President’s Letter

Dear Friends,   Thank you for your support.  The 2015 fiscal year was a successful year for the Andover Historical Society – and we’re looking forward to a productive and impactful FY 2016.  As we plan for the future, it’s clear that our organization’s traditional niche has expanded greatly.  Our role in town and in the greater community is more important and relevant than ever.  Residents of Andover want to get involved and be heard.  We’ve seen wonderful results when the town’s activists, elected officials, business owners and voters have the information and historical context they need to make good decisions.  We’re proud of the meaningful conversations we’ve helped to foster over the past year including those involving the Andover Historic Mill District and Andover Tomorrow.  Each story in this annual report reflects a program, an object or a project that energized us and gave us the assurance that our work is having real impact.  What connects these stories is their contribution to the Society’s trio of goals:  preservation, education 

and helping people make meaningful connections with Andover’s past.      The Andover Historical Society has achieved so much during its one hundred and four years, but there has never been a more exciting time for history.  We are grateful for the generous commitment of our dedicated Members and Donors as we look to the future.

Jane Deitzel CairnsPresident 2013–2015

Our MissiOn

The Andover Historical Society tells the unique stories of Andover to foster a strong community that knows its history, values what it inherits, and takes pride in what it passes on to future generations. Every activity and program we undertake meets one of our three mission areas: preserving the past, educating for the future, and connecting to our community. Through those mission areas, we create opportunities to connect people to each other and this place to encourage community engagement.

Photograph by Cristen Farrell Photography

Our Year in Pictures

Starting at  the  top: Guests at  the Bewitched  in Andover Murder Mystery Dinner; Middle  row: Greg Sebasky, Farmers’ Market patron, rings in the opening of the season; Historical Society volunteers ready for Andover Days Living History event; Past Presidents at traditional February reception; Bottom row: April Fools! Photo of historic snowball found in the collection; High school students perform at Spring For History Breakfast 2015.

  On May 13, 2015, we hosted our third annual Spring for History breakfast.  Spring for History is a free event to share the mission and vision of the Andover Historical Society while raising funds needed to support that mission.  The one-hour program began with a beautiful rendition of Andover’s own song, My Country ‘Tis of Thee.  Written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831 in Andover, the song has become our traditional Spring for History opening.  This year the song was performed by Andover High School students Melanie Hilman, cellist, and Jackie Long, vocalist.  We’re delighted by the opportunity to highlight young talent at our breakfast.  Executive Director Elaine Clements shared her vision for Andover Historical’s future and introduced a new video illustrating our work with high school students.  Speakers Brian Salazar and high school student Elli Mapstone brought our mission and message home with their moving testimonials.  Brian and Elli were introduced to Andover Historical in September 2014 through the Andover High School’s Environmental Sustainability Internship course (ESIC).  Brian, an Andover resident and partner in Entegra Development and Investment Company, was Elli’s mentor throughout her internship. Elli’s project explored the concept of place and place making in a sustainable community.  Her work focused on what we now call the Historic Mill District.  How could a science-based internship lead to the Andover Historical Society?  How can history inform Andover’s future?  “Well,” Elli said, “I was wondering the same thing and was honestly a little skeptical of the whole connection at first. However, I quickly realized that the environment and history intertwine in many ways. Take for example, the Shawsheen River which runs through the Historic Mill District, I discovered that the river was used for recreation many years ago until people started to turn their backs to it. It’s an awesome resource that our town has and I learned that it clearly has potential to become something exciting again.”  In closing, Elli said that wherever she lives in the future, she’ll seek out the local history story because she now knows first-hand history’s importance in a sustainable community.  Knowing our past informs our future.  Spring for History donors have given us the opportunity to think big, to be open to possibilities and projects we would not have considered just a few years ago -- projects like Elli’s ESIC internship and the creation of the Historic Mill District.

sPOnsOrs and suPPOrters

LeadershiP GiftsLolli and Richard Sumberg Rosalyn Wood

LeGacY circLe GiftsSTEWARDSJane and Glenn CairnsElaine Clements and Bill SchnellerHeather Moody Holman and Bill LevyMaryRuth and Mike LutherBob and Ellen MarcusSusan and John McKelligetDoug and Pam MitchellGail RalstonJim and Carolyn RedmondDon and Vicky RobbJim and Helen SellersMark and Audrey SpencerLolli and Richard Sumberg

