Harriet Pope and Charles Walter Carpenter papers

The collection is primarily comprised of letters exchanged by Harriet Pope and Charles Walter Carpenter during the period of their courtship. Three letters exist, from August of 1902, following their marriage. Also included are a letter to Walter from an unidentified author (1895), a letter to Walter from Lena (1895), a portion of an undated letter from Hattie to Walter, a letter from Sam Pope to Hattie (1897), a calling card of Walter's mother, and an undated list of members of a women's club. The letters document Hattie and Walter's courtship in the late 1890's and depict the events and activities of a middle class lifestyle of that time and region. Friends and family in the St. Johnsbury and Claremont areas are mentioned. The letters describe working life and conditions, leisure time, travel through the region, architectural landmarks, social events, and visits with friends and family. They also provide descriptions of the landscape of northern Vermont and New Hampshire. Hattie's letters make mention of events at the Knights of Pythius block building, including Golden Cross Dances, Guards' dances, and the Leap Year Ball of 1896. She writes about Buffalo Bill's Wild West show coming to town in the summer of 1895. While Hattie describes the Summerville fire of 1895 and the completion of a local shoe factory in 1897, she omits any reference to the opening of the St. Johnsbury Hospital in 1895. Hattie and peers enjoyed walks to Observatory Knob (at the area near the far end of the current Mt. Pleasant Street). In February of 1897 a huge storm prevented Hattie's sister Annie from traveling out of Greensboro, as the livery team she had hired was tipped over repeatedly by the strong wind and snow. Walter's letters refer to central New Hamphire and the areas of Claremont, N.H. and Ascutney, Vt. He describes traveling by horse and buggy and crossing a covered toll bridge. He writes about the opening of Corbin's Fork, a New Hampshire wild game park, in 1896. He attended local events, such as, the New Hampshire Guards' muster, the Salvation Army Camp meeting, a Homliest Man Contest. He describes going to the theater to see plays, such as "Cotton King." The primary theme of Walter's letters is to convince Hattie to proceed with their marriage. The three letters from 1902 refer to the couples' two children and were written when Hattie was visiting her sister Lena in South Ryegate. They show her wish for Walter to bring her home to New Hampshire. The accession number for the collection is 8099. The letters have been foldered by author and are arranged chronologically.