Vol. III. SUPPLEMENT. January-March, 1902. No. 1. An Illustrated Magazine, published by the Manchester Historic Association, containing the papers read at the meetings, with the proceedings of the Association, and miscellaneous article and items of general interest. Terms, in advance, $1.00. Single copy, 25 cents. Address HISTORIC QUARTERLY, G. WALDO BROWNE, Editor, Manchester, N. H. MANCHESTER HISTORIC ASSOCIATION. A preliminary meeting, called for the purpose of forming a historical society devoted to collecting, preserving and publishing whatever matter relating to the early and later history of this vicinity that might be obtained, was held at the Board of Trade Rooms, Kennard Building, on the evening of December 4, 1895. There were present at this meeting, John C. French, Josiah Carpenter, John Dowst, John G. Crawford, Edgar J. Knowlton, George C. Gilmore, Edwin P. Richardson, George W. Browne, Sylvester C. Gould, Edward J. Burnham, Henry W. Herrick, Herbert W. Eastman, David L. Perkins, Joseph Kid der, George F. Willey, and John G. Hutchinson. Meeting was opened with remarks by Mr. Willey, followed by all present, who unanimously declared that they were in favor of such an organization. Mr. French was chosen chairman, and Mr. Dowst secretary. Upon motion it was voted that a committee of five be appointed by the chairman to draft a constitucion and report at a subsequent meeting. This commit tee consisted of Messrs. Browne, Gilmore, Gould, Crawford, and Dowst. At an adjourned meeting, held December 18, 1895, chairman French presiding, Articles of Association, and a Constitution were submitted by the committee, and accepted. A committee consisting of Dowst Crawford, Browne, Gould, and Gilmore, appointed by chairman French to nominate a board of officers for the ensuing year, retired to the committee room, and subsequently returned and reported the names of the board, and the same were unanimously elected as follows: President, John C. French; Vice-Pres. Henry W. Herrick and Joseph Kidder; Treasurer, John Dowst; Recording Secretary, Herbert W. Eastman; Corresponding Secretary, George W. Browne; Librarian, Sam C. Kennard; Historiographer, George C. Gilmore; Executive Committee, John C. French (exofficio), Herbert W. Eastman (ex officio), John G. Crawford, Edwin P. Richardson, Josiah Carpenter, David L. Perkins, and David Cross; Publication Committee, George F. Willey, Edgar J. Knowlton, Sylvester C. Gould, William H. Morrison, and Francis B. Eaton. As the first-named of publication committee did not become a member of the association, George W. Browne at a subsequent meeting was elected to that place. The Constitution provided that the name of the organization should be THE MANCHESTER HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, and that quarterly meetings should be held through the year on the third Wednesdays of March, June, September and December, the last constituting the annual meeting, at which time a board of officers should be elected for the ensuing year. The place of holding the meeting was left to the choice of the President. An adjourned meeting was held on January 1, 1896, to receive the Articles of Association, with such signatures as may have been secured during the interval. At this meeting it was voted to date the organization of the association from this day. The following persons signed the Articles of Incorporation and thus became the incorporators of the association : ORIGINAL MEMBERS. 1 Moody Currier, Edwin P. Richardson, David L. Perkins, The first quarterly meeting according to the provision of the constitution, was held on the evening of March 19, 1896, in the Board of Trade Rooms, at which time David L. Perkins read the first paper before the Historic Association, which was entitled "Reminiscences of Manchester, 1841-1896." From March 19, 1896, to the annual meeting, held December 18, 1901, all the meetings were held in the Board of Trade Rooms through the courtesy of that organization, and at nearly every meeting a paper was read or an address given. The elections of officers have always been harmonious, and credit is due tothem for the great interest they have always taken in the association. On January 10, 1898, the association met the great loss by death of its Recording Secretary, Herbert W. Eastman, who had ever been a willing and faithful officer and worker. On January 8, 1900, almost two years later, the death of the President, John C. French occurred, which removed one of the originators and most active promoters of the association. The other members, who have been removed by death, and nearly of whom have been earnest workers, were as follows: Andrew Bunton, June 18, 1897; David L. Perkins, March 2 1898; Moody Currier, August 23, 1898; Charles H. Bartlett, January 25, 1900; William E. Moore, October 22, 1900; Fred G. Hartshorn, February 26, 1901; Allen N. Clapp, May 18, 1 Three others signed the articles but never became members. 1901; John M. Chandler, December 5, 1901; William E. Truesdale, January 8, 1902; Luther S. Proctor, March 1, 1902; William P. Merrill, March 5, 1902; Joseph R. Weston, March 28, 1902. On March 16, 1902, Bayard C. Ryder was elected to the office of recording secretary to fill the vacancy caused by the decease of Herbert W. Eastman, which position he held until March 19, 1902, when his resignation was tendered and accepted, he having accepted a clerkship in Washington, D. C. Henry W. Herrick, first vice president, served as president the remainder of the official year made vacant by the decease of John C. French, and on December 19, 1900, was elected president, and is now serving his second year in that office. On December 19, 1900, Joseph Kidder was elected first vice president and Joseph W. Fellows second vice-president. George W. Browne was elected at the annual meeting in 1896 to the first place on the publication committee and has held that position to the present time. Fred W. Lamb was elected to the office of librarian at the annual meeting December 15, 1897, and still holds that position. The other changes have been slight, and if, at times, the work has progressed slowly, it has nevertheless shown a creditable result in the holding of interesting meetings, and the publication of Volumes I and II, "Manchester Historic Collections," of over 300 pages each, and Vol. III commencing with this number, these volumes being issued in regular quarterly parts, which contain the papers read before the association, other historical contributions, with the proceedings of the meetings appended with suplementary miscellany. During the year 1901 the association received an inestimable benefit from the personal efforts of Captain David Perkins, who solicited and secured nearly 275 new members, thus making the present membership 325. With this great gain in its patronage, influence, and available funds from dues, the association gives much promise of increased usefulness. At the burning of the Kennard Building on the night of January 14, 1902, the association met with its first great loss, being all of its papers, books, pamphlets, collections, and records, except a few volumes which were at the home of George W. Browne, and a few old deeds and papers at the home of the librarian Fred W. Lamb. Fortunately the Publication Committee had its office in Mr. S. C. Gould's office, and nearly all of the numbers of Vol. II of the published "Collections," including the late William E. Moore's "Contribution to the History of Old Derryfield," were thus saved. Fifty full sets of Vol. I of the "Collections," stored in the Kennard Building, were burned besides nearly 50 copies each of Parts 2 and 3 of Vol. I. One hundred full sets in parts of Vol. I were sent to the bindery a few days before the fire and thus fortunately were saved. Already many of the sets of publications published by other societies have generously been furnished to this association, and the librarian feels hopeful that there will soon be restored in a large measure the loss to the library resulting from the fire. In 1898 the Association published the Frst Part of Vol. I, a pamphlet of over one hundred pages, which was later followed by two more parts; then the three parts were gathered constituting Volume I. Following this a quarterly publication has been issued containing the papers and contributions, and this quarterly for 1901, including the William E. Moore papers already mentioned, completed Volume II, so with the current year the publication enters on its third volume with an edition of one thousand copies. The following is the list of papers read before the association since its organization. January 1, 1896: Mar. 19, 1896. Reminiscenees of Manchester, 1841-1896, By David L. Perkins. June 17, 1896, Captain John Moore's Company at Bunker Hill, George C. Gilmore. June 17, 1896. New Hampshire Men at Louisburg and Bun Sept. 16, 1896. William H. Morrison. ker Hill, William H. Huse. |