FARM PURCHASED--BUILDINGS BURNED--HOUSE REPLACED BY PURCHASE OF U. S. HOSPITAL--MOVED TO WILTON--FARM SOLD--FARM REPURCHASED BY COUNTY--NEW BUILDINGS BUILT--INMATES MOVED--HOSPITAL BUILT

On the 7th of September, 1849, Noyes Poor, a prosperous farmer residing on the Mast Road in the valley of the Piscataquog River in Goffstown, in consideration of $10,000, sold and conveyed to the County of Hillsborough his farm consisting of about 300 acres with the buildings thereon. He conveyed by a good and sufficient warrantee deed, saving a few reservations, among which was that a certain white oak tree standing near the corner of the garden should not be cut nor removed during the lifetime of David A. McAllister; and this reserved white oak tree stands today for the shading and protection of the poor and unfortunate, the same as it protected David A. McAllister seventy years ago.

After the purchase of the farm in 1849 it required an outlay of $3,362 to improve the buildings fit for the reception of the county poor, which at that time numbered eighty-eight. The buildings at the time of the purchase consisted of a large farm house and farm barn, a small dwelling-house standing near the oak tree, and some small buildings. The county officers at once began the construction of those buildings which were absolutely necessary: a building for the insane and further accommodations for the inmates.

In 1853 some of the inmates were sticken with smallpox, and it was necessary to build a pesthouse for the proper care and segregation of the smallpox patients, which was subsequently used for all kinds of contagious diseases.

The management of the county affairs for some years previous and until 1856 was under the supervision of two justices, sometimes called associate or side judges. This system was abolished in 1856, and a board of three county commissioners was chosen by the people in place of the justices. The justices at the time of the purchase of the farm were Jesse Carr of Goffstown and Jacob Whittemore of Greenfield.

In 1853 Whittemore was succeeded by William Parker, and in 1855 Martin Heald succeeded Jesse Carr. The first superintendent was Abram Whittemore of Greenfield, who remained in charge until December 6, 1854, when he was succeeded by Thomas R. Butterfield of Goffstown.

According to the report of 1855 the affairs of Hillsborough County Farm were in a decidedly complicated state, and the justices in their annual report said they were at a loss to understand the reason of Mr. Whittemore's action and have been furnished with no explanation of the extraordinary assumption by him. This has reference to sales of property made by Whittemore and no account rendered. Mr. Butterfield remained in charge until August 26, 1856, when his place was filled by John Frye of Wilton.

At the inception of Mr. Frye's official duties as in the preceding years, the paupers were scattered through different buildings, which were heated by wood fires; some seasons of the year as many as thirty were running, and the cooking done with stoves.

Under the administration of Mr. Frye, important changes in the management of the farm were noticeable; the meadow west of the farm buildings, which at some seasons of the year was a pond, was drained. A bakery was built to do the baking; the wall which remains standing today on the southerly side of the Mast Road was built, and also the present stock barn.

Mr. Frye's connection with the farm as superintendent terminated January 17, 1862, and on the same day George G. Bumpers of Tewksbury, Mass., assumed the duties of the office. Mr. and Mrs. Bumpers were very efficient as superintendent and matron, and they remained at the head of the institution until after its removal to Wilton. Many important and needed changes in the buildings were made in the years of Mr. Bumpers' administration, and the products of the farm probably equalled that of any preceding years, and the number of inmates averaged in the vicinity of one hundred and fifty.

During the five years of Mr. Bumpers' administration in Goffstown, a decided improvement was noticed in the management of the affairs; matters were systematized and special departments were assigned.

On the morning of the 14th of November, 1866, fire was discovered in the building occupied as a dwelling-house, and the entire structure was consumed. At the time of the fire the inmates and most of the furniture and movables were gotten out.

Immediately after the loss by the fire 125 unfortunates in the late fall were apparently deprived of shelter. Some of the inmates were temporarily quartered at the jail and the hospital adjacent, and others at one of the buildings owned by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester. Two days after the fire the commissioners purchased of Hon. E. A. Straw, agent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. of Manchester, for $800, a building which was formerly used for a U. S. Hospital in time of the war, situate upon the old fairground at the north end of the city.

The commissioners also contracted with John H. Maynard of Manchester to remove and finish the same, which he did with his usual energy and enterprise, completing the same in about six weeks, and the former inmates of Hillsborough County Farm were moved back on the 12th of January, 1867, and remained here until about the first of May following, when they were removed to Wilton.

On the 2nd of January, 1867, the representatives composing the County Delegation met at Manchester, and voted that the county commissioners be instructed to sell as speedily as possible, consistent with the best interest of the county, the County Poor Farm, and purchase the Whiting Farm at Wilton at a sum not exceeding $12,500, and to expend $10,000 in the erection of necessary buildings.

The county commissioners followed the former part of their instructions to sell the farm as "speedily as possible," and seemingly ignored the latter clause "consistent with the best interest of the county," and on the 9th day of May, 1867, sold the farm to George H. Dorr and Adoniram Judson Lane, both of Manchester, for $7,550; $2,000 down and a mortgage back of $5,550.

