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~ Continued ~
10.
The next stop on the trail is the elaborate Second
Empire style Tuttle Mansion erected in 1875 by
Hiram A. Tuttle, later governor of New Hampshire. The
distinctive Mansard Roof was lost during a fire in 1911,
a month after Gov. Tuttle's death. It was restored by
his widow and today the building appears very much like
when it did when originally constructed. Of particular
interest is the granite stepping stone emblazoned with
the word "Tuttle" by the side of the street. This stone
was used by women to mount horses before the advent of
the automobile.
Tuttle Mansion c1900
11.
Across the street is the Memorial School. This
Neoclassic and Prairie style building erected in 1910,
is notable for its gabled entry portico. The slate roof
is original. The building was a gift to the town by
Governor and Mrs. Tuttle in honor of their daughter,
Harriet Folsom, who was serving on the school board at
her untimely death. the Calvinist Baptist Church
which originally occupied this site was torn down to
make way for the school. Interestingly, the bell on the
front lawn was a gift to the church from the community
at-large as is noted in the inscription.
Calvinist Baptist Church 1854-1910)
Memorial School
1910
12. Returning to the
north side of Main Street you will come to the site of
the original Pittsfield Bank, established in
1850. Its offices were in the two East Rooms of the
former Pinkham Hotel. The remainder of the building was
occupied as a dwelling by Charles H. Carpenter, the
bank's first cashier, and his family. His daughter
Electa, who literally grew up in the banking
business, was elected president in 1915. At the time she
was the only female bank president in NH and one of only
two female bank presidents in the US. Unfortunately the
magnificent brick building was torn down in 1938 to make
way for a gasoline station. The present building was
erected in 1974.
Brick Bank Building
Electa
Goss
13. Further west on
Main Street past the War Memorial in Dustin Park is the
Opera House Block. This large frame commercial
structure, erected in 1883 with Italianate details
including quoins, segmental arched windows and wooden
storefronts, was originally three stories in height.
It was the vision of John Goss, Electa's husband, and
Charles H. Carpenter. After two stories had been
completed they ran out of money and admitted Hiram
Tuttle as a part owner who supplied funds for the third.
This floor, removed in 1963, contained the famous opera
house and was the Town's social center for much of the
Twentieth Century.
Opera House Block
14.
Across the street is the Carpenter Library.
Erected in 1901 in time for Pittsfield's first Old Home
Week, this Neoclassic building, designed by William A.
Butterfield, was a gift to the town by Mr. and Mrs.
Josiah Carpenter. Mrs. Carpenter was the daughter of
James Drake and grew up in the home two buildings to the
east. Mr. Carpenter was a brother to Charles H.
Carpenter, had served as cashier in the Pittsfield Bank,
and subsequently made a fortune in the banking business
in Manchester.
15.
The Second Empire house topped by a Mansard Roof to the
west of the library was built by John Berry
c1875. Mr. Berry was one of the most prominent and
colorful individuals in Pittsfield during the Nineteenth
Century, helping to found Pittsfield Academy, Pittsfield
Savings Bank, and the Suncook Valley Railroad. Because
of his prominence he was affectionately known as "Uncle
John." His son, John M. Berry, moved to Minnesota after
attending Yale College, served in the territorial
legislature, on the board of regents of the state
university, and was elected an Associate Justice of the
Minnesota Supreme Court in 1864 where he served until
his death in 1887.
16. The next building,
known in the early days as the John Berry Stand,
was constructed in 1818. It was one of the first
business establishments on Main Street. Mr. Berry ran a
general store here for decades. After his death Ellery
B. Ring operated a hardware store in the building for
many years. Between 1907 and 1953 it was occupied by the
Valley Times newspaper, and subsequently by
flower shops. Today it serves as an apartment building.
Ellery B. Ring Store
17.
Returning to the North side of Main Street you will come
to Fort Wilkins, erected c1836. This stick
style building with its Nineteenth Century storefront
intact, at one time contained the Pittsfield Savings
Bank, chartered in 1855. The bank's principal asset was
an 18" safe for holding money which was kept behind the
counter of secretary-treasurer Lowell Brown's "tin
plate" shop which also occupied the building at the
time. In 1866 the building was acquired by the infamous
dentist Dr. G. G. Wilkins who also sold firearms and
animal pelts among other items, and thus acquired the
name Ft. Wilkins.
Tuttle Building 1870-76,
Congregational Church 1839-76, and Fort Wilkins
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This trail data/booklet was prepared by Larry Berkson,
President of the Pittsfield Historical Society. Without
his diligence this material would not be available.
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