This is what Milford’s Souhegan National Bak looked like in the late 1800s, when the bank was robbed. Luther Greenleaf was the architect of the bank’s 1907 renovation, and the new restaurant in the building is named after him.

George Hoyt shared this story, from the Farmers Cabinet, from 1874.

October 21, 1874 – Bold robbery of the Souhegan National Bank in Milford.

One of the boldest and most daring robberies ever known in this section, took place at Milford, early this (Tuesday) morning.

At about one o’clock, six disguised men entered the house of F.T. Sawyer, the Cashier of the Souhegan National Bank, and gagged and handcuffed Mr. S, his wife, the servant, and children, placing all but Mr. S in closets and fastening them in by screwing up the door, in which they bored two-inch auger holes to give them air.

They then placed a rope around Mr. Sawyer’s neck, leaving three to guard the house, and marched him to the post office, where the duplicate keys of the combination lock of the bank were kept. They quickly entered the post office by breaking one of the large lights of glass and raising a window.

These secured, they proceeded to the bank, and with a pistol at Mr. Sawyer’s head he was made to unlock the vaults, when they rifled them of everything valuable, getting some $30,000 in bonds and cash.

After securing these valuables, they returned with Mr. Sawyer to his house, where they bound him to a chair, the chair to a bed, and secured the bed to the floor, leaving the family confined in the closets. They then left for parts unknown.

The little son of Mr. Sawyer managed to get the door of his closet-prison open in about an hour, when he cut his father loose. The alarm aroused the whole village, and officers and citizens went in every direction.

The bank lost about $4,000: R.R. Howison, $15,000 in bonds, Mrs. William R. Wallace $5,000 ; the remainder in smaller deposits, making up the $30,000.

It is probable that the robbers came into the village singly and on foot, and very likely departed in the same manner.

Two heavy sledge hammers were found near the suspension bridge.

Editor’s note: Charlie Annand, of the Milford Historical Society, says artifacts from the robbery can be seen in the Carey House, the Society’s museum on Union Street. They include the door with drilled holes from the closet the family was locked in, money bags, handcuffs and the strips Fred Sawyer was gagged with. There is also a photograph of Sawyer and a booklet describing the event and its aftermath. The museum is open every second weekend, from 2-4 p.m., except in June, when will be open June 1-2.