Thursday, July 24, 2008
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1922 II

Poof Tardiff

Once Upon a Berlin Time

Hello fellow Berlinites. After the great winter carnival was held in Berlin, the Nansen Ski Club was now sending many representatives to major ski events throughout the Northeast and either breaking records or coming back with handsome trophies.
On February 28, 1922, the great “Bing” Anderson representing this club, jumped one hundred fifty eight and one half feet in perfect form at the Brattleboro Winter Carnival, thus establishing a new Eastern United States Amateur ski jumping record. Three more jumpers from Berlin competed with Anderson at this meet.
The last statement in this ski headline of March 2, 1922 stated: “Is Berlin on the map? That is a foolish question”.
As for Ingrid “Bing” Anderson, Berlin’s prolific ski jumper, his life changed by the end of the 1920s, when he committed a murder in Canada, was convicted and paid the ultimate price for his crime.
During the local elections on Tuesday, March 14, 1922, the Republicans went down in defeat when Democratic incumbent Mayor Eli J. King was re-elected to a fourth term of office, after defeating former postmaster A. E. Bean by 1709 votes.
On the dark side of Berlin’s history of 1922, one of the most brutal assaults ever made on a man in this city was committed upon Mr. Ernest Nicklas during the evening of March 4, on Berlin’s East Side.
The paper said that the face of the victim was a mass of wounds such as had never been seen in the local court. The trouble happened between 8 and 9 p.m. near Kent Street and Forbush Park, when Calais Lambert allegedly attacked Nicklas and then robbed him of $309.
The facial bruises of Nicklas were of such character that County Solicitor James had photographs taken of them on the grounds that otherwise no jury would credit the viciousness of the attack by the time the trial took place.
Berlin’s concrete road or as my uncle use to call it “the old cement road”, created a lot of excitement and was favored by most of Berlin’s citizens. Construction of this road was started during the spring of 1922 in the Berlin Mills district above the Bridge Street Bridge (Walking Bridge) and went out towards the Cates Hill Road. City workers who have dug in this area can tell you that the remnants of this great road are still in existence today.
During early April of 1922, two mysterious drownings occurred in the Androscoggin River. On Friday, April 7, the body of a man past his middle age was recovered in Gorham and on April 12, the body of a female three to four weeks old was taken out of the water near the I. P. Mill in Berlin.
The corpse in Gorham was discovered by a young boy who was getting wood out of the water. He notified authorities and they got a party together along with Dr. Marks and Sheriff Brown and pulled the drowning victim out. At this point Marks, the medical referee made an examination.
There was nothing to identify the dead man except for a tattoo with the initials M. F. on his left arm. More physical details were given about this person in order that someone might identify him. No papers or wallet could be found on him and there was a dime in the vest pocket. Nothing was present to indicate foul play and it was estimated that the body had been in the river about two weeks.
The other case came to light when Andre Toucarelli pulled a young child from the number one racks of the I. P. Mill. Officer Pinette and the police patrol went to the scene. A sad description was given of this little girl’s physical status, but there was nothing that could lead to the infant’s identity. The medical examiner said that this body had also been in the water for at least a couple of weeks. I have read many times about infants being found in the river back then and never being identified.
In Gorham, progress was being made for the acquisition of a community hospital. The C. G. Hamlin estate was the property being sought. It was one of the best houses in the county, with a large barn and two acres of land situated in the heart of Gorham village and on the electric car line near the station. The same building houses a business called “Strictly Moose” today. The Gorham community hospital was incorporated in October of 1921, but I am not quit sure if it ever went into operation.
On Saturday, April 22, 1922, Joseph Holt, the fourteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Holt of Fifth Street, died at the St. Louis Hospital, as the result of a shooting accident. Young Holt was accidentally shot by Oscar Oswell, as both were target shooting a short distance from the West farm. Mr. Oswell was shooting a .22 caliber rifle when the bullet struck a tree, glanced and hit Holt who was standing near by.
The other people that were in the party, assisted Oswell with Holt and the injured boy was taken to his home on Fifth Street. He was then transported to the hospital, where everything possible was done to save the teenager’s life. Young Holt was a seventh grade student at Marston School.
Headlines in a May 16, paper talked about changes that could be made to the International Paper company in the future years of this city. Believe it or not, some of these changes did take place many years after this article was written. The New York Herald published a statement earlier in the month that this huge paper complex was making plans to enter a new field of industry and engage in the production of hydro electric energy, by using the power of the Androscoggin River.
The company said that paper could be made much cheaper in Canada and the mills that they have in this country, to include Berlin, would slowly be converted into power plants. I. P. was already trying to convert their mill at Bellows Falls, Vermont and other mills in New York for this same purpose.
Our I.P. paper mill last operated here 78 years ago and was eventually torn down just like the Burgess Mill was. The land was bought by Public Service of New Hampshire and they are now doing just what the International Mill wanted to do, eighty six years ago.
Finally, the Berlin police broke up a smuggling ring that had been taking place at the Canadian border. Police Officer Bryant was in Green Square on duty one day during the end of May, when he saw a car bearing a Quebec license plate going through with a full load of people.
Circumstances made him suspicious and he telephoned headquarters to ask for advice. Office Cote took the patrol, picking up Officer Oleson on Main Street and Officer Bryant in the “Square”.
The officers started in pursuit of the car and as they neared it, seven Chinese nationals jumped from the vehicle and started for the woods. Five were immediately caught and arrested. The car, which was driven by Elzear Carrier, refused to submit quietly and swung his machine around to head back for the Canadian boarder, with the Berlin police officers in hot pursuit. Officer Oleson fired two shots, thinking that he could puncture a tire or the gas tank, but the high powered vehicle easily took the lead. The driver was finally caught when he had pulled over in a sand pit to hide and Carrier was taken into custody.
The driver refused to give any information, but when the Chinese prisoners were searched, a large amount of what the police believed was opium was found. On being questioned, the illegal aliens admitted that Carrier was bringing them to Boston for $200 each and this amount would be paid when they arrived in Bean Town.
The other two Chinese passengers were eventually found, with one hiding at Sam Lee’s laundry in Berlin. Immigration officials were notified and came to Berlin rounding up the line jumpers. It sounds as though this was a wild scene just like watching the “Roaring Twenties” on television back in the sixties and it really was the twenties.
Questions or comments email to <paultardiff1234@netzero.net.>

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