Wheeler Tavern

When it was bad, it was horrid

From The New Ipswich Papers 1936

From a collection of Papers Written for the Historical Society of New Ipswich, New Hampshire and Read at Society Meetings - Compiled and Edited by Mrs. Abbie L. Phelps

Wheeler Tavern

WHEELER TAVERN was built about 1803 by Seth Wheeler. That he was a valuable and useful citizen is proven by the fact that for thirteen years he was one of the Selectmen of the town. He was a surveyor and contractor, aided in building the Church, and helped lay out and build the Turnpike. He had been a soldier in the Revolution, holding a commission as Lieutenant and later as Captain. It is safe to assume that in his day the Tavern was a respectable and high class house. He died in 1820 and in 1819 his son Silas was in charge for a few years and then his brother Stephen took possession. From Stephen it passed to his son Stephen D., but for a short time about 1833 one Abel Walker was proprietor there. Stephen D. died when only 37 years old and was succeeded by his brother George W. 2nd, so called, who sold it to Benjamin Sawyer, father of the late Charles Sawyer of Greenville. Mr. Sawyer was there about eight or nine years and sold out to Ford Reed. Mr. Reed was there ten or twelve years, and its last proprietor was Robert Wright who is known to have been there in 1900. The place was burned in April 1912 and a small house has been built on the spot where it stood. 

   From what we know and what we have been told thu old house must have been much like the little girl in the poem- 

     "When it was good it was very good 
        indeed But when it was bad it was 
        horrid." 

   The following story of its early days was told by the children of Hervey and Sally Batcheller. 

   It was back in the days of the Whig party and its adherents in towns were accustomed to meet there for a- to clothe it with charity-social evening. Seldom, if ever, did they come home strictly sober. Hervey Batcheller was always one to attend these meetings and his continued falls from grace had been a sore trial to his unusually clear headed and thrifty wife and they had sharp words over it. On this particular occasion they had been celebrating some victory and as he approached home Mr. Batcheller realized that he was in a little worse condition than usual. Summoning all his nerve he entered the house and succeeded in getting into bed without awakening his sharp tongued wife. Very, very carefully he laid himself down on the edge of the bed with his back turned to his other, and no doubt better, half. Just as he was congratulating himself on his good luck she burst out "It's no use for you to turn your back to me, Harvey Batcheller, you're drunk clear through." 

    Another story is told by a resident of Peterboro who well knew all concerned in the case. Two brothers, from Peterboro, were in the habit of going to Wheeler's Tavern, getting half drunk and ending up in a free-for-all fight. They were big husky fellows and when in liquor could thrash all the loafers who were on hand at the time, and so it was decided to lay a trap for them the next time they came down. In some way it was found out that they were coming, and all the toughs around had been collected for the fray. They decided to separate them and by that means get the better of the one left. Accordingly they got them both very tipsy and one was persuaded to start for home; at that the rest fell upon the remaining one, and he, seeing the plight he was in ran to the door and shouted to his departing brother "Warren, come back, there's going to be something doing," but the brother failing to return he got the beating he no doubt deserved. 

   The late E. O. Marshall and J. O. Reed have both told how in the days of lighting the factories with kerosene lamps, that when the days got long enough to dispense with artificial light a big dance was held at the Wheeler Tavern in honor of the occasion and it was called the Blow Out dance. They both agreed it was a wild and noisy party, often lasting until three o'clock in the morning.

Wheeler Tavern

Medicine

Thank you Dennis Gauvin for your donation for the New Ipswich Historical Society. This will keep us healthy throughout the new year.

WARNING: Please don’t try any of these “remedies”, many contain ingredients which have been shown to be harmful. Many of these contain various compounds of mercury.

James Roger diary entry

December 11, 1908 (Friday)

Frost then dull and cloudy.  Wind S.E. snow began about 10 am, and full steady all day.  David at Greenville with Lonie Willard painting.  I chored round hen houses in forenoon.  Corbett’s team broke down today.  He got our one horse team to bring some wood home.

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