Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/201

 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN HOPKINTON.

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��directed, but very often on one side by the buttery, entry and stairways, and on the other by a bedroom.

As the material prosperity of the ear- ly inhabitants increased, there was evinced a decided inclination to build houses with two stories. Many of the two-storied houses erected were only duplicates of the apartments of the prevailing lower edifice. The matter of size was apparently entertained as an element of importance in the con- struction of two-storied houses. Pride may have borne its part in this matter, since some of these large buildings were never finished completely. On the other hand, the early attractions of the newer western country left many of the provided prospective domestic accommodations unneeded.

The early framed houses in this vi- cinity were very strongly built. Near the top of Putney's hill stands the first parsonage in the town, said to be also the first framed house, built for the Rev. James Scales, the first minister. The ancient edifice is 36 feet and 4 in- ches in length, and 28 feet and 4 in- ches in width. Its posts are 15 feet high, and the slope of the roof is 10 feet. The corner and side posts are of solid oak, 8 inches square, with expan- sions at the top for the accommoda- tion of upper timbers. The plates, of clear, solid hard pine, are 10 1-2 by 7 inches ; the attic beams, of similar stuff, are 9 by 8 inches ; the rafters, of oak, are 6 by 5 inches, the end ones also being braced ; the oak ribs are 6 by 3 inches. The fact that $400 has been spent upon this house since its occupation by the Rev. James Scales, and it is even now unfinished, suggests some idea of the rudeness of the home of that pious gentleman. This house, like many others of its time, was loca- ted with its front to the south, thus en- abling it to serve as a sun-dial. This custom of locating houses was often followed without regard to the position occupied with respect to the highway.

The ancient kitchen fireplace was the largest of all and yearly devoured immense quantities of fuel, selected and arranged as fore-stick, back-stick and superimposed material. Resting

��on fire-dogs or andirons, the fuel burn- ed, while pots and kettles suspended on the crane by pot-hooks and tram- mels, contained the resolving culinary preparations of divers kinds. Baking was done by the assistance of the re- flecting surfaces of the tin baker, or by the cruder method of burying the ma- terial to be cooked in the ashes. The brick oven was also periodically brought into requisition in the prepara- tion of food.

The introduction of stoves* gradually brought about a revolution in domestic affairs. The work of change began about sixty or seventy years ago. The innovation was at first attended with ridicule and scorn. Necessity, how- ever, wrought its own modified results in spite of captious opposition. Among the patterns of stoves first introduced were the James, the Morse, and the Moore. Neither of these would com- pare favorably with the present styles of kitchen stoves, either in economy of fuel or ease of culinary results. How- ever, the adoption of the first stoves was an important step in the path of domestic prudence. With a continued complement of ancient fireplaces in ev- ery dwelling-house, the native supply of fuel would before this time have been practically exhausted.

In the earliest days of this settle- ment, the fire of the domestic hearth was renewed by the use of a flint, a steel and a supply of tinder. The in- troduction of the lucifer match put an end to the less convenient practice of kindling. The introduction of the an- cient clock, with open works and visible pendant weights, relieved society of the necessity of locating dwelling-houses directly with respect to the cardinal points of the compass. The tall, en- cased clock!, now frequently seen, fol-

the first stove ever used in this town. It was of very thick iron castings, and much heavier than an average stove of the present day.
 * Daniel Chase is said to have been the owner of

fMany ancient clocks were made by Abel and Levi Hutchins of Concord. .Sometimes the un- cased works were purchased ot the manufacturers and afterwards enclosed. David Young is said to have been the maker of the first clock-case 1 con- structed here. In the rooms of the New Hamp- shire Antiquarian .Society, at Contoocook, may be seen the first complete tall clock ever brought into this town. It was made in 1733, by 10NATHAN BLASDEL, and was brought to this town in 1776. by Benjamin B. Darling.

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