Heritage Trails in Dover Tour A - Old Mill & Waterfront

Start: The Dover Public Library, 73 Locust Street: The library was built on land donated by William Hale and funds given by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1904. From the library, cross Locust Street and head up Hale Street, directly in front of you.

1) St. Thomas Episcopal Church: (1891) The church was designed by a famous Boston architect, Henry Vaughn. Stones from fields in Durham made up the tower, while a Rochester quarry supplied the granite. A new parish hall was constructed in 1950.

2) Hale House, Hale Street: Built in 1806, the Hale House, also known as the Lafayette House in memory of Gen. Lafayette’s stay in 1825, is the oldest of the Federal style houses in Dover. William Hale was a prominent representative to the US Congress for several years and as a result, entertained many dignitaries including President Monroe. In 1980, the house was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

3) City Hall, Central Avenue: Built in this location after a fire in 1889 destroyed the town hall down the street, the city hall once housed an 1,800 seat opera house. It featured a rising and falling floor, 3-tiered balconies and a chandelier containing 95 electric bulbs. Well-known entertainers such as John Phillip Sousa’s band performed on its stage. In 1933, the building burned.

The new colonial structure, dedicated in 1935 and designed to be fireproof, is made of one million bricks, 190 tons of steel and has 16 fireproof vaults. The auditorium inside holds 900 people. Outside the doors of the auditorium, is a mural painted in 1937 depicting the "Early Days in Dover." The bell in the 80 ft. tower weighs 3,500 pounds and was cast from the bell of the original opera house.

4) Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce: At the end of Hale, you will see the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce across the street at 299 Central Avenue. The Chamber is your resource center for visitor and business information. Our staff is happy to assist you. Drop in or call (603) 742-2218.

5) Foster’s Daily Democrat, 333 Central Avenue:

Begun in 1872 by Joshua Foster, Foster’s Weekly Democrat quickly gained popularity and in 1873, daily editions commenced. The newspaper’s offices were housed at different locations in the city before moving to its present spot in 1895. Ownership of the newspaper still remains in the Foster Family.

Behind the building was an area known as Swazey’s Hill, where Dover’s first hanging occurred on June 3, 1788. Spectators came from all around to witness the execution of Elisha Thomas for the murder of Capt. Peter Drown. It is said that the sheriff shook Thomas’ hand "and he was launched into eternity." Thomas is buried in Pine Hill Cemetery (See cemetery tour for more information.)

6) Henry Law Park, Behind Foster’s: Besides mills, this area was the site of the block housing for workers at the Cocheco Manufacturing Company in the 1830’s. Calico printing was introduced in Dover in 1826 and became known around the world. The Print Works complex was built in 1844.

7) The Cochecho Riverwalk: Take a moment to enjoy this historic riverfront area with its scenic lookouts, canoe launch and picnic areas. The community is turning again to the river and the downtown waterfront area as an opportunity for economic growth and public access.

8) Cocheco Mill Area, Central Ave. & Main Street: The large brick mills on the left and right side of the street made up the Cocheco Manufacturing Company. The first cloth manufacturing industry was the Dover Cotton Factory, begun up river in 1814.

In 1828, new rules were enforced at the mills which forbade talking between employees during work hours, prohibited unions, imposed 12 1/2 cent fines for being late and reduced wages from 58 cents to 53 cents a day. Female workers rebelled and on Dec. 30, 1828, Dover was the scene of the first women’s strike in the U. S. Half of the 800 "mill girls" walked off the job and paraded around the compound with banners, signs and fireworks. All was in vain, as the mill owners simply advertised for 400 replacements. In fear of losing their jobs, the women returned to work.

8a) Cochecho Waterfront: The Riverfront was once an area of thriving commerce. Between 1825 and 1896, schooners traveled the river carrying cargo, much of which was cotton being brought to the mills for processing. Competition in the form of the railroad caused a decline in freight from 1842 on. In March of 1896 a great storm carried away several bridges up the river and deposited so much material in the river that Dover’s days as an ocean port were over. Cocheco Street, where George’s Marina now provides public access to the river, was then called Flagg’s Road, as it was the route to the farm of Captain William Flagg at Three Rivers.

9) Krans & Krans Building, 29 Main Street: Originally the Sawyer Block, ca. 1825, it has housed many professionals including attorneys and doctors. It has also been a market and a Greek Coffee house.

Click on the image for an 1844 photo of the 

PrintWorks complex at Henry Law Avenue

10) Michael Reade House, 43 Main Street: This home is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1785 by Irish immigrant Michael Reade, a merchant and land speculator, this house has changed little from its original state.

11) Immigrant Park, Main Street and School Street: Because of the abundance of work in the mills, by the mid 19th century, immigrants began to arrive and settle in the area. The Irish were the first group to arrive in 1840, followed by the French-Canadians, Greeks, and Lebanese.

12) St. George’s Maronite Church, Portland Ave. (behind Janetos Plaza): Because their community was growing, the Lebanese established their own church. The Lebanese are identified with the Maronite church, a branch of Catholicism established in Lebanon and Syria centuries ago. It is the only Maronite Church in New Hampshire.

