Bartlett Historical

Recent Content

2010 Upcoming Events

Current Events

HERE IS A LISTING OF ALL THE PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. CLICK HERE

Editors Note

I have put some thought into making this site a useful and interesting reference for the history of Bartlett. It goes beyond a simple narrative of the founding date and the derivation of its name and a few old pictures.

Through pictures, descriptions and first hand narratives I am trying to make a visual impression of what it was like to live here 50, 100 or maybe even 1000 years ago.

As one example, some folks today might look back at railroad transportation and think of it as being cumbersome and inconvienient. The truth of the matter is quite the contrary. There were 4 to 6 trains through Bartlett every day that could take you to all points north, south, east or west. It was the fastest mode of transportation 100 years ago as well. Folks in Bartlett would use the trains to go shopping and visiting in Littleton or Portland and be home in the same day...just like now.

Often while driving around now, I try to visualize what the same trip might have been like 100 or 150 years ago on the same route. I find it fascinating to compare and contrast how folks lived then and now.

Passaconaway and Kancamagus are not just a town and a road, they were real people, leaders of their society, with a populace living out their lives just like us; the main difference is only in their values and traditions and levels of scientific and mechanical achievements.

I hope this material I have collected together will give a feeling of our past and help give an indication of where our future might be going. I suppose 100 years from now folks will look back and think what a primitive people we were. Or, like some advanced civilizations of the past, our lives and achievements may be completely erased and unknown.

I would really like to hear your impression of this website along with any ideas you might have for additional content. You will find a "contact us" link in the top heading of every page, I encourage you to use it.   Thanks for reading.

                          Dave Eliason

The town of Bartlett is named for Josiah Bartlett. Dr. Josiah Bartlett of Kingston, the first chief executive to bear the name governor, a representative to the Continental Congress, and one of three signers of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire. Dr. Bartlett was second to sign the Declaration, placing his signature along with the well-known signature of John Hancock. About the time of his signature his home was burned to the ground by British loyalists.

Read Dr Bartlett's Biography HERE

Mary Bartlett was the wife of Josiah,, Read all about her here

Just a hint: There are more than 100 pages and over 300 pictures contained in this web-site. You will find broad categories in the heading menu at the top of each page, but I would encourage you to use the Name-Place-Subject index, also in the top heading, for a broader view of all the possibilities.

NEW PRESENTATION:   we are co-sponsoring with Arcadia Publishing an "author's event" on The History of Story Land written by local author Jim Miller. September 22, 7PM at the Grand Summit Hotel.

EASTERN SLOPE SIGNAL NEWSPAPERS FROM THE   1960's

I spent a little time researching Doctor Eudy, who died of Small pox while tending to Bartlett folks

Main Street 1920 postcards high resolution

Recollections of Ebenezer Tasker of Willey Slide Rescue. (An 1894 New York Times Article)

MORE OLD MAPS at White Mountain History dot Org:   BARTLETT PO 1892 with names on buildings.

Enter Your Recipe for First Bartlett Historical Cookbook AND Here is the Entry Form: Cook Book Recipe Entry Form for you to print out and mail in.

Look for Bartlett Historical Society on FACEBOOK

Joseph Seavey Hall of Bartlett was one of the most important participants in mid-nineteenth century events in Crawford Notch (or the White Mountain Notch as it was known in those days) and on Mt. Washington. Yet most people have never heard of him. Read the Story at the White Mountain History web site, HERE.

Next Director's Meeting will be July 14 at The Historical Society Chalet just past Storyland on the right. 6 P.M. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome.

QUESTIONS ASKED:

Norman was reading an old Jackson flyer today and in the back it had a list of sponsors and one of them listed under Bartlett was “E. E. Baker & Sons”. I think the year was 1949. Does anyone know who E.E. Baker was???

WE GOT AN ANSWER:

EE Baker & Sons was a grocery store in the village in the late 40's. He

bought it from GK Howard. G K Howard's general store was located across the

tracks where the thermostate factory was in the 50s/60s. Now some condos.

It didnt last but a few years.

We recently came across some paperwork re: school bus pick-up routes and there was a reference to picking up children at Cryan’s Crossing. Does anyone know where it was or have any history associated with it.”
If you know anything about it, tell us HERE

Do You Know Anything About Willey's Camps? We were sent a picture of a bronze colored bell enscribed "I am ringing for Willey's Camps". Here is a link to the picture.

Do You have a question? Or an Answer? Or any thoughts to contribute? Tell us at our "Contact Us" Form.

Do You Like Old Maps ?

THESE TWO WILL KEEP YOU BUSY FOR A WHILE:

1. High Quality Map of Bartlett (and other places) from the David Rumsey Map Collection; This one shows The Town of Bartlett in 1892 with every residence identified by occupant name. This link will take you there. Bartlett Historical Society has a copy of the entire Atlas from which the above map was derived...donated by George Howard of Glen. _______________________

2. This 1796 Map shows Vere Royse and Tho Chadbourne as the principal owners of the majority of the Upper Bartlett and Harts Location Area. Click Here to see the 1796 Map. Very good resolution. Captain Vere Royse was a soldier and surveyor and at one time served as surveyor-general of the Province of New Hampshire. He made charter maps for many White Mountains towns, including Chatham, Bartlett and Bretton Woods. In 1769 He was granted 2000 acres near the Saco river between Glen and Bartlett; the land was given for his services "during the late war in North America," but Captain Royse never settled here. The peak west of Evan Notch and nearby East Royse were named for him. The name Royse Mountain appeared on Samuel Holland's 1784 map. Thomas Chadbourne was born in Berwick Maine,March 26, 1736, the son of William and Mary Chadbourne. His Grant of 3000 acres is part of the area today know as Harts Location. Between 1772 and 1775 Mr Chadbourne sold his grant to Richard Hart. Mr Chadbourne was also granted acreage in Conway in 1773, where he settled and built the first framed house in that town. He married Hannah Long of Portsmouth in January 1758 and fathered eight children. He died on March 7, 1810. More Information can be obtained from the book "Harts Location in Crawford Notch" by Marion L Varney published in 1997.

JAN 13 UPDATE: MORE OLD MAPS at White Mountain History dot Org: