We Remember Dover - Recently Updated Pages

Dover Ghosts

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:34:03 CDT

Elizabeth Anne Leach served as librarian at the Dover Public Library from 1945 to 1959. During a trustees meeting she complained of not feeling well but refused to desert her post. She lay down on the ancient leather "fainting couch" and never woke again.

There are often mysterious noises in the library, particularly at closing, when the rooms are dark and silent. Sometimes strange things happen in the night. Books are moved, papers disappear or re-appear. When we hear the unexplained noises, the sound of leather shoes on wooden floors that are now covered by carpet, or the gentle creak of a door opening, we wish our gentle Miss Leach a good night and leave her to her library.

The Mill Girl and the Fire. The ghost of a girl killed in the disastrous 1907 fire at Cocheco Mill number 1 is reputed to haunt the mill. However, since the facts are clear that only men died in the fire, I have to assume it is not true. Have you heard a more complete version of this story? If so, please share it with us. For more information on the fire, go to
http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/DoverHistory/cocheco_mill_firedover.htm
http://www4.fosters.com/millfire/pages/articles.htm

Haunted House. A few years back a young woman came to the Library to research the history of her house. She particularly wanted to know if there had been any murders or violent deaths in the house. There had been a number of frightening incidents in the house that she felt could only be explained by a ghost. Unfortunately, we were not able to find anything. Do you know where this house is, or what its history is?

The Haunting on Longhill Road

My husband and I would always joke when something strange happened and blame it on "Bill." We were only joking. Our home is new and we thought we can't have ghosts in it. I remember the time we were sitting in our family room. Our home is an "open concept. There was a sound coming from the kitchen next to us. It sounded like someone dropped a stack of dishes. We just looked at each other. I always remember feeling as if someone were staring at me when I sat in the family room. The upstairs is open. I felt like I was being watched from the balcony.

We have a spare bedroom upstairs and my daughter didn't like the room. She lived with us at one time. She thought it was haunted and my granddaughter won't sleep in that room when she comes to stay.

Most recently, my husband awoke in the middle of the night to smell smoke coming from the upstairs office. I was away at the time, but he told me that he had smelt smoke on other occasions. I have heard the garage door open and swore my husband was home, only to find out that he wasn't.

I am sure there are more, but these are the things that come to mind. Oh, one more. I thought I saw something one day. I can only describe it as an OUTLINE OF SOMETHINGmoving up the stairs. I always thought it was my imagination. Recently when I was sharing some of these incidents, I was told that we had spirits.
(There is a family burial ground near this property.)

Richard "Salt Eye" Storr. One of the Librarians discovered this tale of a ghostly Dover sea captain. We had never heard of him before. http://www.hollowhill.com/nh/dover-salteye.htm

Home

CBT — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:59:18 CDT

Welcome to the community website for Dover, New Hampshire

This website was created to collect the memories and experiences of Dover's residents so we can create a growing record of Dover's history and character. All who live in Dover, or have lived here, are encouraged to share what they know.

Anyone can edit the content which is on the site by clicking the 'EasyEdit' button or by adding new content, pages, photos and web links.

To add a new topic:
On the main page, click on “add a new page”
Enter a page name.
You can enter “key word tags” so someone can search by topic.
Click on “add page’ then the "Easy Edit" to add your text, and you are done!

The Dover Adult Learning Center has joined forces with a dedicated group of volunteers looking to produce an Oral, Written and Video History Project containing people’s reminiscences of the local area. Weaving stories told by local citizens and intertwined with photographs and live footage, the group seeks to generate a multimedia history of the “greater Dover” area through the eyes of those who lived here from 1939 to the present. The committee is seeking additional members who have in interest in local history, experience with fundraising, or abilities in videography, interviewing, grant-writing, editing and publicity. There are many organizational chores needed to make this project a reality. The Oral History Steering Committee meets monthly at the McConnell Center and the next meeting will be Wednesday, August 6 from 5-6pm. Persons interested in getting involved or contributing memories are asked to contact Beth Fischer at erfischer@verizon.net or call Cathy Beaudoin at the Dover Public Library, 516-6050 before September 1.

Street names

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:59:32 CDT

Ancestry.com has many NH Cities Directories for the City of Dover NH from the early 1900's thru the 1970's that one can see all the past and present street names. New Rochester Road used to be called the Rochester road during late 1800's. In 1915, they changed it to Granite State Park Road. Then in 1935, they changed it to New Rochester Road during the period they were building the Spaudling Turnpike.

Locust Street got its names from the beautiful Locust trees that grew along it, particularly near the City Hall and McConnell Center.

Orchard Street was named for the fine orchard growing on it.

Rutland Street was named because the land was very slow to dry out and wagons caused many ruts in the road.

The Pierce Piper house was responsible, according to legend, for Silver Street’s name as the man who built the house owned several fine silver pieces.

