Pembroke News : Allenstown

Book shows what Suncook looked like through the years

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:57:00 GMT

By MARK PETERSON

Walking through Suncook Village can be like a walk into the past, and Allenstown author Carol Martel takes a deeper look into the historic community’s past with her book, “Images of America: Suncook Village.”

Martel was born in Manchester, but takes a great interest in the history of Allenstown, where she has lived for the past 30 years. Her interest in researching the community’s history began when she moved to Allenstown, and when she sought information about the house she was living in.

Martel was particularly interested in learning exactly how old her home was. After learning that many of the town’s records had been destroyed by a fire, her curiosity was sparked. Martel continued to do her own research and consulted with others researching the town, which eventually led to the publication of her book, “The History of East Allenstown and Bear Brook State Park” in 2003.

Martel intended to publish a follow-up book based on West Allenstown, but couldn’t separate the history of western Allenstown and the Suncook Village. The idea for the follow-up book eventually evolved into Martel’s latest book, “Images of America: Suncook Village,” released last March.

In the book’s introduction, Martel addresses the issue of exactly where Suncook begins and ends. For many, it is unclear exactly where Suncook is and how it is different from Allenstown or Pembroke. Suncook isn’t actually a town, it is a census-designated place, or a counterpart of other towns or villages. In the introduction of her book, Martel outlines Suncook’s boundaries as being the Merrimack River to the west, Route 3 to the east, Broadway to the north, and the Allenstown-Hooksett line to the south.

“Images of America: Suncook Village” brings the community’s history to life with more than 200 photos of Suncook from the 19th and 20th centuries. Martel describes it as a pictorial history of Suncook. With the help of in-depth captions, black-and-white photographs do all of the work in illustrating the history of the Suncook community. Instead of chronicling Suncook’s history in chronological order, the book is broken into nine chapters of photographs.

Each chapter’s photographs revolve around a clear theme, such as churches and schools, or the mill industry. Martel said the images of the large textile mills, and the workers who made them run were among her favorites.

“I think that they really convey a lifestyle at that point in time. In essence also (they convey) the cultural lifestyle, how people lived,” said Martel.

“Images of America: Suncook Village” offers readers photographs of buildings that are still around, such as the recognizable clock tower on Main Street. Readers will see buildings that have been modified, such as the Pembroke Village School, which has been expanded or learn about places that no longer exist, such as the Suncook ball field which was where the Suncook Wastewater Treatment Plant now sits.

As much as buildings and railroads have been vital to Suncook’s rich history, Martel acknowledges that it’s been just as much about the people living in the area. “I think there are a lot of good people in the area that have accomplished a lot of wonderful things,” said Martel.

Semiquincentennial to be highlighted at Pembroke-Allenstown Old Home Day

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:44:00 GMT

By KAREN DANDURANT

Old Home Day used to be a tradition where town residents who moved away would return one day a year.

Now it is simply a reason to have a party, and this year’s party for Pembroke residents is truly special. The town is celebrating its 250th anniversary during Pembroke-Allenstown Old Home Day.

Since half of 500 is 250, the celebration has been named the semiquincentennial (half of five centuries), or Semi-Q for short.

The events begin on Friday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m., with the Pembroke vs. Allenstown softball game at Memorial Field in Pembroke.

“Thanks to Regis Lemire, the softball game is coming together and we have coaches and umpires and 11 players from Pembroke and four from Allenstown,” said Fred Kline, Semi-Q committee chairman. “Between additional contacts and people we will draft, Regis is confident that the game will go well.”

Kline added that, thanks to the efforts of resident Lorette Girard, Friday’s concession will be donated and prepared by the folks at Studio Three, a local business.

“We also we will be selling T-shirts and November ball tickets there, Kline said. “We have volunteers for the cashier’s job, including Alane Rapazza, state representative, Dianne Schuett and many others.”

A raffle will take place at the softball game for tickets to see the Wailers, of Bob Marley fame, at the Casino Ballroom. These are skybox seats, and the show is Aug. 26. Four tickets were donated by Bryan Christiansen of Comcast.

Saturday, Aug 22, is the official Old Home Day for both Pembroke and Allenstown. So, of course there is a parade, run jointly by both towns.

“The parade will start at 10 a.m.,” Kline said. “It will begin at School Street in Allenstown. Then it goes to Main Street and crosses the bridge into Pembroke. It proceeds up Broadway to Pleasant Street and then down to Memorial Field.”

