Vintage Views: A treasured childhood memory

Governor Rollins designed and built a beautiful garden on the site of his childhood home. He named it “West Garden” in honor of his mother and paid particular attention to every single last detail. James W. Spain Collection
Published: 01-13-2024 3:00 PM |
Sometimes a childhood memory is the best treasure ever discovered. It is acquired at a time of innocence when the mind has not been tainted by the rigors of adulthood. It is visited in times of need and fondly recalled. This treasured memory cannot be taken away and only appreciates in value as each year passes leading to the last. A childhood memory holds more value than silver and gold for some because it is held closely in the heart and cherished as much as the day it was found.
Today, we visit the cherished boyhood memory of a child that lived in an old house on the southwest corner of North Main and Washington streets, a gasoline station sits on the exact location today. The house was quite large and constructed by a long-forgotten builder late in the colonial period. It has been said the kitchen alone was 35 feet long and 25 feet wide, hosting a massive brick fireplace for heat and preparing meals, bread and pies in the Dutch oven. There was a long wooden handle attached to a dug well in the back yard where the occupants could gather water for their needs and the low ceilings were crossed with massive oak timbers. A distorted view of the outside world could be seen through the old window glass panes.
In the year 1815 this old home was purchased by John and Nancy West from Haverhill, Massachusetts. This was shortly after the War of 1812 and Nancy was the daughter of General James Montgomery, a very heroic and known General that combatted the British during the War of 1812. John and Nancy moved to Concord when they purchased the home and set up a store to sell wares to our ancestors and rooms were rented to help with the family finances. William Austin ran a store from the building and even Secretary of State Samuel Sparhawk found use of the building as an office. John West added another wing when he was the Concord Town Clerk in 1829.
Life on the corner of North Main and Washington Streets remained grand and the union of John and Nancy West produced several children. Sadly, Mr. West passed away before the age of 50 leaving Nancy with his many fatherless children in this large home. Nancy being frugal and concerned for her finances decided to make a living as a widow by renting rooms to those in need. Her house was once again providing for her children and she hosted some very notable guests in her home. Franklin Pierce had a law office across the street and would sometimes work late and stay in the West home rather than travel to his homestead, New Hampshire Judges Samuel Green and Nesmith frequented the home for a fine meal and night’s sleep. It has also been said that General Lafayette was even entertained at the West home during his visit to Concord.
As the years progressed Nancy West assumed the role of Grandmother to many and was well known for her rooming house and ability to provide a very delicious meal. People such as Henry Ward Beecher and General Phillip Sheridan were amongst the honored guest hosted by Nancy in later years.
As the years progressed and the widowed Mrs. West made a living, her young children continued to grow. One of Nancy West’s daughters married a poor gentleman from Dover named Edward Rollins. He arrived in Concord penniless and sought work to survive. In time he acquired enough to open a Drug Store down on Main Street and he provided a good service, prospering as the years proceeded. Edward Rollins became a gentleman and entered politics, eventually serving in Congress. With his mother in-law still providing rooms for the people visiting Concord he would frequent the house and hold political meetings as the Civil War years were approaching. There was a secret political party known as the “Know Nothings” that met routinely in the West home to discuss the dire needs to preserve the Union of the United States.
It was during this period that we find Edward Rollins living at the West house with his wife and children. The children of Mr. And Mrs. Rollins were certainly quite lively and adored living with their loving Grandmother, Nancy West. This house became a home for the next generation of Rollins children and legends were born. One of the young boys living in the house was Frank West Rollins. He spent all of his childhood years in this home under the watchful eye of his parents. Frank was a prolific story teller in later years and wrote about the mischief he created. He once recounted his exploits on a May Day when he joined dozens of his young friends and ran about his home in the middle of the night blowing tin horns to announce the arrival of May. The May Day tin horn tradition lived for many years in Concord with the youth’s tormenting society in the middle of the night. Most of our ancestors were quite entertained and the wonderful memories were indeed cherished by Frank West Rollins for the remainder of his life.
With a successful father serving in Congress, it was only natural for Frank West Rollins to eventually enter the political arena. Frank was well known and very successful in Concord and became the Governor of New Hampshire about three decades after he blew tins horns to celebrate the arrival of May in the old West house. He certainly treasured his childhood memories and held them very close to his heart.
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The West house fell into disrepair as the years passed and from a distance Governor Rollins witnessed this decay. The sills were rotting and the roof damaged, no longer was the sweet aroma of baking bread and pies evident as they were when he was a child. This decaying building concerned Frank West Rollins, perhaps eroding some of those pleasant years he spent there as a young child. Something had to be done to honor his mother and grandparents that had so graciously entertained guest on this corner and cared for the old building. A tribute of sorts was needed to provide closure for himself while giving back to the community that had supported him and his family for many years.
With this thought in mind Frank West Rollins purchased the old home and removed the decaying structure. When the house was removed a stunning lot remained on the corner of North Main and Washington Streets and Rollins proceeded to consult landscape architects to move forward with the next phase. Governor Rollins designed and built a beautiful garden on the site of his childhood home. He named it “West Garden” in honor of his mother and paid particular attention to every single last detail.
At the completion of his West Garden project, Rollins was very pleased, he accomplished his objective with speed and efficiency and most importantly he preserved a very special place that he held closely in his heart and mind. Rollins wished to share this good fortune with the people of Concord so he deeded the new West Park to the city. The park became a notable spot to enjoy the shade from each tree and the refreshing coolness from the spring fed fountain. Our ancestors would sit and contemplate life for a few moments when they passed West Gardens.
Yes, sometimes a childhood memory is the best treasure ever discovered.