This item contains biases and misinformation from early periods.

FHS-Kyle Leach]]>
Robinson V. Smith
]]>
Sources used for publications range from 1700's to early 20th Century
October 1952]]>

The obituary reads:

Dorothy A. Bean, 84, of Farmington passed away on August 20, 2021 after a period of declining health.

Dottie was born in Orange, NJ on January 6, 1937 to the late Joseph and Donna (Otey) Bean and spent her childhood in New Jersey. After her father retired, the family moved to Farmington, NH where Dottie’s grandfather owned a 340 acre farm. Dottie graduated from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

After graduation, she worked as a research supervisor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston under a grant administered by Harvard University. In 1970, she accepted a position with Tufts University at New England Medical Center in Boston, now Tufts Medical Center.

Because of her parents' failing health, Dottie moved back to her family’s Farmington home in 1990 and resigned from Tufts in 1991. Since the death of her parents, Dottie has taken care of the farm’s buildings and property. During her custodianship, she developed an abiding concern for forest preservation and farming.

While living in Farmington, Dottie was an active member and avid supporter of many area organizations, including the NH Farm Museum, where she was the membership registrar; NH Historical Society; Farmington Historical Society, where she had served as president and headed a committee to publish a book on the town’s history; Farmington Woman’s Club; Goodwin Library, where she had served as a trustee; NH Preservation Alliance; Currier Museum of Art; Wright Museum and the First Congregational Church of Farmington, where she was active in the Women’s Fellowship and was one of the founding members of Blessed Bargains thrift shop. She also worked at the voting polls during each town election for many years and in 1995, she was named Puddledock Press Person of the Year. Dottie was an enthusiastic supporter of the Boy Scouts, Moose Mountains Regional Greenways and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, where she was passionate about conserving the land. 

Her deep appreciation of history and land converged on her own property, where she worked tirelessly for more than 30 years on the restoration and improvement of her historic home and land. Her conviction in the importance of farming and her belief in the need to preserve and protect undeveloped land led Dottie to establish the Joseph D. ‘26, Donna M. and Dorothy A. Bean Endowed Fund at the University of New Hampshire. She established this fund in honor of her father who graduated from UNH in 1926. This fund will provide need-based scholarship support for students enrolled in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and will also provide general support for COLSA faculty members.

There will be a graveside service at Pine Grove Cemetery in Farmington, NH on Sunday, September 12 at 1:00 PM. If you wish to honor Dottie’s memory with a donation, please direct it to the charity of your choice or to the UNH Foundation with Bean Endowed Fund in the memo, University of NH, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824.

 Cremation care by Peaslee Funeral Home. To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com






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Included photos by Kyle Leach & Stan Freeda ]]>

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


FHS-Kyle Leach]]>

Photo by George Meyer _

— The Farmington News, 1882 -

The clock was manufactured and placed in position by E. Howard & CO, of
Boston, whose productions are considered to stand foremost in this country.
The following dimensions, while some of them may not be exact, are sufficiently
correct for the purpose: Height of clock frame- 6 feet; length of clock frame-5 feet;
width-22 inches; Diameter of main wheel-16 inches; Length of striking line-140 feet;
length of pendulum- 8 1/2 feet; weight of pendulum ball-75 lbs; and weight of
striking hammer-60 lbs.
continued on page 2

The striking weight weighs 1200 pounds. The hands are moved by four horizontal
shafts connected by bevel gearing to the main shaft, which extends perpendicularly
to the clock below, a distance of some thirty five feet. "What is the matter with the
clock?" is a question for which there has been an occasional reason for asking, more
particularly of late. One cause during the winter is the lodgment of snow and ice on
the dial and hands, but the chief trouble is, and always has been, from the moisture
contained in the warm air which rises from the church below; this condenses and
forms frost and ice on the walls of the tower, and in the shaft box; during warm
days it melts and not withstanding all the means taken to prevent it, will sometimes
find its way to the hangings and gearings connected to the shaft; this afterward
becoming again frozen, stops the clock.

An occasional stoppage from the above caused during the winter season is
unavoidable. The only exception to this was that last autumn, some of the numerous
sets of gearing connected with the shafting in the steeple, became bound in
consequence of the springing of a timber. Being absent from town, the clock
remained at a standstill.

It has also failed to strike a few times, by reason of the breaking of the wire rope
which draws back the striking hammer.

There are three main areas to the tower. There is the clock itself, which is
uppermost. Below it is the bellhousing and below that is the gear room, which
houses the 4*X2! gear assemt%—fhe bell housing contains the giant bell itself,
approximately five feet across at its base. There are three separate clapper motions
to the bell.

A clapper on the outside, driven by the gears, automatically hits the bell to chime
the hours. The inside clapper is attached to two ropes. One moves only the clapper
and arouses a series of short intonations. The second moves the whole bell, and
continuous pulling on this rope causes the tolling sound.

It is not an easy climb into the tower, but a fascinating one. Names of those who
made it to the top are etched on the walls.

