I purchased this 5" X 8" photo back in 2019, the seller having advertised it as "Ca. 1870s GAR Veterans Group Civil War Manchester NH". The photographer (on reverse) was J.C. Cutler of Manchester, NH.
 | Determining the identity of the 21 men in this image involved reversing the flag, in order to read the inscribed lettering. The words "Alfred" and "Camp 16" was easy enough to read, and this seemed to match that of the Col. Alfred F. Holt Camp, No. 16, of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. The men's caps also had "16" and the letters S and V, showing they were Sons of Veterans. |
This Camp had been organized on 18 May 1888 and, the following February, Col. Holt himself presented a silk flag to the Camp, with their name, number, and the Division inscribed upon it.
The location where this photograph was taken was clearly not in Lyndeborough. The neighboring towns were searched in old pictures and on Google Street View, to try and find the buildings in the background, if they even still existed (hint: they don't). The clue to solving this was the name on the building to the left: Willia-- --anders. The search was on for anyone in NH named Anders, Sanders, or Flanders who dealt in livery (also on the signage). The "Boa" on the store front, which I thought had stood for boat (and threw me way off for a year), was for boarding.
I eventually came across a William O. Flanders of Nashua, NH, who ran a boarding and livery stable there. While he relocated several times within the city, for a time he was operating at Railroad Square. Using an 1885 Sanborn Insurance Map of Nashua, all was solved.
Railroad Square it was, with the Brothers standing on the green where a bandstand would be built soon after (blue star). Flanders (without Whitney) was here through 1891 (City Dir), and was on Thayer's Court by 1893. The date of this photo, therefore, would be placed between 1889 and 1891. Considering the fact that Nashua held its dedication for the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Tues., Oct. 15th, 1889, it seems possible this picture was taken on this day, as it was a huge event, and dozens of GAR Posts attended (SUV Camps weren't mentioned by name in the write-ups, except for the Nashua one). Other Sons of Veterans can be seen walking in the background, and many buildings adorn American flags, so there was some kind of celebration going on in town.
None of the buildings exist today. Below is a circa 1910 postcard of Railroad Square that shows most of the buildings still standing, except for the smaller livery/stable, replaced by the Stearns Building ca 1902.The buildings circled can be seen in the 1889 photo.
None of the buildings exist today. Below is a circa 1910 postcard of Railroad Square that shows most of the buildings still standing, except for the smaller livery/stable, replaced by the Stearns Building ca 1902.The buildings circled can be seen in the 1889 photo.
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