Monadnock Moment No. 127

Era 6: Development of the Industrial United States -
           1870 to 1900

A Year of Construction

Many of us are familiar with the reports prepared each year on the number of houses built, the amount of money spent on commercial construction, and similar figures for our town, county, or state. Such reports have been compiled for many years. In late December of 1887, one of Keene's weekly newspapers the Cheshire Republican reported on construction and building alterations in Keene for the preceding twelve months. This report makes an interesting comparison to what is happening in the city today.

The newspaper reported the construction of twenty-nine dwellings and alterations or additions to twenty-eight other structures. The most impressive commercial structures built included the Bay State Pharmacal Company factory, the Burdett Chair Company two-story warehouse, and the Dunn & Salisbury Chair Company three-story factory and two-story warehouse.

Other commercial construction included two lumber sheds, a coal shed, livery stable, blacksmith shop, and wheelwright's shop. The construction reports also included an iron railroad bridge, 1 ½ miles of concrete sidewalk, and the Keene Toboggan Club's toboggan chute.

Keene was an active and growing city in the late 1880s. The newspaper listed the construction or alteration of one school, thirteen barns, fifty-six dwellings, twelve commercial buildings, and four miscellaneous structures. The reporter seemed quite impressed that the total amount expended on all of this slightly exceeded the $100,000 figure.