HHS Receives LCHIP Grant!

The Haverhill Historical Society has received a grant of $10,000 from LCHIP, the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. This is the second grant LCHIP has awarded to support preservation work on Pearson Hall, one of the most significant academic structures to survive in New Hampshire.

The new LCHIP grant will help the Historical Society complete the exterior restoration of Pearson. Work will begin in 2013 and will include removal of the remnants of a former addition, restoration of the brickwork, reopening of windows and door spaces, and installation of new windows and doors to match the rest of the building. A replica of the original weathervane, crafted by board member Dick Ekwall, will also be installed.

The Historical Society ultimately plans to reopen a fully renovated Pearson Hall as a regional history museum.

Built for the Haverhill Academy in 1816, Pearson Hall initially housed both the academy and, until 1846, the Grafton County courts. Over time, the academy also shared Pearson with a library, Methodist worship hall, and Masonic meeting place. The building remained part of the local school system until 1992.

Pearson Hall was one of only eighteen projects to receive LCHIP funding in the 2012 round of grants. LCHIP is an independent state authority that provides matching grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to protect and preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources. The grants just awarded will support protection of twelve historic structures dating from 1709 to 1950 and the permanent conservation of 2904 acres. 

Incorporated in 1794, Haverhill Academy represented a pioneering stage of private secondary education. Pearson Hall, with a largely intact exterior and with some original features surviving on the interior, is one of a small group of New Hampshire academy structures to survive from the early 1800s; others include Atkinson Academy (1803), Portsmouth Academy (1809), and Pinkerton Academy building (1814) in Derry. 

“Pearson Hall is a significant feature in both the history and the landscape of Haverhill,” notes Historical Society president Edith Celley; “we look forward to giving the building a new life as a history museum and conservation center.”

Pike Manufacturing Co.

The Historical Society has recently received a donation of letters and photographs pertaining to the history of Pike, including these two fascinating pictures featuring the Pike Manufacturing Company.

The first is believed to be of the company's display at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The location of the second is unclear.

E. B. Pike and Herbert Smith

More Collections Clean-Up

HHS Trustee Mike Marshall and consulting curator Kimberly Alexander continue to lead the Historical Society's effort to organize and assess the collections. This work will facilitate our eventual move to the new Pearson Hall Museum.

Here are some further highlights from the collection:

The items in the picture on the right are labelled "Watercolor 'Bedell Covered Bridge' by Mr. Ross"; "ballot box marked Benton"; and "curtain pulley from the Woodsville Opera House."

In January, HHS intern Ariel Myers will return, and among other projects, hopes to tackle the contents of this map cabinet.

Fall Collections Clean-Up!

Last weekend, October 13 & 14, several members of the HHS board and friends spent time reviewing collections in the Ladd Street School and the Museum as part of the ongoing work with the historical society's artifacts and manuscripts. This preliminary work is in preparation for the move to the new HHS location at Pearson Hall, and was the first of several assessment and clean-up days.

The crew started at Ladd Street School and ended at the Haverhill Library. We wanted to share a few images of the day:

Ladd Street School

Mike Marshall, and his son Joe, make room for HHS objects

Items donated from the Blaisdell Family:

Leather covered bottle from Woodsville; green silk drawstring bag, with gold thread, c. 1825; and decorative hand painted wooden trunk, c. early 19th century.

Thank you to HHS President Edith Celley; to board members Susan Brown, Tom Stocker, and Mike Marshall; and to Joe Marshall and Kimberly Alexander, HHS Consulting Curator.

What were they drinking in 1793? Egg Rum & Egg Brandy

Dr. Kimberly Alexander has drawn on the Montgomery Daybook to investigate the imbibing habits of late 18th-century Haverhill. Her report on SilkDamask begins:

"On Monday May 20, 1793, there were a number of special alcohol purchases which appear in the Gen. Montgomery Store Daybook. They include postmaster Moses Dow’s 1 quart of Mallago (Malaga) wine, a glass of ginn [sic] and of particular interest, one 1/2 bowl of egg rum. A few days earlier the purchase of “egg brandy” was noted. According to food historians, this concoction was related to our contemporary eggnog, being a drink of egg, wine and milk/cream with many historic European antecedents.

