has now been turned into a memorial temple "Aux grands hommes la patrie reconnaissante." * The interior is bare and imposing in architecture. There are many statues of eminent men and in the vaults below are the tombs of many great men. But the Pantheon is remarkable for the great mural decorations of paintings which cover nearly all the side walls. They are works of national and historical character and the artists represented are among the greatest of today in France though several of them have recently died. The best works are by Puvis de Chavannes the greatest mural painter living. They illustrate the life of St. Geneviéve and are very beautiful in color, harmonizing perfectly with the cold stone of the interior of the church. Others are by J.P. Laurens, the Death of St. Geneviéve, H. Levy painted the Coronation of Charlemagne, Bonnat painted the Mytardom [Martyrdom] of St. Dennis, Galland painted the Preaching of St. Dennis, Lenepveu painted the Joan of Arc series, Blanc painted the Battle of Tolbiac, Deulaunay painted the St. Geneviéve interceding Atilla, Maillot painted St. Geneviéve in Procession with her relics. There are some upper decorations by various men and one other large one by Cabanel. It is the finest collection of decorative paintings that I ever saw.
* "To the great men, the grateful homeland."
On this day - February 27, 1909
James Roger diary entry
27th (Thursday)
Misty with small rain and trees dripping wind N.E. to N. David getting home wood. I fixed Hall for Grange tonight.
I think Rick Blanchette and Bill Niemi are mentioning the same bridge located on River Road. It looks to me like what I remember back in the 50's and 60's. As Bill said, if someone took a picture today, the stonework may still be original and may indicate such. Thank you also Bill for the historical background of your family. I knew from living nearby you in the 50', 60's that your dad was a very cleaver person regarding tools and building. I also recognize the name Ken Warren. He was had to be a very busy fellow covering all of Hillsborough County I believe. Extremely helpful. Congratulations also Bill for the award and your dedication for the preservation of Rensselaer County. I had lived in Rensselaer County for 25 years. No wonder it was such a beautiful county. Thank you.
In the 1950s one day the pond disappeared. The mill in Highbridge opened the dam in Bank Village. I wrote a letter to NH's Fish & Game Dept because fish were dying. They sent Ken Warren to investigate. Officer Warren checked on the legal status and said the mill had the water rights and could bring the Souhegan River back down to its previous level. Rick is right. The stone work is a 'fingerprint' that should reveal the answer. However I don't remember seeing that many stones and trees there. There is another bridge on the other side of Waterloom on River Rd. If I lived there I'd go over and take some pics of the stonework. There's also a bridge on Ashby Rd.