JENNETT EVELYN (SHERMAN) WILLIS CELEBRATION
AND
VETERAN'S LUNCH
THIS SATURDAY
12:30PM - 2PM
CROYDON FIRE DEPARTMENT
CROYDON, NH – The Croydon Historical Society recognize the oldest living resident in town with the presentation of the “Croydon Cane”.
This person is Jennett Evelyn (Sherman) Willis, 94 years, born Feb. 19, 1930 at the family farm in Grantham NH to Cora Edna nee Reney, and, Henry Ralph Sherman. She was the second of four daughters, Edna, Jennett, Joyce and Marie. The large farm was located on Route 10, opposite their father’s -Sherman’s Meat Market.
All the girls went to the two room Grantham school until 8th grade then off to Towle High School in Newport. After school the two oldest had to do the chores, Edna inside and Jennett feeding the cows, pigs, chickens and horses, often lugging the water from the Sugar River, uphill. She did have her own pony. In spring they had a sugar house, washing all the sap buckets added to the chores. Once her father hired a man to do chores, but he went into the service so Jennett took over all the barn chores then.
Jennett was an avid church goer, in Grantham and later Croydon. She married Albert Truell Willis on July 1, 1950, with Betty and Donal Ballou standing up for them. They had three children, Sherman, Alan and Cathy and now has 12 grandchildren.
Jennett worked many jobs throughout her years, including the Interlaken Camp (later Camp Coniston) hanging all the uniform clothes worn every Sunday. Not much pay, but all the leftover food came home with her to feed her father’s pigs. Later at Brampton Woolen Mill as switchboard operator, then payroll, which she got to leave early to pick up her kids from school. Bookkeeping for Claremont Flock Paper Mill, Newport Water and Sewer Dept, Martin’s Hardware, Dorr Woolen Mill, Newport Town Office, and Goodrich Oil Company. Finishing her working years delivering US Mail with her sister Marie (Newcomb). Also belonging to the Newport Woman’s Club.
She had a passion for bowling at Newport and Claremont lanes, often in the newspaper for 1st and 2nd place, right on up to her 80’s.
She and Albert lived in Newport until 1980, but had purchased a cottage at Rocky Bound Pond in 1970, which was renovated twice to become their home then permanently. Albert and her sisters have all passed, but her children and grandchildren mostly live close and spend much time with her still at her home on the pond. Her health is with her, and she gets to spend time with her ‘church family’ as well. Still very active she says she has many good memories and continues to share in more.
You may come visit with Jennett on Nov. 9th at the Croydon Fire Station, Noon to Two, have a piece of cake and reminisce with this incredible lady.
This person is Jennett Evelyn (Sherman) Willis, 94 years, born Feb. 19, 1930 at the family farm in Grantham NH to Cora Edna nee Reney, and, Henry Ralph Sherman. She was the second of four daughters, Edna, Jennett, Joyce and Marie. The large farm was located on Route 10, opposite their father’s -Sherman’s Meat Market.
All the girls went to the two room Grantham school until 8th grade then off to Towle High School in Newport. After school the two oldest had to do the chores, Edna inside and Jennett feeding the cows, pigs, chickens and horses, often lugging the water from the Sugar River, uphill. She did have her own pony. In spring they had a sugar house, washing all the sap buckets added to the chores. Once her father hired a man to do chores, but he went into the service so Jennett took over all the barn chores then.
Jennett was an avid church goer, in Grantham and later Croydon. She married Albert Truell Willis on July 1, 1950, with Betty and Donal Ballou standing up for them. They had three children, Sherman, Alan and Cathy and now has 12 grandchildren.
Jennett worked many jobs throughout her years, including the Interlaken Camp (later Camp Coniston) hanging all the uniform clothes worn every Sunday. Not much pay, but all the leftover food came home with her to feed her father’s pigs. Later at Brampton Woolen Mill as switchboard operator, then payroll, which she got to leave early to pick up her kids from school. Bookkeeping for Claremont Flock Paper Mill, Newport Water and Sewer Dept, Martin’s Hardware, Dorr Woolen Mill, Newport Town Office, and Goodrich Oil Company. Finishing her working years delivering US Mail with her sister Marie (Newcomb). Also belonging to the Newport Woman’s Club.
She had a passion for bowling at Newport and Claremont lanes, often in the newspaper for 1st and 2nd place, right on up to her 80’s.
She and Albert lived in Newport until 1980, but had purchased a cottage at Rocky Bound Pond in 1970, which was renovated twice to become their home then permanently. Albert and her sisters have all passed, but her children and grandchildren mostly live close and spend much time with her still at her home on the pond. Her health is with her, and she gets to spend time with her ‘church family’ as well. Still very active she says she has many good memories and continues to share in more.
You may come visit with Jennett on Nov. 9th at the Croydon Fire Station, Noon to Two, have a piece of cake and reminisce with this incredible lady.
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ABOUT THE SOCIETY
In 1999, the official organization of the Croydon Historical Society was established after years of collecting and documenting by dedicated individuals in our town. Through these efforts, we now have a membership of individuals continuing the interest to preserve and record the history of the Town of Croydon. We meet February - June, September - December, check meeting tab for exact times.
Our Samuel Morse House Museum, in the town center, is open Tuesday afternoons (or by appointment) during the year from 1-3pm. During these times there are house tours, exhibits, and demonstrations. We recognize our town veterans in November with a free dinner and our oldest living resident holds the "Croydon Cane".
BEATRICE AUGUST HILTZ SMITH
Formerly honored as Croydon’s Oldest Resident.
