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John Garrison Cutler

January 01, 1970

John Garrison Cutler (May 10, 1833 – February 7, 1913) was a well-known African American entrepreneur and member of the New Hampshire Republican Party who hosted sitting presidents and many others at his "Cutler's Sea View Hotel" at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, in the late 1800s until his death in 1913.[1] He was the grandson of an enslaved man who fought in the Revolutionary War, thus earning his freedom.[2]

Sea View Hotel & Cutler's Café edit

Cutler is most known for the exclusive hotel complex he built at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, which was known for a time as the "Summer capital of New Hampshire". Informal political meetings would be held on the large hotel porch, or in the restaurant or pool hall on the complex grounds. He became known in the New Hampshire Republican party as a "kingmaker".[3] The Rockingham County Republican Party met at his hotel to endorse William Taft for the United States Presidential nomination.[4]

His hotel guests included Presidents Franklin Pierce, James A. Garfield, and Benjamin Harrison; then ex-president Grover Cleveland; General Robert E. Lee; James G. Blaine; P. T. Barnum and Tom Thumb; boxer John L. Sullivan; writers Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Celia Thaxter; Senator Charles Sumner; every New Hampshire governor during Cutler's lifetime; plus scores of other politicians, educators, and scientists who were well known during that time.[5] Ten-term New Hampshire Congressman Cyrus A. Sulloway summered at Cutler's for many years.[6] John G. Cutler's restaurant "Cutler's Café" was very well known both for cuisine, and as a meeting place. Each fall the "Cutler Club" hosted an annual wild bird dinner.[7]

In 1907, future Governor John H. Bartlett led a group of residents to petition the Board of Selectmen to form the Hampton Beach Village District. The article passed, and the first meeting for Beach residents was held at Cutler's Café on June 26 of that year.[8]

Business ventures edit

John G. Cutler was one of several children who grew up working in his father Rufus Cutler's dry goods store on Water Street in Exeter. His aunt, Harriet P. (Cutler), and her husband, George Harris, owned a similar shop directly next door. The families lived over the shops. John G. obtained the store in 1864 and later added a saloon and billiards parlor in the basement rear. Both the Cutler and Harris buildings burned to the ground in the Great Conflagration of 1873 that consumed three blocks of downtown businesses. John G. rebuilt the store which still stands today at 129 Water Street.[9] According to the Exeter Newsletter, he was known as the "best-dressed man in Exeter, without exception and sported a liberal display of diamonds."[10]

In 1875 he purchased the "Sea View Cottages" on Ocean Avenue at Hampton Beach and renamed it "Cutler's Sea View Cottages". He and his wife, Hattie, moved there permanently and employed immigrants from Poland and Ireland. Cutler's became the first hotel at the beach to be open year-round, and was quite near to the mansions of dignitaries like Franklin Pierce at Boar's Head.[11] Cutler's establishment burned ten years later, in 1895, and he had it rebuilt quickly and in grand style, bringing the total to 26 rooms. It was then renamed "Cutler's Sea View Hotel". Picture postcards were sold with a photo of the new hotel.[12] On the grounds were also a stable for forty horses, a pool hall, and several other small out-buildings.

In 1897, construction of a street railway began to Hampton Beach, eventually making it less exclusive.[13][14] To take advantage of this new clientele, in 1898 he built "Cutler's Café", a large restaurant adjacent to the hotel. This was built for the train-riding public and had 14 guest rooms and modern plumbing, but also included two private dining rooms.

The hotel stood for one hundred years until it burned in 1985.[15] The restaurant remains, and is currently known as "Ron's Landing at Rocky Bend". The street leading to the rear still bears the name "Cutler Avenue".

Cutler and his wife also purchased a plot of nearby land slightly more inland, known historically as Ox Commons and Glade Path.[16] He and wife Hattie platted it in 1913 to be sold as house lots (New Hampshire Deeds). The neighborhood still stands today.

Family edit

John Garrison Cutler was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, on May 10, 1833, to Rufus E. and Anna (Cilley) Cutler. His paternal grandfather was Tobias Cutler, one of the many Black Revolutionary War soldiers who settled in Exeter after the war.[17] His grandmother was Dorothy Paul, sister of Rev. Thomas Paul of Boston.

At the age of 50, John Garrison Cutler married Harriet Anne (Hattie) Brewster on July 29, 1873. They had two children, who both died young. The family grave is in the High Street Cemetery in Hampton.

Legacy and honors edit

Cutler Avenue, at the rear of the then hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, was named after him.