In the mid 1940*s Farmington almost lost it's Town Clock, when lightening struck
the bell tower.

continued on page 3



August 6, 1943's Farmington News reported: Farmington and vicinity was the
chief target for the bombardment in the midafternoon last Saturday, when almost
from a clear sky, the lightening, accompanied by deafening thunder, flashed out and
caused considerable damage over a wide area. Damage of major importance was
inflicted on the Farmington Congregational Church when a bolt of lightning struck
the tip of the weathervane and ripped open the tall spire for a distance of over
twenty feet downward, then crossed the space and crashed out through the rear side
of the steeple. Fortunately, it passed out before reaching the clock, so that the
timepiece was not disturbed. No fire resulted, but the damage is not yet estimated.
However, the building was well covered by insurance.

August 20, 1943 Farmington News went on to say: Work is underway in the
repair of the spire on the Congregational Church which was damaged to the amount
of $1350 by lightning which struck during a storm on the afternoon of August 1.
Examination by contractors and adjusters disclosed that the bolt destroyed some of
the supporting timbers for a distance of about sixty feet and had torn open the
steeple to considerable extent. The full amount of the estimated cost of replacement
was granted by the insurance and no time was lost in preparing to restore the spire.
The Hall Brothers of Berwick, experienced steeple workers, are the contractors in
charge of the repairs, and the men working on their lofty rigging have fascinated all
who had the opportunity to observe them.

Operations are progressing rapidly and soon this portion of the church will be
restored to its former appearance.

The Farmington News, Sept. 3, 1943: Everyone within hearing distance of the
Town Clock, welcomed the sound of its striking the hour on Wednesday evening
after a silence since operations started to repair the steeple of the brick church
which was damaged by lightning. The large dials of the clock were removed to the
repair shop of Andrew Foss, chief engineer of the precinct, where they were newly
painted black with gold letters. This completed the restoration work on the spire
which has been in progress for several weeks.









This is a digital file and also resides in the physical collection.


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The opening text reads:

FARM1NGT0N HIGH SCHOOL
DEDICATION
AUGUST 25, 1996

This date was the culmination of
just over two years of eager
anticipation beginning July 18,
1994.

It was on that date that James
and Beulah Thayer proposed their
generous donation to a very
surprised School Board.
Their gift, coupled with State
Aid, the sale of bonds, and voter
approval, started the beginning of
the dream of a new high school.
That dream is now a reality.

Good luck to all the students for a
great school year!!




This is a digital file and also resides in the physical collection.

FHS-Kyle Leach]]>

The inside of the booklet reads:

Both born in 1912 in Alton in homes
side by side
Both played together as little girls
Both went through twelve grades of school together in Alton
Both graduated from Alton High School
Class of 1930
Isabel went to Plymouth Normal School
Beulah went to Keene Normal School
Both became teachers
Isabel taught at Alton 'High School
Beulah taught at Bedford' Elementary School
Isabel married Harold Fowlerof Alton Bay
And Florida
Beulah married Jim Thayer of Farmington
Isabel has one daughter, four grandchildren,
six great grandchildren and
two great great grandchildren
Beulah has one daughter, two sons,
nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren
Believe it or not - here we are - 90 years later
still speaking - still really good friends
with lots of

Happy  Memories!




FHS-Kyle Leach]]>

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.






FHS-Kyle Leach]]>

The article reads:

In Memoriam

Mr Shackford

Amasa W. Shackford died last Satur
day night at the home of his daughter-
in law, Mrs. Adrian Hall of High Street,
Rochester, after a long period of failing
health from a slow form of paralysis,
aged 78 years.. Mr . Shackford was a
native of Barnstaed, thee second son of
Seth and Harriett (Hill) Sbackford of
that town. He received his early educa-
tion in the schools of Pittsfield. later
attending Wolfeboro academy and fin-
ishing at New London Seminary. He
taught school winters for twenty years
at Eliot, Me , Barnstead, Gilmanton,
New Durham and Farrmington. He
was married in early life to Miss Clara
A Lougee of Barnstead and to them one
child was born, a son who died June
28, 1900, at the age of  28 years, leaving a
young widow who, when falling healtb
made a change necessary, kindly opened
her home to Mr and Mr* Shackford
and, with the help of her husband, made
“Pa's" last days pleasant and happy.. Mr
Shackford was a photographer of promi-
nence, which profession be followed
during bis 38 years as a resident of this
town. He was widely known and uni-
versally respected by a large number of
friends and acquaintances. He had held
several town offices andI for a number of
years was town clerk. He was a mem-
ber of Woodblue lodge. I () (). F of
this town. He Is survived l»y his wife
and by one sister, Mrs, Lydia Dow of
Barnstaed. Funeral was held from tbe
home of Mrs. Hall In Rochester last
Tuesday after noon at one-o'clock, Re v.
T. B. Scammon of this towon officiating,
wltb B. F. Perkins in charge. Singing
was by Rev. Wesley A. Paige. There
was a profusion of exquisite floral offer-
ings. The body was brought to Farm-
mgton and Interment made In the family
lot at Pine Grove cemetery.


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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.





FHS- Kyle Leach]]>

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

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.



FHS- Kyle leach]]>