Howe's Hall Happenings
A Short Biographical Sketch of Isaac Howe 1827- 1880
You may or may not know that the United Church’s Howe’s Hall is named for the young civil engineer that built it- Isaac Bridgeman Howe. Howe was born in Norwich, Vermont, 27 June 1827 to Abijah Howe and Martha Bridgeman. His family moved to Northfield, Vermont when Isaac was a boy. He acquired his high school education in the Northfield Schools before he went on to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire where he earned an engineering degree. His early interest in the railroad took him to Wisconsin. He left Northfield and his fiancé (temporarily) behind.
His betrothed was Hannah Rebecca Gould, born in Gouldsville, Vermont (now Northfield Falls) 11 June 1836 to James Gould and Rebecca Merrill. Hannah did not want to get married in Wisconsin far from her family. Isaac returned to Northfield and he and Hannah were married on 20 September 1859. The US Census of 1860 places Isaac and Rebecca Howe in Northfield with her parents and a younger brother, James Jr. Sometime in the next 10 years they removed to Dalton, Iowa. The US Census of 1870 confirms this. At that time the family also included two young daughters, Mary and Oda Howe. The Howe’s had a servant and a machinist living with them. Isaac’s profession is noted as Chief Engineer of the North West Railroad. The railroad became his life’s work.
We will remember him as the daring young engineer that helped the First Congregational Church expand and grow. Between 1853- 1858 the building, once know as Paine’s Meeting House and later sold to the First Congregational Church, was transformed. First, the building was split north to south and pulled apart to lengthen it. This allowed for more rows of pews. The land below the church was deeded to Isaac Howe. He raised the building 3 feet and excavated beneath it to create a hall, which was used, “…to rent at a good profit.” Many years later Charles Davis, Esq. obtained a quitclaim deed from the Howe family returning the property to the First Congregational Church.
During his time in Vermont Isaac Howe served in the legislature and chaired the Republican County Committee. He also helped outfit the first regiment of Vermont volunteers in the Civil War
While living in Clinton, Iowa Howe began to have health issues. He and Hannah decided to move their family to Danvers, MA. to be near relatives. Howe died there 23 April 1880. Hannah died in Danvers, MA., 2 November 1907. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Northfield. A beautiful monument marks their final resting place along with Hannah’s parents.
Isaac Howe was an imaginative, innovative thinker. His legacy of Howe’s Hall lives on and in our care today. We should all be proud to have a part in keeping this traditional space for community and congregational involvement in good working order.
You may or may not know that the United Church’s Howe’s Hall is named for the young civil engineer that built it- Isaac Bridgeman Howe. Howe was born in Norwich, Vermont, 27 June 1827 to Abijah Howe and Martha Bridgeman. His family moved to Northfield, Vermont when Isaac was a boy. He acquired his high school education in the Northfield Schools before he went on to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire where he earned an engineering degree. His early interest in the railroad took him to Wisconsin. He left Northfield and his fiancé (temporarily) behind.
His betrothed was Hannah Rebecca Gould, born in Gouldsville, Vermont (now Northfield Falls) 11 June 1836 to James Gould and Rebecca Merrill. Hannah did not want to get married in Wisconsin far from her family. Isaac returned to Northfield and he and Hannah were married on 20 September 1859. The US Census of 1860 places Isaac and Rebecca Howe in Northfield with her parents and a younger brother, James Jr. Sometime in the next 10 years they removed to Dalton, Iowa. The US Census of 1870 confirms this. At that time the family also included two young daughters, Mary and Oda Howe. The Howe’s had a servant and a machinist living with them. Isaac’s profession is noted as Chief Engineer of the North West Railroad. The railroad became his life’s work.
We will remember him as the daring young engineer that helped the First Congregational Church expand and grow. Between 1853- 1858 the building, once know as Paine’s Meeting House and later sold to the First Congregational Church, was transformed. First, the building was split north to south and pulled apart to lengthen it. This allowed for more rows of pews. The land below the church was deeded to Isaac Howe. He raised the building 3 feet and excavated beneath it to create a hall, which was used, “…to rent at a good profit.” Many years later Charles Davis, Esq. obtained a quitclaim deed from the Howe family returning the property to the First Congregational Church.
During his time in Vermont Isaac Howe served in the legislature and chaired the Republican County Committee. He also helped outfit the first regiment of Vermont volunteers in the Civil War
While living in Clinton, Iowa Howe began to have health issues. He and Hannah decided to move their family to Danvers, MA. to be near relatives. Howe died there 23 April 1880. Hannah died in Danvers, MA., 2 November 1907. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Northfield. A beautiful monument marks their final resting place along with Hannah’s parents.
Isaac Howe was an imaginative, innovative thinker. His legacy of Howe’s Hall lives on and in our care today. We should all be proud to have a part in keeping this traditional space for community and congregational involvement in good working order.
