Stevens-Coolidge Estate -- North Andover, Massachusetts

The Stevens-Coolidge Place (more) of North Andover, Massachusetts is rather close to where I live. My husband and I made our first visit there recently in 2011. The estate grounds, 91 acres, were free and open for all to visit. You can bring a lunch and eat on the grounds. A special treat was seeing the rose garden, of which I limited myself to showing only two rose photos. We can't wait to go back.

Rose Garden and below

From Wikipedia is this description, "The Stevens-Coolidge Place 91 acres, formerly known as Ashdale Farm, is a garden and historic home located at 139 Andover Street in North Andover, Massachusetts. Helen Stevens Coolidge's family first acquired the farm in 1729, and from 1914-1962 it was her summer home with husband John Gardner Coolidge, diplomat, descendant of Thomas Jefferson, and nephew of Isabella Stewart Gardner. It is now a nonprofit museum operated by The Trustees of Reservations.

Between 1914 and 1918, architect Joseph Everett Chandler remodeled two late-Federal period farmhouses to form today's house. Chandler also enhanced the design of the landscape, which eventually included a perennial garden, a kitchen and cut flower garden, a rose garden, a French potager garden with a brick serpentine wall, and a greenhouse complex. The house's collections include Asian artifacts including Chinese porcelain, American furniture, and European decorative arts."

Wordless Wednesday -- I love tomatoes!

Taken at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Beauty and Hurricane Damage -- Tombstone Tuesday

Three days after Hurricane Irene hit the Lowell Cemetery in Lowell, MA, the cemetery finally opened, after downed trees and limbs were all removed. I quickly went and took photos, then showed my husband. The other day, we were in the cemetery and he wanted me to find the location where the tree fell in order to see the tombstone in the background. (He saw the tombstone and I saw the uprooted tree, so two pr. of eyes are better than one.) The cemetery is quite large, with many old trees and lots of hills. Finally, we found where the tree was and the tombstone. He was quite taken with the lovely lady and I am too. The sad thing is, I believe Sarah Elizabeth Adams probably died of the flu.

In memory of

Sarah Elizabeth

Wife of Landon Adams

(Per 1900 census, she was born July 1847, Rhode Island)

Oct. 8, 1918

Landon Adams

(Per MA Vital Records, he was born July 12, 1845, Lowell, Massachusetts)

(Son of Landon and Mary Frances)

July 6, 1925

Leslie Adams

Jan. 31, 1882

May 16, 1938

Died in Iseltwald Switzerland

Mary Dean Adams

Lowell, Mass.

May 15, 1876

Palma De Mallorca, Spain

May 26, 1955

Obituaries -- Lowell Massachusetts

The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section. The names are often printed on two days, I am only listing them once.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2011
HELEN N. KOSKI, LIVED IN SHIRLEY FOR SIX DECADES; 83
NEIL J. ANDERSON, OF CHELMSFORD, KOREAN WAR VET; 81
CATHERINE HALYCHYN, FORMERLY OF YONKERS, NEW YORK
ANDREW F. DI GRAZIA, OWNER OF AD PLUMBING AND HEATING
HOWARD R. "HOWIE" CHAPUT, AUTO MECHANIC AT CHAPPY'S AUTO REPAIR FOR 55 YEARS


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
GEORGE THOMAS BELT, WWII VETERAN; OF NORTH CHELMSFORD
LT. COL. STAANLEY KROL, JR., U.S. ARMY, RETIRED; OF PEPPERELL; 75
TRUDY F. MILLER, LOVING GRANDMA
VIRGINIA B. 'GINNY' HOGLE OF WOBURN
ELLEN M. MEEHAN, RAYTHEON EMPLOYEE