Parade goers will get a sweet treat as they watch the town’s parade float. It includes a three-layer 6-foot-wide, 6-foot-tall cake. There is also a Semi-Q breakfast, including pancakes, at the Jewell Lodge from 7 to 10 a.m. and a walk-through window at the corner of Main and Union streets from 8 a.m. to noon, including homemade muffins.

The cost is $4 for breakfast for adults, $2 for children and $1.50 for a muffin and coffee. Also featured in the parade is the old horse-drawn town hearse.

Tours will be conducted by the Historic Society during the weekend of Old Home Day, starting each day at 2 p.m. from the Pembroke Town Hall, and the Grange will host an open house on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A bit of history According to the community Web site, Pembroke’s history began in 1725 when Captain John Lovewell (sometimes Lovell) and his intrepid band of Indian fighters, recruited from the towns around Dunstable, Mass., decided to drive the Indians out of what is now New Hampshire.

According to best available information, Francis Doyen, one of Lovewell’s soldiers and his wife were the first white inhabitants who ever wintered in the township, 1728-1729, and they may have been the first permanent settlers, says the Web site.

Pembroke was formed through three land grants. The Bow grant was granted in May 20, 1727. The Mason grant, presently known as the Masonian claim of 1621, was granted by the Council of New England, established in Plymouth, County of Devon, England. The Suncook grant of Aug. 6, 1728, was granted by His Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in General Court. The inhabitants of Buck Street and Bow, having boundaries adjacent to the Suncook boundary line, became discontented with the Township of Bow. They petitioned the New Hampshire House of Representatives to be joined with Suncook.

In 1736, members of the Congregational Church chose the Rev. Aaron Whittemore to be pastor. Sometime near the period of incorporation, the Presbyterians built their own meetinghouse “on a little knoll covered with a pine grove on the west side of Pembroke.” The first pastor was the Rev. Daniel Mitchell. Eventually the Congregational and Presbyterian churches were reunited in Pembroke.

Incorporation of Pembroke was granted on Nov. 1, 1759, “authorizing the levying and collecting such Province Tax as shall be imposed upon them by law as any other Town or Parish in this Province.”

On the passage of the act of incorporation, the Plantation of Suncook ceased to be and the Town of Pembroke took its place in the sisterhood of the Commonwealth of New Hampshire to enjoy all the rights and privileges belonging to towns.

About 1807, three men came to Pembroke: Dr. Abel Blanchard, the Rev. Abraham Burnham and Boswell Stevens Esq. Dr. Blanchard was not a person of good health and began to fail about 1817. He died March 15, 1818. In his will dated Jan. 15, 1818, Dr. Blanchard (having no family of his own and after making bequests to his friends) left the rest of his property to found a “public school or academy in Pembroke.” The school (although for many years called “Blanchard Academy”) was incorporated June 25, 1818, as Pembroke Academy. Fire has destroyed the original buildings, but the academy, now a public high school serving Allenstown, Pembroke, Epsom, Chichester and Deerfield, continues to be a vital institution in Pembroke.

A new class of graduates

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:43:00 GMT

By Lauren Sausser

The first instinct Bridget Sargent had at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, was to hit the snooze button.

But then she remembered she had to graduate.

“Once I was awake, I was excited that it was graduation,” said Sargent, a Pembroke Academy senior from Allenstown.

Sargent and her friend Lynn Noonan worked together to make sure their sashes were straight and their caps were pinned on correctly. Both will attend the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord this fall.

All the graduating seniors were abuzz about future plans that morning.

Senior Kurtis Chesley is shipping off to Illinois in a few weeks for basic training. He is joining the Navy; Tyler Fritz will head to NHTI to study video game design.

Savannah Fitzpatrick, the senior class treasurer, is excited about attending Plymouth State University this fall, but was more focused on the speaking part she had to deliver in front of hundreds of family and friends who turned out for the graduation ceremony.

Fitzpatrick also presented awards to Pembroke Academy faculty.

“I’m nervous about speaking,” Fitzpatrick said before the program. “I feel like I was in first grade last week. These last four years have gone by so fast.”

More than 200 seniors received diplomas on the athletic fields of Pembroke Academy yesterday morning. The rain held off, and the grass was dry enough to set the picture- perfect backdrop for the ceremony.

“When I looked at her this morning, I thought that by the end of the day, she’ll be on her own,” said Donna Hall, mother of graduate Alex Hall, who will attend the University of Hartford in Connecticut.

“It’s gone by very quickly. We’ll definitely miss her, but we’re excited for the opportunities ahead,” she said.

