Here’s some old news from the Andover, East Andover, West Andover, Potter Place, and Cilleyville “gossip” columns of the Franklin Journal Transcript, selected by Heather Makechnie. Many thanks to Franklin Public Library librarians for their help.
August 1
Ralph B. Buswell, 88, a lifelong resident of Andover, died. Born October 4, 1874, he was the son of Andrew J. and Emogene (Baker) Buswell. He served for many years as foreman of the United States Hame Factory, and was a well-known horse trainer.
Roy C. Pinard, 63, died at New Hampshire State Hospital, where he had been employed in the grounds department for 30 years. Born in Andover, he had lived in Elkins and Concord.
Mr. and Mrs. Elwood and Jessie (Fortune) Davis were recently married at the East Andover church.
Showing at the Regal in Franklin this week: Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in Days of Wine and Roses. It’s different. It’s daring. Most of all, in its own terrifying way, it’s a love story. Next week, Academy Award winning To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck. Starting August 22: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
August 8
Congratulations go to Mr. and Mrs. Perley Henderson on the birth of twin boys, Brian Hansen and Brent Gordon Henderson.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Howard George on the birth of a daughter, Sally Ann George.
August 15
Proctor Academy is hosting the Engineering Foundation Research Conference – small groups of experts in the field of industry, with a different focus group each week, attending lectures by leading experts in the world.
A large staff of local people have been hired to attend to the needs of the conference, including: Julia Rising, Joanne Belanger, Betty Shampney, Carlene Longfellow, and Marsha Kimball as waitresses, and Richard Powers, Craig McDonald, Malcolm McDonald, Judy Boyd, Ruth Chamberlain, Clara Clapper, and Stephen Chamberlain on grounds and housekeeping.
The Andover Town Hall, a small cottage used by the Public Health Association, and a crawler tractor used by the Andover highway department are all on the auction block.
The Town Hall was built in 1879 and has served the community well. With the advent of automobiles, movie theatres, and television, there is little use for this old building as a community education hub. Until recently it served as a gymnasium, but now, with the addition of a beautiful new gym/auditorium at the high school, there is little use for it.
A questionnaire mailed to each family in town returned a majority sentiment in favor of selling the building in order to cut down annual expenses. The selectmen were instructed to start bidding at $4,000, a figure representing half of the expenditure of installing a new steam heating system a few years ago.
August 22
Forty-six descendants of Gilman and Hannah Hersey held their 66th annual reunion at Thompson Point for a picnic.
Mrs. Amos E. Johnson, Andover Chair of the New London Hospital Fair Day, reports that Andover residents contributed $349.25 to the Hospital Day Fund. This figure includes income from food table, sales of children’s grab bags, and money donations. Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Chair, Mrs. Kendall Graham, reports contributions of $114.00 to the same fund.
Andover Sheep to be Shown at Exposition: Among early applicants for entry in the 1963 cattle, sheep, and goat show at the Eastern States Exposition are registered Chevrot sheep owned by Kenneth Sherman of Andover.