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
ISABELLE A. WESTOVER, OF LOWELL; 87
ELSIE (BROWN) REID, FORMERLY OF W. GROTON; 95
FRANCES E. STECKIEWICZ, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF PELHAM
GERALD D. TONKS, RETIRED CHELMSFORD FIREFIGHTER, ARMY VET; 78
ROBERT J. CLOUTIER, OF LOWELL; 79
MICHAEL J. MERCURI OF WILMINGTON
NATHAN ROGER LAURIN, OF LOWELL; INFANT SON
KATHLEEN F. (McCLUSKEY) SULLIVAN, R.N., "KAY"
RAYMOND A. DELUCA, OF LOWELL; 84
MADELINE E. STREM, DEVOTED WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
JULIA FRANCES CONNORS, MEMBER OF A WELL KNOWN LOWELL FAMILY
HELEN (SIRIGOS) HOUSIANITIS, OF SALISBURY BEACH; FORMERLY OF LAWRENCE; 79
JEAN SMITH, OF METHUEN; FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD; 89
MICHAEL 'BUTCH' MATTE, OF LOWELL; FORMERLY OF DRACUT, 51


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
ELMIRO 'EL' REIS SILVA, "BELOVED HUSBAND AND FATHER"
ROSALIE R. FOCOSI, FORMERLY OF BURLINGTON, MA; 88
ROBERT J. MILLER, SR., RET. GENERAL ELECTRIC ELECTRICIAN AND TEWKSBURY WIRING INSPECTOR; 90
BOB AMICO; FORMERLY OF BILLERICA, MA; 72
MICHAEL P. ZEPKOSKI, "BELOVED FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND GREAT-GRANDFATHER"


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER  10, 2011
RICHARD F. KELLY, U.S. VIETMAN WAR VET; LONGTIME LOWELL YOUTH HOCKEY COACH; FOUNDER OF BANNER PEST CONTROL COMPANY
ROBERT M. LAGE SR., 1938 - 2011
PRISCILLA MARION, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF TYNGSBORO, 84
CMDR. ROBERT P. MORAN, USN, RET., FORMERLY OF LOWELL
FREDERICK J. TIERNEY, SR., OF NASHUA, NH, LOWELL, MA NATIVE; 80


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011
ADRIAN A. LUZ, PROMINENT LOWELL BUSINESSMAN; WWII VETERAN
SVEN HAROLD GORANSON, CONCORD NATIVE; 65
KAYDEN PHILIP LAGASSE, INFANT SON OF LOWELL PARENTS
FAITH HOPE KILEY, INFANT DAUGHTER OF LOWELL PARENTS
MARGARET 'PEGGY' KATIBIAN (SISTER OF GLADYS PICANSO), OF CALIF., BORN LOWELL

It Won't Rot Clothes -- 1897

Whenever I look at an old newspaper, the entire page gets read. In the case of the article below, I was copying an obituary, and found the serious letter about soap rather amusing.


Letters to Northfield People.

MR. J. C. DONAHUE, Northfield, Vt.

DEAR SIR :--One of the things against which you grocers must contend in introducing our Harmless soap is the price.

Most people think soap is a thing they ought to buy cheap.  They think low priced soaps are economical, and high priced are extravagant. Never was the truth more completely turned around. The soap that costs most by the pound costs least by the year for two reasons.

First reason : They won’t use so many pounds of it.

Second reason : It won’t rot clothes.

To convince customers that a high priced soap costs no more than lower priced, you may sell Harmless on a positive guarantee that one bar (8c.) will out-wash two 5c. cakes. If they say it doesn’t, give them back 3c. on each bar and charge to us.

                                                                         Yours truly,

                                                                         C. H. Post & Co.,

                                                                         Newburgh, N. Y.

From: Northfield News, February 2, 1897

Are You Visiting NEHGS? #1

99 - 101 Newbury Street

Boston, Massachusetts

NOTE:  I wrote this in 2010. Many changes have been made in the building.

What and where is the NEHGS? From the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) website, they state they were "Founded in 1845, NEHGS is the country's leading resource for family history research. We help build knowledge, skills, and understanding of your family and its place in history." It is located in Boston, not far from the Boston Public Library and Copley Square. Members and non-members can find useful information from this at the above site.


I decided to put together a few bits of information to help a new visitor to the facility. There are seven floors, but several are off-limits to the researcher. The photos below are in order, beginning with floor 1 to floor 7. Because there were other researchers there, I opted not to take every photo possible. There is a very small lunchroom, a tiny refrigerator, and vending machines. Restrooms are on each floor, there is an elevator, and two copy machines, copies .25 and you need to first purchase a copy card for $1. Best to bring change, as there is no change machine. You may want to bring your camera for copying pages, no portable hand-held scanners are allowed. Wireless internet access is available, and you need to restrict your cell phone use to outside the reading rooms.


