I never realized the history that is Manchester, NH until I picked up the book AMOSKEAG by Tamara K Hareven & Randolph Langenbach. In it is written that “The Amoskeag Company founded the city of Manchester and dominated it over the entire century of its existence. There was hardly a person in Manchester between 1838, when construction began, and 1936, when the mills shut down, whose life was not in some way affected by the company.” www.manchesternh.gov
Tonight I’ll read about the Manchester I knew, and about the role the Amoskeag Millyard played in the lives of the many people who lived at the time when, “it was the world’s largest textile plant, employing up to seventeen thousand workers.” I wish those red brick factories that line the Merrimack River could tell the stories of those whose lives were impacted by the founding of the Amoskeag Mills in this American city.
The Manchester of today is changing. The once short restaurant list is now much longer, and folks don’t necessarily go to Boston for things that they “need”, and new businesses are opening, companies are locating here. Highways are being expanded, and homes are being built. And these days those solid red brick buildings have new occupants. But it was only a short time ago, or so it seems, when Thursday evening on Elm Street was a time for families and friends to shop together. They’d walk up one side of the street and down the other stopping at the small stores along the way. Woolworth’s was there – it had something for everyone-even if was just sitting at the long clean counter enjoying an ice cream soda. And there was The Puritan where folks would go before, during or after shopping often for a grilled English muffin with lots of butter, or a grilled tomato and cheese sandwich, a root beer float, a sundae, or a cup of coffee – there was something very pleasing about a cup of coffee in that small white cup at The Puritan. Then it happened – almost in the blink of an eye-that Elm Street became a lonely place as people drove toward the newly-built Mall of New Hampshire. www.puritanbackroom.com/history.php
Now, after all those years of lonliness, Elm Street is looking good. And, just as with the factories, once again it’s occupied with businesses. Manchester has a phenomenal location. It’s approximately (depending on traffic) one hour from Boston, from the coast of Maine, and from the White Mountains. And The Lakes Region are never forgotten with there many beautiful big lakes and small mountains. Wonderful places, including Concord, the capital of New Hampshire, are bustling, and its many small shops near the capitol and along the main street, are thisclose to Manchester. www.lakesregion.org www.winnipesaukee.com www.concordnhchamber.com www.visitwhitemountains.com www.visitmaine.com
And one hour north of Logan International Airport in Boston, and nearer to Manchester, is a grand New England Victorian hotel called Wentworth By The Sea in New Castle. It’s a AAA Four Diamond resort and it’s also a member of Historic Hotels of America due to the fact that at the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth Conference was held there. The Portsmouth Peace Treaty was the result. Wentworth By the Sea Hotel & Spa is a beautiful place to be. If wending your way by car, be sure to stop at a good eating establishment for a delicious seafood meal.
www.wentworth.com/seacoast-nh
Have fun!