Peterborough, New Hampshire

History

Granted by Massachusetts in 1737, it was first permanently settled in 1749. The town suffered several attacks during the French and Indian War. Nevertheless, by 1759, there were fifty families settled. Incorporated on January 17, 1760 by Governor Benning Wentworth, it was named after Lieutenant Peter Prescott (1709–1784) of Concord, Massachusetts, a prominent land speculator.

The Contoocook River and Nubanusit Brook offered numerous sites for watermills, and Peterborough became a prosperous mill town. In 1810, the first cotton factory was established. By 1859, when the population was 2,222, there were four additional cotton factories, plus a woolen mill. Other industries included two paper mills, an iron foundry, a machine shop, a carriage factory, a basket manufacturer, a maker of trusses and supporters, a boot and shoe factory, seven sawmills, and three gristmills.

Abiel Abbot, after being charged with heresy by the Connecticut religious establishment, came to Peterborough as minister to the Peterborough Unitarian Church in 1827. Reverend Abbot founded the town's first prep school, the Monadnock Summer Lyceum, and the first free library in the US, all in Peterborough.

Other early cultural institutions include Mariarden, a summer theatre where Paul Robeson played in Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones at a time when roles for black Americans were scarce. Bette Davis performed there as a teen.

Performance blossomed again in 1976, when Widdie and Jonathon Hall founded the Peterborough Folkway. "Within a few years, it became a 'must play' on the East Coast for folk musicians and continued to be a popular stop" for two decades. Regular performers included Tom Paxton, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Martin Saxton and Suzanne Vega.

In the 1980s, thanks to publisher Wayne Green, "Peterborough was clearly the per capita magazine production capital of the world." Over 100 magazines, mostly about computers and technology, were published there; these included Byte and MacComputing.

Peterborough's leadership in environmental protection began in the 1990s, when its Earth Day USA office supported the US Air Force's annual Earth Day events around the world.

Town Library

Peterborough is home to the first tax-supported free public library in the United States. The Peterborough Town Library was founded at a town meeting on April 9, 1833. This idea was revolutionary in a time when subscription libraries were popular. The collection of materials would essentially be owned by the people and free to access. Funds for the formation of the library were made available through the State Literacy Fund. The Reverend Abiel Abbot already had experience in creating libraries. In the six years he had spent in Peterborough prior to 1833, he had established the Juvenile Library, which he operated out of his home, and the Peterborough Library Company, a dues-paying membership library. Due to the success of Abbot's libraries, specifically the Town Library, the New Hampshire State Legislature passed a law authorizing towns to raise money to establish and maintain their own libraries. This law was enacted in 1849, making New Hampshire the first state to pass a law of this nature.

The library started in the town's general store, which also served as the post office. The postmaster also served as the librarian, until Susan Gates was appointed in 1854. By 1873, it was decided that the library materials would be moved to the Town Hall, but by 1890, there were 6,000 books and not enough space to accommodate the collection and patrons. A new library was built and continues to operate as the town's library. Since construction, the library has been expanded twice, and its collection has grown from the hundred original items to over 43,000 books. A booklet on the history of the library is available at the circulation desk.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.1 square miles (98.7 km²), of which 37.7 square miles (97.7 km²) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km²) is water, comprising 1.06% of the town. Peterborough is drained by Nubanusit Brook and the Contoocook River. The highest point in Peterborough is South Pack Monadnock Mountain (2,290 feet (698 m) above sea level), in Miller State Park. Peterborough is also home to Edward MacDowell Dam and Lake recreation area, where visitors can walk across the dam, hike, cross-country ski, swim, boat, picnic, play Frisbee golf, horseshoes or other recreational opportunities, many of them disabilities accessible.

The town center, or census-designated place (CDP), is where nearly 50% of the population resides. It has a total area of 4.77 square miles (12.35 km²), of which 4.75 square miles (12.29 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), or 0.52%, is water. The CDP includes the village of West Peterborough, located 2 miles (3 km) west of the town center, along Nubanusit Brook.

The town is crossed by U.S. Route 202 and Route 101.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,284 people, 2,713 households, and 1,629 families residing in the town. The population density was 167.0 people per square mile (64.3/km²). There were 2,956 housing units at an average density of 78.4 per square mile (30.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.1% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 2,713 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were headed by married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24, and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town, the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.6 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.

For the period 2009–2013, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $66,026, and the median income for a family was $89,401. Male full-time workers had a median income of $66,314 versus $34,707 for females. The per capita income for the town was $40,385.

Town center

The Peterborough census-designated place (CDP) comprises an area that includes the town center and extends north along US Route 202 as far as Greenfield Road (NH 136), west to the town line (thus including the area known as West Peterborough), east on NH 101 to Elm Hill Road (NH 123), and south on US 202 to Old Sharon Road. The U.S. Census Bureau collects separate population statistics for the CDP area.

