Neil Tillotson’s philosophy was simple:
“Be humble, be creative and be kind.”

Entrepreneur Neil Tillotson, originally from Canaan, Vermont founded the Tillotson Rubber Company. Throughout his life of hard work and kindness he made an everlasting impression on the North Country. As a young man he left school, headed south and became involved in the rubber industry. While working in a manufacturing facility he became interested in the new possibilities of a liquid form of rubber called latex. He built his own work area in the attic of his home and began to develop his own products. The entire Tillotson family worked almost endlessly to perfect their first marketable product: a balloon made with ears and painted with a cat’s face. This was the first time a balloon had ever been made with a shape or character on it. A Boston novelty company named C. Decieco & Son was Tillotson’s first customer. Decieco purchased more than 2,000 of the balloons and was able to sell them the next day at a parade in Lexington. In his first year of business in 1931 he earned $84,000 for the company! From there he hustled his unique product by going city to city on a greyhound bus to gather customers across the country.
He moved his rubber factory from Massachusetts to Dixville Notch. In another groundbreaking move he built the facility adjacent to the existing Balsams Resort. You see, the factory needed a lot of heat and steam in its manufacturing, and the resort could use the excess at less cost than investing in a new stand-alone furnace. The two enterprises together employed a thousand workers. He told people he was most interested in providing employment for local residents. That he believed the best thing you could do for a person was give him or her a steady job.

When he passed away in 2001 at 102, he left the bulk of his assets for charitable purposes. His wife Louise established the donor-advised Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in 2006. The vision of the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund is “To serve as a catalyst for the region to move toward sustainable community and economic development in Coös County and surrounding communities in the United States and Canada.” The fund is one of the largest permanent rural philanthropies in the country. It is guided by a local advisory committee and distributes more than $3.5 million annually. Since 2006, more than $41 million has been awarded to organizations in Coös County and surrounding regions. These donations have help fund many of the key historic and cultural restorations in the area. The creation of this fund was an act of creativity and kindness for our region, that needed both.

So, as you are out and about enjoying the unique heritage that the North Country has to offer, take a look around. You will see the impact that has been made by Tillotson’s kindness and creativity. And remember that we all have the ability to leave a lasting, positive effect in our region. Through hard work, creativity and kindness we can help support and protect our communities, and their histories just as The Tillotson Family has.