Andrew Gosselin, father of senior Stephanie Gosselin, said there could not be a prouder parent on the athletic field yesterday.

“I know my daughter has a head on her shoulders above most others,” Gosselin said. “She’s graduating from Pembroke Academy in the top 10 percent of her class. She knows exactly who she is, and what she wants to be. It’s a very proud moment.”

West, Central and Memorial high schools also held graduations on June 20.

Road rage beating stopped by off-duty cop

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:19:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

An Allenstown man was beaten with a baseball bat by two Manchester men in a road rage incident.

Marty Beauliveau, 29, of Allenstown, suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment after the incident on Route 3 near the intersection of Route 106, according to Pembroke police.

An off-duty Henniker police officer who lives locally and was on his way home after his shift saw the beating, according to Pembroke Police Chief Scott Lane, and was able to intervene before any serious injury was caused.

Mike Emerson, 22, and Troy Nutter, 27, both of Manchester, were driving down Route 3 on Friday, May 30, at around 5:45 p.m. behind Kristen Turcotte, 30, of Pembroke.

Emerson and Nutter told police they became upset after Turcotte allegedly cut them off, and when she pulled over by the intersection with Route 106 they got out of the car to confront her, said Lane.

They were unaware that Beauliveau, Turcotte’s boyfriend, was traveling right behind them.

They also didn’t know that officer Michael Martin of the Henniker Police Department was traveling south on Route 3 and witnessed the altercation that ensued when Beliveau left his car to confront Emerson and Nutter.

After an argument, Nutter allegedly got a baseball bat from his vehicle and hit Beauliveau. He got only a whack or two in before Martin was able to intervene and held both Nutter and Emerson at gunpoint until Pembroke police arrived. “We are very fortunate that officer Beliveau happened on the scene. If not, Beliveau’s injuries may have been much more serious,” Lane said. “He really did an outstanding job of stopping it.”

Nutter was charged with first degree assault, a Class A felony carrying a maximum sentence of 7.5 to 15 years in prison, and disorderly conduct. He has been released on $500 cash bail.

At the time of his arrest, Nutter was wearing a T-shirt which was emblazened with the words, “I have no off button.”

Emerson was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, and has been released on personal recognizance.

Both Nutter and Emerson are scheduled to answer to their charges in Hooksett District Court on Tuesday, June 24.

Bridge opens – Recent Minnesota bridge collapse forces quick work on Suncook doubledecker bridge construction

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:29:00 GMT

BY SUSAN WARE

The doubledeck Allenstown-Pembroke Bridge, which carries Route 3 traffic across the Suncook River, failed a state inspection on Friday, Aug. 3, forcing the opening of the new replacement bridge on Tuesday, Aug. 7.

The inspection was prompted by the collapse of a Minnesota bridge on Aug. 1. The following day the Federal Highway Administration ordered an immediate inspection of all bridges across the country. The bridge that collapsed was a deck truss design, and the U.S. has 750 of these bridges. In New Hampshire, there are four.

In addition to the Allenstown-Pembroke Bridge, inspectors focused on the Queen City Bridge, Manchester, the Ashland-Bridgewater Bridge and the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge that spans the river between Portsmouth and Maine.

“The Allenstown-Pembroke Bridge is just not a good structure. It has required constant monitoring and we have had to add strengthening supports many, many times,” said Mark Richardson, the head of the state Bridge Design bureau.

The bridge gets heavy use and for the past few years has been in place while a new bridge is constructed next to it.

While the new bridge was scheduled to open at some point this month, the inspection on Aug. 3 changed those plans.

Richardson made the decision to have crews work through the weekend to finish the new bridge so that traffic could use it and the old Allenstown-Pembroke Bridge could be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 7.

“Because we had so many concerns once we did the close-up inspection, there was no other choice but to close that bridge as soon as possible,” said Richardson.

The access to the old bridge has been blocked off with barrels and barriers, and traffic is moving over the smooth pavement of the new bridge.

Richardson said a contractor has been selected to remove the old bridge, and that a date has not been set yet.

School aid scare

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:57:00 GMT

BY NICHOLAS BROWN

The SAU 53 superintendent said he and other school officials throughout the state are in the dark about reports that the governor’s proposed budget could greatly reduce state funding to school districts, including Pembroke, Allenstown and Epsom.

“Other than the news articles, we haven’t seen anything,” said SAU 53 Superintendent Tom Haley. “Nothing official is out there.”

