Another Year Sees Another Hersey Family Reunion
Another Andover Memory: An Overstreet Bike Ride
(Editor’s Note: As Beacon readers may have noticed, this is one of six “Andover memory” articles to have appeared in the paper since June. We invite other readers, particularly longtime area residents, to share their recollections of life in this small corner of the world. Simply send your memory to Articles@nullAndoverBeacon.com. Photos are also welcome. […]
Andy Phelps Reminisces about His Days at Andover High
Mentor Principal Stickney made a difference
By Donna Baker-Hartwell, Beacon Volunteer
He has lived in Danbury all of his 85 years. Anyone who knows anyone would know Andy Phelps. There were generations of Phelps that lived in Danbury before him, and there are still generations of Phelps living in Danbury today. His dad was a farmer and logger. Andy expected to follow in his father’s footsteps […]
Ulrike Smith Explains the History of “City of Worms”
The city's actual name is Vormatia
By Ulrike Smith
This city was founded in 14 BC and is known as Vormatia, which is Latin and means settlement in a wet area due to the city being located on the banks of the Rhein. The letter v in German is pronounced as the w in English, and the name eventually evolved to Worms. Ironically, the […]
The Ratzkis Hold the Beacon against Backdrop of Mt. Etna
By Caroline Ratzki
Andover Resident Ulrike Smith Shares Immigration Story
Her story is filled with mystery and discovery
By Donna Baker-Hartwell
Born in 1957 in Worms, Germany, Ulrike Smith’s immigration story is filled with mystery and discovery. She is a petite, stylish woman with dark eyes and olive complexion. I sensed when I sat down with her that I was about to hear a very interesting life story. Ulrike never knew her father or anything about […]
Ethney McMahon Dedicates Poem to Irene Jewett
Poet is former Andover resident
Back When —for Irene Jewett, 1921 – 2022 on summer nights after working the dinner shift she’d go to the lake with her girlfriends to skinny dip linger and smoke cigarettes the boys always came later she said their headlights beaming that was when there was a stocking mill and hame shop in […]
Couple Shares Experiences/Observations of Russia and Ukraine
Carlyse and Bob met in Ukraine
By Donna Baker-Hartwell
Few people can say they have met Vladimir Putin, former KGB intelligence officer and current President of Russia. Carlyse and Bob Evans, of North Wilmot Road, told me this extraordinary story of how they happened to come to be in his presence as the three of us chatted in their kitchen. They told of their […]
Andover Resident Shares Family’s Immigration Story
Donna Blinn is a family history researcher
By Donna Baker-Hartwell
In response to the Andover Beacon’s solicitation for immigration stories, Donna Hague Blinn of Flaghole Road reached out to offer her family’s history. She is a second-generation immigrant. We sat in her cozy sunny kitchen one afternoon as she retold the following story. Three of her grandparents immigrated to the United States. Her paternal grandparents, […]
Andover’s Tack Room Donates Profits to Becky’s Gift
Helping horse owners to keep their beloved companions
By Laurie Zimmerman
In January, we reprinted an article first published in the Concord Monitor (Jamie L. Costa; December, 2022) that introduced Kathleen Lang, founder of Becky’s Gift Equine Relief, a nonprofit organization that offers temporary, confidential assistance to horse owners who have fallen on hard times. Becky’s Gift is named for Kathleen’s daughter, a UNH graduate, accomplished […]