FRIENDSJames Batchelder and Scott SlaughterNorma GammonRobert and Annie GilbertGeorge and Connie LeMaitreMary RobbHelen and Jim SellersNancy SimiliSpike and Olivia Sintros

dOnOrsAlexandra AdlerABCAAndover Boston Business NetworkCaleb & Claudia BachKathleen Bates Victoria & Alan BernardLynne Capozzi & Don BulensVirginia ChampagneSandra CiolfiChristine ClementsSusan ConnollyJean & Larry CooksonDoug CooperStephen & Frances CooperLaurie Cox-Schreiber & Rob SchreiberMargaret M. DuboisMary Ellen & Wayne FillbackCheryl FosterAlan FrenchScott GibsonDon & Cindy GottfriedKen & Janet HamiltonJohn & Kathy HessKay Frishman and Ron HilbinkSue HorganMarcie JacobsonNan & Bob JamesPeter Johnston

Ray LaPlume & Scott MortonJoel & Jean LeiderSusan Melder LenoeJonathan & Virginia LongleyMike MansfieldPeter & Michelle MapstoneZeff & Mary Ann MarusichSally & John MatsonAngela & Andrew McBrienJim & Jo Ann McConaughyDonita & Michael McDonaldAlan MichelEd MueskesDara ObbardThomas RandoKaren SimmondsSusan SmithBarbara SolomonRobert StefaniEllen & Stephen TraversMartha & Mark TubinisKaren & Tim WakelingCary WhiteMark Yanowitz

BENEFACTOR Tom & Jo- Ann Deso Sally & John Matson Doug & Pam Mitchell Rosalyn K. Wood 

PATRON Nathan Aldrich James Batchelder & Scott SlaughterRobert & Jeanne Gable John & Louise MacMillanBob & Ellen Marcus Michael W. Morris Jr. David & Judith Morton Niles Overly Hank & MJ Powell Jim & Carolyn Redmond Don & Kathy Schroeder Lawrence & Gail Wangerin 

SUSTAINING Susannah & Rob Abbott Dick & Ann Anderson Andover Garden Club Christopher & Deborah AndrewsChris & Eleanor Armstrong Dick & Bonnie Bourdelais Mary Lou Brooks Jane & Glenn Cairns Bea Caruso Mary & Al Cavallaro Theresa & Dan Conlon Stephen Cotton & Rebecca BackmanWilliam & Kathleen DeLucaDianne DeLucia Daniel & Susan Dennett Mary Beth & James DohertyKathleen Dolan David & Katherine Doub Paul Dow Joan & Jim Duff Arnold W. DyerMatt & Shannon Scully George & Carolyn FantiniNorma Gammon Nancy S. Gump Jack & Karen Herman David & Akemi Holt Frank & Belva Lee HopkinsChris & Diane Huntress Robert & Mel Jurgen Margaret Keck John & Margaret W. KimballRay LaPlume & Scott MortonGeorge & Connie LeMaitreDana & Paul MacKay Joanne Marden Cliff & Ronna Markell Beth Mazin Angela & Andy McBrien Susan & John McKelliget Phebe S. Miner Mark Nysedt 

Kay O’Neil & David NelsonStephen Parker Charles Parrott John R. Petty Julie E. Pike Sue & Norman Rice Don & Vicky Robb Enders Robinson Jim & Helen Sellers Lolli & Richard Sumberg Frank Symosek Stefani Traina & Mark GoldsheinTimothy & Alison Vaill John P. Wait Edward A. Weil 

