Suncook Village

By Carol Martel

Located within the boundaries of the towns of Allenstown and Pembroke, Suncook, first granted as a township in 1728, has developed a rich history all its own. Railroad transportation was instrumental to the establishment and growth of three large textile mills. The first railroad system, the Concord and Portsmouth line, began in 1852. A second line, the Suncook Valley Railroad, followed in 1869. Drawn by advertisements in Canadian newspapers, French Canadian workers began migrating from Quebec in large numbers. By the late 1800s, Suncook had become known as "le Petit Canada." The power of the Suncook and Merrimack Rivers, scenic beauty in the area, and the connectivity brought through transportation helped transform a small industrial village into a vibrant and lasting community.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781439636206

Carol Martel

Carol A. Martel, author of The History of East Allenstown and Bear Brook State Park, is a historian, research writer, and preservationist. The vintage images in Suncook Village come from numerous private collections, historical societies, and libraries.

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Martel

INTRODUCTION

In August 1728, a tract of land known as Suncook Township was granted by the Province of Massachusetts Bay to Capt. John Lovewell’s men who fought at Pigwacket. The first band of men visited the area in 1729 and shortly thereafter laid claim to the land and settled upon it. Early boundary disputes between the Province of New Hampshire and the Province of Massachusetts Bay resulted in the territory of Suncook being incorporated within two towns, northwestern Allenstown and southwestern Pembroke. Despite early controversies and boundary adjustments, Suncook Village maintains a strong sense of identity that continues into the present day.

Suncook Village is situated between the Suncook River Valley and Merrimack River Valley. The area is bounded by the Merrimack River to the west, Turnpike Road to the east (today known as Route 3), Broadway to the north, and the Allenstown and Hooksett town lines to the south. Suncook has often been an illusive name applied to places extending far beyond its true geographic boundaries. The name Suncook originated from a Native American term meaning rocky river, place of the loon or goose. This term accurately described the Suncook riverbed and the Merrimack riverbed, which provided a natural habitat for ducks and geese. At their confluence, these two rivers created a more than adequate source for natural waterpower. This factor greatly contributed to the development of large mills and, in turn, a densely populated village.

As in all new colonies, life was riddled with the continuous uncertainty of Native American raids. The Buntins, Gaults, and Guays resided along the banks of the Merrimack and Suncook Rivers. In May 1747, James Carr, Robert Buntin, and Buntin’s 10-year-old son Andrew crossed the Merrimack River opposite the mouth of the Suncook River. While working, they were surprised by Native Americans. Carr was shot and Robert and Andrew were captured and taken to Canada. They were sold to a French trader from Montreal, and 11 months later, they were ransomed and returned from Louisburg, Nova Scotia, to New England in the schooner Brittania. Andrew later served in the Revolutionary War.

American life changed dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. In Suncook, the opening of the Middlesex Canal system from Manchester to Concord in 1815 helped merchants to receive and ship more goods via river barges and boats. In 1812, Gen. John Stark’s eldest son, Caleb, owned a cotton mill in Suncook. When Caleb escorted Gen. Marquis de Lafayette on a tour through New Hampshire in 1825, he stopped at his home in the Suncook Village business district.

The canal system was soon followed by the building of the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad line and the Suncook Valley Railroad, nicknamed the Blueberry Express. The scene was set at the confluence of the Suncook and Merrimack Rivers. The force of these rivers provided an adequate water source for powering large industrialized mills. By 1860, a plan for three large textile mills at Suncook was drawn. The village was about to become a part of the great mechanized and industrialized America connected to people and commerce on a national and international level.

The Pembroke Mill was constructed in 1860, the Webster Manufacturing Company was built in 1865, and the largest of all, the China Manufacturing Company, was built in 1868. All three mills were managed by the Suncook Mills Company. New railroads provided transportation for shipping and receiving large amounts of goods. Immigrants from many ethnic backgrounds were recruited in large numbers, particularly the French Canadians. The Suncook Mills built tenements to house the influx of new employees and boardinghouses were opened. The landscape of the once predominantly English village began to change as well as its culture. By the late 1800s, residents were predominantly French Canadian and the language most commonly spoken was French. Suncook Village became known as Le Petite Canada.

As the village grew so did opportunities for employment. Many residents worked for the railroad, brickyards, sawmills, glassworks, or the granite quarry. The Main Street business district bustled and offered every provision or service needed. Trolleys traveled from Concord to Manchester and the Boston and Maine Railroad connected with Manchester, Concord, and Portsmouth. Hotels were built on Main Street to accommodate visitors or travelers. The Bartlett Hotel and Opera House stood five stories tall and was the largest hotel. Hayes Hall and Opera House offered entertainment from local performers, traveling shows, and concerts. There were ice cream parlors, billiard halls, bowling alleys, saloons, barrooms, and a Chinese laundry. Numerous social and cultural organizations were established, meeting at any one of several halls. With all it had to offer, Suncook Village was considered to be one of the most culturally desirable places to live in New England.

In the early 20th century, Suncook began to change. The New England textile industry was adversely affected by the depression. In September 1934, employees of the Suncook Mills went on strike. This dealt a final blow to the Boston-based textile conglomerate. On June 5, 1937, the Suncook Mills sold all of its residential holdings at public auction and placed the mills on the real