The piece about independence Day reads:

FARMINGTON TO CELEBRATE
PLENTY OF ENTHUSIASM,
MONEY AND BRAINS.

COMMITTEES BUSY ARRANGING IN
TERESTING FEATURES

The meeting at the town hall Friday night to discuss a Fourth of July cele- bration, was a distinctively business gathering of young men of thee town. It organized by choosing A I Nute, chairman, Eugene B Hayes, secretary; W J Evans, treasurer, and the affair celebrating Independence Day was discussed in an of hand way It was announced that money enough had been pledged to assure a start in the project, so it was suggested that a committee

of which the  president,  secretary and
treasurer should be members, should be,
appointed     The following  names were
added   S. Leavitt, Fred Hanson F
H   Roberts, John S  Hayes  and Her
man  J    Pike     This committee is to
appoint   sub-committee  where neces-
sary     The members got together at
once  and  the  following appointments
were  made:   On  advertising, Messrs
Leavitt and  Hanson, sports, Messrs.
Haynes and Pike, on speaker for horri-
bles, A  J   Nute. trade teams and horri-
bles, Haynes,  music  F   H  Roberts.

The committee is busy at work upon
a program which shall include a parade,
athletic sports, such as  bicycle, foot,
potato and  other  races, a greased
pig, etc. Prizes will be offered for best
team and single foot passenger in parade
of  horribles There will doubtless be
an expert tight-rope walker who will
give exhibitions at intervals during the
day The Cadet .Band has beea en-
gaged for a series of concerts, and there
will be two games of ball between the
Rochesters and Farmingtons.

A sum of money has been set aside
as a gratuitous gift for the athletic club

of the high school to give an exhibition
during the day. Of course this pro-
gram will be altered and amended  and
doubtless interesting features added to
it, and that there will be a display of
fireworks in the evening is a matter of
course There will half fare on the

Boston and Maine R R if matters can
be so arranged. Take it all in all the
outlook is rosy for a splendid celebra-
tion and general good time.


Caption of the photo reads:

This is Sid. He started the Fourth of July celebration project, found a responsive enthusi asm and is at the head of the committee of arrangements

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The text reads:

This issue of The Puddledock Press is dedicated to the memory of Roger Belanger or Rog-B as most knew him. Roger recently passed away after a period of declining health at age 71.

It has been said that the typical date of birth, dash, date of death is misleading. The dash is such a small symbol for a life. Rog- B's life was that of a very dedicated person. He was dedicated to his family, church, community and this publication.

He started at the Press in advisory capacity and of course, that was not enough so he began to work with the staff at every meeting, finding old stories, setting up the pages, laying out the stories, delivering the paper and more. In the months that Rog was not well and unable to help, this staff realized how much he contributed and how he was missed!

When not working on the Puddledock, Rog was active with St. Peter's Church where he was recently honored with a plaque from his church "family". He assisted with the Interfaith-food Pantry. He was recognized with a Community Achievement Award and was the Puddledock Press Person of the Year in 1987. The Farmington Historical Society had him present programs on Farmington history several times and of course his famous political collection was featured at the Goodwin Library on occasion.

Perhaps more than -the awards, we would like to think he enjoyed the waves, hellos, and thank-you's from many, many people who knew him as he walked around town sprucing up our comrmunity He will be missed.






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The article reads:

FARMINGTON — Beulah Thayer, the matriarch of the Thayer family, which has done so much for the town of Farmington, died peacefully on Oct. 23 after a very short illness.

She had celebrated her 100th birthday on May 4, along with dozens of family members at Thayercrest, her home on Main Hill. Close relatives flew in for the occasion from as far away as Singapore and Oregon.

Beulah Perkins, as she once was known, was born in Alton in 1912 and graduated from Alton High School with the Class of 1930. From there she attended Keene Normal School for three years, emerging with a teaching certificate, and in 1934, she taught grades 1 through 4 for a year in a one-room school house in Bedford.

“I loved teaching and I loved the kids,” she recalled during an interview earlier this year.

While still in high school, Beulah had mastered the piano, and by chance, this led to her meeting the man she would marry — Jim Thayer. Jim played saxophone in a band, and when they lost their piano player for an event at Alton Bay Pavilion, Beulah was recruited.

Her parents carefully chaperoned the couple as their friendship developed and deepened, and were naturally a little concerned at their age difference — at the outset Beulah was 16 and Jim was 21.

