34 th Annual Reunion of the National
Aldrich Association
The annual Reunion of the National Aldrich Association
was held in Swanzey, NH, July 17- 19. 1998 On Friday July 17, we enjoyed
an early bird dinner at the Best Western in Keene with eighteen family
members present. This was a good time for renewing old friendships and
making new friends. The officers present included the President, John Aldrich,
The Vice President: Jody Aldrich, The Secretary: Alice Pickering Palladini,
The Historian: Bob Criswell.
On Saturday morning we met at the the West Swanzey
Historical Museum, Route 10 - West Swanzey, NH. Twenty four cousins were
with us.From here we traveled to the old Aldrich Cemetery in Richmond.
Members were armed with notepads and papers. A list was compiled of the
names on the stones. Many of them were stones for deceased Aldrichs and
a few were from the Cook and Harris family members. Activity Road Hilltop
Cemetery. (SEE PICTURE)
To see a list of the stones in the cemetery please click (SEE NAMES)
From there we went to the Monadnock View Restaurant,
Troy, NH, where we enjoyed a good lunch and a view of the Mountain. After
lunch we went to to Aldrich Road in East Swanzey for a tour of the old
Amasa Aldrich house. (SEE PICTURE OF HOUSE)
This is a beautiful old house built by Amasa Aldrich around 1800. This
description of the house was written by Carrie Leach, the great granddaughter
of Candice Cook Aldrich.(SEE PICTURE)
Grandmother's kitchen was large and airy. The
ceiling was low. The woodwork painted red. The pine floor yellow and its
broad ungrooved boards were worn down by scrubbing and use to its native
color in many places. There were two outside doors, one opening to the
west and the other to the south. Other doors opened into the walk, the
cheese room and one by a high step up into the living room. A thick plank
was laid down before this entrance to make it easier of access for Grandmother.
Another small door about three feet above the floor, opened into the well
room and within reaching distance hung the ironbound bucket suspended by
a rope over the well which furnished the water for drinking and cooking.
By a hand over hand process it was lowered, filled and pulled up again
and emptied into a pail sitting on a shelf in the nearest corner of the
well enclosure. From there it was lifted up and through this little door
and carried the whole length of the kitchen and deposited upon a she If
near the sink to be used as required. This sink was a wooden affair boxed
up front and end, and underneath this enclosure iron pots and kettles'
were kept. No plumbing here, just an iron pump at one end drawing the water
from a cistern outside. The waste pipe went through the wall to the outside
unprotected in any way, emptying its contents on the ground. On one side
of the large chimney stood (and still stands) a large iron boiler. In this
soap was made, potatoes were boiled for the hogs, water heated for scalding
hogs at the killing time, etc., etc. When this boiler was not in use a
large box stood in front of it and it was not an empty box either for it
was daily filled with wood. When Grandmother was making cheese the tub
containing the milk whaying off rested upon one end of' this box. A long
pole was suspended from the ceiling in the south end of the room. Upon
this in its season hung the yellow rings of pumpkin drying for pies and
strings of apples were often thrown over it to dry. In fact it was used
for sundry purposes as we If. A shorter pole was hung at the east end of
the kitchen and from this when the weather was so severe as to drive the
family and its work into the living room hung long links of savory sausage.
There was also a contrivance near this pole in the ceiling where steelyards
could be attached and weighing done. Before a stove was installed the baking
was done in a large brick oven by a fire being made in it and after the
oven was hot the fire was all drawn out and the bread and pies, etc. were
baked by the heat left in the bricks". The boiling was done in kettles
hung upon a crane in the large fireplace. This crane was's a strong iron
arm that could be swung out over the fire when in use. Broiling was done
over the cools. The dough for cornbread was often spread upon a board and
baked by being placed before the fire. This kitchen served as dining room
too. At the west end stood an oblong table with its 'square legs pointed
red and its size always the some for there were no leaves to be added to
or taken from it. A small cupboard was near holding the dishes used in
serving their frugal meals, regularly and appetizingly served. There were
two small cupboards over the fireplace too high for convenience and they
were used to hold things seldom or never used, a sort of catch-all. This
is my recollection of my Grandmother's kitchen in Swanzey, N. H."
Our next stop was the Mt. Ceaser Cemetery where we saw several Aldrich
burial sites.These included Amasa and his family.
At 5 PM we had supper at the First Congregational
Church, Swanzey Center. At 7 PM there was an out-door band concert just
prior to the 8 PM showing of the Play, "The Old Homestead" at
the Potash Bowl. The band concert and play were enjoyed by all.(SEE
PICTURE) 11:00 AM Annual Meeting and luncheon at the Historical Society
of Cheshire County, 245 Main Street, Keene, NH. The Archive Center was
open for our use. The center contains books, manuscripts, photographs,
maps and business records. Genealogy books included the 6 volumes by A.
J. Aldrich plus many others. Many family members took advantage of the
books in the reference library. A catered luncheon was served. Following
the luncheon President Aldrich opened the reunion meeting with a greeting
to all.
A moment of silence was observed for the departed.
The AJ Aldrich books that are available were ordered for the Historian's
use at present, but belong to the NAA. The George Aldrich Plague will be
on the Stone at Old Cemetery in Mendon, Ma. soon. The Plague is completed
and just needs to be placed on the large stone. A new Aldrich coat-of-arms
was presented and copies were available to members. After conciderable
discussion it was decided that the 1999 Family Reunion would be held in
Northern Rhode Island. John and Jody will be the hosts. As hosts they will
be retained as President and Vice President John Aldrich reported that
a set of Aldrich Genealogy Books had been placed on order with Mrs A.J.
Aldrich.
Although Membership has risen,
dues are down to an all time low.. Suggestions were asked on
how to get especiallly the long-time members to send in their dues.. A
motion was made and accepted, that included in the Fall Newsletter will
be a notation that this will be the last issue sent to members behind in
their dues. The NAA is a non profit organization and the yearly dues of
only $5.00 is the only source of income.. The treasury has always
been small and the Asociation has with in the past done several Historic
Projects, such as an Aldrich Window in the Mendon Historical Museum, and
the George Aldrich Plague in Old Cemetery, plus donations to many Historical
Societies, Churches and etc. visited by the members at reunion time..plus
sending out 2 newsletters a year.. We just cannot continue
without members paying their dues. We are
asking all members to suggest to the NAA sites of future Reunions.. Please
send all suggestions to any Officer listed below, for consideration..
(SEE PICTURE)
President.......John Aldrich (jaldrich@wsii.com)
42 Willow Ln.
Portsmouth. RI 02871
Treasurer ......Doris Coakley
Historian.......Robert Criswell,
Secretary......Alice Pickering Palladini
Before the meeting was adjourned, a well deserved
hand and a Thank You Card was presented to the Pres. John and VP Jody,
for the super job done of the 34th Annual reunion, in NH.
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Members present at at least one of the events:
(to see a picture click here)
Don and Joan Reed Miller
John Clement
Bob and Eleanor Criswell
Phil and Louise Anderson
Alice Pickering Palladini
Allison Palladini
Joe and June Gibbs
Val & Kay Dion Gerald & Mary Helen Hume
Jack and Jacquelyn Murray
Jonathan and Dorothy Aldrich
Richard Scaramelli
Walton A. Williams
Jean M Smith
John & Jody Aldrich
