Publications

Pittsfield Historical Society Books and Monographs for Sale

Pittsfield’s Dams, by Larry Berkson (1998). A 52-page monograph on Pittsfield’s dams from 1782 to the present. Included are dams on the Suncook River, both the Factory and White’s dams, the dams at Berry Pond and below, and dams at Blake’s Pond, Underwood Brook, Wild Goose Pond, other commercial and agricultural dams and dams for recreational purposes. Included are 30 pictures of dams built from 1826 forward. Price $8.00

Pittsfield’s Trustees of Trust Funds, by Larry Berkson (2002). A 486-page book on the Trustees of Trust Funds from the turn of the 19th Century to 2002. It covers the laws related to trustees, presents biographies of all 26 trustees serving 1918 to 2002, reports the history of the numerous cemetery trusts including Floral Park, Mt. Calvary, Old Meetinghouse, Berry, Marston, Sargent, Tilton-Watson, and Tucker cemeteries, special trusts including trusts for the benefit of the schools and scholarships, Carpenter Memorial Library, and Frank P. Green Bandstand. Finally, it presents the history of the huge Sanderson Trust and its impact on Pittsfield. Included are 68 pictures, many from the early 20th Century. Price $18.00

Pittsfield’s Bells and Whistles, by Larry Berkson (2003). A 143-page monograph on the bells and whistles of Pittsfield. Initially it reports the purpose of Pittsfield’s bells and whistles to note the time of day, call villagers to meetings and fire fighters to fires, and serving as a warning system and announcing emergencies, tragic events and celebrating important events. It presents the history of industrial bells, including the Town’s first bell, the Cotton Mill Bell, the shoe company bells, the Globe Bell, the Tannery’s little bells and horns, the school bells including the Academy and Grammar School Bells, the church bells including those of the Congregational, Free Will Baptist, First Calvinist Baptist and Catholic Churches, the railroad and Old Meetinghouse bells, the fire house bells, whistles and alarms, and Pittsfield’s numerous whistles. There is also information of the history of the town clock. Included are 21 pictures. Price $10.00

Pittsfield’s Cemeteries, Floral Park and Hillside: History, Development and Headstone Inscriptions, by Larry Berkson (2005). A 427-page book on Floral Park and Hillside Cemeteries. It presents a detailed history of the two cemeteries, noting individuals involved, land purchases, financial support, trusts, and their upkeep. Significant features are presented: Babyland, Metal Monuments, Brooks Memorial Flag, C. C. Rogers Tomb, Civil War Monument, Congregational Church Lot, Cox Mausoleum, Drake Circle, Gould Entrance, Hildreth Tomb, the Pond, Potter’s Field, Town Lot, Receiving Tomb, Sanborn Tomb, True Circle, and Tuttle Circle. Numerous unusual headstones are discussed. Finally, there is a listing of all individuals buried in the cemeteries including headstone inscriptions, and maps so that the public may locate them. Price $15.00

Revolutionary War, Veterans, by Larry Berkson (2006). A 343-page book on Pittsfield veterans who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, and Spanish-American War. Presented are major biographies about John Cram and Jonathan “Jocky” Fogg as well as more than 65 other individuals who served in the Revolutionary War, nearly 50 who served in the War of 1812, two who served in the Mexican War, nine who served in the Spanish-American War, and nearly 30 others associated with Pittsfield. It also contains 62 pictures of headstones and places where the veterans lived. Price $15.00

Pittsfield’s Cemeteries, Floral Park and Hillside: Notable Burials, by Larry Berkson (2006). A 477-page book on the notable people buried in Floral Park and Hillside Cemeteries. It includes 172 biographies of individuals placed in the following categories: farmers, lumbermen, the business sector (bankers, insurance people, merchants, newspaper people and printers), the faith-based community (ministers and deacons), the legal field (attorneys and judges), the medical field (medical facilities, dentists, doctors, druggist, nurses and midwives, and undertakers), the public sector (educators and postmasters), the service industry (hotels summer resorts boarding houses), the old-time trades (blacksmiths, carpenters-contractors, freighters, harness and saddle makers, liverymen, stagecoach operators and tanners), veterans (of all wars from the Revolutionary to Vietnam), and other notables including humanists. Price $15.00

Pittsfield’s Cemeteries, Church Cemeteries: History, Development, Headstone Inscriptions and Notable Burials, by Larry Berkson (2007). A 438-page book on the history and development of Pittsfield’s four church cemeteries: Freewill Baptists, Congregational, Catholic, and Quaker. The section on the Baptist Cemetery on Catamount Mountain also reports on early burials, upkeep of the cemetery, and discusses five major families buried there. The section on the Congregational Cemetery behind the Old Meetinghouse also reports on notable burials, spotted fever burials, and veterans buried there. The section on the Catholic Cemetery, Mt. Calvary on Norris Road, reports on veterans and other notable individuals buried there including biographies of 32 veterans and six other noted individuals. Finally, there is a listing of all individuals buried in each cemetery including headstone inscriptions, and maps so that the public may locate them. Price $15.00

