My grandmother Eleanor F. Watson chronicled life in 1916 in her diary, as she and her husband Arthur interacted with the townspeople of Randolph participating in seasonal outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, tobogganing and hiking plus indoor activities such as cooking, sewing and quilt making.
In previous posts, I focused on the activities that she penned in her 1914 diary, with a focus on Gorham and Berlin, NH. I will now present a new entry to my blog in two posts: post one (or part one) – January through June, 1916 and post two (or part two) - July through December, 1916 to be completed at a later date.
In parts one and two of this story, everyone from Arthur’s family will be depicted, mostly from diary entries and accompanying period photographs from Eleanor’s photo album whenever they are available. (If you want to read about Eleanor herself, refer to my March 16, 2009 post.) I will include genealogical information mainly about my relatives who are mentioned in the diary entries, for there will be other people mentioned about whom I don’t have enough to go on to piece together who they were.
Many of the families mentioned below have made major contributions to the development and growth of this mountain community by farming the land, building fine summer and year-round houses, huts, and trails, and providing lodging and mountain guides for summer guests in the beloved hotels. There are many interesting stories that could be based on these individuals. Unfortunately, so as to contain the size of this entry, I will elaborate on the contributions of only some of them. For the others, I have focused on who they were rather than what they accomplished in my desire to give some context to their diary entries.
My grandfather, Arthur Laban Watson, was born in Randolph, NH on July 2, 1882 the son of Anna and Laban Watson, proprietors of the Ravine House [3] for over 30 years. Arthur had two sisters, Edith born in 1878 and Clara Josephine born in 1887 who went by the name Josephine. He also had a brother Ralph born in 1884 (in addition, there were two brothers Walter and Leon who died in their first year of life). My grandmother photographed many of Arthur’s activities in Randolph beginning in 1911. Thus, he can be seen in the slideshows below called “Randolph, NH 1911-1913” and “Tramping in the White Mountains” participating in haying, maple sugaring, hunting, camping and hiking along with a stint working for the U.S.F.S. He attended Gould Academy in Bethel, ME and later became a stationary engineer (someone who works on boilers, steam turbines, air compressors/pumps or refrigeration machinery).
At 31, he married my grandmother Miss Eleanor Foss, a teacher from Portland, ME, who taught school in the single-room schoolhouse in Randolph, NH during 1911-1912. The schoolhouse and her students can be seen in the slideshow “Randolph, NH 1911 – 1913.” They married on Sept. 27, 1913 and set up house in an apartment on Third Ave in Berlin, NH. His first job after marriage was working at the YMCA in Berlin, NH. They later purchased a house at 169 Church Street in Berlin, NH, where they remained until their move to Fall River, MA. In 1936, he and Eleanor moved to North Dartmouth, MA, where he worked until retirement at Braley’s Creamery in North Dartmouth, MA. He and Eleanor had three children: Frances, born in 1917, who lived to be 5 and a half, my father Morrill b.1924 d.1969 and his brother Raymond born in 1928. My grandfather died in New Bedford, Mass in 1962 and was buried along with my grandmother and father in the Randolph, NH Cemetery.
Three generations of the Watson Family
{click on image above for larger view}
I found this photo, printed on a Shorey Studio postcard in my grandmother’s collection of Watson memorabilia. She wrote on the back of the postcard that the car was a Maxwell. And, I’d have to say that the car dates to 1909, based on the details seen in an ad of the period which, interestingly enough, promotes the car for “touring through the mountains.”
For additional information on Maxwell cars click here.
In the photo above:
Arthur Watson is seen behind the wheel with Laban Watson to his left. Ralph Watson is directly behind Laban with Edith Watson [Boothman] to his right and Josephine Watson [Chandler] is sitting next to Edith. Anna Watson [Burbank], Laban's wife, is sitting in the back in full view next to her mother Cordelia [Wight] [Burbank] Watson.
Some background on Cordelia [Wight] [Burbank] Watson:
Cordelia is probably about 83 or 84 in the photo above, since I believe this picture was taken circa 1910.
In 1860, Cordelia, then 32, was living in Shelburne, NH with her first husband Lemuel B. Burbank (a farmer also from Maine) and their two children Anna and Charles. In 1870, we find Cordelia married to a well known farmer living in Randolph, NH, Abel Watson, who played a key role in the early beginnings of the Ravine House. At this time, Abel and Cordelia were living at their farm on Durand Road with the two children they bore together, William and Hannah, along with Cordelia’s daughter from her first marriage, Anna Burbank, and Abel Watson’s two sons Laban and Jerome from his first marriage to Susan Holmes. I think it is safe to say that this is how Laban and Anna came to know each other and later marry and have their own children. Cordelia died in Randolph, NH on June 12, 1912 and lived to be 85 years and 9 months.
Cordelia in the Ravine House with her 1800s Spinning Wheel. Photo circa 1900.
For an example of a similar spinning wheel, click here.
