In the November issue of The Andover Beacon, a question was raised about an art association in town. Thanks to the Andover Historical Society, including president Pat Cutter and several former members, we found numerous newspaper articles about the organization, known as the Creative Arts Association of Andover.

An idea of Reverend Edward Johnson was the original inspiration. He asked several East Andover and Danbury art lovers to set up an exhibition in the old abandoned West Andover Church on Route 4. With much hard work, cleaning, and painting, Florence Thompson, Viola Grant, and Ethel Lindley organized and ran the local exhibit in 1962. Artists included professionals and amateurs, adults and children. Annaleida van’t Hoff, Cordelia Graves, and Winslow Eaves were some of the 20 exhibitors and remained active members in the years to come.

Interest in an art exhibit remained high by 1963. Dr. and Mrs. Lyle Farrell of Proctor Academy sponsored the next exhibition and offered the lawn at Proctor for the show. Thus, the first annual Andover Arts and Crafts Exhibit began over the Fourth of July. More than 600 people visited, and all enthused over the high quality of the paintings and crafts.

The Andover arts and craft exhibits continued to grow through 1965 and 1966, so that the exhibit expanded to showing not only on the Village Green, but in the Proctor gym and the Unitarian chapel as well.

Annaleida van’t Hoff and Winslow Eaves were most instrumental in organizing the third and fourth annual shows, which were a big attraction over the Fourth.

Also in 1966, the Creative Arts Association of Andover was formed. Its goal was not only to organize the exhibit on the Fourth, but also to present programs on the arts. Annaleida continued as chairman until 1968, when she was elected to president of the Association, with Mrs. Alan Thompson as vice president.

In 1969, Winslow Eaves became president when Annaleida van’t Hoff stepped down. Mrs. Thompson expressed much appreciation for her years of dedicated service. The Creative Arts Association then became a non-profit association devoted to “stimulating interest in the arts to raise funds for programs and for art instruction.”

By 1970, the eighth annual Fourth of July Art Festival had attracted 1,000 visitors and many local, New England, and out-of-state artists. Local artists during these and later years were Annnaleida van’t Hoff , Winslow, Brian, and Clifford Eaves, Cordelia Graves, Sandy Graves, Maxine Boyd, Betty Jeanne Bassett, Marion and Charlie Bliss, Gracia Synder, Lois Fierro, Hugh Meier, Brad and Donna Hartwell, Donald Hall, Jane Kenyon, Sam Wild, Ann Margolis, John Hess, Heather Allan, Jim Shapiro, Viola Grant, Betty Lovejoy, Christopher Morse, Ethel Lindley, George Rochon, Townsend Howe, Carl Cochran, Donald and Adrienne Campbell, Jerry Williams, Otto and Vivika Heine, and many, many others from New Hampshire and beyond. The exhibits were judged in various categories by the public and by well-known figures in the arts. Many years saw exhibits of and by local children, also.

The Fourth of July Festivals continued through the ’70s, ’80s, and into the ’90s. The Creative Arts Association had a full schedule every year presenting programs, lectures, poetry readings, music, plays, and instruction, and taking part in art in the school. Classes in the school were given by local artists involved in “Artists In School” programs, of which Winslow Eaves was an ardent supporter.

In 1983, the Association also purchased works of art, deciding to start “a collection of visual arts to display in local public buildings.” The first purchase was a painting entitled October by Annaleida van’t Hoff. It was on display that year at the Bachelder Library in East Andover. It was later given to the library, where it can be viewed today.

In 1986, Annalieda van’t Hoff, was once again president of the Association (one of the oldest in the state) and spear-headed a fund raiser to purchase for the town Monument to the Future, a massive, 14-ton, 12-foot-high granite sculpture by Winslow Eaves. However, the effort did not work out. The Association did purchase Beginning, a mahogany sculpture, which also can be seen at the Bachelder library.

The Andover Historical Society also has more detailed articles on individual local artists, their studios, gallery showings, and achievements, plus information on the Cottage Gallery opened in 1964 in East Andover by Violet Grant. The 1981 brochure published by the Creative Arts Association has many photos along with side quotes by local artists on their creative philosophies.

The Creative Arts Association brought to Andover and area residents, children and adults alike, unprecedented access not only to our highly-regarded and well-known local artists and crafts people, but also to some of the very best nationally-recognized ones in the arts.