My previous article talked about the Center Road, which reached from the western side of the Pemigawasset River to Loon Lake (Highland Lake) in East Andover. My next two articles will be about a small section of the Center Road, known today as Hoyt Road. This road begins at Route 11 and goes to the top of Hogback Hill (also known as Healy’s Hill or Great Hill) where it now dead ends. Part I will tell about the western end of this road, the road’s name, and the people who lived there in earlier times.

Before today’s Route 11 was built, most of today’s Hoyt Road was the main road. This all changed in 1929, however, when the new road around Hogback was built and was moved more to the south. Its new path passed through land belonging to Halcyon Hills Farm and the Hersey Farm. As a result of this change, Hoyt Road became a quiet side road, that is, except for the noisy trains passing by!

Let’s begin at the Route 11 or Andover end of Hoyt Road. This is a strange little section of road in that it comes to a dead end after serving its one house. However, this wasn’t always the case. Not that long ago, the road continued east as it crossed over Sucker Brook and on towards Franklin. According to Ralph Chaffee’s , History of Andover, this bridge was one of the first iron bridges to be built in town. But at some point, the decision was made to stop maintaining this bridge, since there is another one crossing the brook a little farther downstream. The second bridge could be used by everyone in the area just as easily as not, and it would save the town the cost of maintaining two bridges.

The Morey family probably lived in this first house the longest of anyone. Edwin Morey, who was the town road agent for a number of years, was living here as far back as the 1890s. His daughter, Nellie Morey Emery, resided there until her death in the early 1950s. I vaguely remember Nellie, as she was a Keniston relative. My sister, Helen, recently told me that the spring by the Dyers Crossing School often dried up. When this happened, the teacher would send a couple of the bigger boys to the Morey’s house to bring back water for the school to use.

The area near the Morey farm and up towards the Hersey’s farm was referred to as Morey Hill. Since this was such a long and steep hill, it was another troublesome spot for the town’s early automobiles. In the spring, cars became stuck in the mud, and in the winter, they became stuck in the drifting snow. My grandfather and his oxen, as well as other neighbors and their horses, were often called upon to help stranded travelers to the top of the hill. Rumor has it that water may have been added to certain low spots in the road, when business became a little slow!

Continuing our eastern journey on Hoyt Road, and over the now-closed bridge, we soon come to the former railroad crossing (today’s rail trail). On the right is a short road leading to, and crossing Route 11 to today’s Dyer’s Crossing R0ad. (More on this name and road in another article.) Hoyt Road goes slightly to the left after the railroad crossing. The original names of these two roads is rather sketchy. I seem to recall that today’s Hoyt Road used to be called – or was a part of – Dyers Crossing Road. I have talked with many people about this, as well as checking at the library, the town office, and the fire department, but no one seems to be able to confirm or deny this! I did come across a newspaper clipping of my mother’s, which tells of a Hoyt family gathering. At the time of the article (date unknown, but at least 20 years ago), it says: “The Hoyt family lived at Dyers Crossing Road (formerly known as Hoyt Road)…..” If this is the case, it appears the road’s name has changed back and forth several times over the years!

The Hoyt Family

Since today’s road is named for the Hoyt family, I thought I would share some information taken from a taped interview with Albert Hoyt. The interview was conducted in 1985 by Jean Tally for the Andover Historical Society. The first two houses on the left after Dyers Crossing (going towards Franklin), were lived in for a number of years – at one time or another – by Albert Hoyt, his ancestors or his descendants. Albert (1920-2003) grew up in the first house with his grandparents Albert and Louisa Keniston. His great grandfather, George Keniston (1825-1916) moved the house down from the foot of the mountain with 6 oxen. George made his living by building stone walls. He could usually build a rod a day, and he charged $1.50 per rod. His hired helper received $.50, while George and the use of his oxen, received $1, which was good pay in those days. George and his wife Nancy had 11 children. Ten of them survived to adulthood, and settled nearby in either East Andover or West Franklin. One of their sons was Albert L. Keniston (1861-1943) who was Albert Hoyt’s grandfather. (Their oldest child, Abbie, was my great-grandmother.)

Albert’s grandfather lived in Franklin for a short time, but in 1890 he came back to East Andover and bought his father’s farm. He stayed there his whole life and he died there. He was a farmer who went to Franklin every Friday to peddle his goods of butter, eggs and vegetables. Albert’s grandfather Hoyt was a lumberman who was superintendent at the Moody Box Shop in East Andover (town beach area).

Albert went to Dyers Crossing School for 8 years. Marie Rising was the teacher when he was in the 8th grade. There were only 7 children in the school that year and they were in 6 different grades. When Albert was in the 7th and 8th grade, he was the school’s janitor. His duties included: arriving early to start the fire, sweeping the floor, washing the blackboards and tending to the water. He was paid a dollar a week or $36 a year. When he was in the 8th grade, he saved all of the $36, and he bought a brand new bike. He rode the bike to Franklin High School every day that weather permitted. One of his many regular chores at home was to milk the cows before and after school.

The Grange was a big thing for the youth at this time. Kids from Albert’s end of town would start walking from their homes towards the Grange Hall with kerosine lanterns. By the time they arrived at the hall, there would be 10 or 12 of them. There would be a quick meeting, followed by refreshments and dancing. Marie Rising would play the piano.

After high school Albert worked at logging – cutting and selling wood. He went into the service and toured all of the United States, and went over to Europe; but he declared there was no place like New Hampshire!! He returned home in 1945, married and took over the farm. He served as a selectman from 1953 to 1959.

One of Albert’s sons lived in the family homestead for a number of years, while another son lived in the house next door. Albert’s granddaughter and her family now live farther up the road, in a house built on previous Hoyt land. This makes seven generations of the family who have lived on this road. Hoyt Road is well named!!