MAY
Memorial Day Dunbarton, NH 181 Veterans are buried in Dunbarton’s four cemeteries 4 War Memorials honor Veterans on our Town Common
This is a Teacher Tidbit Sheet provided by: The Dunbarton Historical Awareness Committee, 1011 School Street, Dunbarton. Suggestions and feedback are always appreciated. Contact Donna Dunn, Chair,
[email protected] or 494-9967 (cell or text)
WWI Veteran Walter Gould - Born Alone, Died Alone Walter Gould was born an orphan in Aberdeen Scotland on New Year’s Day 1893. No immigration records have been found, so it’s possible his name was changed to Gould after he arrived in the US. A 1908 Dunbarton Center School Souvenir lists Walter among its 28 students, although there are no grades or ages. Official school records can’t be located and it’s likely they were destroyed in the 1908 Town Hall fire. Local lore says he was picked up and hired by farmer Bradford Burnham while ‘hitching’ in Concord. This was not unusual for the time; farming was the industry in those days and many Dunbarton farms employed folks of all ages, some transient. When Walter arrived in the US and then again in Dunbarton is unknown. He is first recorded in the US Census in 1910 living on the Burnham Farm as a “hired boy, age 17” which concurs with his date of birth. But Walter wrote a letter in 1977 saying he had lived on the farm “for over 75 years” which implies he came here in 1902 at age 9. Hitching at age 9? It’s a mystery.
Left: Photo from Bradford & Flora Burnham’s Farm believed to be redhaired, blue-eyed Walter Right: 1908 Center School Souvenir with Walter’s initials.
In 1915 at age 22, Walter became a US citizen. When we entered the “Great War” in 1917, he enlisted and served overseas in Battalion D of the 71st Artillery.
In a 1977 letter to his alma mater, Walter wrote:
“I am alone in this world” Walter was buried with the Burnham family in the Center Cemetery in 1988, but there was no one left to see that his gravestone was properly marked. DHAC member Lee Martel (right) has now cleaned the stone and with the generous assistance of the Grand Lodge of NH Masons, Walter’s inscription will finally be completed almost thirty years after he died. You Are Invited!
Left: Farm life suited Walter. He was a hard worker and was welcomed into the family. He addressed Flora Burnham as “Mother” in postcards home. Right: Leaving for Kimball Union Academy. He was grateful for the opportunities this agricultural college provided and stayed in touch with them until he died.
In 1924, Walter married Hannah Mabel Burnham, thirteen years his senior, and they continued to live on the family farm. They raised dairy cows, sold milk, and had pigs, turkeys, chickens, horses, cats and dogs. The farm became a magnet for neighborhood children. Walter also worked for the State of NH for 35 years maintaining Route 13. With no children of their own and no remaining family, seven years after Mabel died 84 yearold Walter moved to the Masonic Home in Manchester and lived there until his death eleven years later at age 95.
You Are Invited! Remember Walter by putting a WWI Flanders Field Poppy on his grave now or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, so he will no longer be alone… Free VFW poppies are available at the School, Town Office and Library. Walter’s grave site is near the side entrance to the Center Cemetery.
11-11:30 am Town Common: Wreath Laying at Memorials and Center Cemetery, Walter’s Poppies 12:45-2 pm Community Center: Hopkinton Band, Displays & Photos (over 100 of Walter’s photos and papers)
You Are Invited!
Information is compiled from the Town Clerk’s Records, private collections, research, friends of history and through the generosity of former and current residents. Special thanks this month to Stan & Gale Sowle. If you have something to share, we’d love to hear from you. The DHAC is a town committee formed in 1992 by Citizen’s Warrant, different from the Dunbarton Historical Society but with a complementary Mission Statement. Dunbarton is lucky to have two groups interested in town history!