An aside:
I asked my grandmother if she knew what happened to this spinning wheel in the picture and she said that it was handed down to Arthur, and he later sold it to an Antique Dealer. I believe the framed painting seen in this picture on the wall was a watercolor done by one of the regular summer guests, William H. Peek, which shows a house in the foreground with Mts. Madison and Adams looming behind.
I will now pick up with Eleanor and Arthur Watson who have been married a little over two years and are still living on Third Ave, in Berlin, N.H.
On Saturday, January 1 Eleanor writes:
Murle and Cecil spending “Honeymoon” with us. Holiday for Arthur so not up till around 10:00. Had breakfast and dinner at 11:00. Dressed for snowshoeing and over to Randolph on noon train. Walked up track from station and all but me went to falls. [This would have been Coldbrook Falls in Randolph] Home on 6:30 and had beans.
[Murle and Cecil Hodgdon were married in Biddeford, ME and left by train for Portland to visit relatives before heading on to Berlin, NH. to stay with Arthur and Eleanor. Murle Stackpole was Eleanor’s father’s sister’s daughter.]
Randolph Station, on the Whitefield & Jefferson Branch of the Boston & Maine R.R., was 1 1/4 miles from the Ravine House in Randolph, NH. [2]
On Sunday, January 2 Eleanor writes:
Not up till 9:00. Murle and Cecil got ready to go home after a weeks visit with us. Had dinner with us at 2:30. Storming so bad they had a carriage and off on 3:20. After doing the dishes read papers and developed a film in eve. Not very successful.
On Sunday, January 9 Eleanor writes:
Lovely sunny day. Arthur set up new tank. Others went to S.S.[Sunday School] at Mabel Lowes [daughter of Thaddeus and Fanny Lowe of Randolph, NH. - age 19 in 1916] Started home about 5:00. Stopped at Osgoods for car. Home at 7:30 and fires kept quite well. Fixed bread.
On Wednesday, January 12 Eleanor writes:
I mended and finished the ironing. After dinner went up to see Mrs. Wight. Her son Walter, home from Hospital.[Mrs. Ada Wight was from Oxford, Maine. She moved from Maine in the early 1900s and was living in Berlin, NH in 1910 with her son Leslie and her daughter Mary. She also had an older son Walter, who was living in Oxford, Maine at the time. The Wights can be seen in a slide show below] Mrs. Harry Noyes came while I was there. Down to P.O. on my way home. Stopped and talked to Mrs. Johnson. In eve Arthur and I made cream candy and it wouldn’t harden. Beat it more and set it to cool. Took baths and candy wasn’t hard.
{click on image above for larger view}
Note: Eleanor was given this Fannie Farmer Cookbook for a Christmas present in 1914. She always wrote comments in her cookbook on whether or not a recipe was good or bad. Apparently this recipe, although marked “good,” had some shortcomings.
On Thursday, January 13 Eleanor writes:
Arthur up and got his breakfast. I got up about 7:45. Washed kit. floor. Arthur’s father [Laban] here to dinner and brought us vegetables and potatoes. Over to Mrs. Cooks in P.M. to sew. Had hot chocolate. Home at 5:00. In eve Arthur went to see Dr. Pulsifer and found out he was pretty well. I mended.
On Monday, January 17 Eleanor writes:
Arthur off on early train [to Randolph] and I washed. Thru at 10:30, then darned a pair of hose and packed for Randolph. Blustery and cold. At noon Mrs. Riva came over with telephone message from Mrs. Cook saying she would not go to club. So I decided it was so bad to go on 3:15 to Randolph. Took rubber plant over to Riva’s. Wind blew fierce in Randolph. Read till Mr. Watson [Laban] came. Dave stayed at Lodge all night. Popped corn in eve. Cold
Note: Whenever Eleanor and Arthur stayed in Randolph, they always stayed at his parent’s home on Durand Road, which was called Coldbrook Lodge. Eleanor took this winter photo of Coldbrook Lodge in 1912 -1913.
The aerial photo below of Coldbrook Lodge was taken by Winston Pote in early May c. 1945.
On Wednesday, January 19 Eleanor writes:
Didn’t sleep well so not up very early. Didn’t do much. Wrote to Frances. [older sister living in Portland, ME]. After dinner Mr. Watson took us 3 over to Florence Whites to the Ladies Sewing Circle and we worked on baby clothes. About 15 there. Home at 5:00 and found Arthur home. Bed early again. Arthur’s walk tires him some.
On Thursday, January 20 Eleanor writes:
Up at 7:30. Swept up and started my luncheon napkins. Had an early dinner to go to Gorham. Four of us in big sleigh. Helped Edith [Arthur’s sister] pick out hat and home on electrics. Found fires ready to start. Snowed on way home. I worked on my napkins when warm and looked at Ladies Home Journal. Arthur came about 7:00 and we had tomato soup.
Here is a 1912-1913 picture of Arthur in a sleigh outside of Coldbrook Lodge.
