Schust Family Entertains AHS During Annual Meeting

Discusses their history with drumming

By Alex Estin
Schust Family Entertains AHS During Annual Meeting

The Schust family entertained the Andover Historical Society during our annual meeting. It was supposed to be a talk on “Railroads 101” from our own Fred Nystrom, but due to illness he couldn’t give the planned presentation. The Schust Family stepped in at the last minute to talk about drumming and how it started in […]

Mali America Music Beat: Andover Musician Works Remotely with Malian Musician

Half a world away but connected to Andover

By Donna Baker-Hartwell

Andover is a community rich with homegrown talent of writers, artists, poets, singers, and musicians who have been inspired to create here for generations. On October 20, a groundbreaking world music video was released and began streaming globally on YouTube. This 4:09 minute masterpiece, Moussow Women, “For the Women of Africa” is a tribute to […]

Caring Friend Appeals to Community to Help A Neighbor

We are lucky to live in a small town

By Liz Wolf
Caring Friend Appeals to Community to Help A Neighbor

I grew up in a small town. Looking back now, I realize how incredibly lucky I was to experience neighbors waving to neighbors, knowing the guy behind the deli counter was also Johnny, the guy who drove your school bus, and people coming together in a crisis. It’s time to come together now. Jenny Bodwell […]

Another Andover Memory: An Overstreet Bike Ride

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
Andy Phelps Reminisces about His Days at Andover High

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
Ulrike Smith Explains the History of “City of Worms”

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 […]

Andover Resident Ulrike Smith Shares Immigration Story

Her story is filled with mystery and discovery

By Donna Baker-Hartwell
Andover Resident Ulrike Smith Shares Immigration Story

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 […]