If you were anywhere near Maple Street, Somersworth, this past Saturday, Oct. 2, you might have been forgiven for looking back as you passed the Forest Glade Cemetery. The Summersworth Historical Society could be found there with a host of some of Somersworth’s dearly departed citizens. Those citizens had decided to grace the cemetery which was dedicated in 1852 for the day and were happy to tell those who took the historical tour their life stories.
For some of those who took the tour, this was their first time exploring this beautiful cemetery and for most the high spot of the tour was a rare view inside the Furber Chapel which stands at the entrance to the cemetery. Pre-pandemic, the cemetery trustees who are charged with looking after this 22-acre property as well as the chapel had begun a series of popular concerts throughout the summer on the second Sunday of each of the summer months.So the chapel has stood for the past two years waiting for the return of a congregation.
While Saturday’s crowd were partakers of history, many expressed the fact that they had always wondered what the chapel looked like inside. If you were on the tour, you would have been greeted by “Lizzie’ Jane Poor who was responsible for building the chapel in 1897. She would commission the work in memory of her mother and father, James Thomas Furber and Jane Roberts Furber. The architect of the chapel was Henry Vaughn who is better known for his work on the Washington National Cathedral as well as others.The cost of the building was $10,000.
Fast forward to the 1970s and the Forest Glade Cemetery was a mere shadow of the cemetery we see today, subject to vandalism which extended to the Furber Chapel. Many of the stained glass windows had been vandalized and had never been repaired. The windows of the Furber Chapel are a superb example of what is known as, “American Opal Windows.” This means they were designed and manufactured using opalescent glass which was invented in the mid-1800s and combines white opal glass with one or more base colors.
As I said, the windows were in serious disrepair. That was until the late 1980s when Somersworth citizen Mark Taylor came forward and donated his time to repair the ten smaller windows that run both sides of the chapel. During his lifetime he would complete nine of the windows and repair them to their former glory. Unfortunately, he would pass in 1992 before the last window was complete but that window was completed in his memory at his family’s expense.
The two large windows that frame the chapel beautifully and fill the chapel full of light on a sunny day were repaired after an extensive search for a company that was capable of such a project. The repairs were completed in 1997 and to this day are still being enjoyed by visitors to the chapel as was witnessed by all who took the tour.
It would be remiss of me not to thank all of those who volunteered their time to step back in time and create a character from Somersworth’s past and bring them to an entirely new generation. Thank you!
Celebrate Somersworth
This Saturday, Oct. 9, the Somersworth plaza is the place to be between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., especially if you have little ones. The Somersworth Festival Association will hold its 13th Annual Pumpkin Festival for the city once more. For just $10, your kid can participate in a variety of games, make a scarecrow and smash some pumpkins. There will be music, food and lots of entertainment.
If that wasn’t enough excitement for one fall Saturday, join the Somersworth First Responders Community, as they say thank you to you for helping them navigate the past two COVID-19-filled years. The event will be held on Memorial Drive from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature fireworks at the end of the evening. There will be food, demonstrations and rumor has it that a helicopter will be there. If you want to know more, you will have to attend yourself though as I risk being arrested if I say more.
Trick or Treat
Yes, it’s almost that time of year again! Trick or Treat this year will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 5.30 to 8 p.m. So get your candy treats in order or risk a trick this year.
Oh, that reminds me we have a new business in town and he offers sweet treats. Confectioner William Poole can be found at 58 High St., which is right next to City Hall. These sweet treats are designed for the adult palette though! You can find out more by visiting his website at: wmpoole.com.
This year, the Somersworth Recreation Department is offering prizes in three categories in their Halloween competitions as well as some serious bragging rights. The first is for the best dressed Halloween house in Somersworth. Entrants should send a photo to the Rec Department by Oct. 24 and houses will be judged Oct. 26 to 28 between 5 and 8 p.m. so make sure if you enter that your lights, electronics and gizmos are all lit up. P.S. All displays must be PG-13 suitable.
The other two competitions involve my favorites, the best youth and pet costume! Simply send in your favorite pet or youth (ages 3 to 14) in costume by Oct. 27 in order to qualify for one of several prizes. For more details on all the fun, visit this link: https://www.somersworth.com/parks-recreation/pages/2021-halloween-contests
That’s all I have for this week. Until next week, stay safe and above all be kind because you never really know what someone else is going through.