This is a transcription of the Keene, NH description from New Hampshire As It Is by Edwin A. Charlton; Part II: A Gazetteer of New Hampshire by George Ticknor, Tracy and Sanford Publishers, Claremont, N. H., 1855.
KEENE
KEENE, shire town of Cheshire county. Bounded north by Westmoreland, Surrey, and Gilsum, east by Sullivan and Roxbury, south by Swanzey, and west by Chesterfield and Westmoreland. Area, about 22,040 acres. Distance from Concord, 55 miles, south-west. The surface is generally level or moderately swelling. The soil consists of three varieties-viz., interval, light, sandy plain, and upland. The latter includes the outskirts of the town, bounding on the east; west, and north; the flat, or valley, consisting of the first and second varieties. The valley is separated into two nearly equal portions by the Ashuelot River, and from the unusual extent of level surface which it presents, variegated by cultivation, affords a pleasing prospect to the traveller. The Ashuelot River has its source in a pond in Washington.
Keene is pronounced by Dr. Dwight, in his travels, one of the pleasantest inland towns he had ever visited. The principal village is situated on an extensive plain, about midway from the Ashuelot on the west, and the uplands on the east. The width and uniform level of its streets, the beautiful shade trees, behind which many splendid residences and beautiful gardens are seen, its large and well constructed hotels, its handsome stores, and general thrifty appearance render it both pleasant and attractive. The main street extends one mile in length in a straight line, and is of uniform width, and almost a perfect level. Keene is a place of large business. Its facilities for trade, owing, in a great measure, to its location in relation to the adjacent towns, are numerous, and secure to its mercantile interests valuable advantages. What can be said of but few country villages may with truth be said of this-viz., that its business has been directly benefited and permanently increased by the railroad enterprise.
There are three large and commodious hotels. The Cheshire House is a noble structure, its rooms airy and convenient, and the internal arrangements are in full keeping with the inviting appearance of its external form. The Emerald House and the Eagle are pleasant hotels, and each affords a comfortable home for the traveler. The Town Hall is a large and handsome edifice of imposing structure. The office of the Ashuelot Mutual Fire Insurance Company is in this village.
Manufactories.-A.. Davis & Co., iron foundery. Capital, $6000. Business per annum, $10,000. Employ 12 hands.
J. M. Reed, manufacturer of patent jack screws and boot forms. The screw is used for raising buildings and other heavy burdens. One turn of this screw perform the same amount of labor that two will in others. Capital, $2000. Hands employed, 10.
Falkner & Colony, manufacturers of flannels. Capital invested, $50,000. Employ 40 hands. $100,000 worth are manufactured per annum; also $6000 worth of lumber.
William S. Briggs (successor to Eliphalet Briggs, who carried on the business of cabinet making for 40 years) manufactures all kinds of cabinet work.
S. D. Osburn also manufactures cabinet work.
The Cheshire Railroad Company have a large repair shop here, where about 25 hands are employed.
There is in operation a large sash and blind manufactory, driven by a 25 horse power engine.
Foster & Felt, manufacturers of organs, ?olian seraphines, Woodward & Brown’s piano fortes, &c., employ from 8 to 12 hands.
H. Pond & Co., hat and cap manufacturers, employ 12 hands, have several branch stores in this and adjoining states, and are doing an extensive business.
There are two large establishments for the manufacture of clothing.
South Keene.-J. A. Fay & Co., manufacturers of planing, mortising, tenanting, sash, sticking, moulding, and various other machines; also an iron foundery connected. Amount of capital, $40,000. Amount of business, $50,000. Number of hands employed, 50. Building, 160 by 40 feet, wood, two stories high, with an ell, 55 by 30 feet, two stories high, separate from the same, and a forge shop and iron foundery building.
There are two banks-the Ashuelot, with a capital of $100,000; and the Cheshire Bank, with a capital of $100,000. Also one Savings Bank.
There are four meeting houses-one Congregational, one Unitarian, one Baptist, and one Methodist. The Congregational church was organized October 18, 1738. Since that time it has had only six different ministers. The present pastor, Rev. Zedekiah S. Barstow, D. D., was; ordained July 1, 1818. The Baptist church was formed in 1816, with Rev. Ferris Moore as pastor. The Unitarian church was organized on the 18th of March, 1824. This town is divided into 14 school districts. Numbers 1, 2, 10, and the centre districts have united under the Somersworth Act, which provides for a graduated system, by which the pupil ascends from the simplest rudiments to those higher branches usually taught in academies. For an historical account of the newspapers published in this town the reader is referred to another part of this volume, under the appropriate head.
Keene was originally granted by Massachusetts. Its first settlement began about the year 1734, by Jeremiah Hall, Elisha Root, Nathaniel Rockwood, Seth Heaton, Josiah Fisher, Nathan Blake, and others. Its original name was Upper Ashuelot. It was incorporated under its present name April 11, 1753. The name was given in honor of an English nobleman, Sir Benjamin Keene. In 1736 a meeting house was erected, and two years later a minister was settled.
Like all other frontier settlements, it received its full share of Indian depredations and cruelty. In 1745 the Indians killed Josiah Fisher, a deacon of the church; and in the year following they attacked the fort, the only safe retreat of the inhabitants. They were discovered by Captain Ephraim Dorman just in time to prevent their taking it. He was attacked by two Indians, but boldly defended himself against them, and reached the fort in safety. A furious assault followed, in which John Bullard was killed. A woman named McKenny, being out of the fort, was brutally stabbed, from the effects of which she soon died. Nathan Blake was captured and taken to Canada. He remained in confinement two years. The Indians burned all the buildings in the settlement, including the meeting house. The inhabitants continued in the fort until April, 1747, when they abandoned the place. In 1753 they returned and recommenced their settlements. In June, 1755, the Indians again attacked the fort in great numbers. The onset was furious, accompanied by screams and terrific yells. By the vigilance and bravery of Captain Syms, they were repulsed. After burning several buildings, killing a large number of cattle, and committing other depredations, they departed. In July they returned and made another violent attack upon the fort, but with as little success as before.
Colonel Isaac Wyman, an influential man and a brave soldier, led the first detachment of men from this town in the war of the revolution, and was present at the battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill. This company consisted of 30 men. The list of the foot company in Keene at this time numbered 126 men, the alarm list 45.
This town is the residence of the Hon. Samuel Dinsmoor, who was governor of New Hampshire during a term of three years ending June, 1852, and was deservedly one of the most popular men among all parties who have ever filled that high office.
Keene is connected by the Cheshire Railroad with Groton Junction and Boston, and by the Ashuelot Railroad with Springfield, Massachusetts.
Population, 3392.
Number of legal voters in 1854, 767.
Inventory, $1,562,228.
Value of lands, $809,598.
Stock in trade, $77,400.
Value of mills and factories, $26,400.
Money on deposit or at interest, $186,697.
Value of shares in banks and other corporations, $224,100.
Number of sheep, 1520.
Do. neat stock, 1512.
Do. horses, 370.