Category: New England

The well known librarian and poet Sam Walter Foss was born in Candia in 1858. His best known poem is “The House by the Side of the Road.”
A poem perhaps meaning more here in 2018 than it ever did when it was first published.

The House by the Side of the Road
THERE are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths
Where highways never ran-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat
Nor hurl the cynic’s ban-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
I see from my house by the side of the road
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife,
But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.
Let me live in my house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish – so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat,
Or hurl the cynic’s ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.
Sam Walter Foss

Major John Simpson 1748-1825 was credited with firing the first shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War. During the battle Private Simpson fired early disobeying orders and was arrested the following day. He was later released and eventually rose to the rank of major in the New Hampshire State Troops. Simpson retired to and was buried on his family farm, his body was later moved to the Old Center Cemetery in Deerfield.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7aQjQSTnUSk5aUxw6

This difficult to access but easy to find historical marker is just of US Route 1 in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. The marker is surrounded by busy public roads and private residences.

In October of 1789 on his way to Portsmouth Washington stopped in Hampton Falls and met with some revolutionary war veterans.