"Egg brandy or egg rum as recorded in the Daybook, was in Colonial America somewhat different than its British counterpart in that it substituted the British use of wine for brandy or rum. It was quite popular in the Colonies, especially in the colder parts of the region where the egg beverage (egg, cream or fresh milk and brandy or rum) was rich, tasty, filling and was usually flavored with nutmeg or allspice. In a rural area like Haverhill, the ingredients – fresh cream and eggs, brandy or rum and spices-- would have been readily available. Given the fact that this was served at the Store, it is likely that it was served cold and not warm such as a posset, which required heating and carefully balanced ingredients, as well as appropriate ceramic serving vessels, frequently with a spout."

Continue reading here.

Great Coat & Small Clothes: The 1825 Inventory of Gen. John Montgomery

Dr. Kimberly Alexander has written a new post on SilkDamask, continuing her work on the General John Montgomery family of Haverhill:

"There is no denying it: General John Montgomery (1764-1825) was a wealthy man. He first arrived in Haverhill, NH. from Londonderry, NH. as a trader; by the time of his death in 1825, he was one of the wealthiest and most highly regarded citizens of this significant North Country town, with the esteemed 'esq.' appended to his name. Distinguished for his business acumen as well as his leadership during the War of 1812, the survival of his highly detailed probate inventory is a true find."

Continue reading here.

Montgomery Letters

Dr. Kimberly Alexander has written a new blog post on SilkDamask that will be of interest to Haverhill residents:

"Approximately a dozen typescript letters (source unknown) written primarily by Myra Montgomery (October 1, 1794-April 14, 1817) to her cousin and subsequently, fiancé, Horace Henry Goodman (December 22, 1785-January 3, 1849) survive in the Collections of the Haverhill Historical Society, Haverhill, NH. Although small in number, the letters nonetheless constitute a valuable source of information on a relatively affluent young woman in the early Republic. While living in a rural town, she had access to much wider intellectual, artistic and literary circles, through her Boston education at the progressive Mrs. Susanna Rowson's School and due to Haverhill's role as the seat of the North County Court system, which attracted several hundred individuals throughout the year."  Continue reading here.

A Day at Pearson

Members of the Haverhill Historical Society recently gathered to prepare Pearson Hall for the upcoming New Hampshire Preservation Alliance event and tour on August 29th (see previous post). Here are a few behind-the-scenes views:

Peter Keyes welcomes the team

The doors are open

Original shutter or blind hardware

Tin ceiling details from later renovations

Classroom instructions

Please Join Us!

Our New Postcard!

Native American History of New Hampshire

The HHS will sponsor a talk by David Stewart-Smith on the Native American History of New Hampshire; it will be held Tuesday, August 21 at 7:00 PM at the Ladd Street School. Admission is free and open to the public.

Stewart-Smith is historian for the New Hampshire Intertribal Council and a former professor of history and cultural studies at Vermont College of Norwich University.

Among other topics, he will discuss the Pennacook Indians of the Merrimack Valley, which were the largest and most powerful coalition of native people on the northern New England frontier during the 17th and 18th centuries. They, along with their Abenaki allies from Maine and Canada, held off Europeans for almost 90 years during a succession of “Indian Wars,” culminating in the end of the French and Indian Wars in 1761. During this time, Indians and colonists exchanged and encountered each other's cultures, religions, trade goods, and even kinship.

Stewart-Smith is himself of Scottish and Pennacook descent. “My research into New Hampshire’s Indian archaeology and history began some 30 years ago,” he notes. “My grandmother’s family history comes out of New Hampshire’s frontier and Indian heritage. I frequently meet people who are on the same path of discovering their heritage and love of history and enjoy sharing stories with them.”

Stewart-Smith’s lecture is made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

“Made by the Women of Haverhill” A Crazy Quilt, c. 1895

Reproduced with permission from the blog SilkDamask:

crazy quilt n.

   1. A patchwork quilt of pieces of cloth of various shapes, colors, and sizes, sewn together in an irregular pattern.
   2. A disorderly mixture; a hodgepodge

I must confess that I am not generally a fan of the "crazy quilt" but this particular one captured my eye and my imagination. There is a lush, almost regal quality to the fabrics and the various monograms of the women who created the quilt. In fact, the letters are reminiscent of the "floriated" letters of Medieval illuminated manuscripts - richly and abundantly embellished, starting off the page or the story.

