Curious Traveler : C.J. Fitzwater Jan 25, 2024
Editor’s note: The following is Part 3 of “The Saga of Harold Congdon”
The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. In the emerging beach resort town of Salisbury, Harold Congdon stood as a towering figure — a shepherd of his community, its selectman, and police chief. Yet, when the law entangled him, leading to a 2-½ year prison sentence, Salisbury found itself adrift, its guiding hand absent.
Harold’s departure to prison coincided with one of the most turbulent times in history marked by the 1929 stock market crash, and the beginning of the Great Depression. His absence left a void in both the town and his home, where his wife, Sarah “Sally” Congdon, grappled with loneliness. It was during this time that Sally, seeking companionship, found solace in the spirit of William E.R. Murray, Harold’s successor as the chair of the Board of Selectmen, and friend, which ignited an affair that would send shockwaves through town.
Since a teenager, Sal had been devoted to Harold, constantly seeking his attention. In return, Harold’s treatment of Sal was dismissive. He indulged in numerous affairs and squandered much of their income through gambling. In contrast, Murray, a married man himself, lavished attention on Sal, showering her with compliments, gifts, and a passion that Sally had searched for with Harold.
The Ocean Echo underwent a significant renovation and became the venue for a national dance show, broadcast across all 48 states on NBC radio. This prominent broadcast put Salisbury Beach on the map, proudly promoting it as the “Playground of the Atlantic.”
Upon his release in March of 1931, Harold, fueled by the revelations of his wife’s affair and his own ambition, re-entered the political arena, saying “I’m out to defeat the current administration and am prepared for a good fight” His campaign for Selectman was not just a political move but a quest for personal vindication, and revenge.
The town, meanwhile, stood divided yet captivated by this unfolding drama. Harold, once a beloved figure, now battled the stigma of his record and his wife’s public betrayal. Yet, his charisma and legacy as a veteran and community leader were undiminished in the eyes of many. His return to politics was met with enthusiasm by his supporters, who saw in him a figure of resilience and defiance. Harold, was Salisbury’s own Robin Hood, he gained a resurgence in popularity while he was imprisoned, a victim of the unpopular law, and nearly impossible to enforce Volstead Act. Within just a month of regaining his freedom, he won a sweeping victory in the election, securing his position as the chair of the board of selectmen and replacing his nemesis William Murray.
In the backdrop of this personal and political turmoil was Emma Pike, the area’s largest dairy farmer, a sweet, hardworking aunt of Jim Pollard, and Salisbury’s first selectwoman, a figure of stability and progress. Her election, coinciding with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s rise to the presidency in 1932, marked a new chapter for Salisbury, one of hope and renewal amid the Great Depression.
Harold’s life was a stark contrast between his public successes and private turmoil. In a dramatic episode, he caught William and Sally in Newburyport after one of their secret meetings. Overcome with rage, he pursued them and even resorted to firing shots at the pair, an act that resulted in a brief jail term. This incident was just one of many that escalated the tensions in his already strained marriage with Sally, culminating in a highly publicized and acrimonious divorce in 1937. The affair, the fiery altercations that ensued, and the ensuing legal proceedings became a major topic of conversation in town, sparking rumors and speculation. The news closely followed their divorce proceedings, featuring them on the front page with detailed accounts of Harold’s indiscretions and Sally’s romantic liaisons. Sally seemed indifferent to the public exposure of their personal issues, while Harold publicly refused to acknowledge her actions.
In 1937, as Salisbury’s town election season commenced, Harold found himself not only entangled in ongoing divorce proceedings but also drawn to the allure of the public eye. He faced an unexpected challenge for Selectmen: his estranged wife, Sarah, entered the race as a candidate, setting the stage for a direct electoral confrontation with him. In a field of six contenders, Sally publicly asserted to the media that despite their personal differences, she and Harold could work together if required. Sally finished sixth in the race.
During the era of Prohibition, Salisbury transformed from a serene coastal town, barely accessible by a simple path to the beach, into a lively resort destination. This change was paralleled in the lives of its most notable couple, Harold and Sally Congdon. Their story, unfolding against the dynamic backdrop of an evolving America, is a narrative rich with love, ambition, and betrayal. Despite their personal challenges, Harold and Sally continued to collaborate throughout their lives. They jointly raised their grandchildren and worked together in both the Republican Party of Massachusetts and The American Legion. Yet, even amidst these cooperative endeavors, Harold’s personal struggles were far from resolved.
(With help from Nina Fitzwater, Kristen Packer, Jim Pollard, Ron Guilmette, Tina Congdon Boucher, the Salisbury Public Library, and Newburyport Public Library)
Salisbury resident C.J. Fitzwater is a curious traveler, perpetually on the lookout for fresh frontiers. With each journey, he blends historical threads into his stories.
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