HISTORY OF WATERVILLE (VALLEY), GRAFTON COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886 by Hamilton Child,Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, June 1886 page 635 HISTORY OF WATERVILLE (VALLEY) NH Waterville is a wild mountain township in the eastern part of the county, lying in lat. 43 degrees 48' and long. 71 degrees 50', bounded north by Livermore, east and south by the county line, and west by Thornton. THe town was granted to Josiah Gillis, Moses Foss Jr. and others, June 29, 1819, and was known as "Gillis and Foss grant." It was incorporated July 1, 1829. Wild, rough and mountainous, its surface mostly covered with a dense forest of pine, hemlock, maple and birch, Waterville presents some of the best scenery in the county, in many parts becoming grandly sublime, Tripyramid mountain, in the eastern part, attaining an altitude of 4,200 feet. Swift and Mad rivers are the principal streams, though there are numerous brooks abounding with trout, and two ponds. The town has no postoffice and only seven or eight resident families, though hundreds of tourists flock here each season. The hunting and fishing are said to be unequalled. DESCRIPTION OF WATERVILLE in 1885 In 1880 Waterville had a population of fifty-four souls. In 1885 the town had two school districts and two common schools. It has one school-house, valued at $200.00. There were seven children attending school, taught during the year by two female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $16.00. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $106.00, while the expenditures were $103.00 with Samuel Dolloff, superintendent. BUSINESS, HOTELS AND MANUFACTURES THE ELLIOTT HOUSE, formerly the Greeley House, Silas B. Elliott, proprietor, cares well for these tourists who come here to enjoy nature in one of her wildest phases. The hotel is located at the extreme head of Mad river valley, and twelve miles from Campton, the nearest railroad station, to which a stage runs daily during the summer season. This hotel was established as early as 1831, by Nathaniel Greeley, when guests were obliged to walk a long distance to reach the house. Mr. Greeley and his sons continued the business until 1884, when it was taken by the present firm. Views of some of the finest scenery in the mountains may be obtained from the surrounding peaks. THere are also ten trout brooks within a day's fishing. ARNOLD S. DRAKE'S SAW-MILL, on Mad river, road 3, was built by the present proprietor in 1860, who cust about 40,000 feet of lumber per annum. SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN The settlement of the town was commenced by Moses Foss, one of the original proprietors, who, about 1819, located upon the farm now occupied by the W.C. Oaks. Mr. Foss remained here until 1848, when he removed to Thornton, where he died. The central part of the town, where the Elliott House now is was first settled by Nathaniel Greeley, William Snow, Parker Sargent and John Kennison. Mr. Greeley felled the first tree and put up the first house, in 1829. Kennison remained only a short time, but Snow stayed until his death. There was then nothing but a foot-path, and the nearest house was four miles distant. The wagon road was cut through here in 1831. (end)