A plaque in his honor was placed on his former dry goods store at 127 Water Street, Exeter, in February 2021.[18]

References edit

  1. ^ Randall, Peter Evans (1989). "1, 2". Hampton: A Century of Town and Beach, 1888 - 1988. Randall Publishing. ISBN 0914339230.
  2. ^ Dixon, David T. (Spring 2007). "Freedom Earned: Equality Denied". Historical New Hampshire. 61. New Hampshire Historical Society: 28–47. Last Black Veteran
    • David T. Dixon. "Freedom Earned, Equality Denied: Evolving Race Relations in Exeter and Vicinity, 1776–1876" (PDF). DavidTDixon.
  3. ^ Lassiter, Cheryl (February 16, 2017). "Hampton's Old Time Party Boss". Seacoast Online Newspaper (USA Today network). Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Randall, Peter (1989). "Ch. 2 Part 3: Building Hotels and Cottages and Hosting Conventions". Hampton: A Century of Town and Beach 1888-1988. Randall.
  5. ^ "summer visitors". Ocean Breeze Newspaper. 1879.
  6. ^ Cram, William D. (August 12, 1937). "The Beginning and Growth of Hampton Beach". Hampton Union & Rockingham County Gazette. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ Lane, LKH (July 1, 1896). "Historic Hampton". The Granite Monthly: A Magazine of Literature, History, and State Progress – via Hampton Library.
  8. ^ Hampton Beach Handbook. Town of Hampton. 2006. p. 7.
  9. ^ "The Great Fire!". Exeter Newsletter. 7 March 1873.
  10. ^ Dudley, Arthur (18 August 1922). "Reminisces of old Exeter". Exeter Newsletter.
  11. ^ "John G Cutler obituary". Hampton Union. 13 February 1913. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Cutler's Sea View House, Hampton Beach, N.H., undated postcard". New Hampshire Historical Society. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  13. ^ Randall, Peter. Hampton: A History of Town and Beach - (The Trolley Era chapter). Randall.
  14. ^ Cummings, O.R. (1 January 1969). Trolleys to the Casino: Exeter, Amesbury and Hampton Street Railway. New England Electric Railway Historical Society, Inc.
  15. ^ Ballam, Ed (October 2, 1985). "Beach Blaze Destroys Motel". Hampton Union. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  16. ^ http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/images/maps/wallachHistoricalMap1989.jpg Historical Map showing Ox Commons and Glade Path. By Alex Wallach 1989/1938
  17. ^ Fernald, Jody R (2007). "Slavery in New Hampshire: Profitable godliness to racial consciousness". University of New Hampshire.
  18. ^ Alexander LaCasse (February 11, 2021). "Honoring Exeter's Black history: Discussion on future park". Seacoastonline. Retrieved August 4, 2022.

