Newport’ s Cold War 

On June 27, 2025, Newport, NH will celebrate the 200th anniversary of General Marquis de Lafayette’s visit during his Farewell Tour across the United States.  As Newporters learn about this historic visit that only lasted a few hours, one might wonder, why did Lafayette visit two homes in Newport? The question has an answer that is a little complicated, but can most simply be answered, “because of the FEUD.” 

The author of this paper was originally going to title this,” Newport’s  Civil War.” The bridge on Main Street under which the Sugar River flows, was at one time called “The Mason-Dixon Line of Newport.” However because no shots were fired, and no one died, it can more appropriately be called “Newport’s Cold War.”  

The story begins with two men, Col. William Cheney and Mr. James Breck. Both men were merchants having moved to Newport, the former from Alstead, in 1807 and the latter from Boston to Croydon in that same year. Cheney’s first business, a tavern and store, was located on Newport’s first Main Street, now the corner of Elm  and Pine Streets. Mr. Breck’s Croydon store was located just over the bridge in Croydon Flat on Rt. 10.  When the Croydon Turnpike was completed, which connected  Goshen with Croydon, and is now Newport’s Main Street, both men moved their businesses into town.  The mills and tenement houses to shelter the workers, were opening up to be closer to the water power of the Sugar River. 

Cheney also built ½ dozen mills including the Village Gristmill off Main Street. In the early 1800s Cheney had bought up the land that now makes up the Town Common, and had wanted to give the land to the town of Newport. However, the selectmen chose not to take the offer until years later when they paid Cheney $300 for the land.  And most likely, Cheney’s greatest contribution to Newport was his influence on the NH state legislature to name the town as the county seat of the new Sullivan County. Originally Sullivan County was part of Cheshire County.  

Thus Cheney wanted the center of town to be located north of the Main Street Bridge, while Breck was hoping the center of town would be located south of the bridge.  In the early 1820s the feud centered on the location of new church meetinghouses in the new center of town.  Cheney in 1821, gave land and support to the Baptists to establish their new meeting house in the northern section of town, north of the Common (see red star on map).  In 1823, Breck used his influence and money  to convince the Congregationalists in town to locate their church in the southern section of town (see blue star on map) . Both men also supported, and in both cases paid for the congregations to house Revere Bells in their belfreys.  Bell #265 bought in July of 1822, still rings in the Baptist Church, while Bell #275 billed to Breck can be heard from the South Congregational Church.  

In 1826, James Breck finally surrendered when he partnered with Josiah Forsaith to build the Eagle Hotel, just north of the Main Street Bridge (see green X on the map).  The building was brick, three stories tall and considered one of the most elegant hotels in the region.  In 1840 it was the Whig (political party) Headquarters during the “hard cider” campaign. According to an August 1923 article in the NH Argus & Spectator newspaper, “The lay of the land, the location of water power, and the more vigorous ambition of William Cheney won. But the few years in which the issue was uncertain were stirring times.” 

Ironically the two men’s path did not end here.  In 1826 Breck and Cheney served on the building committee with James D. Walcott, in charge of the building of the Courthouse (now the Old Courthouse Restaurant)  to serve the new Sullivan County, which Cheney worked to secure for the town.  Later in life both men moved to Rochester NY where they lived as neighbors & the best of friends according to a NH Argus & Spectator newspaper account in 1902. 

But as these things sometimes go, the feud did not end here.  Samuel H. Edes who would purchase  the Eagle Hotel on Main Street, from James Breck, and then  convert it to shops and apartments and rename it The Eagle Block, explained “ Even so late as the middle of the century it was unwise for a south end boy to be caught alone north of the Main Street Bridge & vice-versa, unless he dared risk ‘a fite.’ Of course, these boys had long ago  forgotten what it (the feud) was all about, if they ever knew – but that was no help if one were spotted. That’s what my father used to say & he ought to know, having been born a north-end boy in 1849.” 

Reminder: Don’t miss General Lafayette’s visit to Newport on June 27th at 3:00 pm. The best place to see the General will be on the Newport Common as he will be encircling the Common and disembarking  from his carriage in front of the Post Office.  

---

This blog post was contributed by Pam LaFountain