January 1912

As a means of attracting industry to the town, Rushden Urban Council issued an official guide with a mass of useful information about Rushden and its possibilities.  Many photographs were reproduced in the book and strangers would be able to form an accurate opinion based on the illustrations.

The County Council approved the application submitted by Rushden Council to widen the roadway from the Library to the end of the Church Yard at Rushden and offered a grant of £1,200.

February 1912

A High School for girls, Prospect House, was opened with about 22 pupils.  A number of them were boarders and the day pupils were from Rushden and Higham Ferrers.  The principal was Miss Payne.

At the annual meeting of the Allotment and Small Holders Society held in the Public Hall at Rushden, it was announced that there was still a demand for allotments.  A piece of land had been purchased in Washbrook Road for use as allotments.

The Rushden Council unanimously agreed to go ahead with a recreation ground for Rushden.  There were four options, Rectory Field, Mr Marriott’s field, Mr C.E.Bayes’s field in Washbrook Road, and a portion of the Spencer Park Estate off Washbrook Road.

March 1912

The boot and shoe manufacturers of the town were told not to send any more goods by rail until the railway strike was over.

The Registrar’s return showed that the population in Rushden for the year 1911 was 13,493, there were 281 births, 150 males and 131 females, the deaths during the same period were 126.

The majority of the homes in the town were now supplied by The Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board.  The water supply was obtained from an upland reservoir situated at Sywell.  During the long hot dry summer it had not been necessary to curtail the supply.

April 1912

The Rushden Echo entered its sixteenth year in existence.

Mr George Skinner, in his 96th year, was re‑appointed warden of the Parish Church at Rushden.

Following the sinking of the Titanic impressive references were made to the disaster in all the churches at Rushden.  The sense of a great calamity was manifestly resting upon the people of Rushden and the services in the churches were of a most impressive character, very touching references being made to the terrible loss of life in the wreck of the Titanic.

May 1912

Mr Rowley of Denmark Road and his son John aged 18 were cycling down Newton Road when the younger cyclist found that his brakes were out of order and he failed to negotiate Ward’s Corner and crashed into the premises of Mr C.Robinson, newsagent.

Before Mr F.Knight at Rushden Police Station, Arthur Stilton, a pianist of Rushden, was charged with sleeping out.  The prisoner was found sleeping under some straw at Mr J.W.Bright’s mineral water manufactory at the corner of Church Street and Duck Street.  Sentence was seven days’ imprisonment.

June 1912

A special Church Parade of the Friendly Societies of Rushden was held.  A lengthy procession from Spencer Park to a service held at Rushden St.Mary’s Church, comprised of members of Rushden Fire Brigade, The Grand Order of the NUOFG, The Rushden St.John Ambulance, Church Lads Brigade, Boy Scouts, Independent Order of Rechabites, The Ancient Order of Foresters, The Kingston and Manchester United Oddfellows, The National Deposit Friendly Society, The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, The Independent Order of Good Templars, and the members of the local Free Gardeners Lodges.  The Procession was headed by the Rushden Temperance Band.

The matter of making up Shirley Road under the Private Street Works Act was under consideration by the Council.  Having regard to the possibility of considerable building operations taking place there in connection with the proposed Electric Light works it was decided to adjourn the matter for three months.

A thanksgiving day was held by the British Woman’s Temperance Association (BWTA), which considerably helped to reduce the debt on the BWTA hall in Newton Road.  The amount brought in being £46.11s.1d, leaving a deficiency of £52.9s.11d.

An important event in the history of the Independent Wesleyan Mission Hall, Wellingborough Road, Rushden, was marked by the opening of the new organ, being the gift of Mr John Clark of Heatherbreea House, Rushden.

July 1912

A narrow escape from drowning was experienced Mr Percy Glenister of Rushden, who was bathing at the Willows near Ditchford Station, when he found himself out of his depth and shouted for help.  Fortunately Mr John Webster of 86 Washbrook Road was bathing near by and came to his assistance.

The Home Secretary turned down Rushden’s application for a Petty Sessional Court to be established at Rushden.

August 1912

(Advertisement) Rectory Road Estate:- Kings Road and Portland Road, offer the best and most central and saleable sites to meet the present demand for houses, factories, etc.  For particulars apply to Messrs Simpson and Mason, Solicitors.

September 1912

Striking reference to the late William Booth, General Secretary to the Salvation Army, was made at the Rushden Parish Church by the Rev E.F.Braley in the presence of a large congregation.

October 1912

A party from Burton Latimer and another party from Raunds, had driven to Rushden for the Feast and arrived at the Midland Hotel, asking for their horses to be taken out and stabled.  Their wishes were complied with.  Following an enjoyable evening both parties subsequently arrived home and retired for their well earned rest.  The next morning the Burton Latimer driver found that he had the Raunds’ steeds and the Raunds’ driver to his surprise found that he had got the Burton Latimer horses.

November 1912

At Sharnbrook Petty Sessions a Rushden shoe hand was charged with stealing a bell, to the value of one shilling, the property of John William Hopkins of Riseley.  The defendant was bound over to be of good behaviour for two years in two sureties of £5 and pay costs of 7 shillings and 6 pence.

Mr W.E.Capon was appointed Company Secretary to John Caves, shoe manufacturer.

December 1912

At Wellingborough Police Court a Rushden boy was ordered to receive six strokes of the birch for stealing a purse of 15 shillings in silver, belonging to Laurie Robinson.