Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21
THE CITY OF CONCORD
Hany Historic Homes to Be
Found in the Place.
RETURN OF THE NATIVES
,uccess in the Establishment of Old
Home Week.
INITIATED IN OTHER STATES
,ome of the Distinguished Sons of New
Hampshire-Highes Places in the
Nation Filled by Them.
INITIATED IN OTHER STATES
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

Record Herald.
CONCORD, n. H. July 16, 1907.
The state house of New Hampshire,
erected in 1918, is well-proportoned
building, set in a group of beautiful trees
with portico and several fine pillars, and
is approached through a stately arch,
memorial to the New Hampshire soldiers
who fell in the civil war. The building
IS guarded in front by Daniel Webster,
John p. Hale and Gen. John Stark, in
bronze. and in the rear by the late Com
modore Perkins of the navy, father of
Mrs. L.arz Anderson of Washington, who
has erected in his honor an imposing me
mortal with a figure in bronze. In the
inscription Farragut is quoted as saying
that he (Perkins) was the bravest man
that ever trod a quarterback"
The federal building occupies a block
beyond the state house. On the other side
Is the state library, built of heavy granite
and looking like prison. One would In
fer that they had so much stone that they
didn't know what else to do with it and
put 1t into the library walls. Inside there
is a fine assortment of books, we'll ar
ranged and number of polite and atten-
tive people, as | can testify from eX-
perience. The supreme court and several
state officials occupy a portion of the
building.
Across the corner Edward Tuck of Paris.
I son OF Amos TUCK, a famous lTte-SOlt
leader and one of the ablest men New
Hampshire has produced. will erect
building for the New Hampshire Historical
Society, costing s125.000. 1t will be of
marble. designed to initiate a Greek tenn
ole. and will add to the variety of archi-
lecture which is already quite notable
around the Capitol square. An adjoining
block is occupied by an extremely artistic
little church belonging to the Unitarians
md the high school building, and the
Christian Science Temple erected by Mrs.
Eddy is on the next corner.
The most attractive and unique of all
the Concord architecture is the city hall.
II is a copy of the rathhauS at Halle, or
some other German city, without the
chimneys. The people make a good deal
# fun of it and say that 1t looks like
"hild'S savings bank, which it does. but it
IS fine type of the German architecture
IF the middle ages. and is undoubtedly
he most unique municipal building in
America.
Many Historic Houses.
Concord has many historic houses. Frank
in Pierce's old place is now occupied as
an Odd Fellows Home. 1t is quite near
Pleasant View the residence of Mrs.
Mary Baker G. Eddy. Down on South
Main street is tablet marking the site
# the residence which he occupied from
$50 TO 1862. the date of his death. Frank
in Pierce was born at Hillsborough a lit
lsSllage not far from Concord. Novenl-
1er ~. 1904 and the son of a former
governor of New Hampshire He attended
philips Academy at Exeter, graduated at
8owdoin College, Me. in 1924; taught school
3etween times to help pay his expenses:
studied law and practiced at Hillsborough
rom 1927 to lS3S He was elected to the
legislature in 1879, and served until he was
sent To Congress in lS:S'. when he was
twenty-nine years old. He served in the
louise of Representatives. until he was elect
d United States Senator in 1887, and then
ne came to Concord to reside. He command
ed a regiment. and was promoted to briga-
iier general in the Mexican war 0Sl7-4D;
was elected President of the United States
IN 1851: was inaugurated in 1852 and served
until March 4. 1856. After his retirement he
,rave'ed for three years in Europe and then
resumed the practice of law in Concord,
where he died in 1859.
President Pierce is buried in the church.
yard that used to surround the old North
Congregational Church and has a very
modest monument.
Ralph Waldo Emerson courted his wife in
Concord, and was married in a house that
they point out to you on Pleasant street
The Concord coaches" which used to be
the almost universal vehicles for passenger
transpOrta ton before railroad times. and
the Concord wagons" which followed
them and are equally well known. are still
being built at a factory on South Main
street. which was established in 1918. The
"Deadwood coach" which plays such
conspicuous part in Buffalo Bills entertain
ment, anne from that factory.
Near by is the Margaret Piilsbury Hos
ptal." built by George A. Pillsbury. the
wel-known miller of Minneapolis, in men,
DRY OF his wife. who born in Con-
cord. Mr.. Pflsbury was born in neigh
boring village and lived here during his
younger days. IL, was the father of John
The sons of the late Senator Rollins. who
for fifty years was one of the most active
and prominent citizens of Concord-who
served In the House of REPRESENTATIVES In
the United States Senate. was governor
of his state, treasurer of the Union Pacific
railroad and occupied many other important
positions-have presented his fellow-towns-
men as memorial to him a tract of TWEEN
ty-five acres of natural forest which is a
source of beauty and a joy forever One
Of his sons, Frank West Rollins was re-
Gently governor and Is still living in Con
cord. where he has the most attractive
residence | have seen here. He is a banker
and broker, with headquarters in Boston.
and branches in various parts of the coun-
Try.
Invention of "Old Home Week"
Frank W. Rollins was the inventor of
"Old Home Week" which draws back to
this state annually thousands Of its sons
and grandsons TO unite in reviving ancient
memories and associations and stimulating
their patriotism and pride of ancestry. Gov
Rollins tells me that while governor ne dis
covered that great many of the fine old
historic towns of New Hampshire were
going down and losing their population be-
cause the boys and girls moved away
where they could find better opportunities
and the old folks died. There were thou
sands of abandoned homes in the state. and
ne made II his business to contriye some
way To revive the interest of the truants
and oner an Involvement to get them back
AT least Tor visit. He hit on the 'Old
Home Week idea, and arranged for public
celebrations and reunions in all the towns
OF the state simultaneously, and invited as
many Of their former residents as possible
tc attend. While governor he issued an Of
nCial proclamation to all natives of New
Hampshire inviting them to come back and
spend week in their old homes The plan
proved 10 be popular and successful; nearly
every town had a celebration, and tens Of
thousands OF people from all parts of the
country and many parts of the world came
back to the homes they had not seen since