*By Susan Samsonow
Hanover, a small New England college community with a population of over 9000, has a unique combination of culture, values, natural beauty, education and recreation. The town is located on the Connecticut River, halfway between Canada and Massachusetts and just a few miles north of major interchanges for Interstates 89 and 91.
The town of Hanover was charted in 1761 by Benning Wentworth, Royal Governor of the Province of New Hampshire. The origin of the name "Hannover" (as spelled in the charter) is uncertain, some say there was a parish of "Hannover" in Norwich, CT while others suggest the name came directly from the reign of English Kings, the House of Hannover. The first settler arrived in 1765, the first town meeting was in 1767 and much of the town affairs were centered in Mill Village (now Etna). The town first gained representation in New Hampshire's Assembly in 1775 when it was grouped together with other communities including Lebanon, Canaan, Relham (now Enfield), Cardigan (now Orange), Grafton and the town of Dresden (the separate college district of Hanover). In 1778 some of the towns declared their independence of NH and became a part of VT. After 1782 the town of Hanover became independent and in 1788 the Dresden District became part of the town of Hanover again.
Dartmouth College was charted in 1769 and is the ninth oldest college in the country. Originally established by Reverend Eleazar Wheelock in 1754 in Lebanon, CT as the More's Indian Charity School, Rev. Wheelock relocated his mission to NH where he received land offers. In 1769 the charter was approved for a college "for the education and instruction of the Youth of the Indian Tribes..and also of English Youth and any others."
The College was named for William Legge, the Second Earl of Dartmouth who, as Secretary of State for the Colonies under King George III, became the College's sponsor and benefactor. In 1868 an agricultural school was established which was moved, in 1892, to Durham, NH and later became the University of NH.
Dartmouth College, a four year, private, coeducational, Ivy League college has a primary focus on undergraduate education (approximately 4,300 students) and is recognized as one of the country's most prestigious liberal arts colleges. Graduate education (approximately 1,200 students) can be persued through the Dartmouth Medical School (the fourth oldest medical school in the nation, 1797), the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration (the oldest graduate school of management in the world, 1899) and the Thayer School of Engineering (founded in 1867), in addition to numerous arts and science programs. In October of this year, the College will be celebrating it's 25th anniversary of coeducation.
Hanover has it's own elementary and middle school and combined with Norwich, VT comprises the Dresden School District, the first inter-state school district in the United States for grades 6 through 12. In addition to public schools, the Hanover area has a variety of private schools, including pre-school and day care. 87% of Hanover's graduating high school seniors currently go on to advanced education. Advanced seniors are permitted to take courses at Dartmouth College. Adult education is available with courses offered through the Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth, in addition to area vocational and technical centers.
Residents have access to the extensive medical services provided by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, located only 2 miles south of downtown Hanover and serving more than a quarter of a million people in upper New England. The Center is comprised of a 429 bed regional referral, trauma center and teaching facility (Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital) in addition to the Borwell Research Building, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (in Lebanon), the Norris Cotton Cancer Center (one of 28 comprehensive cancer research facilities nationwide) and the Veterans Administration Hospital (in White River Junction). Extended care, rehabilitation programs and special treatment services are available at the Hanover Terrace Healthcare facility.
Entertainment, art, theater and culture can easily be found at the Hood Museum of Art (nearly 60,000 historical and cultural pieces), The Hopkins Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (the largest entertainment complex in the north country with over 400 music, theater and dance events a year) and the local Nugget Cinemas. Music enthusiasts will enjoy performances by The Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, the Handel Society chorus (the oldest community choral organization in the country), Barbary Coast, Dartmouth Glee Club, the Dartmouth World Music Percussion Ensemble, the Hanover Chamber Orchestra, the North Country Chordsmen and Opera North. The Shattuck Observatory and the Webster Cottage of the Hanover Historical Society, a 1780 farm house with early NH furnishing and many possessions of Daniel Webster who lived here, are a few of the local museums found in town.
Left: Downtown Main Street on a Saturday afternoon is a great place to shop or just take a stroll.
