Page 4 - APRIL2022

Page 4
Community
By: William nieman
In Part One of our story, after making a passing ref- erence to our man of honor, (the Cummings Beach Me- morial), the narrative focused on Russell Mattice, owner of Mattice’s store and boat liv- ery on the west shore of New- found Lake. We met, as well, my aunt and uncle, Millie and Olan Rand, who leased, managed, and lived in those shorefront facilities during the summers of the 1940s and 1950s. By mid-century, Rus- sell Mattice was occasionally on the lake scene, working to restore his excursion boat called the “Gipsy.” Part One concluded with Russell pilot- ing the Gipsy to the waters beyond Mayhew Island, re- flecting on a foreboding de- velopment that threatened to end his time on Newfound Lake, and that of Millie and Olan Rand, as well.
Russell Mattice had piloted the Gipsy on many excursions alongtheshorelineof Newfound Lake. His knowledge of the lake was so thorough that steering the Gipsy required little conscious effort. Passing beyond Mayhew Island, his mind was free to recall pleasant past voyages. Still, these
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
Gipsy, Part II (Summer 1955)
April 2022
comforting images were crowded out at times by the specter of a serious threat to his lengthy and productive embrace of the lake he called “my first love.”
The launch plied its way to the north. Soon, the tom-tom ca- dence of the boat’s two-cylinder engine slowed as the Gipsy ap- proached Russell’s favorite spot on the lake. This was the strait between Belle and Cliff Islands. During the launch’s “workdays” in the summertime of the 1930s, Russell would linger with his pas- sengers here to regale them with anecdotes about nearby eagles, loons, and otters and prepare them for the “majestic sight” of the fabled ledges that rose just be- yond the islands. But this day, as the skipper took note of the gath- ering storm clouds over Crosby Mountain, he felt some urgency to reverse course and return in the direction of Mayhew Island and the passageway between that island and Pike’s point. From that strait, he would ac- cess the lake’s south bay quickly and guide the Gipsy to the safety of its west shore mooring. The Gipsy was soon on its way home.
As the Gipsy passed into the south bay, Russell could see the red marine gas pump that her- alded the approach to the livery’s
dock and the shoreline store he now leased to Olan and Millie Rand. At the sight of his safe harbor, Russell’s expressive face, which had signaled a relaxed contentment early in this lake journey, now revealed the onset of something beyond concern. Russell was beginning to experi- ence sadness, even gloom, as he reflected on the recent news that the livery and the store might have to be demolished, bringing an end to a place of summer fun for many and a needed income for Millie and Olan Rand. As the Gipsy’s skipper came ashore, he felt the burden of now having to share the recent bad news with the couple who had cared for his property for many years.
Russell joined Olan and Mil- lie Rand at a small table situated next to a door leading to the
cramped bedroom connected to the store. The bedroom had been the couple’s summer home for several years. Russell conveyed the disturbing news.
The Grafton County Superior Court had just issued a “final De- cree” in a case brought by the Town of Bristol against Russell and two other defendants. The Decree stated that Russell Mat- tice and the other defendants were to immediately surrender their west shore properties to the Town of Bristol. The Town wanted to develop a public park for recreational purposes on what had been the defendants’ shorefront land. The Decree in- vested in the town of Bristol the latitude to determine when the actual physical surrender of the properties was to take place. The most distressing news to Olan and Millie was the Decree’s ca- veat that Russell could not lease or rent the store for commercial purposes even if the town allowed a period of grace for Russell and the Rands to vacate the property. The Court Decree, if strictly en- forced, would shatter the Rands’ dream of raising enough money to buy their own livery on New- found Lake. The Gipsy’s skipper tried to end the disclosure of the bad news on a hopeful note by promising Millie and Olan Rand that he would meet with the chairman of Bristol’s Select Board, Gaylord Cummings, the real “power to be” in an effort to “take the sting” out of the Supe- rior Court order.
In the days before the meet- ing between the two men, Russell Mattice had the nagging feeling that he might have given false hope to Olan and Millie Rand so he set about the challenging task of finding ways to stay the Superior Court Order with great earnestness. He had grown close
to Millie and Olan and wanted to do all he could to allow them to continue running the store and livery. Over the years, the couple had been saving the summer money to buy their own lake property for a boat rental busi- ness. Russell admired their work and determination and didn’t want their dream to be aborted by the court decree. Gaylord pre- pared for the impending meeting by studying the court decree with the town’s attorney and by dis- cussing the implications of the decree with his two select board colleagues, John Schofield and Donald Larson.
In appearance, Gaylord and Russell were dissimilar. In con- trast to Russell’s short, chunky physique, Gaylord was taller, thinner. Russell’s shiny bald head could have used some of Gaylord’s greying locks. The Se- lectman often dressed formally in a jacket and tie. The skipper dressed with pride in the attire of a laborer. Looks aside, the two men had much in common, and these similarities held out promise for a productive meet- ing. Both men had volunteered many services to their respec- tive communities. Gaylord had been repeatedly returned to the Select Board and served as its chairman. He had always been elected by large margins. Russell had served Boscawen as Water Commissioner and that town’s Overseer of Public Welfare. Both men served in the New Hamp- shire Legislature. The two men shared an understanding of the challenges of operating a small business. Russell had his store and livery. Gaylord had owned a store in Bradford and, more recently, in Bristol. The two men loved Newfound Lake.
Interestingly, Gaylord owned a lot next to Russell’s shorefront property which he had volun- tarily ceded to Bristol only two weeks before the Grafton County Court Decree. Russell and Gay- lord would meet shortly after Bristol’s July Fourth celebrations in 1955. The course of many lives would depend on the out- come of their deliberation.
The Conclusion of “Gipsy” will follow in the May issue of Newfound Lake Life.
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