Jim Thayer, Farmington born and bred, attended Harvard Business School and then went to work in Farmington National Bank. When it encountered difficulties during the Great Depression, Beulah recalls that Jim and some associates went to Washington, D.C., with a rescue plan, and managed to resurrect it. Farmington National Bank was associated with Jim Thayer for the next six decades.

He and Beulah were married on June 14, 1934, and the couple built a house on land owned by his mother further up Main Street from Thayercrest, where she lived at the time.

She very quickly came to love the town, and became involved in the multiple clubs of the area. All three of her children, Sylvia, Jim and Rick were born here.

Beulah was been active in the Eastern Star, Farmington Woman’s Club, the Girl Scouts, Farmington Historical Society, the Goodwin Library board of trustees, Farmington School Board, the Congregational Church, and the Women’s Fellowship. She was a Sunday School teacher, the Junior Choir director and served on the Board of Wardens.

She was a member of the Mary Torr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Dames of the Court of Honor and the Daughters of the Colonial Wars.

Beulah was involved with Frisbie Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Strawbery Banke, and served as a FMH volunteer. She spent many years involved in projects with the school children of Farmington, and continued to take a very active interest in the lives of her own three children, nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

In the 1990s, Jim and Beulah Thayer decided to contribute $2 million toward the construction of the current Farmington High School and worked with the Assistant School Superintendent Jack Henderson to bring it before the voters. This was roughly a third of the total cost, with the state chipping in another third. The people of Farmington, appreciative of the Thayers’ generosity, passed the bond with a record majority.

Former County Commissioner Ron Chagnon, who chaired the Farmington School Board at the time, said, “Jim, Beulah and Sylvia came to the meetings, and Beulah was more active than anybody, but they didn’t want any recognition, whatsoever. We had to convince them to let us name the entrance (to the high school) Thayer Drive. They were not for fame and glory — they just loved the town of Farmington. They were nice, nice people.”

The Thayers also financed the construction of the addition to the Goodwin Library and major repairs to the Congregational Church spire.

Goodwin Library Director Debbie Christie said that when she took over the position, Beulah made it known that the downstairs portion of the new addition was to be a children’s room.

“That became the groundswell,” said Christie, adding that the book shelves and furniture was donated by Beulah Thayer.

“She always believed that our future is in the hands of the children,” Christie said.

President of Farmington Historical Society Dottie Bean is also an active member of Farmington Congregational Church and Farmington Woman’s Club, organizations that Beulah Thayer belonged to for many decades.

Said Bean, “She is leaving a big hole. She did an awful lot for an awful lot of people that no one knows about. She touched a lot of lives in this town. It wasn’t just the big things — she helped a lot of people.”

President of Farmington Woman’s Club JoAnn Doke, remembers Beulah Thayer with great affection.

“She led me through two presidencies. She was so helpful and gracious and always there to give advice, as well as being generous. She could be called upon to help with anything. It is a big loss,” said Doke.

After her husband died, Beulah carried on with the family’s philanthropic work, and a few years ago following consultations with her family, announced that she would renovate Farmington Town Hall, and hire master carpenter Martin Gilman to supervise the extensive project. It included installation of state-of-the art sound equipment and a screen for multimedia presentations, new stage curtains and lighting, new seating and tables for functions, and much more.

Speaking on Wednesday, Gilman, a former town selectman, said, “The Town of Farmington is going to miss her terribly. She has been good to the whole community.”

To mark her 100th birthday on May 4, the bells in the tower of the Farmington Congregational Church were rung 100 times. The bell ringer, a longtime member of the congregation and a choir member, Norman Greeley, said he gladly volunteered for the job in light of everything that Beulah Thayer had done for the church over the decades.

Her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Farmington, on Monday, Oct. 29. This will be followed by a reception at the church to which everyone is invited.

Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Goodwin Library Memorial Fund in care of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 422 Main St., Farmington, N.H.



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The article reads:

FARMINGTON — Beulah Thayer is the matriarch of the Thayer family, which has done so much for the town of Farmington, and she will have her 100th birthday on Friday, May 4. Her big celebration, though, will be the next day, when she will be joined by 46 family members at Thayercrest, her home on Main Hill. Close relatives will be flying in from as far away as Singapore and Oregon, and many places in between.

Beulah Perkins, as she once was, was born in Alton in 1912 and graduated from Alton High School with the Class of 1930. From there she attended Keene Normal School for three years, emerging with a teaching certificate, and in 1934, she taught grades 1 through 4 for a year in a one-room school house in Bedford.

