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Arthur Phillip Tibbetts

Adapted from the August 1992 Trestleboard Article by Martin W. Curtis, P.M.

A hot balmy afternoon on August 4, 1906 found John and Jenny B. (Sanborn) Tibbetts at home n Milton Mills, N.H. History was in progress in Portsmouth, but more importantly to this family, a son was born. He would soon be joined in this world by another brother and two sisters. The family soon moved to Portsmouth, where Arthur worked in the shoe factory until he relocated to Rye and became the proprietor of A. P. Tibbetts Hardware Store and Fuel Oil Delivery in 1932.

He was predeceased by his wife Shirley (Damsell) Tibbetts and was survived by his son Bruce, two sisters, Helen Brooks and Rita Baird, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Arthur and his wife Shirley were an inspiration to Rye and the surrounding communities. They gave to the community and residents more than could ever be returned.

Arthur was a member of St. John's Lodge, receiving his degrees in 1946 and 1947. He was raised by St. John's Lodge at King Solomon's Lodge in Somerville, Massachusetts, on January 10, 1947. He received the Major General John Sullivan Award in 1968, and was made an Honorary Past Master in 1985. As Tyler for thirty-seven years, he became a fixture in the St. John's Sunday parade, leading with the Tyler's sword. He was a member of Washington Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons; Davenport Council No. 5, Royal and Select Masters; DeWitt Clinton Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar; the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Portsmouth-Dover and New Hampshire Consistory in Nashua; Bektash Temple; Portsmouth Shrine Club; Scenic Council No. 37, Knight Masons; Rivermouth Chapter No. 54, Order of the Eastern Star; and a supporter of DeMolay and Rainbow. He received many medals and awards from the Scottish Rite, York Rite and Shrine. He was also Chaplain and a Past Noble Grand of Osgood Lodge No. 48, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Arthur believed that life embraced in its comprehensiveness a just and warm return for individual perseverance and labor. He lived for something definite and practical; taking hold of things with a will.  Life yielded to him and he was the minister of his own happiness and that of others around him. He would deal with the questions and facts of life as they really were. His path often lay amid the rocks and crags, and not among the roses. His life was full of examples to show us that the measure of human achievement has always been proportional to the amount of human daring and doing.

He believed that what can be done and is worth doing, should be done with dispatch; what cannot be done or would be worthless when done, should be left for the idlers and dreamers along life's highway. Work never ceased; one day's work or a task left undone would cause a break in the great chain that years of toil would not be able to repair.

Arthur Tibbetts passed from Labor to Refreshment on March 9, 1992. He dedicated his life to St. John's Lodge and it was only fitting that his last service was held in the Lodge room. As the Tyler's sword of St. John's Lodge was retired in the grave with the deceased Tyler, so may the Tyler rest in peace. So mote it be.

"And that's that," as he would say.