Editing Strafford, New Hampshire (section)

== History ==

[[Image:Hills, Strafford, NH.jpg|thumb|left|''The Blue Hills and the Job Hills from Northwood Road'' {{circa|1910}}]]
Once part of [[Barrington, New Hampshire|Barrington]], Strafford was set off due to the lengthy travel required to attend town meetings. Settled prior to the [[American Revolution|Revolution]], the town incorporated in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Strafford County had been organized in 1773 during the administration of [[Thirteen Colonies|colonial]] governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]], and named in honor of [[Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford]].

[[Image:Academy, Center Strafford, NH.jpg|thumb|right|Austin Cate Academy {{circa|1912}}]]
The Austin Academy once stood in the center of Strafford village. George Cate,{{efn|George N. Cate was born in [[Wolfeboro, New Hampshire]], and lived for many years in [[Marlborough, Massachusetts]]—he was described as a builder, lumber dealer, and former bank trustee at the time of his death in 1901, aged 76.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/transcript-telegram-george-n-cate/144756704/ |title=George N. Cate |newspaper=[[Holyoke Transcript-Telegram]] |location=[[Holyoke, Massachusetts]] |page=2 |date=October 17, 1901 |accessdate=April 4, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-delightful-drives-throu/144756903/ |title=Delightful Drives Through State of New Hampshire |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |page=25 |date=October 31, 1934 |accessdate=April 4, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>}} a wealthy shoe manufacturer, visited the school at the request of its principal Alvin E. Thomas and was so impressed with the school that he left at his death $200,000{{efn|Shortly after his death, Cate's donation was reported as $20,000 {{USDCY|20000|1901}} with the remainder of his estate to go to the academy after the death of his widow.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vermont-tribune-new-england-briefs/144759109/ |title=New England Briefs |newspaper=The Vermont Tribune |location=[[Ludlow (village), Vermont|Ludlow, Vermont]] |page=6 |date=October 25, 1901 |accessdate=April 4, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>}} on the condition that his name be added to that of Mr. Austin. After his death, the hundred-acre farm of George Washington Foss was purchased, and soon a beautiful new building, designed by well-known New Hampshire architect [[J. Edward Richardson]], sat on the hill with the name on its façade, "Austin-Cate Academy - 1903". The property has been purchased by the state for a [[New Hampshire Army National Guard|National Guard]] training center. The Foss farmhouse that was used as a dormitory burned in 1961 and was replaced with a one-story dormitory. The main building had burned in the early 1930s and was replaced with the brick building, also designed by Richardson, that is there now.<ref>Strafford Town History</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Authored by whom and available where?|date=April 2024}}