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the seavey ward house
Oldest house in the village area
This house is located across Rte 302 from the Village School Recreation field.
Another Contender
Contributed by Roger Marcoux.
Although not a home per se, the oldest building in the village is the former jail on Albany Avenue, which was also Johnny Marcou's shop. He lived in it too, part of the time in the late 50's. Here is a photo of it back then, (looks the same now, but it is painted white) with my grandfather and grandmother Marcou and their dog posed in front of it. Sorry, I did not find a picture of the actual jail building but it's behind the Village fire house on Albany Avenue.
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That building behind it (shown above) which no longer exists, was his sawmill and he had some really scary saws in it as I recollect. Prior to this being the oldest, there was a small building next to the Chippanock Inn, across from today's Post Office on Main Street that held the honor, but it was torn down a few years ago.
Johnny Marcou, in 1894, made his way down from Canada, and lived in Carroll NH. In 1901 Johnny's future wife made her way down from Canada from the same area, but they never met until Johnny, driving a stage coach, stopped at the Inn in Twin Mt where she worked. They got married had some kids, and eventually they moved to Livermore, had another kid, lived there for some time before finally moving to Bartlett, and having more kids.
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This article researched, compiled and offered to the Bartlett Historical Society by Ruth Ward Abbott.
In 1994, the New Hampshire Division of Historical Inventory identified the Ward house as the only farm house from the early 1800 period of development which remains extant in the present village center. This homestead was declared the best preserved cape from this early period.
The 3x5 bay, federal style center entry cape has a broad gable roof and center chimney. The windows are set close under the eaves. In the late 1800’s dormers were added over the long wing which historically contained carriage sheds and connected to the barn.
Houses built in the early 1800’s had special characteristics such as external door hinges and latches. Sashes, framing and paneling were done with rough timber and wooden pegs. Cellar walls and foundations were of granite slabs. The Ward house of today exhibits all these characteristics.
In 1820, Samuel Seavey and his son John moved from Deerfield, NH to Bartlett. They built a log cabin in the area which later became known as the Smith/Greenwood properties and began clearing the land. John and his wife, Polly B. Seavey lived in the cabin while the house and barn were under construction.
In April, 1833 a daughter, Mary Frances was born. A second daughter, Susan Polly was born in August, 1835. The house was completed in 1837 and the Seavey family moved in.
In 1850, Mary Frances married Nathan Howe French and they lived in the Seavey homestead while building their home across the street. Susan Polly married in 1865 to Amos Stanton. He was killed in the war.
In 1875, Susan married Humphrey P. Richards and they lived in the Seavey homestead. Addie M. Foss, niece of Richards, married Fred J. Ward and in 1907, they inherited the house from Susan P. Richards.
Fred and Addie Ward had five children; Alice, Marion, Irving, Everett and Merton. In 1931, Fred and Addie willed the house and properties to Everett in exchange for their “good being and all financial responsibilities”. In 1932 Everett (1910-1972) married Dorothy Dell Coleman (1915-2007) of Jackson, NH. They had two daughters, Ruth Sandra (1936) and Donna Mae (1942).
For several years Dorothy operated a small business on the property specializing in balsam pillows and maple syrup products. Today, Donna Ward Iovino and her husband James reside in the oldest home in Bartlett village, the fifth generation to do so.