Stories from the History of Nashua’s Police and Fire-Rescue Departments.
1947 October 15, 1947 – An ordinance is passed by the Nashua Board of Aldermen dictating that any motor vehicle accident within the city of Nashua that exceeds $25 in damages to property or if it involves personal injury must provide a written report to the Nashua Police Dept. within a “reasonable length of time.” Author’s Note: To put this in perspective, $25 in 1947 is equal to about $350 in 2025. Today, most people have $500 to $1,000 deductible clause on their auto insurance.
1948 In FY 1948, $3,322.40 was spent on “new” police radios and $3,880.20 was spent on “police cars” although there are no particulars given about the radios or any mention of what type, brand, or how many cars were purchased.
This particular fiscal year saw the start of a new account called “Police Special Activities” which documented the income from such things as bicycle registration, and bootblack licenses (shoe shine licenses). This amounted to a little more than $2,200.00. Eventually, this would become quite sizeable.
September 8, 1948 – The board of directors for Nashua Manufacturing/Textron voted to close and shutter all plants after 123 years of operation. Newer plants with newer technology operating in the southern US could produce textiles cheaper and faster than those in the North. In the summer of 1947, the board agreed that the plants could remain open and remain profitable if enough money could be saved in labor, overhead costs, power, and taxes. However, that goal was not achieved, and the plants were too old to be effectively upgraded. Nashua Manufacturing employed fully 10% of the city’s 35,000 residents. They paid some of the best wages in the area. With a $7 million payroll it was over 1/5th of the local income and 1/10th of the city’s budget. The closing would be a major blow to Nashua’s economy. The mood on Nashua streets was anger and bitterness. Some people had worked at the mills for 40-plus years, and they were losing their job. In some families, mother, father and children all worked at various jobs within the mills – all would soon be jobless. Many families worked there for generations. Store owners who had extended credit to mill workers were now afraid they might never be paid. One man recalled, “In the bowling alley, on street corners, over back-yard fences, everywhere one went, Textron was the main topic… there was a look in the eyes of people who passed each other that reminded one of the way they looked in the 1930’s.”
The Nashua–New Hampshire Foundation was formed taking possession of the mill buildings making the floor space available for sale or lease to any new company. This helped bring new and different businesses to Nashua to shore-up the economy. It was this initiative by several civic-minded businessmen that saved Nashua from possible extinction.
1949 Arthur Higgins succeeds Ralph Stearns as Nashua’s Police Chief.
A city ordinance of 1949, amending an ordinance enacted in 1939 requiring bicycle registration went into effect for this year. Authorized bicycle dealers were allowed to issue bicycle registrations, had to keep records, ensure that bicycles were safe, and for their trouble, got to keep 5 cents for every registration issued. Bicycle registrations brought in $837.50. Failure to register a bicycle would result in a $5.00 fine.
January 13, 1949 – Nashua Police Commissioner Eugene McQuesten said on this date that the commission has “taken under advisement” a request by the Police Association for a 40-hour work week. He noted that in order to do that, the department would need 6 more men costing an annual total of $16,544 in extra pay. The force is currently 47 men and they work a 48-hour week. The 40-hour week has been instituted in several Massachusetts cities but none in NH have yet tried it.
1950
- Nashua’s population is 34,700
- Joseph Regan succeeds Arthur Higgins as Nashua’s Police Chief.
- Mayor Hugh Gregg authorizes the sale of the current police motorcycle and the purchase of a new motorcycle together with “radio and other necessary equipment” to be used for the purpose of policing parking meters. The funds used to purchase the motorcycle will come out of the parking meter fund.
- During this fiscal year, a “life-saving” boat and trailer was purchased for $550.
- Also acquired during the year was a 1950 Ford combination “Patrol Wagon” and “Ambulance Car” for $3,173.02
- Two new vehicles, 4-door Chevrolet sedans were also purchased; replacing a 1948 Pontiac and 1949 Ford.
- On June 1, 1950, Joseph Regan, former police chief for Keene, NH took over as Nashua’s new chief of police.
- A complete reorganization of the Nashua Police Department was enacted on October 1, 1950. Each of the 8-hour shifts was placed under a captain, necessitating the appointment of two additional captains.
- Police officers begin attending the FBI National Academy. Captain Philip McLaughlin is the first to graduate.
May 1, 1950 – With the closing of the mills a year prior, people thought the Nashua economy would collapse leading to high unemployment, high crime and an unsavory future. This would have been a nightmare for the Police Dept. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of many of Nashua’s business leaders, new and diversified businesses were attracted to the city. On this date, the jobless rate stood at 1,600 persons – half of what it had been a year before.
August 31, 1950 – The first meeting of the newly-formed Nashua Police Auxiliary is held at Nashua Police headquarters. Police Chief Joseph Regan said that such a force is necessary in a city the size of Nashua. The chief notes that several cities in New England maintained such units, organized during WWII and that they provided valuable help during such catastrophes as fires, flood and other civil disasters. In a later newspaper article, the group is praised for their selfless work, for which “they get no money, little or no thanks, and the kicks in the pants have been numerous. But still they carry on.” The article addressed the pre-requisites of the group, “You just have to be a male, in good health with good habits and your age doesn’t count. One of our best members is a man of 68 years old!” The auxiliary has helped direct traffic at the scene of fires. One auxiliary member, John Donovan Jr. of King St. recalled directing traffic at Union Station on Temple St. when President Truman came to Nashua for a visit. His comment was, “All I needed was four arms and a half-dozen whistles.”
(Pic 1-7 Louis Thibeault 2 1957 / Caption: Officer Louis Thibeault 1957 Photo courtesy Nashua PD)
Excerpted from “Nashua’s Finest: The History of Law Enforcement in Nashua NH”
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