Town of Exeter, New Hampshire A Look At Historical Exeter

Labor Day Holiday
Town of Exeter employees will be observing the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 6, 2010. All town offices will be closed. Trash/recycle pick-up will be one day late all week. For more information call the Public Works Dept. at 773-6157.

A Look at Historical Exeter, NH

****************************************
The Exeter Town Office building at 10 Front Street was built in 1892 to be the Rockingham County Probate & Deeds Office. A new Probate & Deeds office was built in 1964 on Hampton Road. In 1966 the Town purchased the building from the County, and all of the Town Offices were moved from the lower level of the Town Hall to the 10 Front Street address, where they still are today. In front of the building there is a granite marker that was dedicated on Memorial Day 1974. The monument is inscribed with the insignia of the four branches of the armed forces, honoring Veterans who had fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

****************************************

The Exeter Town Hall was built in 1855. The lower level was used as the Police Station until 1979, and was also occupied by the Town Offices until 1966. Now the lower level is occupied by the Chamber of Commerce, District Court was once there, having moved out of the building in February 2005. The main hall is still used for meetings and voting. The Statue of Justice that is on top of the cupola was put there in 1855 when the building was built. In 1917 the Statue was brought down for repairs after a bad storm. The Statue stayed there until it was severely damaged by "Hurricane Bob" in August 1991. This time the statue was replaced, with no changes, in July 1992. The Town Hall is located at 7 Front Street.

****************************************

The Bandstand that is located at the intersection of Water & Front Streets was a gift to the Town of Exeter from Ambrose Swasey in 1916. It replaced a wooden bandstand that was in the same location that was built in 1895.

The Exeter Brass Band was founded in 1847 and has held summer concerts in the Bandstand since then. The Brass Band still plays on Monday nights in July.

****************************************

The Exeter Public Library was built in 1987 on land donated to the Town by the Milliken Company. Prior to the new building the Library was located in what is now the Historical Society at 27 Front Street. The Library is part of Founder's Park, which was created in 1988 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Exeter (1638-1988).

****************************************

The Exeter Historical Society was founded in 1928. It is now located at 27 Front Street, the only yellow brick building in the area. The Historical Society has a museum and a library for all to see and enjoy. The building was originally built as the Public Library in 1893.

****************************************

The Exeter Parks & Recreation building at 32 Court Street was built in 1845 as the Court Street School. In 1959 it became the Community Center housing the Recreation Department, as it still does today.

****************************************

The Exeter Senior Citizen Center opened in May 1985. The building was previously the Exeter Fire Dept. from 1927 to 1979. The building was originally built as the Town Hall. To the left of the building is the Exeter Fire Department Museum. Inside is an 1873 Eagle Steamer that was retired from service in the 1940's. It has since been refurbished and is shown many times during the year at parades and other events.

****************************************

Swasey Parkway was a gift to the Town of Exeter from Ambrose Swasey in November 1931. The Parkway follows the Squamscott River and is lined with trees and park benches for all to enjoy.

A new performance Pavilion was completed in 2007. The Pavilion is used for the annual Parks & Rec Dept. summer concerts and other events.

***************************************

Gilman Park on Bell Avenue was a gift to the Town of Exeter from Daniel Gilman in 1891. At the park there are 2 baseball/softball fields, a basketball court, a playground and a boat ramp.

The cannons at Gilman Park were offered to the Town for decorative purposes by the United States Naval Department in 1897. The gift came with a restriction: in case of need the cannons could be recalled by the government.

***************************************

The land for the Gale Park War Memorial & Park at the corner of Linden Street & Front Street was donated to the Town of Exeter by Alice Gale Hobson, in memory of her father, General Stephen H. Gale. The statue was created by Daniel Chester French. The Park & War Memorial was dedicated on July 4, 1922.

***************************************
The Powder House was built in 1771. It is located at Duck Point, and can be seen across the river from Swasey Parkway. On December 17, 1812, the State Legislature passed a resolution empowering the Governor to purchase a supply of powder, lead and flints for the use of the State. (The War of 1812) Half of this material was to be stored in Exeter, and the Governor was authorized to "procure some suitable magazines, or safe place of deposit - for the safe keeping of the public stores aforesaid". It is also thought that a number of barrels were stored in the Powder House and used at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Powder House still stands today as seen in this picture, having been refurbished in 1999.

***************************************

This view is from the backside of the downtown buildings taken from the Powder House.

Clearly seen in this picture is the Town Hall cupola, with Lady Justice standing atop the cupola, and the adjacent steeple on the Congregational Church.