Pittsfield’s Cemeteries, Family Cemeteries: History, Development, and Headstone Inscriptions, by Larry Berkson (2007). A 447-page book on the history of Pittsfield’s 40 family cemeteries. It begins with a discussion of the characteristics of Pittsfield’s family cemeteries, including the oldest dated headstones, most remote headstones, unique burials, most beautiful, least well-kept, and most unique headstone inscriptions. There are biographies of the most notable people and families buried in each. Finally, there is a listing of all individuals buried in each of the cemeteries including headstone inscriptions, and maps so that the public may locate them. Price $15.00

Pittsfield’s World War II Veterans, Volume 1, Army Veterans: The American and Northern European Theaters, by Larry Berkson and Robert Moulton (2010). A 272-page book on Pittsfield’s World War II army veterans serving in the American and Northern European Theaters. Included are 35 biographies of men serving in the United States during the war and 72 men who served in Northern Europe. Also included are 105 pictures. Price $20.00 each, 5 volume set, $85.00

Pittsfield’s World War II Veterans, Volume II, Army Veterans: The African, Southern European and Pacific Theaters, by Larry Berkson and Robert Moulton (2010). A 236-page book on Pittsfield’s World War II army veterans serving in the African, Southern European and Pacific Theaters. Included are biographies of 18 men serving in Southern Europe and Africa, and 62 men serving in the Pacific. Also included are 68 pictures. Price $20.00 each, 5 volume set, $85.00

Pittsfield’s World War II Veterans, Volume III, Army Air Corps Veterans, by Larry Berkson and Robert Moulton (2010). A 168-page book on Pittsfield’s World II army air corps veterans. Included are biographies of 19 men who served in the United States, six who served in Europe and Africa, and 16 who served in the Pacific. Also included are 44 pictures. Price $20.00 each, 5 volume set, $85.00

Pittsfield’s World War II Veterans, Volume IV, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine and Navy Veterans, by Larry Berkson and Robert Moulton (2010). A 222-page book on Pittsfield’s World War II Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, and Navy Veterans. Included are biographies of two men who served in the Coast guard, 19 who served in the Marines, three who served in the Merchant Marines, and 50 who served in the Navy. Also included are 67 pictures. Price $20.00 each, 5 volume set, $85.00

Pittsfield’s World War II Veterans, Volume V, Female Veterans and Veterans Loosely Associated with Pittsfield, by Larry Berkson and Robert Moulton (2010). A 252-page book on Pittsfield’s women who served in World War II and those loosely associated with Pittsfield, and male veterans loosely connected with Pittsfield. Included are biographies of women serving with the Army Ground Troops (1), Army Air Corps (2), and Nurse’s Corps (2), Marine Corps (2), and Navy (4). Among the women loosely associated with Pittsfield are those who served in the Army (4), Army Air Corps (1) and Navy (1). Among the male veterans loosely associated with Pittsfield are biographies of those serving in the Army (56), the Army Air Corps (24), the Coast Guard (3), the Marine Corps (5), the Merchant Marines (2), and the Navy (24). A final section is devoted to a summary of birth dates, educational levels, dates of entry, ranks and ratings, combat medals awarded, those killed or wounded, prisoners of war, and mortality of Pittsfield’s veterans. Also included are 50 pictures. Price $20.00 each, 5 volume set, $85.00

The First Congregational Church, by Larry Berkson, Volume I (2015). A 369-page hard-covered book, on the history of the First Congregational Church of Pittsfield, New Hampshire (2015). The first chapter presents the history from 1782 to 1833 with many interesting stories about church discipline, the church’s first minister Christopher Paige, and the unique pastorship of Reverend Benjamin Sargent who ministered to both Congregationalists and Calvinist Baptists at the same time in the same building. Chapter 2 discusses the separate Congregational Society from its inception about 1782 to its disestablishment in 1919. Subsequent chapters report on the pastorships of the various ministers, their salaries, financial problems, and successes. Later chapters discuss yoking with Loudon, important events, fundraising, and the Bus Ministry. There is a chapter on church officers, committees and delegates, and others on women in the church, Sunday school and Christian education, philanthropy and missions, music in the church, special events and celebrations, bequests and gifts, organizations within the church, the history of the meetinghouses, clocks, bells and chimes, the parsonages and other church properties. Included is an index, 32 tables and 159 pictures. Sold as a two volume set. Price $35.00

The First Congregational Church, by Larry Berkson, Volume II (2015). A 252-page hard-covered book containing 48 appendices of important documents issued throughout the history of the church. Included are acts of incorporation, church covenants, articles of faith, principles of rules and practices, by-laws, pew holders, lists of church officers, committee members, and members of the church, gifts to the church, and baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Sold as a two volume set. Price $35.00