History of Stoddard, Cheshire County, N.H.

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1897. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND MEETING HOUSES. 27 I. Robinson, A. Spaulding, J. Fleeman. 1848, Isaiah Gould, Sumner Knight, John N. Whiton Jr. 1849, I. Gould, S. Knight, J. Fleeman. 1850, Sumner Knight, Dr. Ira F. Prouty, Chester A. Blodget. 1851, S. Knight, Rev. J. Britton, J. M. Whiton, Jr. 1852, Sumner Knight. 1853, Dr. Frederick A. Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter died, Sumner Knight was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1799 a number of the citizens, formed an association by the name of the Stoddard Social Library, for the improvement of the intellectual faculties of the people; and the next year (1800) it received an act of incorporation. The library was composed of about 175 volumes of valuable books. It was frequently enlarged, by an assessment on its members. It was under proper restrictions, and good regulations, and was read with much interest; but as newspapers, became more common; Periodicals and other books much cheaper; the library was neglected, the proprietors inattentive, the annual meeting was not attended; and in 1838, it ceased to exist, as a corporate body. The books, most of them, have been scattered among the proprietors and perhaps others, without any regular division. MEETING HOUSES. The project of locating and building a meeting house, was before the town, at a very early period, in 1775 it was debated in town meeting. A house was built about that time, by Oliver Parker. It stood at the top of the hill 40 or 50 rods south of Gardner Towne's house, whether he built it for the town is uncertain. The town owned it, however, and in 1783, voted to move it, in front of the old Towne's house (where'Gardner lives) and use it as long as they see fit; and then, Capt. Towne (Esq. Israel probably) agrees to pay what it is worth and appropriate the amount, ...