Chris' Family Drive-In

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:20:03 CDT

When I was a junior in high school 1977 I worked at Chris' drive in, the owner was Chris Tsoronis his son Jon ran the place. The food there was all home made from the roast beef to the turkey for the dinners. I would have to say the best seller there was their steamed hot dogs Chris and Jon had made this steamer that kept the dogs and rolls perfect. They also had the best onion rings I have ever had, after slicing 50 pounds of onions on the meat slicer and ringing them I don't know how I could even eat them, they were double dipped in the batter and fried to a golden brown. The steak subs were great also. I loved working there and have always said if I ever won mega bucks I would open a place just like Chris' in dover, every thing homemade and simple. I still see Jon every once in a while and we laugh about the good old days at the drive in. I could go on and on about the place, it was my first job and one I will never forget. This well known Dover restaurant was located on Central Avenue, across from Kirkland Street, where Photosmith is now located.
I would love to hear from anyone who used to go there. Tell us what you liked to order!

Busby Berkely

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:29:48 CST

During the 1920s, Hollywood choreographer Busby Berkely owned the Sawyer Mansion. Berkely was famous for elaborate musical productions featuring scores of chorus girls, such as 42nd Street. He shared a very close bond with his mother, who lived with him. The Dover City Directory lists the house at 47 Central Avenue under his mother's name, Mrs. Gertrude B. Enos. The property was taken over by the city after Busby Berkely neglected to pay taxes. The Sawyer Mansion was torn down in 1958 when the Spaulding Turnpike overpass was built, near the present day Burger King.

We would love to hear from anyone who met the Berkely's when they lived in Dover!

WWI Surgical Supplies

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:07:32 CST

Dover Women were very active with the war effort. They met frequently at the Red Cross Headquarters at the Woodman Insitute to make gauze rolls and dressings, pneumonia jackets, heel rings and shot bags according to strict criteria.

WW I Sugar Rationing card

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:00:19 CST

Did you ever have to use ration cards?

Parking Meters

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 17:54:41 CST

Parking meters were first installed in Dover in August 1946 . There were 430 meters. A nickel bought you two hours. The fine for a violation was twenty-five cents.

Movie Theatres

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:08:29 CST

The Orpheum Theatre opened in 1912, was renamed the State Theater in 1935 and finally closed about 1955. It is now the site of Robbins Auto Parts.

The Strand Theatre opened in 1919 as a silent movie/vaudeville theater. It was the first New Hampshire theater to show "talkies" in 1929. In 1955, The Strand was the site of the world premiere of the movie The McConnell Story, based on the life of Dover High School graduate Joseph McConnell, who was the first triple Ace and shot down 16 Korean planes. The Strand has been extensively renovated and updated several times and is one of the area's more popular movie theaters.

The Clement Theatre was one of Dover's earliest movie theaters. It was located across from the Broadway Fire Station. One Dover resident recalls that it was "hot as the hinges of Hell" in the summertime.

Municipal Cannery

CBT — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 11:17:48 CDT

The Dover Municipal Cannery commenced operation July 15, 1943. This enterprise was set up by Mayor F. Clyde Keefe to allow people who had victory gardens to can the fruits and vegetables which they had raised. From July 15, 1943 to September 28, 1946 a total of 297,677 cans were produced. The biggest items were stringbeans, corn and tomatoes.

Dover Children's Home

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:36:08 CDT

In 1892, women connected to the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union opened a home for orphans at 8 Atkinson Street. By 1893, the women formed a charitable corporation called the Dover Children’s Home. The Home first opened as an orphanage that cared for 50 to 60 children at a time. In 1897 the Children’s Home moved to the Locust Street location, a house that was specifically built for the purpose. It had dining and reception rooms, a nursery, boys’ and girls’ dormitory, matron’s room and boys’ and girls’ play rooms, bathrooms and several large sleeping rooms. On the third floor a room had been finished for contagious patients. During the Spanish flu epidemic 43 of the 47 children in the home were ill, one small boy died. It was a vast improvement over the previous location for needy children- the County Farm, which also housed “the mentally deficient and insane persons, culprits, old people and paupers”. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Dover Children’s Home began the transformation from orphanage to group home. The Home is still in use today, providing residential, case management, and therapeutic services for teenagers, and acts as an intermediate group home for abused and neglected youth.

We would love to hear from those who lived at the Dover Children's Home. Please share your stories.

I met Paul Newman!

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:39:59 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Ripley's Believe It or Not

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:33:56 CDT

Next time you drive down Silver Street look for the house that has a window in the middle of its chimney. It was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not in 1940.

Siegels

CBT — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:59:35 CDT

Dover's great bargain store was in business from about 1950 to 1984. It changed names from Siegels Department Store to Siegel City.

Paul Newman stopped here while he was campaigning for Eugene McCarthy. Did you get to meet him?

Underground Railroad

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 10:31:48 CDT

I have heard of two houses in Dover rumored to be stops on the Underground Railroad; 102 Locust Street and 258-260 Washington Street. According to the1990 Heritage Walking Tour Brochure, Benjamin Mason Nealley, owner of the Washington Street house, was active in the anti-slavery movement, and acted as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

Do you know of any other stops in Dover?

According to local folklore, a white chimney with a black cap was a sign that the house was a stop on the Underground Railroad.