HOUSEHOLD Louise & David Abbot David & Susan Abbott Cindy Ade & Jeffrey PerroneStephen Alepa & Nancy KashanekLinn AndersonJohn & Deanna AtchisonDebbie & James BrentBarbara BunnLarry C. Ardito & Linda CarpenterRobert & Laura CiampaElaine Clements & Bill SchnellerKristen & Keith ConleyJean & Larry CooksonStephen & Diane DerbyAgatha DeYoreoRichard & Suanne DillmanJohn & Alix DriscollGeorge & Pat EdmondsTed & Karen EnglishEleanor & Robert EverettEugene & JoAnn FerraroMary Ellen & Wayne FillbackMarc Fournier & Nan ConteRobert Frishman & Jean ShintoTed & Kathy GilmoreMaryann GirardiAndrew & Tina GirdwoodSteven GoldenWesley & Kay GraceBonnie & Michael HaleyRichard & Randy HansonMarilyn & Scott HelmersVictoria HenryArt & Kathy IworsleyNancy C. JacobsonBetty & Saul JaffeViggie JohnsonJeffrey & Nancy LaFountainPaul & Doris LearyJoel & Jean LeiderPierre & Joan LeMieuxSusan Melder LenoeJonathan & Virginia LongleyMaryRuth & Mike LutherDaniel B. McDuffieEdward MunroeShaun NewellDavid & Cornelia NorrisCord & Elin Ohlenbusch

Richard & Lori PadovaGary Paré & Mercedes GuianceEdward & Karen Parker Louise & Joe Ponti Suzanne & Peter Price Bill & Debb Putnam Gail Ralston Gerald & Arden ReynoldsMaryann Sadagopan Craig & Sharon Saline Norman & Susie Scarpulla Peter & Shirley Schwarz Eileen Shannon & Robert MatthewsMyrna Silverman Amanda & Peter Singer Donna Slonim & Timm TriplettFred & Marjorie Snell Buzz & Sandy Stapczynski Ian & Tara Stuart Maureen Sundberg Mike & Judy Timko Winslow & Ellen Townson Mike & Senator Sue Tucker Kate & Brooke Wagner Donald & Pamela Walker Camille & Skip Wilkins William & Karen Winship Peter & Jan Wuehrmann 

INDIVIDUAL Kathleen AponickJoseph & Cara BakerPrudence BarkerVirginia L BeggEdward BellChet BisbeeCarla BurnsOscar CamargoVirginia ChampagneMaureen CollinsLorraine M. DeLuciaKay DemasoSandra DiVincenzoRobert & Joyce DominqueDorothy DriscollSteph FisherAnn Marie FoggBarbara GauntJane Griswold RadocchiaJack HallRobert HanscomClaudia HellerPaul & Jennifer HickmanDouglas E. HinmanNancy HoganMarcie JacobsonAmy JessepDavid JoynerChristopher KleinBarbara KurthAmy LaMarcheAnn C. LangeLaurence & Carol LevineJ. Gregory LuckmanCynthia MorencyNancy Muldoon

2014–2015 MeMbers

John MurphyHolly NahabedianGail E. NicholsJudith NowinskiJoan & Mike PatrakisJason PeledgeJessica PriceLarry RichardMarsha Rooney & Barney FixKaren SimmondsLouise A. SmallBeverly SmithRonald SmithDeborah A. SofiaJames SullivanMichael J. SullivanKaren & Tim WakelingRaymond D. WatsonTed & Mary Ellen WitmanGregory Trerotola

SENIOR/STUDENTPeter T. AndersonArlene L. ArsenaultJudith Avery

Linda & Bob BaldazziC. A. BassilakisHoward BergerPatricia D. BrownRita CarrierNorma CasertaNancy & Douglas CornellKaren CourtenayTerry & Nancy CrossfieldAnne CussenChester DarlingJanet DavieJoan DentonSheila DohertyWilliam & Bernice DownsClare DoyleMargaret M. DuboisCabot & Ruby EastmanSheila FoleyAlan FrenchLeslie FrostAnne Marie GallantLucille GiannoneRichard F. GilmoreEileen Glynn

