Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Civil

Full Text:

Effects Of Civil War First Sergeant Purchased By Unidentified Museum At

Amoskeag

By Rita Easton

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Twenty-three states were represented among the bidders at

the seventh auction held by Amoskeag Auction Company on September 19. Early

birds began arriving at 7 am to preview the items, which were scheduled to

begin crossing the block at 10 am. Six hundred forty-one lots of guns, knives,

and related items were offered for a gross of $151,620. The event was

auctioneered by Jason Devine.

The First Sergeant Edward S. Roberts Civil War grouping, Company F, Second

Connecticut Heavy Artillery, sold well above estimate at $5,500 for the star

lot of the sale. The lot comprised Roberts' keppe, his canteen, cartridge box,

belt, Bible, an ebony and ivory checker set, an old song book, a cast iron

notary seal, and some political ribbons from after the war. A Roberts

Bridesburg musket sold within estimate at $2,200. Both lots went to a Virginia

museum.

A rare Winchester 1873 second model rifle went out within estimate at $3,300

to a Minnesota absentee bidder, and a custom 1903 rifle by R.F. Sedgley also

sold at $3,300 to a New York bidder, well over its $1,8/2,200 estimate. A

Walther G43 rifle estimated at $600/800 escalated to $1,100, with eight

absentee bidders competing, and a Winchester M1 Garand rifle in a good

condition sold within estimate at $1,100.

A Browning grade III semi-automatic rifle (est $1/2,000) inspired brisk

bidding, finally reaching $2,530, purchased by a Tennessee buyer; a Griffin &

Howe magazine rifle in 220 Swift sold within estimate at $2,090 to a

California absentee; a US Colt 1911A pistol with holster and belt sold above

estimate at $770 to a second California bidder; and an Eighteenth Century

double flintlock fowler sold within estimate at $2,310 to a Massachusetts

phone bidder. A custom Mauser sporting rifle went out at $1,540 to a buyer

from Vermont.

Knives were no less in demand, with a Marbles seven inch Ideal selling at

$567.50; and a Remington pocket knife display case more than doubled its low

estimate at $715, going to a Florida bidder.

An A.H. Fox B grade shotgun reached $1,870; an Eighteenth Century French

flintlock Fowler by Hulot, dated 1772, realized $1,870 as well; a collectible

Randall Knife Society limited edition knife with stainless steel blade and a

black micarta handle, mass produced by the Orlando, Florida, based company,

garnered $330; and a miniature flintlock blunderbuss sold at $715.

The four-hour event marked the first full year since the first auction was

held at Amoskeag, with the combined seven sales realizing a total of $675,000.

Looking ahead, Jason Devine noted that the weapon specialty house has

confirmed six auctions scheduled for 1999. Prices quoted reflect a required

ten percent buyers premium.

COA Welcomes New Alternate, Discusses Senior Alliance

BOE Recognizes 2026 Profiles In Professionalism Honorees

C.H. Booth Library Hosted Another Successful Volunteer Fair

Fire Reports | April 28-May 4, 2026

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

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