Biographies 



FRANK L. WHITCOMB 

 Frank L. Whitcomb was born in Montsello, 

 Minn., in 1858. Soon after his birth his par- 

 ents returned to their former home in the 

 state of Maine. In 1874 he came to Boston 

 and entered the employ of Benj. D. Whit- 

 comb, 29 Wareham Street, as apprentice in the 

 building and contracting business. In 1883 he 

 started in business for himself at 13 Broad- 

 way, Cambridge, afterwards removing to 19 

 Wareham Street, Boston, where he is at pres- 

 ent located. Mr. Whitcomb is one of the large 

 firms of Boston in the building and contracting 

 business, having among his patrons wealthy 

 residents of Brookline, Newport, Bar Harbor, 

 Lenox, etc. He is a member of the Metropol- 

 itan Driving Club, the Gentlemen's Driving 

 Club of Boston, and the Quannapowitt Driv- 

 ing Club. He also belongs to the B. A. A. and 

 the Odd Fellows. 



While Mr. Whitcomb has a very select stud 

 of trotters, yet in the years 1913 and 1914 he 

 devoted the most of his spare time in the re- 

 construction of his stock farm, situated in the 

 towns of Concord and North Sudbury, only 

 twenty miles from the State House. Beacon 

 Hill. Boston. 



Mr. Whitcomb named his farm Hillanddale 

 which aptly describes the surrounding country. 

 The residence is beautifully situated, it being 

 a quarter of a mile from the public road and 

 reached by a broad and winding driveway 

 that is lined by a neatly-trimmed hedge. The 

 residence has an elevation of four hundred 

 feet, thus permitting of a magnificent view of 

 miles away, and in all directions. The resi- 

 dence, too, has every convenience of a city 

 home, in having running water, electric lights 

 and heated by steam, etc. 



In the farm are two hundred acres and, not 

 least to be thought of, is a beautiful pond cov- 

 ering eighty acres, that nestles between the 

 hills and is entirely fed by springs, the water 

 passing analysis as being perfect. From this 

 pond comes the water used in the residence 

 and barns. 



The land is very fertile, growing the best 

 of hay for the equine occupants of the stables, 

 while the pastures are perfect for browsing 

 during the Summer months. All of the farm 

 buildings are in perfect condition, everything 

 being span and clean. In most instances the 

 buildings were built by Mr. Whitcomb in the 

 past two years, and, in cases where the former 

 farm buildings were used, they have been re- 

 modeled to such an extent as to be practically 

 new. About the residence and barns are several 



drives, with the lawns and the landscape ar- 

 ranged to equal any surrounding the suburban 

 homes of Brookline or of Wellesley Hills. 

 The expense in transforming the estate to its 

 present beauty must have been enormous. To 

 enjoy every comfort with his many friends, 

 Mr. Whitcomb constructed in the building with 

 the garage and the carriage and harness rooms, 

 a den for himself and guests, in which is fitted 

 a billiard and pool table. In this retreat are 

 spent many enjoyable evenings during Mr. 

 Whitcomb's Summer at the farm. 



Mr. Whitcomb, from a mere lad, was pas- 

 sionately fond of horses. When twelve years 

 of age he broke to harness the afterwards fa- 

 mous trotting gelding, Hopeful, 2:143-4, and 

 so well did he educate the gelding that, when 

 his uncle B. D. Whitcomb, took him to Bos- 

 ton to use as a driving horse, he found him as 

 steady and reliable as though always used to 

 city sights. A number of years ago Mr. Whit- 

 comb began breeding a few mares he brought 

 from the farm of his uncle in Stratham, N. H., 

 where Woodbrino, 2 125 1-2, stood and perpet- 

 uated a family of trotters. The result was a 

 number of foals that matured into very fast 

 trotters. These were developed by Ralph Har- 

 rison, head trainer for Mr. Whitcomb at Hill- 

 anddale Farm, but at that time located in 

 Reading, Mass. 



At the head of these trotters is the royally 

 bred stallion, Neno Bingen, 2:22 1-4. by Bin- 

 gen, 2:06 1-4, out of Jane, trial 2:20, by Har- 

 binger. Another fast performer is Miss El- 

 eanor, 2 \2() 1-2. and with speed to race in 2 :i2, 

 by Bingen, out of the dam of Neno Bin- 

 gen. Then, there is Miss Todd, by Todd, 

 2:143-4, out of Su Su, the great brood mare. 

 With little training Miss Todd worked in 

 2:13 1-2; Evelyn, by Todd, another of Jane's 

 colts, is capable of getting a low record when 

 given the racing test. Sister Todd, by Todd, 

 out of Zu Zu, is one with better than 2 .20 

 speed and all ready to be campaigned. Lady 

 Whitcomb was a very nervous filly, but, since 

 having been bred, has become much better 

 mannered. She has a tremendous turn of 

 speed. Mildred Whitcomb, by Cochato, 

 2:11 1-2, dam Alta Bird, is counted by ex- 

 cellent judges as destined for a brilliant ca- 

 reer on the turf. Edwin C, by Cochato, out 

 of Zu Zu. is also a smooth going trotter. 



At the opening of the half-mile track at 

 Charles River Speedway, in April, 1912, Mr. 

 Whitcomb brought over to the course a sam- 

 ple of his trotters to try for the silver cups that 

 were offered for the day's sport. Neno Bingen 