Right: Hopkins Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (arched windows) beside the Hood Museum of Art.
Famous Dartmouth graduates include Daniel Webster, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D., former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich and writer Louise Erdrich.
Dartmouth College has 34 intercollegiate men's and women's varsity sports which can easily satisfy any spectators appetite. Members of NCAA Division 1, the teams compete with Ivy League and ECAC teams. Dartmouth athletic facilities provide for squash, racquetball, swimming, basketball, indoor and outdoor track, tennis, public skating, ice hockey, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse plus Dartmouth football and baseball.
Recreational opportunities in the area are numerous. One can bike beside, boat on, or fish in the Connecticut River. Or do some hiking on the Appalachian Trail as it passes through town, or on the hundreds of miles of trails maintained by the Dartmouth Outing Club. Horse shows, clinics, camps, lessons and boarding takes place at the Dartmouth Riding Center at Morton Farm. The Hanover Country Club, laid out in 1899, is a challenging 18 hole course plus provides quiet cross-country ski trails in the winter. Occom Pond is the local popular spot for outdoor ice skating. Dartmouth Skiway provides a quad chair lift, snow making facilities and 16 groomed trails of downhill skiing. Cross-country skiers have over 25 kilometers of groomed trails at the nearby Silver Fox Trails. Skiing at Dartmouth has a strong history. Dartmouth skiers competed in the first intercollegiate ski meet in 1914, hosted the first modern slalom in 1928 and the first National Downhill Championship in 1933 plus provided men for World War II's "Ski Troops". In addition to providing numerous members to the NCAA All-American teams there has been athletes from Dartmouth present at every Winter Olympic Game since 1924. Storrs Pond Recreation Area, owned and operated by the Hanover Improvement Society, is located only 1.5 miles from downtown and offers supervised pool and pond swimming including 2 beaches, camping and picnic areas plus nature trails and tennis courts.
Reading buffs can spend time at the Howe Library or Dartmouth's Baker Library, one of the oldest research libraries. The Baker Library contains over 2 million books plus domestic and foreign newspapers, historic maps, government publications and collections of United Nations documents all available for research, study and pleasure reading. In the Library's lower level are the Orozco Frescoes, a permanent exhibit of 24 painted panels depicting American civilization from the Aztecs to the arrival of the white man.
Hanover's largest employers (1995 statistics) include Dartmouth College, Hypertherm, Inc. (manufacturer and distributor of plasma arc cutting equipment, named the #1 best company to work for by the Business NH Magazine), Dartmouth Printing Company, The Hanover Inn, the Town of Hanover, Creare, Inc. (engineering research and development, computer systems and software) and Trumbull Nelson, Inc. (building contractor company, named one of the top 100 privately held firms in NH in 1997).
Downtown Hanover provides for unique dining and shopping opportunities. Hanover is the location for one of 8 statewide, independent, consignment shops for The NH League of Craftsmen has been open for over 50 years. Hundreds of crafts people display juried fine craft pieces in addition to holding classes and workshops.
In-town lodging can be found at The Hanover Inn, originally established in 1780 as a tavern. Owned and operated by Dartmouth, the facility's 98 guest rooms are decorated in a Colonial theme. Dining choices include traditional menu selections in the Daniel Webster room, outdoor dining on the Terrace or American flavors from the IVY Grill. Rooms are also available for social and business functions.
Local spring and summer events include the Auto, Boat and RV Show, the Homelife Home and Trade Show, the Hanover Center Old Timers Fair, the Hanover Street Fest (outdoor bazaar with over 100 vendors, crafters, food and entertainment merchants, July), the Big Apple Circus (July), golf tournaments and the Shrine Maple Sugar Parade and Football Game (VT and NH players, to benefit Shriner's Hospitals, August).
With such a mixture of community events and higher education that Hanover has to offer, it's easy to see why so many families call it their home town.
Left: The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, just south of the downtown
Right: The Green, the central park of the Dartmouth campus, is a favorite
place for team sports as well as a friendly game of Frisbee
Copyright 1997 Picket Fence Preview