by Susan Samsonow
Claremont, founded in 1764 and nestled on the banks of the Sugar River is just a short, scenic commute from West Lebanon, NH along Route 12A. Located in Sullivan County, the city has a population of 14,000 and covers an area of over 42 miles. It's location is just 3 hours to Montreal, 2 hours to Boston, 4 hours to New York and 2 hours to the seacoast of Maine.
The history of Claremont's industrial past is apparent by groups of mill buildings on both sides of the Sugar River through the center of town. These C1800 and early C1900 brick buildings cover more than a half mile and were once used by two major companies. Monadnock Mills was constructed in the 1830's by a group of local investors. In 1842 the buildings were purchased and expanded by a group of Boston investors who began textile productions. In the early years of production, the Mills processed raw cotton and spun wool, and produced plain cotton goods and sheeting. After Jacquard looms were installed in 1870, the Mills manufactured the country's first Marseilles quilts and continued to produce more complicated works of satin finish, damask, embroidered lace and fine linens. At its peak, the Mills was the largest employer in the community, employing over 600 workers. In 1932 the Mills closed, however the complex is still well preserved with only three building being lost over time.
The Sullivan Machinery Company began in 1868 and was formed to produce a diamond channeling machine for mining and quarrying. By the late 1880's, the company specialized in mining equipment. The company added to the building structure to accomodate new equipment that they invented; a drilling machine, an air compressor and a rock drill. In 1892, Sullivan Machinery merged with the Diamond Prospecting Company from Indiana. By the 1920's, Sullivan Machinery was Claremont's largest employer, with over 1,200 workers and was NH's largest machine company. However, it had also reached the limits of its building's expansions, now on both sides of the Sugar River plus the in-town structures, requiring some of the companies operations to be moved to Indiana. In 1946, the company merged with other manufacturing companies and continued to produce mining and drilling machinery. By the early 1980's, with foreign manufacturing taking a severe cut into the companies sales, the operation was sold.
Above: The downtown Moody Building, C1890, was once the Hotel Claremont, before it's current use as offices.
Starting in the "Speculation Times" in the 1830's, many additional buildings were constructed along the Sugar River for use by the mills and were used to provide gas lights, as boiler rooms, to house steam and turbine engines and to provide housing for the mill workers. Restoration and renovation has been done to some of the buildings including new streets, sidewalks, landscaping and parking. Many of the mill buildings are currently being used as offices, shops, businesses, warehouse storage and for city and state offices. Self-guided walking tours of the Historic Mill District can be taken throughout the year to view the city's industrial heritage.
Above: The Historic Mill District along the Sugar River.
Claremont's current industrial base is strongly machine operations and metalworking with over 30 manufacturing plants and machine shops. Other industries include food processing, dairy products, footwear, lumber and paper mills, furniture and wood working plants, prefab buildings, publishing, textiles and machine tool products.
The region is serviced by the New England Central Railroad, the Claremont & Concord Railway, local trucking and carrier companies and the Claremont Airport. Amtrak's only passenger stop for NH is located in Claremont.
Downtown Claremont has numerous shops and retail stores to choose from in addition to three outlying shopping plazas. There are national chain department and grocery stores, in addition to local shops, specialty stores and department stores. Additional attractions are bed and breakfasts, motels, restaurants and fast-food chains, a bowling alley and a 6 complex movie theater.
Valley Regional Hospital, the first hospital in Sullivan County and the third in the state, provides Claremont residents with high tech, innovative services such as "Fast Track" for medical treatment of non-emergent conditions and "Surgery Express" offering predetermined discounts for specific procedures. The hospital also provides outpatient services and therapy plus offers onsite day care. Next to the hospital is the Counseling Center of Claremont, offering personal and family counseling, intervention and support services as well as educational and research specialties. Home health care is available from Connecticut Valley Home Care, located in nearby Newport, which provides nursing care and support services for residents outside the hospital setting.
Above: Historic marker for the first Catholic school in New England, established in 1824 in Claremont.
Kindergarten through 5th grade students attend the Bluff, Disnard or Maple Avenue elementary schools. Bluff school also features a preschool program. Some of the elementary programs include half-day kindergarten, accelerated reading, the Reading Recovery program, a program with Dartmouth College medical students, peer mediation, student court and student of the month. Claremont Middle School services grades 6-8 while grades 9-12 attend Stevens High School. Challenging courses at Stevens range from calculus, culinary arts, drafting, advanced biology, humanitites and health occupations. Nationally and state recognized programs include the physics olympics, the Project Challenge model program and the Peer Outreach Program. High school students have the option for course work at the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center where class and lab technology resembles the real-life business workplace. 56% of Stevens graduates continue their education. There are also several choices for private or Catholic education in the area.
Above: Broad Street Park, one of 5 city parks, has benches, a gazebo and a granite monument honoring Claremont's war veterans.
Higher education can be continued through the NH Community Technical College at Claremont and the College for Lifelong Learning. NH Technical College is a 2 year, public college with courses in health, business, computer science, human services, industrial technology and nursing and is a major higher-education resource for Claremont area adults. The college also custom designs courses and seminars for the business and industry sector. Affiliated with NH Job Training Council, the college offers counseling, training and placement to eligible participants. Day care is also available. The College for Lifelong Learning is a public college that delivers programs to adults within their local communities. CLL uses resources from The University of NH, Keene State and Plymouth State Colleges as well as from local businesses to provide their range of programs.
Above: The Union Episcopal Church, built 1771-73, is the oldest standing Episcopal Church in NH.
The religious community has a strong history in the area. A Baptist Society was formed in 1785 and once had a round church located in town. The first Roman Catholic Church to be built in NH is St. Mary's Catholic Church in 1823. The original building, located on the west side of town, is still used during the summer for public and private services and for weddings. A new church and convent was erected in town in 1872. The complex still functions for a school, chapel, rectory and church services.
The Claremont Opera House is a restored 100 year old theater listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It seats approximately 900 and offers a year round series of dance, concerts and plays from across the U.S. in addition to the Off Broad Street Players productions and the high school drama class presentations. Attached to the Opera House is the Atrium, a facility for art exhibits and benefit productions. Additional cultural programs are offered by the Claremont Art Association.
The city's recreational parks total over 420 acres and are used for a full range of activities including hiking and ski trails, playing fields (some lighted), ice skating, tennis, playgrounds, outdoor pool, running track and horseshoe pits. The city-owned Goodwin Community Center features a gym, indoor pool, game room and meeting rooms as well as housing an active Parks and Recreation Department. Hang gliding, paragliding and ultralight enthusiasts from all over New England improve their skills at the nearby Morningside Flight Park, affiliated with the VT Chapter of Hang Gliding.
Claremont is taking an active look at it's future. Market and design research on the downtown areas over the last couple of years has identified 4 separate "neighborhoods" within town, each with their own unique needs and goals for the future. Stuart Arnett, of the Department of Marketing and Economic Development, states each neighborhood is looked at in terms of it's existing status and also towards a desired long term goal or vision. For the Historic Mill District, the vision is for more retail, commercial and manufacturing businesses, a riverfront park access, downtown parking, recreation and some "authentic" commercial businesses, which Mr. Arnett defines as products having a historical connection to the past, using local products and historical skills. Mr. Arnett relates that the goal for the downtown is to be the "best small city destination in Northern New England", to be visited by the public for long weekends and short vacations. With such planning already in process, it appears Claremont is definitely headed in the right direction.
Above: City Hall, located across from the Broad Street Park, also is home
to Claremont's Opera House.