HAMPTON FALLS -- More than 50 friends and relatives gathered recently at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Knowles, Brown Lane, Hampton Falls, to help long-time Hampton resident and businessman Eugene M. Leavitt of Little River Road celebrate his 90th birthday. The surprise reception and party was given by his family.

Among the highlights of the day were the receiving of well wishes via a card from President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter.

Leavitt served the town as elected road agent for some time. He has been a farmer, contractor and businessman in Hampton his entire life. Leavitt was long known for his ingenuity. One of his past projects consisted of his own chain ice carrier which he constructed from an old Model T Ford motor and a chain bucket loader. This piece of equipment enabled him and his workmen to pack ice in his ice house on Woodland Road in a speedier and more efficient fashion.

Leavitt operated a large farm for many years and was known as an excellent teamster. He still works in his vegetable garden daily. Until very recently he drove trucks carrying loam and gravel and in the winter plowed snow. Even last winter many friends benefited from his plowing of their driveways during the winter months, often just to help them out. Children still drop by to visit him and to ride the pony in his barn.

Leavitt is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Leavitt who for many years owned and operated the boarding house and farm on North Shore Road known as The Willows. This structure recently burned.

Long time friends Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Quinlan composed the following poem on the life of Mr. Leavitt:

[Editor's note: Eugene Leavitt was born August 13, 1890 and died December 14, 1987.]