22 Westminster Street has a unique story. It was originally built circa 1790 in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and was disassembled and relocated to Walpole around 1940 by P. Lucile Tucker (Hawley) Bragg (1884-1953), then the owner of 24 Westminster Street next door. She had purchased it from Robert Moore of Westmoreland. The move was a significant undertaking, carefully transporting the timber-frame structure and reconstructing it on its new lot.
According to local lore, Mrs. Bragg was not particularly fond of Guy H. Bemis, then the owner of 20 Westminster Street (the Aaron Howland House). She positioned the relocated house as close as possible to Mr. Bemis’ property, much to his dismay. Reportedly he was incensed about it. Relations between the parties must have thawed, because years later Marion Bemis is identified as the “Informant” on Mrs. Bragg’s death certificate.
The house itself retains the character of its late-eighteenth-century origins, with timber-frame construction and traditional proportions typical of New England homes of the period. Its presence on Westminster Street adds a layer of historical intrigue to the block, illustrating both the region’s architectural heritage and the personal stories that shape the village’s social landscape.
Aaron Howland House 