Woman's Rest (Part 1)

"Homestead Inn" for the World's Weary

April 22, 1900

News item about Homestead Inn which was located directly across the street from the current Historical Society (Intersection of Academy and Main Street). Continued tomorrow.

Boston Charity is Situated in New Ipswich, NH

Pay if You Can, Free if You Have No Money

Delights of Life at the Haven of Rest

Sweet Peace Far From Madding Crowd’s Ignoble Strife.

   About six years ago a certain Boston clergyman, who, through his parish duties, had had his attention called to the needs and suffering of the poorer class of city working women, conceived the idea of establishing for their benefit a summer home in the country where these shop girls and working women might find for a brief period rest, refreshment, healthy food and clean mountain air at a merely nominal-in some cases, perhaps, at no cost.

   This clergyman - Rev George Jarvis Prescott, rector of the church of the Good Shepherd, Boston-had his new desire so much at heart that he immediately set about forming plans for the accomplishment of his project. 

   The first difficulty was, as usual in such cases, the lack of funds, but Mr. Prescott never wavered in his efforts or in his belief in the practicability of such an institution. He finally managed to Interest some wealthy Boston ladies, who advanced a sufficient sum to start the experiment.

   Mr. Prescott's summer home is in the picturesque village of New Ipswich, in New Hampshire. Because of its salubrious climate and beautiful surroundings, as well as the fact that it was there that Mr. Prescott himself dwelt during the summer season, the quaint little colonial town seemed peculiarly fitted for the location of the "Homestead inn." 

   A long, rambling, wooden mansion, flanked on either side by ample grounds and sheltered by shade trees, was purchased at a very low figure, and a portion of the money subscribed was devoted to making what changes and additions were found to be necessary in a house of this kind. Some partitions were taken down entirely, leaving long rooms which were converted into dormitories by building rows of permanent wooden screens, reaching almost to the ceiling, along each side wall. 
   
The little compartments formed in ceiling, along each side wall. The little compartments formed in this manner were each only large enough to contain a single cot, a washstand and a chair. The occupants of the little rooms are enabled to enjoy every hill-born summer breeze, for the niched windows opposite each other down the long hall afford perfect ventilation. The rest of the money goes each season to supplying the table of the "inn" with simple but wholesome and nourishing food milk, eggs, vegetables and meat being furnished to the larder and table in abundant quantities. 

   If any worthy applicant be genuinely unable to pay she is gladly received into the little family of weary vacationists without money and without price. The only absolute requisite for the reception of any would-be boarder is good character.

Homestead Inn Illustrations

Illustrations for news item about Homestead Inn.

One Hundred Formulas -

George Carmichael donated a copy of Stephen A. Thayer’s “One Hundred Formulas” which was published in 1883. It contains recipes from everything from printing ink to pain killers. Today we will share the formula for fizzy lemonade

Effervescing Lemonade Without a Machine. - Nearly fill a soda- water bottle with ice-water. Put in gran. sugar, 1 oz.; oil lemon, 2 drops, (dropped on the sugar); bi-carbonate of potassium, 20 grains; citric acid, 30 to 40 grains. Cork at once and wire or tie the cork. When the ingredients are dissolved the bottle will be highly charged. This is a perfectly harmless drink, and the receipt will sell well for family use. The cost is very small.

This book sold for a dollar and was one of the many enterprises that Steven A, Thayer was involved with (He had a cigar factory too). He had some advice for preparing the recipes.

James Roger diary entry

October 17^th 1908 (Saturday)

Fair and warm, wind variable.  David on roads down town.  I fixed sods and watered Gordon lot. Raked leaves in the forenoon, and filled Hall lamps for the expected Finn dance tonight.  The Finn’s wife at Gilson Place died yesterday morning of pneumonia. Funeral at Smithville tomorrow.  Got letters from Alice & May from Berkley.