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”

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

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 […]

Couple Shares Experiences/Observations of Russia and Ukraine

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

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

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 […]

Frie Scott Leaves Behind a Zest for living; Joy in Simple Things

With the squeal of brakes and toot of a horn, Frie pulls into our driveway. I give my Mom a guilty kiss, as I dash out of the house to meet her. I climb into the passenger seat, as she snuffs out her cigarette and lowers the pop music that’s accompanying her tapping toes. She […]