Elizabeth J. GriffinBernice HaggertyMary K. HervolDana HirstRobert JohnstonWarren & Elke KappelerJames E. KelleyWalter & Gwen KimballBetty KingPatricia KingTom KingMartin Klein & Sharon MagnusonJoanne B. LandersJackie & Carl LangloisPhilip LatorreBessie LiponisJeri & Tom MarjerisonClaudia MarshAnn M. MurphyMary Beth NasonFrank NelliganMarjory M. OdlumMaureen Gray PellerinEmily PerkinsHoward PerkinsRaymond G. PotvinHilton Preble

Margaret A. ReillyPriscilla W. RussellDonald D. SagaserNancy SimiliCharles SimpsonAnthony J. SofiaMadelaine St. AmandRobert StefaniJeannie StewartClaire J. SyiekCharlotte TaylorCharles TylerCarlos UrquizoNancy VarnumJohn P. WaitHorace H. WatersJoseph WatsonPaulette WeaverEsther R. WheatleyHilda WigginRebecca Willett Elizabeth WilsonKathryn WilsonMarion WohlhieterGerald & Barbara WoodSharon Zahn

2014–2015 MeMbers (continued)

Tom AdamsSami AruriKatharine BarrJim BatchelderTyler BedfordKrystal BrightonCaitlin BuggyBarbara BunnJane CairnsNicole CarzoNorma CasertaAlyssa CaseyEva ChakravortyGinny ChampagneZachary ChartierNik ChaudharySandy CiolfiTheresa ConlonJean CooksonDoug CooperKatie CorbettYasmine DakiriLouisa DallettLorraine DeluciaSue DennettWilliam DonovanDiane DraperMatthew EcksteinNaomi Elliott

Sean EnrightSummer EricksonCristen FarrellMaryEllen FillbackCaitlyn FitzsimmonsStephen ForsterMarc FournierCooper FowlerNorma GammonJared GraceIrene GuNancy GumpAlex HaglerSara HeathJohn HessColleen HevehanSue HorganKate HuntMarcie JacobsonViggie JohnsonEmma KanellCatherine KeaveneyJoseph KimLauren Kosky-StammHannah KrichmarMax KrinskyLiza KwassEleanor LangJean Leider

Bessie LiponisMaryRuth LutherChar LyonsAshley MantranaJulia MantyEllen MarcusBob MarcusAngela McBrienAlison McCarronSusan McKelligetAngela McNamaraDoug MitchellLaura MorissetteMike MorrisOlivia MosherNancy MulveyMikayla MurphyAram NalbandianOlivia ObertoRory O’BrienMaura O’BrienCord OhlenbuschJessica OrcuttAndrea PapaJoan PatrakisJulie PikeAndrew PlourdeOwen PlourdeEmma PlourdeGail RalstonJim Redmond

Carolyn RedmondJudy ReghittoDon RobbVictoria RocheWyatt RothwellNikole RudisMaryann SadagopanSharon SalineAndrew SantosHelen SellersJim SellersJanak ShahShital ShahJenny ShenNancy SimiliKaren SimmondsAmanda Singer

Rhea SinghScott SlaughterAmy SmithJulia SpagnuoloJeff SpringwaterMary Cate SullivanLolli SumbergJimmy ThibodeauMartha TubinisMeredith Van AntwerpKate WagnerMartha WalshAngela WangLarry WangerinMontana WilkieAdam WrightDavid Zhou

VOLunteer cOrPs

Kimberly AlbaughJane AndersonLinn AndersonKathleen AponickChris & Eleanor ArmstrongJohn & Deanna AtchisonCarroll & Elaine BaileyDenise Bordonaro & David JohstDick & Bonnie BourdelaisDebbie & James BrentSara Brooks & Linda KupkaMary Z. BryantBarbara BunnCarla BurnsFred CallanenLynne Capozzi & Don BulensBea CarusoNorma CasertaTom & Julie ChildsMel & Sandy ClevesyJoan N. CohenRobert ColombosianDouglas CooperJudge John CroninSandy CulverAnne CussenJanet DavieWilliam & Kathleen DeLucaLorraine M. DeLuciaKay DemasoAgatha DeYoreoLynda DiamondisRichard & Suanne DillmanMary Beth & James DohertyJohn & Denise DohertySheila M. DohertySheila DohertyMichael & Ann Donlan

