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MASON.
IIlLLSBOKOUGH COUNTY. The
surface of Mason is uneven, but
the soil is rich and productive, and
yields good crops of corn, oats,
potatoes and hay. The soil in the
valleys is exceedingly rich and
free from early frosts. For this
reason excellent grapes and
peaches are produced. Some of
the finest graperies and peach
orchards to be found in the State
are in Mason. In 1872 the north-
west part of Mason was disannex-
ed, and the town of Greenville
formed, in which is included near-
ly all the water power in the old
town.
Employments. Agriculture is
the principal employment of the
inhabitants.
There are
several granite quarries and the
stone being of a superior quality,
it will soon be considered a val-
uable resource.
Resources. Productions of the
soil, $ 55,000; mechanical labor,
$ 14,000; stocks and money at in-
terest, $ 10,275; deposits in savings
banks, $20,000; stock in trade,
$ 10,000; from summer tourists,
$ 1,500.
Churches and Schools. Congre-
gational Church, Rev. Daniel
Goodwin, pastor. There are six
schools in town. Average length
of schools, for the year, twenty-
two weeks. Mr. John Boynton, a
native of Mason, left a fund of
$ 10,000, the interest of which is
to be devoted to public schools.
Libraries. There are two pri-
vate libraries, of 500 volumes each.
First Settlements. Mason was
granted and known by the name
of Number One, August 26, 1768.
An effort to settle here was made
in 1751. Enoch Lawrence and
Deacon Nathan Hall made a per-
manent settlement, in 1752. |
First Ministers. Rev. Jonathan
Searle, ordained in 1772, dismissed
in 1782; Rev. Ebenezer Hill, or-
dained in 1790. A Congregational
Church was formed in 1772, and a
Baptist Church organized in 1786.
Boundaries. North by Wilton,
east by Brookline, south by
Ashby, Mass., and west by New-
Ipswicli. Area of improved land,
6,500 acres.
Distances. Forty-three miles
south from Concord, and fifteen
south-west from Amherst.
Railroads. The Peterborough
and Shirley branch of the Fitch-
burg Railroad passes through this
town.
MEREDITH.
Belknap County. In 1855 the
eastern portion of this town was
set off and formed the present
town of Laconia, and included the
thriving villages of Lake Village
and Meredith Bridge, on the west
side of the Winnipiseogee River.
Meredith is still a large and im-
portant town, in agriculture, man-
ufactures and trade, and as a resort
of summer tourists. As a farming
town it is surpassed by but few
in the State. The soil is deep, fer-
tile, easily cultivated, and many
of the farms beautifully situated
on the shores of Lake Winnipiseo-
gee, which washes a large portion
of its southern and north-eastern
borders. At Meredith Village
there is one of the best water priv-
leges in the State, which is con-
trolled by the Meredith Mechan-
ics’ Association, with a capital of
$50,000. Besides the mimufacto-
ries in the village, it is the centre |
