Monadnock Moments No. 41: Streets of Keene in 1886

In 1876 George Street was laid out in the northern part of Keene, opening to development the area to the east of northern Washington Street.  New homes were soon built in this area.  This new road, however, created trouble for Woodland Cemetery.

It seems that teamsters and other workmen found the roadways through the cemetery much shorter and more convenient than Washington Street when they were traveling from the George Street area to the Beaver Street area.  Consequently, they drove their wagons through the cemetery rather than going around.  This heavy use of the cemetery roadways concerned the city council.  As a result, in May of 1886, North Lincoln Street was built connecting Beaver Street and George Street.

The Keene City report for 1886 outlines the construction of the street, listing it as Cemetery Street.  The cost for construction of this ½ mile of North Lincoln Street was $165.00.  The year 1886 was a busy year for the city highway department.  Six new streets were built, including Sullivan, Wilber, North Lincoln, and Willow Streets, and portions of Elm and Railroad Streets. The cost of building these highways was somewhat less than the construction costs we are familiar with today.  Overall, approximately two miles of new roads were built, at a cost of $1012.50, or about $500 per mile.