Jennie M. Spaulding purchased the property from George F. Burt, the Alfred Burt’s heir as named in his Last Will and Testament. George P. Porter, one of the witnesses to the will, and George’s wife, Minnie E. Burt, joined in the conveyance on 7 December 1895.
Jennie died in 1929, followed by her husband, Frank A. Spaulding in 1931; the property remained held by the family. Jennie and Frank had a daughter, Marion Spaulding Cahalane (1896-1984), who removed to New Mexico with her family and conveyed her interest in the property to her brother Russell S. Spaulding on 7 September 1933. Russell S. Spaulding subsequently conveyed the property to Guy H. Bemis on 30 April 1938.
Marion Spaulding Cahalane’s daughter, Jane Cahalane Woodard (1922-2009) wrote a charming, informative letter to the then owners providing information regarding the house and her family during the Spaulding’s ownership.
528 Westgate Lane, NW
Albuquerque, N.M. 87107
July 6, 2000
Thank you for your help and for allowing me, my oldest grandson, and cousin to take a quick look at my grandparent’s home.
Enclosed are some copied photos of the Spaulding-Bemis house in Walpole. I hope that you will enjoy a bit of “ancient” history.
I am not sure when the apartment was constructed, but think it was in the late thirties.
The kitchen: The Bemis family uncovered the fireplace. My grandmother’s stove was in front of that – woodburning. Someone had to haul wood in from the shed and/or the wagon shed across the driveway. When my grandfather Frank A. was sheriff he had a narrow office separated from the kitchen on the east side (where stove area was during the Bemis years). He had a small roll-top desk where the potential drivers took their written exam. The pantry was entered to the left of the fireplace (now filled with heating pipes). The odor in there was heavenly! Because they owned the grocery the spices were contained in large rectangular tins – cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, etc. Grandmother’s apple pies, just out of the oven, cooled on the shelf under the window. Delicious and tempting!
The dishcupboard in the dining room was originally L-shaped. The Bemises set the washing machine in the part that lined the cupboard.
Dining room: All meals were served there. The kitchen then was too small with the office encroachment. Thanksgiving dinner was a great delight with a fire in the fireplace.
The back “sitting” room: Grandfather, Arpie as I called him, had a cot under the north window where he napped after the noon “dinner”. It was there they had a stove, round table, chairs and bookcases. Their desk was in front of the east window backed to the room divider. It now sits in their great-granddaughters home next to my house.
Front “parlor”: Used only for special occasions, family holidays, visiting ladies’ socials, weddings, etc.
Hallway: My mother’s brother Russell put in the bathroom under the stairs. Obviously BEFORE showers were enjoyed! I have asked Russell, my mother, and Guy Bemis WHY the floor in the hall is higher by a bit from the dining room and the parlor. No one knows, but you can note there is a quarter or eighth round in those doorways.
Upper Hall: At one time there was another stove on the south wall. What a chore to carry fuel and ashes back and forth to the barn area. The bedroom over the front door was Russell’s room. (Perhaps now in 2000 it is a bathroom?). When I was about three or four I spent the night in the front corner bedroom as a treat, so Grandmother slept in the room at the top of the stairs. Grandfather had the NE bedroom with a huge sleigh bed. During the night I was frightened by what I believed were lions and tigers in the long, dark and spooky closet. I called Grandmother who gave me a curtain rod to swing around if they came back. It was not until about fifty years later, in relating this realistic experience to my Mother, that I learned the source of the snarling animals – Grandmother and Grandfather slept in the separate rooms because they both snored so badly. Boy, their snores were loud and snarling!
The cellar and attic were too spooky to investigate but I do know that Russell had a work shop there – the room a few steps down from the main attic on the west side. I don’t recall scouting through the barn. If when driving into the barn parking space you note on the north wall any nail holes. Russell collected old automobile license plates from 1908 on. Guy Bemis sold this collection a few years before he died.