Indeed, more than a number of other quilts viewed over many years, it is the combination of the monograms with the survival of dozens of handwritten labels, pinned onto the patchwork, which seem to suggest a storied pattern from the past.

Haverhill is a small town in northern New Hampshire, parts of the landscape roll down into fields and farm lands to the Connecticut River and one can view Vermont from several vistas. Next year, 2013 will be one of celebration as the town commemorates its 250th anniversary, along with its twin, across the river, Newbury, VT. By the time the women of Haverhill crafted this vibrant piece around 1895, the hamlet had passed its glory days - the days of extensive hustle and bustle of factories -- wood and grist mills, distillery, tannery and carriage manufacture. The activity which surrounded the court sessions in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, turning every home lining the graceful double common into a hostelry sheltering visitors from around the region, passed by. It was the railway which made its stop in nearby Woodsville, excluding the Oliverian and Haverhill Corner, which dealt the most serious blow. But the families held on.

At the moment, the author has yet to uncover what event prompted the making of the quilt, but it was donated to the Haverhill Historical Society in 1978 by Nan Batchelder Boyer, and how appreciative one is of this gift.

Kimberly Alexander, Ph.D.
University of New Hampshire
Consulting Curator

Ariel Myers, Plymouth State University
Collections Intern

Pink Granite Grange Quilt

As part of HHS ongoing Collections Care initiative, consulting curator Dr. Kimberly Alexander and Collections Intern Ariel Myers recently examined a quilt from North Haverhill. Dating to about 1928, it is an autograph quilt from the Pink Granite Grange, founded in 1894.

Despite the fact that some portions are damaged, it is nonetheless a significant reminder of local gatherings and pride in achievement. It features the "autographs" of both men and women and couples. (A list of names is available in the HHS.) Centrally located within a square of pink and red cherries, is the inscription seen in the image at right. The quilt reveals who pieced the quilt and who wrote the autographs for participants. Further, there are welcomes and greetings from the several committees including the Agriculture Committee. While the layout of the squares is deceptively simple, the use of visually strong printed cotton patterns of the 1920s is what makes the quilt so visually compelling. The graphic strength of the black and white prints juxtaposed with the pale lavenders, pinks, and blues harmonize to create an attractive whole.


Several other quilts, including a "crazy quilt" survive in the HHS collection and will be the subject of future posts.

If you are interested in contemporary quilts, don't forget to visit the North Haverhill Fair and the Stoddard Building for excellent examples by 4H youth this week.

Recent Donation

Reprint: The Address of Abraham Lincoln, delivered at Gettysburg Cemetery, 1920 

The copy of an address from Abraham Lincoln was a recent donation to the Haverhill Historical Society of New Hampshire from Peter Keyes, Vice President of the organization.

Delivered by Mr. Keyes at the consecration of the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on February 14th, 1920, the document contains a quote from the Lincoln regarding dedicating a portion of the battle field at Gettysburg as a memorial and a grave to the brave soldiers who fought there during the Civil War.

We thank Peter Keyes for his especially timely donation as we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Ariel Myers, Collections Intern

A Day at the Museum

As part of the HHS collections care initiative, Kimberly Alexander, Ph.D., UNH, and intern Ariel Myers, PSU, will periodically share items of interest to the members and the public that have caught their attention. A sampling from 8 July 2012:

A wooden boot form, c. mid-late 19th century. Gift of John Page.

"Spasmodic" early alarm clock, 1889. Patented and made by Doe Brothers of Woodsville and Newbury. Still works!

Detail, license to sell "merchandise, wines and spirits" granted to Thomas Morse and signed by John Montgomery and Ezra Bartlett, 1814.

New Hampshire on Skis

New England Ski Museum

The Society will present a talk by E. John B. Allen on "New Hampshire on Skis" on Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00 PM. The program will be held at the Ladd Street School and will be free and open to the public.