January 01, 1970
john, garrison, cutler, 1833, february, 1913, well, known, african, american, entrepreneur, member, hampshire, republican, party, hosted, sitting, presidents, many, others, cutler, view, hotel, hampton, beach, hampshire, late, 1800s, until, death, 1913, grands. John Garrison Cutler May 10 1833 February 7 1913 was a well known African American entrepreneur and member of the New Hampshire Republican Party who hosted sitting presidents and many others at his Cutler s Sea View Hotel at Hampton Beach New Hampshire in the late 1800s until his death in 1913 1 He was the grandson of an enslaved man who fought in the Revolutionary War thus earning his freedom 2 Contents 1 Sea View Hotel amp Cutler s Cafe 2 Business ventures 3 Family 4 Legacy and honors 5 ReferencesSea View Hotel amp Cutler s Cafe editCutler is most known for the exclusive hotel complex he built at Hampton Beach New Hampshire which was known for a time as the Summer capital of New Hampshire Informal political meetings would be held on the large hotel porch or in the restaurant or pool hall on the complex grounds He became known in the New Hampshire Republican party as a kingmaker 3 The Rockingham County Republican Party met at his hotel to endorse William Taft for the United States Presidential nomination 4 His hotel guests included Presidents Franklin Pierce James A Garfield and Benjamin Harrison then ex president Grover Cleveland General Robert E Lee James G Blaine P T Barnum and Tom Thumb boxer John L Sullivan writers Oliver Wendell Holmes John Greenleaf Whittier and Celia Thaxter Senator Charles Sumner every New Hampshire governor during Cutler s lifetime plus scores of other politicians educators and scientists who were well known during that time 5 Ten term New Hampshire Congressman Cyrus A Sulloway summered at Cutler s for many years 6 John G Cutler s restaurant Cutler s Cafe was very well known both for cuisine and as a meeting place Each fall the Cutler Club hosted an annual wild bird dinner 7 In 1907 future Governor John H Bartlett led a group of residents to petition the Board of Selectmen to form the Hampton Beach Village District The article passed and the first meeting for Beach residents was held at Cutler s Cafe on June 26 of that year 8 Business ventures editJohn G Cutler was one of several children who grew up working in his father Rufus Cutler s dry goods store on Water Street in Exeter His aunt Harriet P Cutler and her husband George Harris owned a similar shop directly next door The families lived over the shops John G obtained the store in 1864 and later added a saloon and billiards parlor in the basement rear Both the Cutler and Harris buildings burned to the ground in the Great Conflagration of 1873 that consumed three blocks of downtown businesses John G rebuilt the store which still stands today at 129 Water Street 9 According to the Exeter Newsletter he was known as the best dressed man in Exeter without exception and sported a liberal display of diamonds 10 In 1875 he purchased the Sea View Cottages on Ocean Avenue at Hampton Beach and renamed it Cutler s Sea View Cottages He and his wife Hattie moved there permanently and employed immigrants from Poland and Ireland Cutler s became the first hotel at the beach to be open year round and was quite near to the mansions of dignitaries like Franklin Pierce at Boar s Head 11 Cutler s establishment burned ten years later in 1895 and he had it rebuilt quickly and in grand style bringing the total to 26 rooms It was then renamed Cutler s Sea View Hotel Picture postcards were sold with a photo of the new hotel 12 On the grounds were also a stable for forty horses a pool hall and several other small out buildings In 1897 construction of a street railway began to Hampton Beach eventually making it less exclusive 13 14 To take advantage of this new clientele in 1898 he built Cutler s Cafe a large restaurant adjacent to the hotel This was built for the train riding public and had 14 guest rooms and modern plumbing but also included two private dining rooms The hotel stood for one hundred years until it burned in 1985 15 The restaurant remains and is currently known as Ron s Landing at Rocky Bend The street leading to the rear still bears the name Cutler Avenue Cutler and his wife also purchased a plot of nearby land slightly more inland known historically as Ox Commons and Glade Path 16 He and wife Hattie platted it in 1913 to be sold as house lots New Hampshire Deeds The neighborhood still stands today Family editJohn Garrison Cutler was born in Exeter New Hampshire on May 10 1833 to Rufus E and Anna Cilley Cutler His paternal grandfather was Tobias Cutler one of the many Black Revolutionary War soldiers who settled in Exeter after the war 17 His grandmother was Dorothy Paul sister of Rev Thomas Paul of Boston At the age of 50 John Garrison Cutler married Harriet Anne Hattie Brewster on July 29 1873 They had two children who both died young The family grave is in the High Street Cemetery in Hampton Legacy and honors editCutler Avenue at the rear of the then hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Hampton Beach New Hampshire was named after him A plaque in his honor was placed on his former dry goods store at 127 Water Street Exeter in February 2021 18 References edit Randall Peter Evans 1989 1 2 Hampton A Century of Town and Beach 1888 1988 Randall Publishing ISBN 0914339230 Dixon David T Spring 2007 Freedom Earned Equality Denied Historical New Hampshire 61 New Hampshire Historical Society 28 47 Last Black Veteran David T Dixon Freedom Earned Equality Denied Evolving Race Relations in Exeter and Vicinity 1776 1876 PDF DavidTDixon Lassiter Cheryl February 16 2017 Hampton s Old Time Party Boss Seacoast Online Newspaper USA Today network Retrieved January 25 2021 Randall Peter 1989 Ch 2 Part 3 Building Hotels and Cottages and Hosting Conventions Hampton A Century of Town and Beach 1888 1988 Randall summer visitors Ocean Breeze Newspaper 1879 Cram William D August 12 1937 The Beginning and Growth of Hampton Beach Hampton Union amp Rockingham County Gazette Retrieved January 29 2021 Lane LKH July 1 1896 Historic Hampton The Granite Monthly A Magazine of Literature History and State Progress via Hampton Library Hampton Beach Handbook Town of Hampton 2006 p 7 The Great Fire Exeter Newsletter 7 March 1873 Dudley Arthur 18 August 1922 Reminisces of old Exeter Exeter Newsletter John G Cutler obituary Hampton Union 13 February 1913 Retrieved 25 January 2021 Cutler s Sea View House Hampton Beach N H undated postcard New Hampshire Historical Society Retrieved 29 January 2021 Randall Peter Hampton A History of Town and Beach The Trolley Era chapter Randall Cummings O R 1 January 1969 Trolleys to the Casino Exeter Amesbury and Hampton Street Railway New England Electric Railway Historical Society Inc Ballam Ed October 2 1985 Beach Blaze Destroys Motel Hampton Union Retrieved January 29 2021 http www hampton lib nh us hampton images maps wallachHistoricalMap1989 jpg Historical Map showing Ox Commons and Glade Path By Alex Wallach 1989 1938 Fernald Jody R 2007 Slavery in New Hampshire Profitable godliness to racial consciousness University of New Hampshire Alexander LaCasse February 11 2021 Honoring Exeter s Black history Discussion on future park Seacoastonline Retrieved August 4 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Garrison Cutler amp oldid 1199823018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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