Mr. Bemis came to work for my Dad at the grocery store early in 1922 as the stock boy, receiving $10 per week. My Dad bought the store from my Grandfather Spaulding – Mr. Metcalf was Grandfather’s partner. When the Metcalf family left town Guy Bemis bought his share – the Westminster store was, of course included. Later when Dad bought the Walpole Inn Guy bought him out. I’m glad F.A. Spaulding and R.F. Calahane are not living to see what has happened to the old store building (Unless something good has happened since I was there last).
You are probably aware that the circle in the driveway by the back door contained the well. Housewives certainly burned up most of the fatty foods they ate – housework was unbelievable! I do recall a bit of the “spring cleaning” routine. Rugs then outside and beaten as well as the mattresses. Newspapers were spread on the floor under the rugs to discourage bugs. Windows were washed inside and out, the porch was re-painted. During the winter months there was always a frame box-like “room” out from the front-door area for removing snow shoes, etc. That had to be stored in the barn.
Grandmother died when I was eight and Grandfather when I was eleven. Both are buried in the older section of the cemetery, as is Russell and his wife. Also, my father’s mother, Annie Foster Cahalane. As you can see, just the word WALPOLE stirs great memories for me!
When I was about nine Dad bought the Walpole Inn (picture enclosed) – not a good move in 1930 depression year. I recall one summer guest who fascinated me – Charles T. Copeland, “Copey”, a greatly loved and respected Harvard professor. Very picky – bed so many inches from the wall, certain bedcovers only. When he thought he needed attention at meals, he would stand and tap his water glass. He went for daily walks in his derby, suit, spats and umbrella over his arm. An elderly lady fascinated me: one day her attire was blue, then yellow, then green – from hat to shoes. She always wanted to show me her false teeth and explain why they didn’t fit!
The Foster house (grandmother Cahalane’s family) is just South of the Museum (Walpole High School then – now museum). I recall being the flower girl at my aunt’s wedding – trying to drop the rose petals in the right spots.
The Hooper Golf Club was property that had been left to the town. About 1924 or 1925 various men formed a Board of Directors and decided to do something with it. I remember when I went to bed that summer I could hear the Canadian workers blowing out the tree stumps – to create the fairways. My mother ran the clubhouse for two summers. The pro taught me how to play golf and made me a set of five clubs – to it. It was great fun to play holes 1, 7, and 9 – so someone could check on me. There was an ice house just to the north of the barn in a big hill. It was great to go in there on a hot day and sit on a sawdusted ice block!
I do hope you will enjoy Walpole, the Spaulding-Bemis house and the people. There are not many I know that are still living. Perhaps George Harris is still with us. The Harris family has a large part in the Walpole history. His dad was President of the bank and very productive in town matters. His mother was a dear and wonderful lady. They lived in the large house with connected barn and apartment for summer guests – on the west side of Main street, south and with a brook running alongside. George lives “up on the hill” where his father built after the original house became too much.
There is a wonderful set of two books on the History of Walpole – put together with the help of many people, but credited to Martha McDonald Frizzell. Printed by the Vermont Printing Co. in 1963. I’m sure this would be available at the Walpole Library (which has the same delicious book-wood odor I remember it having).
As you can perhaps note, Walpole plays a large part in my life to this day and I was very fortunate to go back many times and especially after Dad retired and they bought a home on North Road. Please accept my deep gratitude and for your generosity and courtesy in allowing me to bring my oldest grandson Mark and Russell’s youngest daughter to spend a dear, brief time absorbing the Spaulding house!!!
Most sincerely,
Jane Cahalane Woodard
Sources
Cheshire Co. NH Deed Book 311, p. 123 (Burt to Spaulding).
Cheshire Co. NH Deed Book 458, p. 415 (Cahalane to Spaulding).
Cheshire Co. NH Deed Book 472, p. 402 (Spaulding to Bemis).
Photograph of the house c. 1896 courtesy of Jane Cahalane Woodard. Pictured, left to right: Jennie Maria Spaulding (1863-1929) (owner); Martha Cobb (1835-1909) (Jennie’s mother); a Miss Danlap (a hired nurse), holding Marion Caroline Spaulding (1896-1984) (Jennie’s daughter and the mother of Jane Cahalane Woodard (1922-2009)).
Aaron Howland House 