Deacon John Wheeler's death record including parentage information

Town of Merrimack

Master Plan Update 2002

Chapter VIII. Historic Resources

Reeds Ferry - A ferry landing connecting this section of Merrimack with the western shore of Litchfield was in place as early as 1728. Located on Depot Street, the Merrimack Normal Institute was the first professional training school for teachers in New Hampshire. Shares were sold to raise the $6,000 for the building that opened in 1849 with William Russell from Scotland its first headmaster. It struggled until 1865 when it became the Granite Street Military and Collegiate Institute under the direction of Rev. Howell. This enterprise failed but in 1875 the building became Merrimack’s first high school, the McGraw Institute. Robert McGraw, one of the original share holders in the original Institute, died in 1872 and bequeathed $10,000 for that purpose. Although there are a number of fine early nineteenth century structures including brick houses at 4 Depot Street and on Daniel Webster Highway, many of the structures in Reeds Ferry resulted from a second period of building activity at the end of the 19th century associated with the coming of the railroad and industries such as Fessenden & Lowell's (585 Daniel Webster) who built or owned the mill, the buildings now known as Levi Lowell's, the large boarding house at 7 Depot Street and housing on Elm, Maple and Front Streets. Other buildings dating to this period include the Wheeler Chapel and the simple residences on Pleasant Street. Development elsewhere in Town has left Reed's Ferry Merrimack's most intact historic area.