Bell Cottage Record Book, 1860-1940, 1987

Title:

Bell Cottage Record Book, 1860-1940, 1987

Creator:

Bell family

Accession / Call Number:

2020.049

Object ID:

2020.049

Date:

1860-1940, 1987

Type of Material:

textual record

Physical Description:

1 volume plus some loose photographs and documents ; 0.21 linear feet

Language:

English

Scope and Content:

The Bell Cottage record book documents the visitors and events of the Bell family and their guests as the house located at Little Boar's Head in North Hampton, NH, between 1860 and 1940. The book begins with a letter from Luther V. Bell to his niece with a plan for the original cottage. The primary occupants of the cottage during this period were the Bell sisters including Lucy Bell (1838-1920), Eliza Upham Bell (about 1834-1913), and Mary Bell White (1832-1914). Lucy and Eliza Bell never married, but Mary Bell married Nathaniel White of Lawrence, MA. When not at the cottage, Lucy and Eliza primarily resided in Exeter, and Mary lived in Lawrence and Washington, DC. Mary and Nathaniel had a daughter named Eliza, who is also frequently mentioned. The Bell sisters' brother, Charles Upham Bell, resided in Andover, MA, and his family also visited the cottage. The activities of the sisters, their families, and other visitors to the cottage are well documented. The building of the Union Chapel at Little Boar's Head is particularly well told. There are also accounts of storms and other weather events, as well as a shipwreck and the explosion at Henderson's Point at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1905. Changes to the cottage are shown with tipped in photographs through the years. There are also photographs of other cottages built in the area, including Studebaker Cottage, as well as views of the area. The book is also a guest book, with a list of guests and their comings and goings. The record book also contains several photographs of Clara Fowler (1847-1931). The book was given to William Plumer Fowler on August 9, 1954. William Fowler would later write two histories of Little Boar's Head. In addition to some loose photographs, there is also a program from an event commemorating Bell Cottage in 1987, two typewritten excerpts from the book, and an early drawing of the cottage.

Subjects:

Cottages , Architectural drawing , Photographs , Guest books , United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Locations:

North Hampton, NH
Portsmouth, NH
Rye, NH

People:

Bell, Eliza Upham, 1834-1913 , Bell, Lucy, 1838-1920 , Bell, Luther V., 1806-1862 , Fowler, Clara M., 1847-1931 , Fowler, William Plumer , White, Mary, 1832-1914

Organizations:

Bell family
Fowler family
Union Chapel (North Hampton, NH)
White family

Terms of Use:

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

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society purchase.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Item