Bella Vista Beach in the 1950s, just a decade after being sold to the Thwaites
John Evans and his wife, Emma, were natives of Lawrence, Massachusetts, when they made the trip to Windham in 1923 to purchase the Bella Vista Farm. Located along the shore of Cobbett's Pond, John Evans planned to clean up the marshy waterfront of the farm, and transform the property into a swimming beach and summer day trip destination. Before opening Bella Vista Beach, Evans had began his working career as a dealer in wood and coal, and eventually became a contractor and a building mover. He was known for being a hard worker, a trait which was undoubtedly useful in clearing the marsh at the former Bella Vista Farm. After two years of hard work, the Evans opened Bella Vista Beach to locals and vacationers alike. The property featured a dance hall, which was constructed above the water; Evans contracting skills would have certainly proved useful when constructing the building. It would not have been unusual for a crowd of several hundred to gather at the dance hall and dance to the music of a fine orchestra. Unfortunately, the dance hall burned in 1931.
The Evans took up residence in what was formerly known as the Chadwick House (the house was recently demolished), situated behind Bella Vista Beach, along Range Road. The couple had four children: Ethel, Preston, Clifton, and Bernice. As with any family business, John and Emma had children ready to help wherever needed at Bella Vista Beach. Preston Evans often helped with the boat rides, which were an attraction at all of the beaches along Cobbett's Pond. One day, a young Preston Evans was giving boat rides at Bella Vista, and happened to bring a young lady for a cruise around the pond. When Evans docked the boat at Bella Vista at the end of the ride, the two had formed a relationship that eventually led to marriage. However, they were very young and the romance did not last.
Following his divorce, Preston's son, John, moved in with his grandparents in their house along Range Road. John and Emma enrolled their grandson in the Boston Latin School. Sadly, his grandmother, Emma Evans, passed away on March 11, 1937 in Methuen, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from Boston Latin, with World War Two raging, John Evans II joined the Army and served in the European Theater. While serving as a signal officer, he was wounded at Monte Casino in Italy. His bravery and service was not forgotten by his hometown, as his name was forever memorialized upon a plaque along with the names of other Windham veterans.
Just after the end of World War Two, John Evans II, who had achieved the rank of Captain, married a Parisian French woman, who had been trapped in France during the Nazi occupation of the country. She had three children from a previous marriage, her first husband was killed at the beginning of World War II, all of whom were sent to the countryside to live with relatives; she had stayed behind to take care of her elderly parents. During the war, she played a role in the French Resistance, while being forced to work in a German weapons factory.
When Captain John J. Evans II returned home, he purchased land in New Hampshire and settled down. While he was away fighting in World War Two, two major events occurred in the Evans family. First, John Evans Sr., owner and operator of Bella Vista Beach, passed away November 26, 1942; both John and Emma are buried in the family plot in Windham. Just five years later, the Evans heirs, namely Ethel Evans Bahan, sold Bella Vista Beach to the Thwaites; John Evans II was disappointed that his family's business had been sold.
Although the family business had been sold, all of John and Emma's children were very successful in their lives and work. All but Preston moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where they either worked on the canal, or were married to canal workers. Ethel, who had inherited Bella Vista Beach and the family home, married Cecil Bahan, who was a master dredger on the Panama Canal. Ethel and Cecil were eventually joined in Panama by their niece, who met a canal engineer, and eventually married him. Ethel's brother, Clifton, was a also a dredger on the canal.
Even though the family dispersed and led successful lives away from Windham after the passing of John and Emma Evans, the Evans family remained impacted by Windham. The lives of the Evans family will forever be intertwined in the history of Windham, as will the history of Windham be forever intertwined with the Evans family, all because of John Evan's entrepreneurial spirit and foresight to open Bella Vista Beach.
The Evans took up residence in what was formerly known as the Chadwick House (the house was recently demolished), situated behind Bella Vista Beach, along Range Road. The couple had four children: Ethel, Preston, Clifton, and Bernice. As with any family business, John and Emma had children ready to help wherever needed at Bella Vista Beach. Preston Evans often helped with the boat rides, which were an attraction at all of the beaches along Cobbett's Pond. One day, a young Preston Evans was giving boat rides at Bella Vista, and happened to bring a young lady for a cruise around the pond. When Evans docked the boat at Bella Vista at the end of the ride, the two had formed a relationship that eventually led to marriage. However, they were very young and the romance did not last.
Following his divorce, Preston's son, John, moved in with his grandparents in their house along Range Road. John and Emma enrolled their grandson in the Boston Latin School. Sadly, his grandmother, Emma Evans, passed away on March 11, 1937 in Methuen, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from Boston Latin, with World War Two raging, John Evans II joined the Army and served in the European Theater. While serving as a signal officer, he was wounded at Monte Casino in Italy. His bravery and service was not forgotten by his hometown, as his name was forever memorialized upon a plaque along with the names of other Windham veterans.
Just after the end of World War Two, John Evans II, who had achieved the rank of Captain, married a Parisian French woman, who had been trapped in France during the Nazi occupation of the country. She had three children from a previous marriage, her first husband was killed at the beginning of World War II, all of whom were sent to the countryside to live with relatives; she had stayed behind to take care of her elderly parents. During the war, she played a role in the French Resistance, while being forced to work in a German weapons factory.
When Captain John J. Evans II returned home, he purchased land in New Hampshire and settled down. While he was away fighting in World War Two, two major events occurred in the Evans family. First, John Evans Sr., owner and operator of Bella Vista Beach, passed away November 26, 1942; both John and Emma are buried in the family plot in Windham. Just five years later, the Evans heirs, namely Ethel Evans Bahan, sold Bella Vista Beach to the Thwaites; John Evans II was disappointed that his family's business had been sold.
Although the family business had been sold, all of John and Emma's children were very successful in their lives and work. All but Preston moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where they either worked on the canal, or were married to canal workers. Ethel, who had inherited Bella Vista Beach and the family home, married Cecil Bahan, who was a master dredger on the Panama Canal. Ethel and Cecil were eventually joined in Panama by their niece, who met a canal engineer, and eventually married him. Ethel's brother, Clifton, was a also a dredger on the canal.
Even though the family dispersed and led successful lives away from Windham after the passing of John and Emma Evans, the Evans family remained impacted by Windham. The lives of the Evans family will forever be intertwined in the history of Windham, as will the history of Windham be forever intertwined with the Evans family, all because of John Evan's entrepreneurial spirit and foresight to open Bella Vista Beach.