A daily paper reported that the governor’s proposed budget calls to give all New Hampshire school districts a flat 5 percent increase in state adequacy funding. Most school districts have already firmed up their own proposed budgets, some of which call for dramatically higher amounts of revenue from the state, as projected in November by the state Board of Education.

Allenstown’s operating budget projects a 7.8 percent increase, while Pembroke’s budget shows an 18 percent increase. Epsom’s proposed budget predicts a 41 percent spike in state aid. The governor’s budget would mean that Allenstown could be short in state aid by $108,000, while Pembroke and Epsom could each be out more than $550,000.

If the school budgets in those towns pass, local property taxpayers would be left to make up the loss in revenue. But Haley, who said he hasn’t received any formal notification of the governor’s plan from the state Department of Education, the Department of Revenue Administration or the governor’s office, said he’s not sure what to make of the news.

“It’s something we don’t know an awful lot about,” said Haley. “We’re all a little bit in the dark right now.”

Haley said his impression is that in order for the governor’s reported plan to work, it would have to gain favor from the Legislature to override previous legislation that allowed school districts to count on projections from the state education department. He said it could potentially be months before school districts know exactly where they stand.

“It’s awfully hard to react to something we know so little about,” he said.

Ice sculpture - Second-year coach creates different atmosphere at rink

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:54:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

HENNIKER – There are those who talk of being different, and there are those who simply are. The Pembroke hockey team is proving itself the latter in this young season.

A year removed from a 4-14 mark and five removed from its first and last playoff appearance, the Spartans are after more than just goals and assists in Division III this season.

Armed with young talent, advanced systems and a defensive core that’s the base of it all, Pembroke coach Marc Noel is in search of a new culture and a postseason berth in his second season behind the bench.

A single win – a 7-3 victory over Monadnock on Dec. 13 – and one hard-fought loss – a 6-5 setback at John Stark on Friday, Dec. 15 – entering a game vs. Somerswoth on Wednesday, Dec. 20, don’t ultimately illustrate that. But it’s a start.

Last season, Pembroke walked away from Lee Clement Arena as 10-0 losers to Stark. On Friday, it erased deficits of 2-0, 3-2 and 5-4 before a Generals short-handed goal with 2:27 to play sank its hopes of an early season upset.

It was a “small victory,” Noel said, but perhaps a bigger sign of things to come.

“We have a different team this year,” said Noel, the coach at Goffstown before coming to Pembroke. “These guys traditionally have had losing seasons for a number of a years and part of me being here the last two years is trying to undo that. It’s not OK to lose. You want to play to win, and you want to play hard. And these guys played hard tonight.”

In changing the face of the program, Noel has kept an eye on the broad spectrum while fine-tuning the details. He’s introduced college-based systems into this team’s play, meaning Pembroke’s creating more movement around the net with the hopes of creating more offensive opportunities.

Oddly enough, Pembroke’s best offense starts with its defense, Noel said.

Led by senior defensemen Evan McGarry and Ryan D’Entrement, sophomore Doug Turnbull and freshman standout Jamison Syphers, the Spartans work from their own end out. Still, even without what Noel would classify as a pure scorer, they’re relying on a number of forwards to clean up “in the trenches.”

Senior captain Tyler Rumfelt has taken the lead so far, scoring four times against Monadnock and once more against Stark, but he’s not alone. Sophomore Jen Poulin scored twice on Friday, V.J. Ranfos scored once and linemate Jordan MacRae assisted on Rumfelt’s score.

Poulin’s linemates, Alex Ari and J.R. Jarnigan, are also expected to contribute, along with third-liners Corey Pinsonneault, Matt Sweeney and Adam Gray.

The goalies, sophomore Zachary Gagnon and senior Torin Barker, are currently splitting time in net, but Noel said he hopes one of the two asserts himself as the season continues.

The Spartans have a different dynamic this year, Noel said, and with officials tightening up on interference calls, PA is doing what it takes to stay out of the penalty box and in line for that coveted playoff spot.

“We used to be all nasty and very, very in the penalty box all the time, but now we’re out of that, pushing hard and playing strong, being physical,” Poulin said. “We always want to win, but you don’t go in thinking you’re just gonna (win).”

Spartans give it their best shot - Defense is solid, but PA must score

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 20:51:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

LACONIA – Without her top four scorers or rebounders from last season – who, not coincidently, were the same four people – Pembroke girls basketball coach Rose Galligan has someone in mind among her Spartans to help pick up the slack.

All of them.

