The American House Hotel opened ca. 1865 by William B. Smith in what was originally a private residence. After Smith’s death, his wife operated it through 1867 until selling to Col. Adams T. Peirce and L.P. True. By 1878, Peirce and True, . . . — — Map (db m152221) HM
Dover’s early settlers lived in relative peace with the local Pennacook tribe, learning hunting, fishing, and farming skills from the natives in the early 17th century. Passaconaway, highly respected leader of the Pennacook Confederacy, forged . . . — — Map (db m152213) HM
These early 19th century storefronts have always been at the heart of Dover's downtown business district. In this ca. 1950 photo (left), is Sweetlands, John N. Vatistas proprietor, which opened in the mid-1940s. By the '70s, still in the . . . — — Map (db m152212) HM
Central (Lower) Square, just after the turn of the 20th century, shows the bustling business activity at the intersection of Central Avenue and Washington Street. On the right is the Masonic Temple housing, among many other businesses, Frank J. . . . — — Map (db m152208) HM
St. John's Methodist Church, now St. John's Senior Housing, was built in 1875 for $40,000. Methodism is the third oldest religious denomination in Dover (after the Congregationalists and the Quakers) and their worship services began in 1819 at . . . — — Map (db m152217) HM
Dover's Black Day began with a record breaking rainfall March 1 & 2, 1896 which ravaged downtown Dover. The Central Avenue bridge was swept away by torrents of rushing water and ice floes; several stores and offices in the Bracewell Building . . . — — Map (db m217308) HM
After ousting the mills' benevolent founder John Williams, the Cocheco Manufacturing Company's new Boston owners put a different agent in charge. James Curtis was a harsh taskmaster, caring only about profit and having little concern for the . . . — — Map (db m152215) HM
The two Morrill blocks, constructed by Joseph Morrill in 1844 and 1870, dominate the landscape of Franklin Square in 1921. The smaller block, on the left bordering Second Street, is the earlier structure. Businesses in these blocks included . . . — — Map (db m152216) HM
Dover’s two largest retail chain stores can be seen on opposite sides of Central Avenue: Montgomery Ward, on the left, faced J.J. Newberry's on the corner of Second Street. The “new” Morrill Block, rebuilt after a devastating fire in . . . — — Map (db m152218) HM
The New Depot on Third Street, after the arrival of the B&M railroad to Dover in 1842, attracted a variety of businesses including hotels, saloons, pool halls, restaurants, and stores catering to travelers' needs. This photo, from the 1920s, . . . — — Map (db m152219) HM
Merchants National Bank began operations on April 2, 1900 with $100,000 in capital, founded by Charles Carpenter Goss of Pittsfield. Mr. Goss was the first cashier and his grandfather Charles H. Carpenter was chosen as the first president. . . . — — Map (db m152220) HM
This photo of Central Square (now called Lower Square), at the intersection of Central Avenue and Washington Street, was taken between 1895 and 1906. Dominating the right side is the Strafford Bank building, erected for $100,000 in 1895. The . . . — — Map (db m152211) HM
Dover’s City Hall and Opera House burned at this location on August 3, 1933. The first two city halls, located at the corner of Washington Street and Central Avenue (where the Masonic Temple now stands) had also burned, respectively, in 1866 . . . — — Map (db m152210) HM