September 23, 1881 issue of The Derry News mourns the death of President Garfield with thick black borders on all columns; a typical 19th century practice for newspapers
On October 7, 1881, William Samuel Harris reported on Windham's mourning of the late President James A. Garfield. In the election of 1880, the citizens of Windham voted overwhelmingly for James Garfield; Garfield received 126 votes, while his Democrat opponent, Winfield Hancock, received just 58. Windham's preference for the candidate was shared by the majority of the country, and Garfield was sworn-in as president in 1881. Unfortunately, his term was cut short at the hands of an assassin just months after he took office. President Garfield had fallen victim to an assassin's bullet on July 2, and ultimately passed away on Monday, September 19 after several months of unsuccessful medical treatment. Harris, reporting for The Derry News, indicated the news of the president's death did not reach Windham until the morning of Tuesday, October 1.
When the news finally arrived in Windham, the bell of the Presbyterian church was rung, and the flags at the town center were "draped in mourning and suspended across the street." The following Sunday, the church was "appropriately trimmed with black and white." On Monday, September 23, Reverend Joseph F. Webster held a 2 o'clock service at the Presbyterian church, which was well attended. All of the town's schools were closed that Monday, which may have contributed to the attendance of the church service. A few of the school houses, included school house No. 1, were draped for mourning.
In the October 7, 1881 issue of The Derry News, an interesting anecdote is related concerning a shopkeeper in Derry who was the victim of the theft of a cabinet photograph of the late President Garfield. Interestingly, the story was titled "A Case of Female Depravity."
When the news finally arrived in Windham, the bell of the Presbyterian church was rung, and the flags at the town center were "draped in mourning and suspended across the street." The following Sunday, the church was "appropriately trimmed with black and white." On Monday, September 23, Reverend Joseph F. Webster held a 2 o'clock service at the Presbyterian church, which was well attended. All of the town's schools were closed that Monday, which may have contributed to the attendance of the church service. A few of the school houses, included school house No. 1, were draped for mourning.
In the October 7, 1881 issue of The Derry News, an interesting anecdote is related concerning a shopkeeper in Derry who was the victim of the theft of a cabinet photograph of the late President Garfield. Interestingly, the story was titled "A Case of Female Depravity."
Last Friday afternoon, a young lady entered the office of the Derry National Bank, and asked to borrow two dollars to pay freight upon furniture, as her folks had just moved to Derry from Franklin, N.H., and lacked just this amount of having money enough to pay their freight bill. The cashier kindly referred her to parties at the Depot, who he thought, on seeing the furniture, would lend or give the money, and the girl went away. Saturday forenoon, however, the same female came to the law office of G. C. & G. K. Bartlett, asked for "lawyer Bartlett," and told a story about a rent bill, wishing to borrow two dollars. The editor of the DERRY NEWS overhearing the request, at once started out to note the further proceedings of this impecunious being. After leaving the law office, she went to Mr. Pettee's store, where instead of trying to borrow money, she asked him if he sold alcohol. He answered in the negative, and referred her to the drug store, which she visited. Her purchase here amounted to twenty cents, but she receiving her medicine, threw down ten cents in change, and hurridly[sic] left he store, so that Mr. Bell was obliged to run after her and call her back, to insist upon her paying the whole bill, which she finally did. She then started directly towards the Depot. We followed, and she went into Mrs. Hood's, where we supposed she might be begging. We walked on, past the house, and stood behind a large tree. Soon our maid came along, carrying a cabinet photograph of Garfield, at which she was looking intently, and did not notice us till close by. Being interested as to her errand at Mrs. Hood's, we called and learned that she had asked for a drink of water, and had asked how many lawyers there were in town, and after looking about sharply, departed, never saying a word about her lack of money. Chas. Bartlett's is the only store in town where pictures of the kind we saw her have, are sold. He has them lying loosely on his show case. Our suspicions being aroused, we asked Mr. Bartlett if he had sold any of his pictures of Garfield to a young lady. He certainly had not, but on looking over his stock, one was missing, which he could not account for, and when he told us that he had been busy in the printing office most of the morning, we felt no doubt but that the enterprising damsel had quietly entered and helped herself.
Inside pages of the September 23, 1881 "mourning issue" of The Derry News. Some Windham residents likely read the story of president's life and assassination in this issue.