Before arriving at the Library, if at all possible, you should use the Card Catalog for www.AmericanAncestors.org (Website for NEHGS), this will enable you to see the holdings in the Library. I will do a post on this in a few days.

The first thing a visitor does is sign in with the receptionist. There are a lot of restaurants around, some inexpensive, some not. However, are all crowded at lunchtime. If at all possible bring a lunch and eat there in the tiny lunchroom, or carry it to the lovely park at Copley Square. If you have free time, I would suggest you walk two blocks to the Boston Public Library and check out their main reading room.

First floor, inner room. Many international books are on this floor.

On the 4th floor is the Microtext floor. The reception desk is seen as you get off the elevator. Here you will find microform, CDs and map collections.

Employees behind glass panel.

 

 Work stations, above and below.

Some cabinets in the Microtext room, filled with microfilm, mainly probates, deeds, and vital records.

 

The 5th floor houses the Local and state histories and records.

Above are some of the stacks in the reading room, the back room is shown below.

 7th Floor reading room (partial shot). The reference desk is in the center. in front of the wall. Dress is casual.

First Floor book store.

In the past, I've written several articles about the library, the two below might be of interest to you.

• New England Marriages Prior to 1700  (A very useful resource, and not online.)
• Ellis Island Dress and American Jewish Historical Society (The dress is currently in storage.)

Tombstone Tuesday -- Young Children

Young daughters of William Frederick Poole and Fanny M. Gleason

Buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Massachusetts

Fanny

Born:  17 Jan. 1862

Died:  18 Aug. 1864

Daughter of

William F. and Fanny M. Poole

Eliza

Born:  18 Dec. 1865

Died:  26 Sept. 1871

Daughter of

William F. and Fanny M. Poole

Walking the Flume in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

The Flume
White Mountains
Lincoln, New Hampshire

During the 2-mile hike, holding on to the rail and hoping I wouldn't fall. I was also concerned about dropping my camera. Once we got to the top, the rest was easy.

We ate at Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant (everybody must eat here at least once).

Meredith, New Hampshire

Obituaries -- Lowell Massachusetts

The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section. The names are often printed on two days, I am only listing them once.

MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011
PATRICIA A. NOLAN OF LOWELL
MADELINE T. ZAHER OF CHELMSFORD
R. GEORGE DASTOU, BELOVED FATHER AND BEST FRIEND
MARY (SANTOS) FERRERIA, LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER
RAYMOND A. NADEAU, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LOWELL, ARMY VET; 79
CECILE A. CORMIER OF DRACUT
JAMES METELINOS OF LOWELL
MARGARET A. QUIRK OF LOWELL
ELEANOR T. L. PENDERGAST OF PELHAM, NH, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA
DR. L. RODGER CURRIE, RETIRED CHELMSFORD DENTIST, WWII VET
SUMNER MILTON GLADSTONE OF CHELMSFORD

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
DANIEL S. ENWRIGHT, OF WESTFORD, MA.
LORRAINE B. PERRAULT, OF LOWELL; 74
GARETH T. "GARY" STACK, NAVY VETERAN; 73
CHRISTIAN MADDOX NTAPALIS, OF MERRIMACK, NH; 8 MONTHS
MARY E. DAVIS, OF WESTFORD, FORMERLY OF TEWKSBURY AND HARWICH
CHARLES E. SARGENT, FORMERLY OF PELHAM, NH
JAMES D. AUTERIO, OF PELHAM, NH; 59
ELEANOR T. L. PENDERGAST, OF PELHAM, FORMERLY OF LOWELL
DORIS E. HOWARD, 1922-2011
LENITA (LIVELY) BRENNAN, OF LITTLETON; 77
R. GEORGE DASTOU OF LOWELL
BEATRICE H. O'DAY, FORMERLY OF BILLERICA, MA

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011
LEON E. BELLEY, FORMERLY OF DUNSTABLE, MA
JAMES W. MORENCY, OF TYNGSBORO, MA; 38
EARL W. QUINN, OF CHELMSFORD; 82

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
JOSEPH SILVA, BELOVED FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND GREAT-GRANDFATHER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
ANNE B. NEARY, LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER
WALTER ROBERGE, FORMER RESIDENT OF DRACUT, MA
GILBERT J. MORAN SR., FORMERLY OF LAWRENCE, MA