Allen is Professor of History, Emeritus at Plymouth State University; Historian of the New England Ski Museum in Franconia; and author of several books, including From Skisport to Skiing: One Hundred Years of an American Sport 1840–1940 and The Culture and Sport of Skiing: From Antiquity to World War II. His most recent book, published last year, is Historical Dictionary of Skiing.

New England Ski Museum

Professor Allen’s illustrated lecture traces the key role that New Hampshire played in the development and popularization of skiing in America. In the 1930s, the state led the country in ski activity, inspired in part by Dartmouth College’s Outing Club and Winter Carnival. Prior to World War II, Germans and Austrians–some fleeing Nazi persecution–found the White Mountains to be suitable terrain for the downhill skiing styles of their homelands.

Innovations such as the Cannon Mountain Tram helped make the sport even more accessible, and after World War II, development of ski areas expanded greatly. Allen will trace the development of the industry from its European-inflected roots to today’s resorts that offer a variety of winter activities.

Professor Allen’s lecture is made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Object of the Month: Portable Civil War Writing Desk

Reposted from Zephyrs10:

By Kimberly Alexander and Ariel Myers

This portable desk was used in the Civil War by a native of Haverhill, Capt. Jacob Leroy Bell (1839-1916), who enlisted as a private in the 11th NH Volunteers in 1862 at age 22. Two years later he advanced to the rank of Captain.

Family tradition holds that the desk was made for him by the men in his Company and that it was used to hold Company records. After seeing service at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg, Captain Bell retired to Haverhill and kept store at his family home, the Montgomery House at Oliverian Brook. (See earlier posts on the General Montgomery home and Store.) The desk descended in the family and was returned to Haverhill by Capt. Bell's grand-niece, Winifred Merrill Howard of Hartford, CT in 1960.

Upon recent inspection, the desk was found to be in very good condition, and despite its portable nature, shows little signs of wear.The front of the desk opens to reveal a series of drawers and dividers. Two confederate bills were also found within the desk.While the painting on the front of the desk is unsigned, it is possible to speculate that the work was completed by one of the members of his company. It depicts soldiers and a watchtower in a cleared field.

The writing desk is on view at the Haverhill Historical Society Museum, Court Street, as part of commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

1837 Henry Page Ledger Returns to Haverhill

Reposted from Zephyrs10:

The Haverhill Historical Society recently purchased a small ledger belonging to Henry Page.Page must have been a traveling salesman as some of this ledger is devoted to a trip beginning in late September 1837 to Burlington (VT), to Whitehall (NY) to Albany, to Buffalow (sic), to Toledo, to Adrin (sic) (MI), to White Pigeon (MI), and so on.Entries are mostly for food and lodging, but there are entries for the likes of "blackening boots" and an occasional whiskey. There are a few entries by a Nathl Bailey and Henry H. Page & Company.Leather ledger measures approximately 3 1/2" x 5 3/4" with approximately 30 pages, unpaginated. A little more than half of the pages have entries, some text is easier to read than others.

Further research will commence later this year. The Haverhill Historical Society thanks Peter J. Michaud for bringing this volume to the Board's attention. It was purchased on e-bay from a collector in Rumney, NH, whose description is found above.

Of Hours and Interns

The Historical Society is delighted to welcome its first intern: Ariel Myers is a student at Plymouth State University. Under the guidance of Dr. Kimberly Alexander, Ariel will be conducting an inventory of the Society's holdings this summer.

The Historical Society Museum will once again be open for the summer months. Please plan to visit us on Court Street, across from the library, on Wednesdays or Sundays between 2:00 and 4:00 PM.

A Disgraced Civil War General

The Haverhill Historical Society will sponsor the presentation “Hero or Coward? The Story of General Fitz John Porter” on Thursday, June 14 at 7:00 PM at the Ladd Street School. The program will be followed by a book signing.

This illustrated lecture will be presented by Dr. Kimberly Alexander and Dr. Dane Morrison. They will describe the career and controversial court martial of Civil War General Fitz John Porter (1822–1901), a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire who was the subject of a politically-charged prosecution following the Union’s defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Porter spent the next sixteen years seeking to restore his name and reputation.
Drs. Alexander and Morrison trace Porter’s story with the help of newly uncovered print sources, images, and artifacts. The lecture is based on their book, co-authored with Richard Schubert, Hero or Coward? The Story of General Fitz John Porter, published last year by Blue Hill Press. Copies of the book will be available for sale after the program.