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,103 people, 1,442 households, and 750 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 653.3 people per square mile (252.5/km²). There were 1,577 housing units, at an average density of 332.0 per square mile (128.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% some other race, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 1,442 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were headed by married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.0% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06, and the average family size was 2.79.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.9 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

For the period 2009–13, the estimated median annual income for a household in the CDP was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $75,714. Male full-time workers had a median income of $47,118 versus $30,474 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $39,088.

Education and research

The public schools are part of Contoocook Valley school district (SAU 1) which has a total of 11 schools and 1 applied technology center.

In addition to formal education, the town has dance and karate studios, arts, sports, fitness and nature activities year round, for children and adults.

Economy

Peterborough is a global village and entrepreneurial seedbed. Start-ups that grew up here include New Hampshire Ball Bearing, Microspec, Pure Flow, Peterboro Basket Company, Borrego Solar, MobileRobots Inc., Toadstool Bookstores, Froling Energy, Brookstone, and Hyndsight Vision Systems. According to a fall 2015 survey of residents, run by the Peterborough Economic Development Authority, approximately a third of Peterborough workers are home-based entrepreneurs or telecommuters. Telecommuters surveyed work for corporations in many parts of the US and EU.

Like the rest of New Hampshire and the Monadnock region, Peterborough's third largest industry is tourism. The town's outdoor amenities include hiking trails, wild flowers, cross-country skiing, kayaking, cycling and small lakes for swimming, sailing, fishing and ice-skating. It is a popular bird-watching area, one of two sites of the NH Audubon autumn migratory raptor count.

Its cultural attractions include the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, the exhibition gallery and craft gallery of the Sharon Arts Center, the Peterborough Players theatre, Peterborough Community Theater cinema, Monadnock Music concerts, the Monadnock Summer Lyceum, MAXT Makerspace and Mariposa Children's Museum. Peterborough's First Saturday contradances are a place for singles and dance enthusiasts to enjoy live music in the spacious Peterborough Town Hall.

Sustainability

The town of Peterborough is a leader in sustainability: It has been cited by the US Environmental Protection Agency for its Green Purchasing Practices; since 2014, the town achieved 100% reliance on sustainable energy. Its model for funding the largest solar facility in New Hampshire has drawn national and international attention, including climate scientists from around the world in the US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The solar array was built atop a wastewater treatment plant.

Culture

Many artists' introduction to the town comes as fellows to the MacDowell Colony, a wooded creative retreat that provides grants to over 250 artists per year. "While working at MacDowell, Leonard Bernstein composed his Mass; Aaron Copland composed Billy the Kid; Thornton Wilder wrote Our Town and The Bridge of San Luis Rey; James Baldwin wrote Giovanni’s Room; Willa Cather wrote Death Comes for the Archbishop; DuBose and Dorothy Heyward wrote Porgy and Bess; and Virgil Thomson composed Mother of Us All. Alice Walker worked on her first novel and Meridian at MacDowell. Michael Chabon wrote The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay; Alice Sebold wrote The Lovely Bones, and Jonathan Franzen completed The Corrections."

The town celebrates First Friday monthly with presentations by MacDowell Colony artists, along with gallery openings, special shopping opportunities and events in the downtown area. Favorite hang-outs include Harlow's Pub with its live music and the riverside Water House.

Restaurants line Route 202, from family-style Brady's American Grill north of town to The Pearl and the Parker House Coffee Roaster on south 202. The Peterborough Diner, a classic Worcester railway lunch car in the center of the village square, attracts many presidential hopefuls every four years.

Peterborough hosts many events. The Snow Ball in January, Children and the Arts Day in May, Thing in the Spring music festival in June and Greenerborough, a summer festival promoting the town's leading position in sustainability, are just a few of the music, arts, farm, energy and nature celebrations held annually.

The Peterborough Town Library is the oldest free library supported by taxation in the United States. It was founded on April 9, 1833, by Unitarian minister Abiel Abbot. The original collection comprised 100 books and was housed in Smith and Thompson's General Store, along with the post office. It later moved to the town hall, then in 1893 was given its own building designed by the noted bridge engineer George Shattuck Morison. The collection now includes over 50,000 volumes.

The Moses Cheney house in Peterborough served as a stop on the Underground Railroad in the mid-19th century, and Frederick Douglass stayed at the home. Moses' son Oren B. Cheney founded Bates College in 1855, and his son Person C. Cheney was a U.S. senator.

The Peterborough Players have performed since 1933, having employed such renowned actors as James Whitmore and Sam Huntington.

New Hampshire's oldest continuously active state militia unit, the Lafayette Artillery Company, was founded in Peterborough in 1804. It is now based in nearby Lyndeborough. However, since the early 20th century, Peterborough has been home to the Amoskeag Veterans, founded in Manchester in the mid-19th century.

The town was a model for the play Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder while in residence at the MacDowell Colony. His fictional town of Grovers Corners appears to have been named for Peterborough's Grove Street. At the corner of Grove and Main streets, a cell-phone Quick Response Code near the horse-head fountain starts a QR-code tour of Peterborough.

The film The Sensation of Sight was shot entirely in Peterborough.

Notable people