On a beautiful Saturday here in Croydon, we joined with neighbors and friends to watch the Tractor Parade event complete with Bea riding in style with son-in-law, Ed. Joined by her family, we made a public presentation of the Croydon Cane to Bea which she had graciously accepted in May.
Bea was born May 30, 1919, in New Brunswick Canada. The daughter of James & Blanch Hiltz. Bea is the youngest of four children. Her siblings were Gordon, Ruby and Hilda, they are all now deceased. Her father was a cooper (barrel maker) in Canada. When Bea was 4 years old the whole family moved to the United States in 1922-23, and lived in Connecticut. Her Dad worked for Bridgeport Brass Company. Bea was educated in Connecticut but had to leave school in the 9th grade to take care of her Mother. Her Mom passed away when Bea was 19 and at that time she became a U.S. Citizen and went to work for the State Hospital in Newtown, Connecticut. She met Robert E. Smith in 1951 and married shortly after and had two daughters. Roberta, born in 1953 and Charleen, born in 1954. While living in Connecticut, Bea was a stay at home Mother.
The Smith family moved to Croydon in 1961, living on Cash Street in the home next to the East Village Cemetery. While living on Cash Street, Bea worked for Green Acres Ice Cream, Croydon, as a production line worker. In 1964 the family moved to the farm on Loverin Hill. In 1968 they purchased the farm from Bea’s father James and Ox Yoke Farm was created. The Smith’s raised beef and veal. Both Bea and Bob worked outside of the farm. Green Acres Ice Cream closed and Bea went to work for Woodlawn Nursing Home as a housekeeper and was promoted to Supervisor of housekeeping. She worked for Woodlawn for 17 years, retiring in 1991 at the age of 72.
Bea still lives on the farm with her daughter Roberta. Bea is an active member of the Croydon Congregational Church of Croydon. Her hobbies are reading and cross stitch. Bea has one Grandson, Nick Avery, Roberta’s son, and one Great Granddaughter, Hayley Avery, Nick’s daughter. Both Charleen Smith Little and her husband Edward and Nick Avery and his wife Staci live on land that was once part of the original farm. Bea’s husband Robert E. Smith passed away in April 2014.
One story that Bea likes to tell is how she got her new name of Beatrice H. Smith. It seems when she first moved to Croydon in 1961 and tried to register to vote one of the Supervisors of the checklist said the town already had a Beatrice A. Smith in town, who on Ash Swamp Brook Rd. So Bea took the first letter of her maiden name as her middle initial.
Bea passed away February 16, 2024 at the age of 104 years old.
In 1999, the official organization of the Croydon Historical Society was established after years of collecting and documenting by dedicated individuals in our town. Through these efforts, we now have a membership of individuals continuing the interest to preserve and record the history of the Town of Croydon. We meet February - June, September - December, check meeting tab for exact times.
Our Samuel Morse House Museum, in the town center, is open Tuesday afternoons (or by appointment) during the year from 1-3pm. During these times there are house tours, exhibits, and demonstrations. We recognize our town veterans in November with a free dinner and our oldest living resident holds the "Croydon Cane".
BEATRICE AUGUST HILTZ SMITH
Formerly honored as Croydon’s Oldest Resident.
On a beautiful Saturday here in Croydon, we joined with neighbors and friends to watch the Tractor Parade event complete with Bea riding in style with son-in-law, Ed. Joined by her family, we made a public presentation of the Croydon Cane to Bea which she had graciously accepted in May.
Bea was born May 30, 1919, in New Brunswick Canada. The daughter of James & Blanch Hiltz. Bea is the youngest of four children. Her siblings were Gordon, Ruby and Hilda, they are all now deceased. Her father was a cooper (barrel maker) in Canada. When Bea was 4 years old the whole family moved to the United States in 1922-23, and lived in Connecticut. Her Dad worked for Bridgeport Brass Company. Bea was educated in Connecticut but had to leave school in the 9th grade to take care of her Mother. Her Mom passed away when Bea was 19 and at that time she became a U.S. Citizen and went to work for the State Hospital in Newtown, Connecticut. She met Robert E. Smith in 1951 and married shortly after and had two daughters. Roberta, born in 1953 and Charleen, born in 1954. While living in Connecticut, Bea was a stay at home Mother.
The Smith family moved to Croydon in 1961, living on Cash Street in the home next to the East Village Cemetery. While living on Cash Street, Bea worked for Green Acres Ice Cream, Croydon, as a production line worker. In 1964 the family moved to the farm on Loverin Hill. In 1968 they purchased the farm from Bea’s father James and Ox Yoke Farm was created. The Smith’s raised beef and veal. Both Bea and Bob worked outside of the farm. Green Acres Ice Cream closed and Bea went to work for Woodlawn Nursing Home as a housekeeper and was promoted to Supervisor of housekeeping. She worked for Woodlawn for 17 years, retiring in 1991 at the age of 72.
Bea still lives on the farm with her daughter Roberta. Bea is an active member of the Croydon Congregational Church of Croydon. Her hobbies are reading and cross stitch. Bea has one Grandson, Nick Avery, Roberta’s son, and one Great Granddaughter, Hayley Avery, Nick’s daughter. Both Charleen Smith Little and her husband Edward and Nick Avery and his wife Staci live on land that was once part of the original farm. Bea’s husband Robert E. Smith passed away in April 2014.
One story that Bea likes to tell is how she got her new name of Beatrice H. Smith. It seems when she first moved to Croydon in 1961 and tried to register to vote one of the Supervisors of the checklist said the town already had a Beatrice A. Smith in town, who on Ash Swamp Brook Rd. So Bea took the first letter of her maiden name as her middle initial.
Bea passed away February 16, 2024 at the age of 104 years old.