“I loved teaching and I loved the kids,” she recalled, while seated comfortably on a Thayercrest couch near a package of her favorite Milanos, delivered by a thoughtful visitor.

While still in high school, Beulah had mastered the piano, and by chance, this led to her meeting the man she would marry — Jim Thayer. Jim played saxophone in a band, and when they lost their piano player for an event at Alton Bay Pavilion, Beulah was recruited.

Her parents carefully chaperoned the couple as their friendship developed and deepened, and were naturally a little concerned at their age difference — at the outset Beulah was 16 and Jim was 21.

Jim Thayer, Farmington born and bred, attended Harvard Business School and then went to work in Farmington National Bank. When it encountered difficulties during the Great Depression, Beulah recalls that Jim and some associates went to Washington D.C. with a rescue plan, and managed to resurrect it. Farmington National Bank was associated with Jim Thayer for the next six decades.

He and Beulah were married on June 14, 1934, and the couple built a house on land owned by his mother further up Main Street from Thayercrest, where she lived at the time.

“I hated to move to Farmington,” said Beulah, but noted this was only a brief reaction, and she very quickly came to love the town, and become involved in the multiple clubs of the area.

“I have loved Farmington for 78 years,” added Beulah, noting that all three of her children, Sylvia, Jim and Rick were born here.

“Do you love Farmington?” she asked in a tone that hinted “No” might be the wrong answer.

Daughter Sylvia Thayer (who is married to Phil Zaeder) passed over an impressive list that she and her mother had compiled of organizations that Beulah has been involved in over the years.

“Now, this is not to sound like an obituary,” was her gentle instruction.

Beulah has been active in the Eastern Star, Farmington Woman’s Club, the Girl Scouts, Farmington Historical Society, the Goodwin Library board of trustees, Farmington School Board, the Congregational Church, and the Women’s Fellowship. She has been a Sunday School teacher, the Junior Choir director and has served on the Board of Wardens.

She has been a been a member of the Mary Torr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Dames of the Court of Honor and the Daughters of the Colonial Wars.

Beulah has been involved with Frisbie Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Strawbery Banke, and served as a FMH volunteer. She spent many years involved in projects with the school children of Farmington, and continues to take a very active interest in the lives of her own three children, nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

In the 1990s, Jim and Beulah Thayer decided to contribute $2 million toward the construction of the current Farmington High School and worked with the Assistant School Superintendent Jack Henderson to bring it before the voters. This was roughly a third of the total cost, with the state chipping in another third. The people of Farmington, appreciative of the Thayer’s generosity, passed the bond with a record majority.

The Thayers also financed the construction of the children’s room addition to the Goodwin Library and major repairs to the Congregational Church spire. After her husband died, Beulah carried on with the family’s philanthropic work, and a few years ago following consultations with her family, announced that she would renovate Farmington Town Hall, and hire master carpenter Martin Gilman to supervise the extensive project. It included installation of state-of-the art sound equipment and a screen for multimedia presentations, new stage curtains and lighting, new seating and tables for functions, and much more.

Today, Beulah is active in Farmington Woman’s Club and enjoys a game of bridge with the best of them. She attends church, pops into the library on occasions, and keeps a sharp eye on what is happening both locally and further afield.

“She doesn’t like politics,” Sylvia chipped in, as her mother offered an enigmatic smile.

To mark her birthday on Friday, May 4, the bells in the tower of the Farmington Congregational Church will be rung 100 times, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The bell ringer will be a longtime member of the congregation and a choir member, Norman Greeley, who said he gladly volunteered for the job in light of everything that Beulah Thayer has done for the church over the decades.

“It should take more than three or four minutes, once I get them going, but I think I will need someone with me to keep count,” said Greeley.





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By John Nolan / jnolan@fosters.com]]>

Size: 9.25" x 10.25"

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Fosters or Rochester Times]]>

This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


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By Ed King]]>

This is a digital file and does not reside in the physical collection.


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Ned Parker]]> Ned Parker]]>

This item is a digital file and it does not exist in the physical museum collection.


FHS-Kyle Leach
PLEASE NOTE: This resource was created during the 19th or 20th century. It has biases stemming from those periods.]]>

FHS-Kyle Leach

PLEASE NOTE: This resource was created during the 19th or 20th century. It has biases stemming from those periods.]]>

This is a digital file and does not exist in the physical museum collection.

FHS-Kyle Leach

PLEASE NOTE: This resource was created during the 19th or 20th century. It has biases stemming from those periods.]]>