At this late day it is not within my province to criticize the management in the sale of the farm, but the commissioners reported that fifty-five tons of hay was harvested in 1866, and certainly those who remember the year of 1867 know very well the crop was no less. The average business man would have postponed the sale of the farm until the following fall and sold his hay standing. Whether the county commissioners were good were good business men or not, the subsequent sales of the farm will show: October 24, 1867, Lane and Dorr sold to Benj. P. Burpee and Jonathan G. Carr, both of New London, the Hillsborough County Farm for the sum of $12,100, and three years later Burpee conveyed his half to Carr for $6,000; July 16, 1877, Jonathan G. Carr conveyed the same property to Jonas M. Bailey of Arlington, Mass., for $20,000. On the 6th of January, 1879, Benjamin P. Burpee again came in possession as assignee of the estate of John M. Hayes of Manchester, who came in possession on account of an execution against Bailey. October 11, 1882, Benjamin P. Burpee conveyed the same premises to P. C. Cheney Co. for $6,000. On the 27th of January, 1893, the representatives of Hillsborough County assembled at the County Farm in Wilton and unanimously decided to consider the advisability of moving the County Farm from Wilton. The matter of removal was before the people of Hillsborough County during the summer of 1893, and the committee were receiving proposals from all who had farms for sale which would fill the requirements of a county farm.

The Hillsborough County Convention met from time to time during the season, and on the 18th of November, 1893, voted to direct the county commissioners to purchase the farm known as "Grasmere" of the P. C. Cheney Co., located at Goffstown Center, at a price not to exceed $16,000, and being the same premises conveyed by Hillsborough County to Lane and Dorr May 9, 1867.

In accordance with the foregoing vote the P. C. Cheney Co., by P. C. Cheney, President, on December 21, 1893, conveyed to the county of Hillsborough, for the consideration of $16,000, the same farm which the county of commissioners conveyed to Lane and Dorr May 9, 1867.

The convention met at the city hall in Nashua on the 8th day of March, 1894, at the call of the county commissioners, requesting instructions in regard to buildings to be placed upon the newly purchased farm, and also the appropriation. The convention instructed the commissioners to select a plan and specifications to be later submitted to the convention, and on the 11th of the following April the convention again assembled, and the commissioners were instructed and authorized to construct, upon the Grasmere Farm in Goffstown, such buildings and waterworks as are described in their report to the convention, at a price not to exceed $120,000, and to borrow the money and issue the notes of the county therefor.

In the spring of 1894 the contracts for the construction of the new buildings were awarded, and the work was carried on through the season and the following winter. The buildings were so far completed that the convention assembled here on the 1st day of February, 1895, and after a thorough inspection of the same voted to appropriate the sum of $40,000 to defray the expense of completion of the buildings and waterworks. The commissioners were authorized to issue bonds to the amount of $160,000, which should include the $120,000 borrowed to carry the vote into effect.

The removal by the superintendent of the inmates from Wilton to Goffstown was accomplished in a single day, in October, 1895, and that company of poor unfortunates bade goodbye to Wilton forever.

In the year 1896 the finishing and completion of the many details that remained to be completed by the county were finished under the supervision of the Superintendent Horatio K. Libbey. The horse barn, carpenter shop and other buildings were built, the grounds around the buildings laid out, graded and seeded down, and roads and driveways constructed.

At a meeting of the delegation of Hillsborough County holden at Concord on the 8th day of March, 1905, upon the report of a special committee previously chosen to consider the erection of a hospital at Grasmere, the sum of $30,000 was appropriated for the purpose, and in the spring of 1905 labor was commenced upon the foundation of the building, and the same was completed in June, 1906.

The hospital is a commodious and sanitary building, and has excellent conveniences and accommodation for the care of the sick. An isolation department for tubercular patients is connected therewith where they can be cared for without coming in contact with other patients. The board of charities and corrections of the State of New Hampshire said of this building: "This convenient, commodious and first-class hospital will prove a blessing to the sick and poor of Hillsborough County, and reflects creditably upon the officials having the erection in charge. The provision of such a suitable and durable building was wise economy."

At the close of the year 1906 the County of Hillsborough had at Grasmere the most substantial, convenient and well-arranged set of county buildings in New Hampshire, well protected against fire, easy of access by steam and electric cars, and also by private conveyance.

Both periods of occupation and ownership of this farm by Hillsborough County cover a period of forty years. During those forty years how many thousands have been sheltered by the institution. What tales of sorrow could some of the unfortunates unfold. To some it has been an enforced retreat, to the far greater numbers a "haven of refuge." All classes, kinds and conditions have from time to time been here cared for. The poor, the unfortunate, the sick, the insane and the idiotic have all found what many of them never knew before, a comfortable home, afforded them by the County of Hillsborough. Some had known better days; their early environments were homes of refinement and plenty; some have held positions of trust and responsibility, but misfortune and adversity swept them into the great vertex with the poor. To this class of unfortunates is extended heart-felt sympathy in their sad misfortune.

During the forty years how many have been borne to the silent resting places across the railroad, unwept and unaccompanied by friends. The cemetery established in 1896 is well regulated, and at the head of each grave is placed a marble tablet, upon which is a number corresponding to a given number in the record book, giving a description in brief terms of the disease and death of the deceased.