David & Katherine DoubKatherine DowMarie DowWilliam & Bernice DownsGreg DoyleJoan & Jim DuffArnold W. DyerBruce & Nancy EarnleyCabot & Ruby EastmanEleanor & Robert EverettGeorge & Carolyn FantiniEugene & JoAnn FerraroRichard Fink & Cheryl RothsteinTom FitzgeraldSheila FoleyAlan FrenchRobert & Jeane GableNorma GammonPatricia A. GiblinTed & Kathy GilmoreElizabeth J. GriffinNancy S. GumpCharles & Gertrude HanesMarilyn & Scott HelmersMary K. HervolRonald & Janis HillDavid & Akemi HoltFrank & Belva Lee HopkinsJoan Howland & William  WebberArt & Kathy IworsleyBetty & Saul JaffeMargaret KeckEllen KellerMary Joyce KernanJohn KilbaneJohn & Margaret W. Kimball

Christopher KleinRay LaPlume & Scott  MortonLarry & Nancy LarsenPierre & Joan LeMieuxRich LeonardRichard & Betty LindsayBessie LiponisJames & Mary LymanAlan MacInnesDana & Paul MacKayJohn & Louise MacMillanGratia MahonyBob & Ellen MarcusJoanne MardenJeri & Tom MarjerisonSally & John MatsonJohn J. & Joan Creamer  McArdleAngela & Andy McBrienMargaret McBrienMarilyn & J. Barrett  McCarthyJim & Jo Ann McConaughySusan & David McCreadyPamela H. McDadeDaniel B. McDuffieSusan & John McKelligetJanet MeyerRobert & Ann MichaelsJoann & Richard MichalikMary Moran & Roger  DesmaraisMargaret C. MurphyDavid & Cornelia NorrisJudith NowinskiKay O’Neil & David NelsonJames & Karen Oppenheim

2014–2015 dOnOrs

Chris & Mary Beth O’ReillyTracy O’RourkeGary Paré & Mercedes  GuianceCindy ParnagianCharles ParrottJoan & Mike PatrakisFrederick & Betty Lee PeaseCalvin & Mary Ann PerryJulie E. PikeJohn & Carol PrentissMargaret A. ReillySue & Norman RiceLydia RichardsonDonald D. SagaserDon & Kathy SchroederMs. Claudia ScofieldGreg & Ellen SebaskyJim & Helen SellersDavid SiebekingMyrna SilvermanAmanda & Peter SingerRonald SmithFred & Marjorie SnellGreg & Andrea StidsenJames SullivanLolli & Richard SumbergJim & Vicky SuttonFrank SymosekSherry TupperRoy D. UmanzioTimothy & Alison VaillVillage Garden ClubJohn P. WaitLynn & Dave WelbournJane WelchCary WhiteMarion Wohlhieter

PreserVinG the Past: a firefiGhter’s unifOrM

friends Of the cOLLectiOn

  The stories that accompany objects in our collections are an important part of our mission to Preserve the Past. In October 2014, we were offered a small collection that included a firefighter’s dress uniform coat with hat, badge and pins. While interesting as an example of a mid-20th century uniform, it’s the story behind the pieces that make the collection valuable.  The uniform belonged to Andover Fire Chief C. Edward Buchan, who followed in his father’s footsteps. Edward’s father Charles S. Buchan preceded Edward as Fire Chief. When Charles died in 1936, son Edward was already on the Fire Department force. Edward Buchan joined the Andover Fire Department in 1925, and served as its second full-time Fire Chief from 1941 until his untimely death in 1955.  Chief Buchan served as an inspiration to his young neighbor, Harold Hayes. When Harold was five years old his father died, leaving his mother to raise Harold and his two older sisters. Chief Buchan lived next door to Harold and the two would work together raking leaves or shoveling snow. Harold admired Edward so much that the Chief became a father figure to him and it was then that Harold made his decision to be a fireman.  Chief Buchan was a dedicated fire fighter to the end. He had installed in his home a fire alarm box which would sound, not only in Andover’s fire stations, but in Chief Buchan’s home as well. In a story told by local historian Bill Dalton, Fire Chief Hayes recalled that, “I used to hear it sounding both day and night and would watch the chief drive his […] car, a 1940 red Ford with a red light on top, to the fires.”  In May 1955, Chief Buchan signed out of the station at 6:00pm and went home. He was there when the fire alarm box went off, startling him to the point of a heart attack and his death. The insurance company initially refused to pay death benefits because the Chief had signed out of the fire station and wasn’t technically on the job. Fortunately, the court ruled that because the fire alarm box was in his home, Chief Buchan was always on the job and his family should therefore receive the benefits they were due.  We are fortunate to now have many stories about Andover’s Fire Chief Edward Buchan. His dress uniform coat with hat, badge and pins, carefully preserved by his family, helps tell Chief Buchan’s story of dedication, friendship, and care.