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2011
ELEANOR A. MCGARRY (ELIOPOULOS), FORMER TYNGSBORO BOARD OF SELECTMAN; 74
EDWARD J. FLYNN, SR., LIVED IN PEABODY AND TEWKSBURY, ARMY VET; 87
LLOYD JUSTUS CRANDALL, JR, RETIRED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER; 81
CHRISTOPHER COLTON MULDOON, INFANT SON OF PELHAM, NH PARENTS



SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2011
VINCENT R. LOCICERO, OF DRACUT, MA; KOREAN WAR VET; 80
FREDERICK JAMES BROUILLETTE, SR., OF CHELMSFORD, MA, KOREAN WAR VET; 78
JUNE MARIE LUCE, LOVING SISTER, MOTHER, AND GRANDMOTHER
JAMES DEMETRIUS 'CHICK' CHICKLIS, MEMBER OF THE TRANSFIGURATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
RICHARD E. BOHANNON, FORMERLY OF BILLERICA, MA, WWII VET; 83
ANTONIA E. 'TONI' GILMAN, LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 89
ANASTASIA HARRISON, RAISED IN DRACUT, MA; 91
YONNIE BALLAS HOUPIS, OF KEENE, NH, RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER; 79
DOROTHY HOLDEN WERLICH, LIVED IN CHELMSFORD, MA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF NE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS; 90
DENIS S. ADAMOWSKI, LIFELONG LOWELL RESIDENT

Obituary -- Albert S. Cross of Northfield, Vermont

From: Northfield News, February 2, 1897

Obituary


Albert S. Cross, an old and respected citizen of Northfield, died at his home Jan. 23d. His death came after a protracted illness of four years. The funeral was held at the new church Tuesday, afternoon. Rev. E. C. Downey and Rev. Lucius Colburn of Barre officiating, assisted by the Gouldsville choir. The bearers were Herbert and Ernest, sons of the deceased, and L. B. Johnson and W. C. Terrill, his nephews. An autopsy was held by Drs. Goodale, Winch and Mayo which showed that he died of cancer of pancreas and other complications. He was born in Highgate, Dec. 9, 1829. His early days were spent in various places in Vermont and Canada; at one time he lived a [sic] Fitzroy Harbor, Ca., West, now Ontario, Fitzroy Harbor is now Ottawa, capitol of the Dominion. He once walked all the way from there to Montreal covering most of the way on the ice of the St. Lawrence.* His father afterwards removed to the States. He first talked French. For several terms he attended the Academy at Franklin. Not having the money to continue he went into business and began making brick which was his vocation. After engaging in making brick in several places he came to Gouldsville at the solicitation of friends and went into the bobbin business. In 1865 he married Lucy, daughter of Lucy and Luther Burnham. Soon after he bought out he heirs of the Burnham farm and engaged in farming which he followed till his death. He soon brought up the farm to a high state of  cultivation. At one time he kept 40 cows. The financial panic of 1875 and the consequent fall in property fell heavily on him having bought at war value. He strove hard to work and get started anew. In this his efforts never flaged and had not a fire burnt out his property in 1891, would have undoubtedly succeeded. He was a  man of great hope and always intended to do right. When he might have failed and gone into insolvency and paid a few cents on the dollar he refused to do so, preferring to try and pay 100 cents on the dollar. He was public spirited and had fortune favored him would have done much for the village. He was a man of exemplary habits, never using profane language, tobacco or intoxicating liquors. In 1892 he put up the block known as Cross block, the best business building in Gouldsville. He was taken ill about this time and suffered very much which he bore with wonderful patience and fortitude. He leaves a widow and three children, Mrs. Sanford Hall, Mrs. Eliza Whitney of Enosburg Falls, and Mrs. E. P. Fisk of Northfield; two brothers, Leonard, who lives in Knoxville, Tenn.; and Theodore, of Guelph, Ont.

* The distance was 180 miles (He once walked all the way from there to Montreal covering most of the way on the ice of the St. Lawrence.) 

Albert was my 1st cousin 5 times removed.


Thanks to Larry McGrail (cousin) for sharing the obituary.