In a season that’s done Pembroke no favors thus far in terms of its schedule, Galligan has looked up and down her 13-person roster for a spark, and so far has seen some flashes despite the 0-3 start entering a game Tuesday, Dec. 12, at Kearsarge.

In a 50-35 loss to Laconia on Friday, Dec. 8, eight different Spartans scored as Pembroke put forth a valiant comeback, cutting a 15-point deficit to four with 5:40 left in the fourth quarter.

A late Laconia charge ultimately put the game away, but the loss was consistent with the two others Pembroke already suffered: its solid defense couldn’t survive without a consistent offense, especially against some of the top teams in Class I. Entering Tuesday, Pembroke’s first three opponents – Lebanon, Merrimack Valley and the Sachems – were a combined 12-1.

“I think we’ve played very, very well defensively,” Galligan said. “We just have some trouble with our shooting, so that’s something we need to work on. We like driving and dishing, and we do move the ball well. But I only have one starter back (in senior Emily Parker), so the kids have to get used to playing with each other. And they have to believe in what they’re doing.”

Believing, as far as senior captain Michelle Stanyan is concerned, isn’t the problem. Even without last year’s senior stars Kelly Thomas and Kayleigh Robinson, the Spartans have confidence they’ll turn it around, Stanyan said, even if the offense isn’t there just yet.

They have chemistry – the majority of the team has played AAU or other sports together – and an upperclassman-laden group that’s just now gaining the necessary experience. Besides Parker and Stanyan, Galligan starts two more seniors in Heather Farley and Leah Holzmacher, as well as junior Kaitie Scofield. Junior captain Faye Lesniewski, who had six points on Friday, provides a spark off the bench, along with sophomore Charissa Elwell, the team’s leading scorer against Laconia with eight; Sam Boisvert, a junior; and sophomore Mollie Griggs.

Juniors Holly Brasley and Lisa Swanson, freshmen Shannon Smith and Jess Vincent, who’s currently out with an injury, round out the lineup.

“So it’s a rebuilding year,” Stanyan said. “It will take us a few games, but I think when we come back in January, we’ll be up to where we should be.

“The scores,” she later added, “don’t show how we play.”

Water threat, State fueling station draws fear of water contamination

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:52:00 GMT

By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Pembroke officials are urging residents to speak out against a state Department of Transportation fueling facility planned for construction in the aquifer that feeds water to Pembroke, and parts of Allenstown, Hooksett and Concord.

The state is hosting a public informational meeting about the plan on Monday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., at the Pembroke Academy cafeteria.

Some local officials have been adamantly against the state’s plans for three 10,000-gallon fueling tanks off Route 106 for months, and contend it’s an imminent threat to Pembroke’s public water supply.

“The public’s health is at risk here,” said Pembroke Water Works Superintendent Paul Whittemore. “I’m not going to lay down and say we can’t stop this. I think we can.”

The Route 106 fueling station which would be the largest of more than 90 statewide would be placed at the site of the Department of Transportation’s Mechanical Services Division, just north of the Pembroke town line. The fueling station planned to store fuel for state vehicles would replace a current facility at Stickney Avenue, Concord.

The state is proposing safety measures well exceeding state standards for the tanks including two layers of fiberglass lining surrounded by a concrete vault.

But Whittemore said engineering can’t always protect against human error.

“It’s the operation of the facility that’s going to cause contamination to the groundwater,” he said. “We’re not talking it might contaminate, we’re talking it will contaminate eventually.”

The state has envisioned the Route 106 location for the facility since 2004. Since then, the state agency has fielded complaints from local state representatives in Pembroke and Concord, as well as other state representatives. The governor’s office has been reviewing the plans in recent months.

The Department of Transportation has already had informational sessions with the Concord Planning Board, which can’t enforce its zoning regulations on the state project.

The upcoming meeting with Pembroke is strictly for the state to present information about its plan and gather feedback, said Pembroke Town Administrator Troy Brown, and local boards won’t have an official say on whether the plan moves forward.

Brown said the issue carries significance beyond the town borders.

“What’s to say that other communities aren’t going to need this water supply 10 years from now?” he said.

Thomas Ballestero, a University of New Hampshire professor and engineer who who designed the Pembroke well nearest the proposed fueling facility, warned against the state plan to local officials.

“By allowing the construction of a refueling facility on this formation, we have basically learned nothing from our past mistakes,” he wrote to Whittemore. “In my opinion, it is not a question of ‘if’ a fuel spill will occur, but rather ‘when’ and ‘how much.’”