13) Old St. John’s Church, Corner of St. John’s and Portland Ave.: The first Methodist Church in Dover was made of wood in 1825. By 1875, it was torn down and this brick structure was built. It sat 1000 people and contained chimes that weighed over 8,000 pounds. It currently serves as housing for the elderly.

(Please Note: Salmon Falls Stoneware is 1 mile up Broadway and a right onto Oak Street. You may choose to take this detour or continue to #15)

14) Salmon Falls Stoneware, Oak Street Engine House: Located in the old engine house of the Boston & Maine railroad, this American salt-glazed pottery company is known worldwide. Watch crafters spin and decorate a pot: then watch it come out of the kiln as a finished piece. Outlet store tours are available.

15) Fire Station, 9 Broadway: Built in 1905, this original structure is still used as a fire station.

(Please Note: The Garrison Hill Tower is 2 miles round trip from this point. You may choose to take this detour or continue to #18)

16) Garrison Hill

Park & Tower, Abbey Sawyer Lane:

Rising to a 298 foot elevation overlooking Dover, Garrison Hill has served as a recreational site for over 100 years. From the newly erected observation tower (a replica of the original 1913 tower), on a clear day visitors can see both the White Mountains and the Isles of Shoals.

17) Christian Science Reading Room, 604 Central Avenue: The First Church of Christ Scientists was organized in Dover in 1901. Founders purchased the Brown-Shackley estate here in 1913. Many additions and renovations to the original three story dwelling have been made since that time.

18) Franklin Square: The Junction of Main Street and Central Avenue make up Franklin Square. Many events have taken place here including receptions for Presidents Teddy Roosevelt in 1902 and William Howard Taft in 1912. The American House (the current Days Inn site) was a landmark hotel, established in 1853, where many prominent guests, including presidents and movie stars, stayed.

Morrill Block-Joseph Morrill, a wealthy merchant and land owner, built the first buildings on this block. It housed many merchants and offices. The original block burned in 1933. Moses Farmer was an inventor who had space in the Morrill Block. He invented the pulldown window shade. Morrill Fountain, a granite fountain and horse trough, was a gift to the city in 1914, by the heirs of Joseph Morrill.

19) Waldron Massacre: On the site of the current courthouse, Major Richard Waldron built his home in 1664. It was garrisoned by building a stockade fence around it. During the Indian troubles of 1680, it served as the center of military activity. On the night of June 28, 1689, in revenge for past injustices, Indians attacked and burned the garrison and killed the 80 year old major. Similar scenes occurred at six other Dover garrisons that night. (You can see an authentic garrison at the Woodman Institute Museum on Central Avenue. It is only one of a few in the world.)

20) Courtyard at Cocheco Mills: This courtyard is the center of activity during the summer months as musicians and artisans entertain residents and visitors at the Wednesday Noon Concert Series and the Cocheco Arts Festival.

21) Overlook Bridge: If you walk to the back of the courtyard and go right, you will see an old wrought iron bridge. It overlooks the Cochecho River and the Cochecho Falls. Electricity is generated under the mill, as it did years ago when this was an active mill.

As you stand on the bridge, look up the river and imagine it at flood stage, with the water so high that it came over the tops of the buildings. This March 1, 1896 flood was known as Dover’s "Black Day." The debris and ice chunks from the flood damaged buildings, knocked out bridges and filled in the river so much that it brought an end to ships being able to reach the mills via the river.

Click on the image for a picture of Dover’s "Black Day"

22) Fish Ladder: Heading up the falls on the left, is a fish ladder which helps the Atlantic Salmon and Lamprey Eels find their way up the river to spawn.

23) Merchants Row, Central Avenue: The buildings in their original sites show the architecture and feeling of the merchants that lined the avenue in the late 1800’s. Known then as Merchants Row, it is still the active retail section of the downtown area.

24) Firehouse One Restaurant, 1 Orchard Street: Located in Dover’s first central fire station which was built in 1865 to house the first steam engine fire truck. The historically renovated building details the architecture of the times.

25) Mural: On the side of the old Strafford Bank is an historical rendering by artist Kip Potter of Dover in the early years.

26) Central Square: Always the main access through downtown Dover, Central Square was, and still is, surrounded by many commercial businesses. Abraham Lincoln spoke here during his campaign for the presidency. Strafford Bank was built on the corner of Washington and Central Ave. In 1895, this granite block building was called the "Fortress of Finance." In 1963, it moved across the street and is now known as Bank of New Hampshire-Strafford.

Masonic Temple- The site of Dover’s first city hall which burned in 1886 and 1889 before moving to its present location. In 1891, the Masons laid the cornerstone for a temple here. It burned in 1906 and was rebuilt the next year. The building presently serves as office space for many businesses.

27) Dover Junior High School, Locust Street: Constructed in 1904 as the new Dover High School, this building was designed by noted local architect Alvah T. Ramsdell. A large addition was built in 1928. The school became the junior high in 1967 when the new high school was constructed on Durham Road.

The tour concludes back at the Dover Public Library. The library is also the starting point for Tour B, Dover’s Historic House Tour.

Click on the image for a photo of Dover’s Public Library, 

built in 1904, by funds given by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie

End of Tour A


Begin Tour A  |  Tour B  |  Tour C