THE MAD [FINN] SCIENTIST OF NEW IPSWICH
New Ipswich Historical Society
Urho Walter Paajanen
THE MAD [FINN] SCIENTIST OF NEW IPSWICH
by Linda J. D. Montague
Readers, do you remember Walter Paajanen? What a unique character he was.
During Sunday worship services at Our Redeemer Chapel, Lutheran, he was reverent and quiet, as one should be. But out in the wilds of New Ipswich, what a mischievous imp he was! Just keep pouring him coffee and feeding him nisu, and he would stay for hours and socialize, either in Finnish or English.
Up where we lived—in “Finn District”—our usual school bus driver was Martin E. Somero. He was so steady and calm even though some of us kids could be devils. Once in a while, when Martin was unavailable, Walter—who everyone knew had a need for speed—would be summoned to man the bus. Rumored to be the builder of a race car, Walter was called “hot-rodder” by the boys on board.
You may recall that Oliver Niemi said that back in the day, old Duke Johnson once was sitting by the window in his store. Walter arrived and then somebody else came along and these two started talking automobiles. Then Walter said, “Come take a drive in mine.” So Duke looked out the window to see these two old bucks going off, tires squealing.
Oiva Anderson, our neighbor when I was growing up, recalled that Walter was a genius who could fix anything. Now, did he ever come over to your house and repair your television? Oiva said he was a wizard at tinkering with most anything: electrical, electronic, plumbing, mechanical.
My husband J.J. had worked as a mechanic and maintained a comprehensive parts inventory. At some point, Walter—when he was well up in years—drove over 100 miles from New Ipswich to our house in Bradford, Vt., to buy some parts.
We certainly miss our old timers, and I am becoming one, too.
Posted by Patti Kankaanpaa - 10/09/2023
James Roger diary entries
11th October 1912
Rainy day wind NE to E. A dripping kind of day. David working about Spofford’s and took Nora to depot in forenoon also fertilizing the Burberry hedge at Spofford’s in afternoon. I filled lamps and swept hall for dance tonight. The Grange closed at 12:15 am. The ashes of Ed Fox were brought here today and interred on cemetery. Two other graves dug today, one for Mrs. Russel and one for a brother in law of Albert Walker from Lowell. Dave and I bought rubber boots today
On This Day - October 11th 2015
Repaired bridge was completed ahead of schedule. After the barriers were removed it was open for business!
What’s a Burberry hedge?
Walter was a genius and a friend of my father. He repaired our radios and TV's. When gasoline was 24 cents a gallon and home heating oil was 14 cents a gallon, he modified his car so it could run on heating oil. When my father was installing a walk-in freezer in his store it was Walter that installed it. I enjoyed listening to any conversation between him and my father. He had an infectious laugh and a great sense of humor.