Folks escaped the city heat
Around the turn of the 20th century, many city dwellers escaped the summer heat by vacationing in the country. Some even spent the whole summer, staying with local farmers, where they became known as “summer boarders.” Andover was one of these destination towns. This article (edited and condensed) appeared in the July 28, 1893, in Merrimack Journal. It was saved by W. A. Bachelder, […]
Next in a series of a family's Andover history
Every animal living on our tiny farm on Route 11 has a job to do – the cat, the dog, cow, pig, goat, chicken, but, as an eight year old, they’re pets to me. What I want more than anything is a pony, but my Dad does not believe a pony could be “helpful.” So, […]
Next in a series of a family's Andover history
It is 1946; the deed was officially transferred. David and Ellen, my parents, were the proud owners of the property, now known as Pine View Haven on 85 Franklin Highway, with a few acres along Morrill Hill Road, where now several lovely homes comprise a neighborhood. Our address, back in the day, was simply “Route […]
Previous Beacon articles described Mary N. Chase
I frame my remarks below in the context of an opinion piece by David Brooks, the conservative writer for The New York Times. Writing in 2016, he defined moral capital as the “shared habits, norms, institutions and values that make common life possible.” Two weeks ago, when I came across Brooks’s essay, I realized that […]
A new beginning in Andover
“The house is big – four bedrooms – one for each kid or maybe the girls in one, so we might even have a guest room.” David smiles to himself, “How American.” He wonders if Ellen, sitting in the passenger seat beside him, is thinking the same. How fun it would be if Lotta and […]
Ellen's path took her to perfect home in Andover
Ellen Ström sits at the family kitchen table, a neatly packed trunk at her feet, reviewing her travel documents for the umpteenth time. She gazes at her passport photo – the American-style shorter hair, suggested by David Hedén (her future husband), looks somehow wavier and darker brown, a new look of herself. Though her eyes […]
I write this story to introduce you to these immigrants who eventually made their way to Andover, New Hampshire, some two decades later. It was Andover’s lakes, nearby mountains, wide open fields that felt like Sweden to them, where they made a living, raised their family, developed friendships – Andover, their home for the remainder […]
My First Kiss
A large yellow bus labeled “Andover Schools” idles patiently on this chilly, starless night, while the inside of the bus rocks with energy. Booming voices and laughter compete with drumming feet on the bus floor; restless bodies urge the driver to get going. There aren’t many empty seats on the bus as I breathlessly climb […]
Imagine a sweater so white it sparkles, like sunlight on new fallen snow, not easy on the eyes. Long sleeved, V-neck cardigan, three buttons, two pockets, resting gently on one’s hips. That very sweater over a collared blouse, with a pleated skirt, socks, and penny loafers — the pièce de résistance for we girls at […]
Basketball games, dances, high school, town meetings
The snow-covered roofs of cars and pick-up trucks, jam-packed into the Town Hall parking lot, shine brightly under the full moon of this freezing February night. Despite sub-zero temperatures, the townspeople will likely fill the hall to capacity for this last home game of the season for both the girls’ and boys’ high school basketball […]