172 North Main Street, undated

Collection Name:

George W. Perry Scrapbooks

Title:

172 North Main Street, undated

Creator:

Perry, George W., 1891-1971

Creator Role:

Collector

Accession / Call Number:

1974.045

Object ID:

1974.045.12.030

Type of Material:

graphic material

Physical Description:

1 photograph

Language:

English

Scope and Content:

Undated photographic print of the house at 172 North Main Street in Concord, NH. The caption states, "172 North Main street Built by Dr. Thomas Chadbourne. He came to Concord in 1814-1864 In 1851 he sold the house to Onslow Stearns, Supt. of the Northern Railroad the house was then numbered old style 282 Main street. Dr. Chadbourne moved over the [to] the corner of Main and Montgomery streets." A photocopy of the rest of the caption states, "This was one of the oldest brick houses in Concord. Within its walls have been witnessed some of the most elegant and noted social functions which are recorded in the annals of New Hampshire society. No less than two presidents have graced its spacious drawing-rooms with their presence, and every man of note in New Hampshire for half a century has enjoyed the liberal hospitality of the family. It was here that Governor Stearns, one of the ablest of New Hampshire's chief executives, breathed his last, on December 29, 1878. He settled in Concord in 1845, born Bellerica in 1810. Elected Governor of N.H. in 1869, relected [reelected] to the same oddice [office] in 1870. August 22d, 1877, President Hayes and party arrived in Concord. Later the party, including Mrs. Hayes and ladies, repaired to the residence of ex-Governor Stearns, where tea was served, after which they attended the grand reception tendered by the city at the opera house. In this house Governor Stearns, widow received the honors paid to her respected name and her personal worth with great dignity and affability. John Estabrook occupied this house in 1833. Mrs Estabrook told this story. President Jackson was entertained at the chief tavern, then known as the Eagle Coffee House. The resources of the tavern were hardly adequate to the occasion; in fact, no room was suitably furnished for such a guest; so they sent to Mrs. Estabrook and borrowed her best bed, a substantial mahogany, which was cheerfully loaned for the occasion. John's brother William W. kept a dry goods store locally known as the 'Great Eight,' from its number in Stickney's block. This house under Governor Stearns ownship [ownership], two presidents, - Grant, on April 25, 1869 and Hayes on August 22, 1877 - spent the night under its roof. A large evening reception was given to President and Mrs. Grant in this house. The Hayes visit was particularly notable, for the President was accompanied by Mrs Hayes, their sons, Vice-President Wheeler, Secretary Evarts, Attorney-General Devens, and other officials. A banquet was held at the Eagle Hotel during the day, and a brilliant reception was given the presidential party at the opera house in the evening. Another notable guest at the Stearns house was General William T. Sherman, then in the height of this fame, soon after the close of the Civil War. The large tree 'Great Elm' on the left of the photograph was the south marker from the Walker range stone at the head of Main street, all lot measurements from the range stone to the Great Elm were controled [controlled] from these, the next stone was about opposite Fayette street..." See item for full caption.

Subjects:

Dwellings , Trees

Locations:

Concord, NH

People:

Perry, George W., 1891-1971

Terms of Use:

For permission to reproduce or publish material from this collection, please contact the New Hampshire Historical Society. Researchers are responsible for following all copyright and intellectual property laws.

Credit Line:

Gift of May Nutter.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Item

Box Number:

2