  During the 2015 Fiscal Year, July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, the following people donated items to The Historical Society. Their contributions included gifts to our objects, photographs, library, and archives collections, as well as to our education programs and research resources. We are grateful for their support of our mission and appreciate the stories that their gifts can continue to tell about Andover’s history.

James BatchelderSusan BigMary Zecchini BryantDan and Theresa ConlonDiane DahlAlberta DavisGail DerAnanianEcotarium

Patricia EdmondsJanice FitzgibbonsMarilyn HelmersTimothy HorneLawrence History CenterLawrence Public LibrarySusan McKelligetLucy Milllington

David Moran Jr.Nancy MuldoonNorth Andover Historical SocietyOffice of Veterans’ ServicesJohn PettyGail RalstonSue RiceJanie Ritchie

Jay SousaMark SpencerRobert StefaniAlison WetterskogChristine YoungWayne Zeilenga

educatinG fOr the futureBarbara Bunn – What Inspired Her to Champion the March Write-In  When I retired from teaching, after 35 years, I was recruited by Jim Redmond to volunteer for the Historical Society’s Andover at Work program.  That’s when I realized that the Society offered lots of opportunities to help, learn, and to get excited about history.  So where did the inspiration come from in helping to create the March Write-In program this past spring?  I think it probably started when I started volunteering. First of all, I wasn’t alone in the development of this program; Carrie Midura, former Programs and Public Relations Manager, and the Community Enrichment Team offered ideas and support. They were very encouraging about the whole concept.  I knew that March was Women in History month and thought that the living history idea would be a great opportunity for me to challenge myself to create a program for the Historical Society. At Sanborn School, many teachers at different grade levels incorporate the idea of 

living history into the curriculum. It is always something the students look forward to participating in. I also remembered a comment from a parent that there wasn’t enough focus on women in history. That comment stayed with me and was another impetus for me to create the March Write-In program. I was hoping to inspire others to get excited about history and the role that women played in history. The entire program focused on women and their writing  The idea also provided a learning opportunity for me. For the living history event, I spent a great deal of time learning about the women that were portrayed. Then I wrote scripts and recruited actresses, as well as other volunteers. That was the fun 

part. I used the Society’s library as well as Memorial Hall Library for my research.  Other events were planned to reach different audiences.  There was a program for students on journals in history. This allowed students to hear from an author who shared her insight into how to become an author and read some of Abby Locke’s journal, helped the students make their own journals and start their own entries.  We also had a panel of female authors discuss their books. For this event we partnered with the Andover Bookstore who had books for purchase. We also had a book discussion on a book, Nothing Daunted by Dorothy Wickenden, about two young society women who became teachers in the west.  So what was my inspiration? Volunteering at the Historical Society as part of the Andover at Work Program reminded me how much I like learning about history.  It seems that every time I come to the Andover Historical Society I learn something new. I hope that the March Write-In program inspired at least one person to like history.

Schools by the numbers.....

600 Number of

students participating in Andover at

Work

12Number ofschools we

serve

Shawsheen, Bancroft, Sanborn, South, West, High Plain, St. AugustineWest Middle, Doherty Middle, Wood Hill Middle

Andover High School, Phillips Academy

7Grades

we teach

Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Snow Accumulation

114.5”

PreviousRecord111.5”

Set in1947-1948

Total gallons of oil to heat theBlanchard House

2,133

Daily Average

16.5 gallons

Cost:$5,740

2014-2015 a winter of historic proportions

Schools by the numbers.....

