Old postcard showing the Francestown WWI
monument. Property of J.W. Brown.
Francestown was, and still is, a rural community southwest of Manchester, New Hampshire. In 1910 before the World War the town’s population was 602. Just a few years after the war in 1920 the census had drastically dropped to 363, followed by 342 a decade later. Then slowly the population began to grow to its estimated 1600 people today.
There were many in the town, men and women who though not in the military, still served their town and country through supportive activities. Victory gardens, Red Cross work, philanthropic efforts were all important pieces of Francestown’s community World War promotion.
When the Armistice was announced, the town was determined not to forget not only the soldiers who did not come home, but all of the men that went to war. Francestown arranged for a monument that was dedicated in 1920. This beautiful plaque was created by the famed woman sculptor, Theo Alice R. Kitson, and cost the town $400. Today the monument still sits where it was installed, at 35 Main Street beside the Old Meeting House, between two flag poles (USA and NH flags). Continue reading
