Spaulding Family: Jennie M. Spaulding (1863-1929) & Russell S. Spaulding (1899-1956).

Jennie died in 1929, followed by her husband, Frank Arthur Spaulding in 1931, after which the property remained held by the family. Jennie and Frank had a daughter, Marion Spaulding Cahalane (1896-1984), who moved to New Mexico with her family and conveyed her interest in the property to her brother Russell Smith Spaulding on 7 September 1933. Russell S. Spaulding served as Executive Director of New Hampshire-Vermont Blue Cross-Blue Shield and moved to Concord, New Hampshire. Russell S. Spaulding subsequently conveyed the property to Guy H. Bemis on 30 April 1938.

Jennie Spaulding’s brief obituary in The Brattleboro Reform noterominen in “social circles.”

Mrs. Jennie M. Spaulding

Well-Known Walpole Woman Dies in Rockingham Hospital.

BELLOWS FALLS, Feb. 20. Mrs. Jennie M. (Smith) Spaulding, 66, wife of Frank A. Spaulding, a well-known merchant of Walpole, N.H., died of surgical shock Monday night at the Rockingham hospital. For many years she had been prominent in social circles of her town. She was born in Westminster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Smith. Besides her husband she leaves a son, Russell, of Detroit, Michigan, and a daughter, Marion, wife of Reginald Cahalane of Walpole. The funeral will be held in the home Thursday at 2 o’clock, with burial in the family lot in Walpole.

While not an owner, Frank A. Spaulding’s obituary published in the Vermont Journal (“Frank Spaulding Dies At Walpole,” Vermont Journal, 10 April 1931, page 3, col. 3) indicates that he as influential in town affairs, which seems to be a unifying thread in the story of the residents of 20 Westminster Street.

Frank Spaulding Dies At Walpole — Was Ill A Month

Deputy Sheriff Was Prominent in Town Affairs

Frank A. Spaulding, aged 70, for years one of the leading citizens in Walpole, answered the last call early Tuesday evening after an illness with heart trouble of exactly four weeks. it was on Town meeting day that Mr. Spaulding was last able to be out, on that day taking an active part in the forenoon session of the meeting, to all appearances in his usual health. That afternoon he became ill, gradually growing weaker until the end came after a valiant fight by himself and all who attended him at Mousley hospital.

Mr. Spaulding was a native of Westminster, Vt., being born there on October. 15, 1860, the son of the late Lemuel and Caroline (Whitney) Spaulding. When but six years of age he came to Walpole and has since made his home here. When a young man he learned telegraphy, he became an expert and was operator and station agent at both Westminster and Walpole. He was also postmaster for a number of years. About the year 1900 Mr. Spaulding purchased the Perry & Porter general store, and continued it as “Spaulding’s” until 1921, at which time he retired. Since then he has been active in a number of lines and has always been a man to whom one could go for help and advice with the assurance that he would be received cordially and given of the best.

In general and town affairs Mr. Spaulding was most active and influential. For the past 21 years he had been a trustee of The Savings Bank of Walpole, and since 1921 he had been its president. Since 1903, he had been town treasurer. He had also served as treasurer of the Congregational church for a number of years, declining re-election at the last annual meeting. As administrator of estates and conservator and trustee, Mr. Spaulding was in demand and always served with the efficiency of an expert and interested gentleman. In 1920 he was appointed a deputy sheriff for Cheshire county, and had just been appointed to a new term. he had also represented the town in the Constitutional conventions of 1903, 1912 and 1930. Fraternally he was a member of St. Paul’s lodge, A.F. and A.M. of Alstead; of Mt. Kilburn lodge, I.O.O.F. of his home town, and also of Walpole Grange.

Back in Dec. 15, 1886 Mr. Spaulding was married to Jennie M. Smith of Westminster, Vt., who passed away slightly more than two years ago. There survive one daughter, Mrs. R. F. Cahalane (Marion Spaulding) of Walpole, a son Russell Smith Spaulding, of Worcester, Mass., and one grandchild, Jane Cahalane.

Funeral services are to be held from the late home tomorrow, Friday, afternoon at 2 o’clock. As a citizen, a public spirited gentleman and businessman of the higher order, Mr. Spaulding will be missed. It will be difficult for anyone to fill the niche in the community life which he occupied and which can only be fully appreciated now that he has cone from us. The death of Frank Arthur Spaulding is a distinct loss to his community.

Jennie and Frank Spaulding’s son, Russell Smith Spaulding, apparently needed to sell the house because his profession kept him on the road, then relocat to Concord. His obituary appeared in the Bellows Falls Times:

Russell S. Spaulding

Russell Smith Spaulding, 57, a native of Walpole but a resident of Concord for number of years, died early Wednesday morning after a long period of failing health. Funeral services are being held this Friday morning at 10 in Concord, the body being brought to Walpole for committal service at the grave in the Walpole cemetery at 2:30 p. m.

Mr. Spaulding was the son of the late Frank A. Spaulding and Jennie Smith Spaulding and was born in Walpole, Joe 14, 1899. He was a graduate of Worcester Academy and the College of Engineering of the University of New Hampshire and for a number of years followed his profession. This kept him from home so much of the time he gave up that work and had been with the Blue Cross Blue Shield for about a score of years, much of the time in Concord where he as been executive secretary of the New Hampshire-Vermont Blue Cross until failing health made it necessary to relinquish that work a few weeks ago.

He is survived by his wife, the former Grace Foster of Walpole, and two daughters, the Misses Sue and Sarah Spaulding, also a sister, Mrs. Reginald F. Cahalane of La Grange, Ill.

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. Cahalane 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).

“Mrs. Jennie M. Spaulding,” The Brattleboro Reformer, Wednesday, 20 February 1929, page 1, col. 7.

“Frank Spaulding Dies At Walpole,” Vermont Journal, Friday, 10 April 1931, page 3, col. 3.

“Russell S. Spaulding,” Bellows Falls Times, Friday, 28 December 1956, page B4, col. 1.

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)).