The Griffin Hill Cemetery has been a place for family burials for a very long time. In fact, this cemetery was originally part of the land of our 4th great grandfather Caleb White (Jr.). His farm land composed all of the north side of the corner. He deeded this one acre plot of land as a cemetery in 1825, and his father, Caleb White (Sr.), was the first person to be buried there in 1830.
On a recent visit to this cemetery, I took a short walk up to the actual corner by walking for about 5 minutes to the west. Even today, there are about 10 houses surrounding the corner. The school was also cut out of Caleb White (Jr.)'s land as it stood right at the north corner. On the south corner was the stagecoach stop and livery stables. The church was opposite the livery stables, and Orin Hunt's blacksmith shop was just further down the road to the south. It is amazing what one can learn just by talking with the local residents.
The old Bodwell Inn still stands, built in the 1820s, it is a solid red brick structure and is now a private home. It was almost opposite to the where the school was, but on the west side of the corner.
On a recent visit to this cemetery, I took a short walk up to the actual corner by walking for about 5 minutes to the west. Even today, there are about 10 houses surrounding the corner. The school was also cut out of Caleb White (Jr.)'s land as it stood right at the north corner. On the south corner was the stagecoach stop and livery stables. The church was opposite the livery stables, and Orin Hunt's blacksmith shop was just further down the road to the south. It is amazing what one can learn just by talking with the local residents.
The old Bodwell Inn still stands, built in the 1820s, it is a solid red brick structure and is now a private home. It was almost opposite to the where the school was, but on the west side of the corner.
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| Old Bodwell Inn - Griffin |
The current residents of Griffin know that the corner was a "really something" at one time. There were 30 houses around Griffin's Corner and there were several businesses running: a blacksmith shop (run by Orin Hunt, our 3rd great grandfather), a tailor shop, and a shoemaker. There was also a general store, a tannery, a potash factory, an Inn, and a Tavern; plus there was a huge union church, a school, and a public meeting hall. Our family too heard that Griffin had been a "going concern" at one time. I had no idea how long ago this was though.
The main factor for the growth of Griffin's Corner was the stagecoach line, that had a stop here. This line went from Montreal to Boston. There was much traffic on this line. By 1830, the main roads were good enough for allowing travel in the warmer months. Prior to this time, only travel in those months in the winter when everything was frozen over, was transportation for long distances possible. So I am guessing that around 1830, Griffin's Corner growth began in a major way. The first meeting of the Stanstead Township elected officials took place at Griffin's Corner, in 1845, and they met there for many years after. The corner was geographically central to the Township, and was therefore, convenient.
In about 1853, the railway line from Montreal, through Sherbrooke, to Portland Maine was opened up. This was the first international railway line established in the world. Since the railway from Portland made its way to Boston, this had a impact on the stagecoach lines. So traffic through Griffin's Corner gradually diminished. By 1870, all that stood at the corner was the church, school, a tavern and the blacksmith shop. So the "hay day" of Griffin's Corner ranged from 1830 to about 1860, a period of 30 years. Yet, this was a long enough time for the passing down from generation to generation, as to how Griffin was at one point, a "going concern." Our ancestors, the Hunts and the Whites, were very much involved with Griffin in its hay day.
Griffin's Corner received its name when a group of Griffin brothers from the US, settled in the area around 1804. Two of their names are known, Silas and John Griffin. There were about 6 brothers in all. Some of the Griffins stayed, but most seemed to head back to the US after a few years. But the name stuck. Griffin's Corner was not far from the original Marlow Settlement. Actually, Marlow was just a couple of miles south west of Griffin's Corner. Griffin was more of or less taken over by the Marlow Settlement people, after the Griffins moved out.
In about 1853, the railway line from Montreal, through Sherbrooke, to Portland Maine was opened up. This was the first international railway line established in the world. Since the railway from Portland made its way to Boston, this had a impact on the stagecoach lines. So traffic through Griffin's Corner gradually diminished. By 1870, all that stood at the corner was the church, school, a tavern and the blacksmith shop. So the "hay day" of Griffin's Corner ranged from 1830 to about 1860, a period of 30 years. Yet, this was a long enough time for the passing down from generation to generation, as to how Griffin was at one point, a "going concern." Our ancestors, the Hunts and the Whites, were very much involved with Griffin in its hay day.
Griffin's Corner received its name when a group of Griffin brothers from the US, settled in the area around 1804. Two of their names are known, Silas and John Griffin. There were about 6 brothers in all. Some of the Griffins stayed, but most seemed to head back to the US after a few years. But the name stuck. Griffin's Corner was not far from the original Marlow Settlement. Actually, Marlow was just a couple of miles south west of Griffin's Corner. Griffin was more of or less taken over by the Marlow Settlement people, after the Griffins moved out.
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