On Friday, January 28 Eleanor writes:
Cleaned up whole house. Sewed some and through work early. Dressed changed at 2:00. Over to Mrs. Riva’s and sewed. In eve Arthur and I went to see Leslie [Wight] who has had grippe. Mrs. Wight not feeling real good. Growing colder tonight and icy.
On Tuesday, February 1 Eleanor writes:
Up at 5:30. Had plenty of time for train. Nice trip down. [ Eleanor would visit her family several times a year in Portland, ME. On this trip she was accompanied by Arthur’s sister Edith Boothman of Randolph, NH.] Went to the store and out home for dinner. In town and Edith and I bought suits. Home for supper and I went to club in to Louise’s. Fine time. [ Eleanor and her sister Frances leave Portland on Feb 12, and Frances returns with Eleanor staying at her home in Berlin until Feb 21.]
On Saturday, February 19 Eleanor writes:
Snow in A.M. I made a cake and cookies, ironed some and got ready to go to Randolph on 12:05. Left Arthur’s dinner all ready. Met Harold at Station. Mr. Watson met us in Randolph and the wind blew some. Fierce cold.Telephoned for Arthur to come over on 3:15. He drove 4 horse team for his dad to Station for Appalachian Mountain Club. Had two tables of Fantan [card game] in eve.
The Ravine House colts pulling the wagon in the 1913 photo below would have been typical for the period, but Arthur probably used a larger wagon for transporting AMC members.
On Sunday, February 20 Eleanor writes:
Last ones up and pretty cold. Nelson Smith and friend at Lodge [Coldbrook]. Edith, John, Marion, Francis W. Earl, Frances F. Arthur and I walked up to Jacksons only 4 degrees above. Arrived here at 5:00 made quick connection at crossing. Had Welsh Rabbit made in grill.
Eleanor took the picture below of 6 of the 7 people she mentions in the outing. Arthur is in the forefront holding Eleanor’s camera case. Behind him left to right are Frances (Eleanor’s sister), Edith Boothman (Arthur’s sister), John Boothman (Edith’s husband), Marion Boothman (daughter), and Francis Wood.
Edith Boothman (daughter of Laban and Anna Watson) was born in Randolph on February 18, 1878 and died April 19, 1957. Edith married John Boothman (a skilled craftsman, architect and builder) they had three children Marion, Harold and John.
In 1910, Edith and John are living at Coldbrook Lodge with their two children Marion, and Harold, Edith's two brothers, Arthur and Ralph ( both brothers soon to be married ) and Anna and Laban Watson along with Anna's mother Cordelia. In 1920, Edith and John are still living at Coldbrook with their three children (John was born in 1917) and Laban and Anna Watson. In 1923, Mr. and Mrs. John Boothman purchased the Mt. Crescent House property and Edith ran the hotel successfully until his death in 1952.[1] Her son John, (known as Jack) and his wife, Gwen Shorey Boothman, carried on the management for the next 20 years.[2]
The Mount Crescent House was built for summer boarders by Ingalls Leighton in 1883 and opened for business the following summer under the name Randolph Hill House (which was changed to the Mount Crescent House in1894). [1] The hotel was torn down in 1971 [2], yet still conjures up many fond remembrances in former guests and staff alike.
These photos of the Mt. Crescent House were taken by Eleanor in 1917.
Eleanor mentions in her Feb. 20th diary entry above that the group walked up to Jackson’s. I believe that the “Jackson” she is referring to is Ernest Jackson.
In 1915, Mr. Ernest Jackson, of Brookyln, bought a farm on Randolph Hill formally known as the Abel Jackson place. The following season, Mr. Jackson converted the farm into a country estate, building a fine house and a beautiful temple-like music room (not seen in photo). The estate was known as “Highacres.” [1]
High Acres also accommodated up to 20 summer guests and was in operation from 1929 to 1957. [2]
Eleanor took the 1916 -1917 photo below, which she labeled “High Acres.”
On Monday, February 21 Eleanor writes:
24 degrees below. Frances up to go off on 8:01 train. I went to station with her. Cold walking home. Ironed and cleaned up. Went to Woman’s Club, met Bessie B. at City Hall. Down town later. Hot soup for supper.
On Saturday, March 11 Eleanor writes:
Made 2 kinds of cookies, blueberry pie, and chocolate cake, and brown bread, also beans. Went to movies that Woman’s Club gave for the children at Gem. Mollie Wight [nickname for Mary? Wight mentioned above] and her friend, Miss Ells, down when we were eating supper and wants us to go to camp tomorrow as chaperones. Baths.
On Sunday, March 12 Eleanor writes:
Up at 8:00 got ready to go to camp. 5 of us rode up on car, while Leslie and Arthur hauled toboggan and snowshoes. Perfect day and Mts. grand. Up to camp about 11:00. Boys made fire then we had some tobogganing. Johnson up soon after. Had oyster stew about 1:00. Then had more sliding. Miss Ell’s sister and Mr. Read came up later. Started home about 6:00. Some tired when we reached home.
