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Chichester NH News

December 22, 2010

The Suncook Valley Sun News Archive is Maintained by Modern Concepts. We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.



 

Beehole Beavers Snowmobile Club

When it comes to winter in New England, there are two kinds of people: Those who hibernate (or migrate south!) and those who get out and play. In this neck of the woods, we’ve got a healthy share of the latter variety. Not only that, these hearty folks are so enthusiastic about their winter fun, they’re willing to work hard for it. Case in point: the local snowmobile club, the Beehole Beavers. In just a year’s time, the club has grown substantially and completed several projects on the trails that run through Loudon and Chichester. 


A year or two ago, the club was faltering. Attendance at monthly meetings averaged maybe two or three people. The trails were in pretty bad shape, and membership had plummeted. Then it snowed, and snowed and snowed and snowed. The nearly record-breaking snowfall of 2008/2009 brought renewed interest in sprucing up the local trails, and some dedicated volunteers came forward to do the work. They removed big rocks from the trails, trimmed brush and cleaned up lots of trash, including heavy furniture and tires people had dropped in the woods. 


In the past year, membership has climbed from 14 members to 41, and the club anticipates further growth this winter. Members are working together to maintain and improve the trails: A couple of weeks ago, six men showed up on a work day to tend to the trails. 


The Beehole Beavers are also working hard to teach riders respect for the trails and to build good relationships with land owners. We are grateful for the opportunity to get out in the snow, enjoy our families on our sleds and to see the beauty of the woods and the nature around us. We also appreciate the boost snowmobiling gives to the local economy and welcome visitors who will treat our hard work with respect. 


Want to check out our work for yourself? Then get out in the woods. You might be surprised to learn that with a good snowfall (keep your fingers crossed), you don’t need to travel way up north to enjoy some good riding. We also welcome new members who know that winter is no time for hibernation!


The Beehole Beavers meet the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. from the months of September to April. Meetings are held at the Larry Ricker residence, 8A Devyn Drive, off of King Road in Chichester. For more information, visit beeholebeavers.org or call President Jack Earle at 798-3537.

 


 

Out of Your Attic Thrift Shop News
Submitted by Carol Hendee


Santa’s Workshop, manned by elves from Laconia and neighboring towns, completed putting together an extraordinary number of Christmas gift bags.  They were then delivered to several towns, including Chichester, Barnstead and Pittsfield.


The bags contained toys, clothing, toiletries, etc. for children of all ages.  They were wonderful and gratefully received.  Your donations helped make all this possible, with new books, toys, etc.  Please remember our huge 1/2 off thank-you sale day will be Thursday, December 23rd.  Everything in the entire store is 1/2 off.  There will not be a regular month end sale on the 30th of this month as we thought more would benefit from having the sale earlier.


Also, thank you for the canned goods donations that have been coming in.  They are going towards filling Christmas baskets and many people will use and appreciate your gifts.  Please stop by at 345 Suncook Valley Hwy, Chichester, Tues. & Thurs. 8-4, Wed. 11-4 & Sat. 10-4.  We will be closed Sat. Jan. 1, 2011 for resting purposes.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 


 

The Cub Scouts of Pack 85 in Chichester enjoyed spreading some holiday cheer on Tuesday, December 14th at the Epsom Manor Retirement Home. Residents smiled and clapped as the cubs shared holiday carols and hand-made cards. The joy of the Christmas season was felt by all!

 


 

Chichester Historical Society
Tramps, Hobos and Gypsies
Submitted By Walter Sanborn

I’ve completed two articles on the poor farm and paupers, which the town was required to support. The town was also required to support transients stopping at a town for lodging or meals while passing through that town.  These people were known as tramps if on foot and if traveling by train, were called hobos.


In going back through old town reports as far as 1905, there are recorded expenses to certain residents who received pay for lodging and feeding these tramps.  Usually the sum was 25 cents for providing a meal for each tramp.  In 1906, the records show an expense of $17.00 for 68 tramps, in 1908, $13.00 for 52 tramps and in 1909, $16.00 for 64 tramps.


Although several people were paid for providing meals for the tramps, not everyone wanted to provide lodging for a stranger.  This led to the town building a tramp house for the tramp to stay in overnight.  The first account of a tramp house I found was that in 1912.  Emma Sanborn was paid $2.00 for moving the tramps house.  I do not know where this was located, whether it was moved to another location or moved so it could be rebuilt, or moved to make way for a new one to be built.


However, in 1914 the town spent $161.19 on lumber, shingles and brick on the tramp house.  Whether this material was used to repair the old one or a new one was built is unknown.


They say today in business build it and they will come.  Well, come they did. In 1915, the town had 291 tramps and in 1916 the town had 349 tramps.  By 1918, there were only about 80 tramps, possibly dropping off due to World War One.  There were a few in 1920 but with the advancement of the automobile the era of the tramps passed away to the hitch hiker method of getting from one town or city to another.


The Chichester tramp house was located behind the town hall next to the Pound Road and existed well into the 1930s when it was removed.  The accompanying picture shows what the tramp house looked like.


There is one other wandering group of people I want to include with the tramps and hobos, which are the Gypsies.  The Gypsies are a nomadic tribe of people who immigrated from Europe to America and traveled throughout New England during the 1930s.  They traveled in groups of 10 or 15 in several automobiles and made their living by stealing, although they would never harm anyone.  The came through Chichester occasionally.


I remember when I was a small boy my father and mother and I were all downstairs in my father’s store one summer.  My mother looked out the window and said Leon the Gypsies are out here.  They had parked their cars near the road and several were walking towards the store.  My father was behind the counter and he tried to get to the door to lock it before they got inside.  He said we are just closing, but they said they wanted to buy something and several came into the store.  They soon left, and I don’t remember if they stole anything or not but I can still remember the Gypsies.


After they left, my father would call Kelly’s store and warn him that the Gypsies were coming. I wonder if any of you older readers remember the Gypsies?


This is my reminiscence of tramps, hobos and Gypsies.

 


 


 

 











 
 

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