Dr. Kimberly S. Alexander is adjunct professor of history at the University of New Hampshire; Director of Client Relations of TheBranchCreative; and past Chief Curator at Strawbery Banke Museum. Dr. Dane A. Morrison is Professor of Early American History at Salem State University; author of A Praying People: Massachusetts Acculturation and the Failure of the Puritan Vision, 1600–1690; and editor of American Indian Studies: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Contemporary Issues and Salem: Place, Myth, and Memory.

John Page, R.I.P.

John F. Page, of Haverhill, NH died on May 23, 2012 in Hanover, NH. He was born on August 3, 1935 in Ringoes, NJ . . . Full obituary at Ricker Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 2 PM in the First Congregational Church of Haverhill UCC, School Street, Haverhill, NH.

President's Annual Report for 2011

At the annual meeting of the Haverhill Historical Society in July 2011, two long-serving officers stepped down, so I would like to begin by acknowledging the contributions of Lawrence Sedgwick as treasurer and, especially, John Page as president.

John Page’s long-term devotion, hard work, and accomplishments as leader of the organization have made his name virtually synonymous with that of the Society. His knowledge and skills as an historian, his associations with other historians, and his deep family roots in Haverhill contributed in many ways to the growth and success of this organization. We current board members are grateful for his example and his years of service, and thankful that he continues to offer the benefit of his advice and counsel.

Over the past year the Society has continued to focus on the renovation of Pearson Hall while continuing to offer programs and services to the public. In addition, we have improved access to the Ladd Street School through construction of a ramp at the rear entrance. And of course, we are already looking forward to 2013, when Haverhill will celebrate the 250^th anniversary of its founding.

One highlight of the year was our successful campaign to have Pearson Hall included on the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s 2011 list of Seven to Save; this is an annually compiled list of seven historic properties in the State whose historic significance makes them priorities for preservation. Inclusion on the list publicizes the effort to renovate the building and will support our grant-seeking efforts. We also benefit from the Alliance’s advice and continuing support as we work to complete renovations.

The HHS Board is currently developing a fund-raising plan to move the renovation project to the next stage; much has already been accomplished. In May 2008 Pearson Hall was given to HHS by Haverhill Heritage, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to preservation in Haverhill. Preservation of three facades of the exterior of Pearson Hall was completed in 2010 thanks in part to a grant from the NH Land and Community Heritage Program (LCHIP) and to matching funds from generous local contributions. Unfortunately, our proposal for a second LCHIP grant ths past fall was not funded.

As we develop out fund-raising plan, the board is taking the opportunity to refine our vision for a history museum and research center at Pearson Hall. We are also exploring new partnerships and enhanced educational uses for the museum that would make it more attractive to potential funders. We have secured a $4,000 contribution from the Mildred Page Trust for maintenance of public buildings in Haverhill Corner, and this will help pay for essential engineering services. Additional local funding will be necessary to match grant funds before we can begin to install new wiring, heating, and plumbing, and generally refurbish the first floor, which would permit the building to open.

Contributions of significant artifacts including furniture from historic Haverhill homes is growing, thus making the vision of a well-equipped museum very attractive. Major donations of historic artifacts this year have come from John and Ruth Page, Edith Celley, and Richard and Elizabeth Merrill. These contributions include the Westgate family scrapbook, many photos of the people of Haverhill in the 19^th and early 20^th century, furniture from a Merrill family Haverhill home of 19^th century and Page family documents.

This year, the board has also developed and expanded our relationship with a longtime supporter, Dr. Kimberly Alexander, an architectural historian and part-time Haverhill resident. Dr. Alexander has helped to raise Pearson’s profile with other preservation-minded people throughout the state, and she has been promoting Haverhill history and material culture through a new blog she has created. (Zephyrs10.blogspot.org) In addition, she has designed and will implement the Society’s first-ever internship program. Under Dr. Alexander’s supervision, Ariel Meyers, a Senior at Plymouth State University, will begin a much needed inventory of our collections. In addition, Dr. Alexander will use textiles from our collection in her work with two of her own interns from UNH. We are very grateful for the time and expertise she has contributed to the Society.