600 Number of

students participating in Andover at

Work

12Number ofschools we

serve

Shawsheen, Bancroft, Sanborn, South, West, High Plain, St. AugustineWest Middle, Doherty Middle, Wood Hill Middle

Andover High School, Phillips Academy

7Grades

we teach

Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Snow Accumulation

114.5”

PreviousRecord111.5”

Set in1947-1948

Total gallons of oil to heat theBlanchard House

2,133

Daily Average

16.5 gallons

Cost:$5,740

2014-2015 a winter of historic proportions

Schools by the numbers.....

600 Number of

students participating in Andover at

Work

12Number ofschools we

serve

Shawsheen, Bancroft, Sanborn, South, West, High Plain, St. AugustineWest Middle, Doherty Middle, Wood Hill Middle

Andover High School, Phillips Academy

7Grades

we teach

Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Snow Accumulation

114.5”

PreviousRecord111.5”

Set in1947-1948

Total gallons of oil to heat theBlanchard House

2,133

Daily Average

16.5 gallons

Cost:$5,740

2014-2015 a winter of historic proportions

cOnnectinG with Our cOMMunitY  Imagine standing on Andover’s Essex Street bridge and looking down at the Shawsheen River as it winds its way north to the Merrimack.  It was on that spot that we began a conversation that eventually grew and deepened and connected across the community to become Andover’s Historic Mill District.  The conversation was with folks from Andover Tomorrow, a group of concerned citizens exploring the importance of “place” in economic development.  As we stood on the bridge, stories about industrial and recreational use of the Shawsheen River emerged, stories about the Smith & Dove mills that we now know as Dundee Park.  Along with the history of the mill owners, stories about the people who worked in the mills and lived in mill housing along Essex Street, Gradall Lane, and Pearson Street were shared.  That conversation changed the trajectory of the project – and the tenor of the conversations – as history became the common thread that people could gather around.  Historical Society staff worked with students from the Andover High School Environmental Sustainability Internship course (ESIC) and their community mentors as they explored how “place” and “place-making” can help build a sustainable community.  Interns Elli Mapstone and Peter Rex researched the history of the area. They developed a template for historic markers and wrote the first two: one on Smith & Dove and one on the train station. And it was Elli who coined the name Andover’s Historic Mill District.

  Throughout the year, as the Andover Tomorrow team worked toward presenting the Mill District at 2015 Town Meeting, Andover Historical Society was with them.  The Historical Society’s Blanchard House was the setting for a video that introduced the Historic Mill District to the town.  In the video, Executive Director Elaine Clements made the point that the role of the Historical Society is to provide context to help the community decide what it wants to be in the future.  By Town Meeting in May 2015, the video had been viewed over 10,000 times.  The article to create Andover’s Historic Mill District passed on May 11, 2015.  The Historic Mill District project is one example of how history has 

the power to bring people together.  Local history stories can build bridges between people, create a sense of place and belonging, and play an important role in community and economic development.  And we are eager to share those stories and help build a connected community.

fY 2015 bOard Of directOrs

Jane Dietzel Cairns President

Susan McKelliget 1st Vice President

Angela McBrien 2nd Vice President

Donald Robb Treasurer

Gail Ralston Recording Secretary

James Redmond Clerk

John Hess Member-at-Large

Douglas Mitchell Ex Officio

Tom AdamsJames BatchelderNorma GammonEllen MarcusMichael Morris, Jr.Judy ReghittoAndrew SantosLolli SumbergLarry Wangerin

current staff

Elaine Clements / eclements@andoverhistorical.org Executive Director

Marilyn Helmers / mhelmers@andoverhistorical.org Development & Collections Manager

Lauren Kosky-Stamm / lkosky-stamm@andoverhistorical.org Programs & Social Media Manager

Adam Brooks / abrooks@andoverhistorical.org Weekend Museum Assistant

Kenna Therrien / ktherrien@andoverhsitorical.org Administrative Assistant