Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/336

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308
Concord, New Hampshire.

able balloon-like cupola, which has lately been converted into the Concord hospital. Its interior is well adapted for the care of the sick: its rooms are large and light, and each is furnished by the ladies of some church society of the city.

In this neighborhood occurred the famous battle of Brimstone Hill. A company of artillery had gone into the Butter's, or Southwick, Tavern for New-England refreshment, when a company of infantry passing by captured their cannon which had been left in the street. The battle was for its recovery.

Opposite the tavern was the store of Nathaniel Evans. The brick house on West Street was a schoolhouse fifty years ago.

The little old house of Deacon Jonathan Willey still stands, as does his blacksmith-shop across the Londonderry turnpike.

Below the railroad track was the house of Capt. Theodore French, the Thompson house, and the house of Deacon Jonathan Wilkins.

On the south side of the State House yard, and facing it, is the residence of the late Nathaniel White, who was identified with the growth and prosperity of the city for over half a century. All around the square are evidences of his prosperity and public spirit. His widow, Mrs. White, is carrying into effect many schemes of benevolence devised by them during his lifetime.

White's opera-house occupies an historic spot. Many years ago it was the site of the old green store,[1] in the upper story of which was the Episcopal chapel, and later the American House.

Judge Nathaniel Upham lived in the brick house, built in 1831, on the opposite side of the square. Dr. Timothy Haines and Capt. William Walker lived in the two houses to the west of the Upham house.

Call's Block has been scattered over the city, to make room for the new government building; while the residence of the late William Butterfield was moved from its old site, to give place to a new brick residence.

Old residents remember a frog-pond on the site of the high-school building, and state that George Hough, the first printer of the town, lived on the opposite corner.

The Unitarian Society was organized in 1829, and dedicated their church the same year. The edifice was burned in 1854, and replaced two years later. Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the earliest preachers of the society.

The Universalist Society built their first church in 1841, which they sold in 1855 to the Free-will Baptist Society, and replaced it by their present structure,—the White Memorial Church.

The First Baptist Church organized with fourteen members, only five of whom were men, in 1818, built their house of worship in 1824; but it has been several times renovated,—the last time in 1875. The Pleasant-street Baptist Church separated, and built their edifice, in 1853.

The South Church lost their meeting-house, which stood on the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, in 1859, by fire, purchased the lot occupied by William A. Kent's house, and built their present building the following year.

The Baker Memorial Church was organized in 1874.

Among the teachers who are remembered were the Eastmans (father and

  1. The building was converted into a dwelling-house, and moved to its present location next west of the opera-house. Within it John Farmer had his apothecary-store. In the west corner room, Judge Josiah Minot and Joseph B. Walker studied law with Gen. Charles H. Peaslee.