During the past year, we have also continued to implement programs and services for the community. Our Museum was once again open to visitors on Wednesday and Sundays, staffed by volunteers from the membership. We sponsored evening programs on the muralist Rufus Porter, the Old Man of the Mountain, and the Weeks Act and a fascinating Sunday afternoon tour of the East Haverhill cemetery under John Page’s leadership. We were fortunate to find Martina Stever to take over teaching the annual school program at Ladd Street Schooolhouse when the original presenter retired.  We  greatly appreciate the service of all the volunteers who helped with these services.

The annual HHS Progressive fund raising dinner for members was again a success. This allows members to visit other members’ and friends’ historic homes and meet other members in a social and informational evening. This year’s event was planned by a committee consisting of Vesta Smith and Shirley Cobb as advised by June Klitgord, who initiated this program more than ten years ago. Featured buildings were Edith Celley’s home in Haverhill, Ruth Wellington’s family home on Jeffers Hill in Pike and the Oliverian School in Pike. Many thanks to all who assisted with this popular event.

HHS has planned six lectures  related to Haverhill history from antiques and law, life in Haverhill in 1793 as documented by Montgomery Store Journals to Pike Whetstones and Woodsville Railroads. These will be held as a part of Haverhill’s 250^th Anniversary on even months throughout 2013. 

Respectfully submitted,

Edith E. Celley

President

Haverhill Video

Dr. Kimberly Alexander has created this video featuring Haverhill: "Iconic New England: Haverhill History."

2012 Summer Program Series

Sunday, May 20, 3:00 PM - Annual Meeting
Pearson Hall Revitalization Plans: We'll talk about our vision for the building, what's been done, what needs to be done, what it will cost, how we'll do that, and how you can help make things happen.
Ladd Street School House

Thursday, June 14, 7:00 PM - General Fitz John Porter: Hero or Coward?
Dr. Kimberly Alexander and Dr. Dane A. Morrison: How does a man from Portsmouth, who seemed destined for greatness, struggle to restore his reputation after humiliating public defeat? An examination of one of the most notorious scandals of the Civil War.
Ladd Street School House

Tuesday, July 17, 7:00 PM - New Hampshire on Skis
Dr. John Allen, Plymouth State University Professor of History Emeritus: Take Scandinavian and Austrian immigrants, the Dartmouth Outing Club, the Cannon Mountain Tramway, the muscular Christian, and amateur tinkerers. Cover with snow and shake. The result is a unique New Hampshire history. Presented with the support of the New Hampshire Humanities Council.
Ladd Street School House

Tuesday, August 21, 7:00 PM - Native American History of New Hampshire
Dr. David Spencer-Smith: Abenaki and Pennacook allies held off Europeans for almost 90 years during a succession of "Indian Wars," culminating in the end of the French and Indian Wars in 1761. During this time, Indians and colonists exchanged and encountered each other's cultures, religions, trade goods, and even kinship. Presented with the support of the New Hampshire Humanities Council.
Ladd Street School House


Saturday, October 27, 5:30 PM - Annual Progressive Dinner: Save the date.

An Invitation from the President

You're invited to attend the HHS Annual Meeting on May 20, 2012 at 3:00 PM in the Ladd Street School House. We will report on the past year and elect board members for this year. Then we'll tell you about the exciting things to come, including programs planned for Haverhill's 250th anniversary in 2013, Pearson Hall revitalization, and more. Then we'll serve refreshments.

The program will feature details of plans for the preservation and revitalization of Pearson Hall. Much has been done and much remains to be done to realize our vision of a modern, well-equipped museum and research library in this beautiful historic building.

We hope to see you there.

Edith E. Celley
President

Montgomery Probate

Dr. Kimberly Alexander continues to document her examination of General John Montgomery's Daybook. In a recent post, she examines the General's probate inventory.

"The opportunity to review the General's very thorough probate inventory adds an entirely new and much richer dimension to what we can surmise about the experience of living and working in northern New Hampshire in the early years of the young republic."

http://zephyrs10.blogspot.com/2012/04/generals-1825-probate-inventory.html