Peterborough, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell
Art Colony
, the town is a popular tourist destination
.
The central settlement in town, where 3,103 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Peterborough census-designated place
(CDP) and is located along the Contoocook River
at the junction of U.S. Route 202
and New Hampshire Route 101
.
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 watermill
s, 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 mill
s, an iron
foundry
, a machine shop, a carriage
factory, a basket
manufacturer, a maker of truss
es and supporters, a boot
and shoe
factory, seven sawmill
s, and three gristmill
s.
, the town has a total area of 38.1 square miles (98.7 km²), of which 37.7 sq mi (97.6 km²) are land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) is water, comprising 1.08% of the town. Peterborough is drained by Nubanusit Brook
and the Contoocook River
. The highest point in Peterborough is South Pack Monadnock Mountain (2290 feet (698 m) above sea level
), in Miller State Park
.
The town center, or census-designated place
, is where over 50% of the population resides. It has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km²) are land and 0.04 sq mi (0.1035995244 km²) (0.42%) is water.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 202 and Route 101.
of 2000, there were 5,883 people, 2,346 households, and 1,531 families residing in the town. The population density
was 156.0 people per square mile (60.2/km²). There were 2,509 housing units at an average density of 66.5 per square mile (25.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.97% White, 0.63% Black or African American
, 0.15% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 2,346 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.
The median
income for a household in the town was $47,381, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $42,178 versus $27,422 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $26,154. About 6.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
of 2000, there were 2,944 people, 1,225 households, and 719 families residing in the central village, or census-designated place
(CDP). The population density
was 621.4 people per square mile (239.8/km²). There were 1,289 housing units at an average density of 272.1 per square mile (105.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.62% White, 0.41% Black or African American
, 0.24% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.
There were 1,225 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,313, and the median income for a family was $53,409. Males had a median income of $41,533 versus $28,333 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $26,091. About 7.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
, which has been in business since 1854, as well as home to the headquarters of Eastern Mountain Sports
, an outdoor apparel and equipment retailer.
A rural area of Peterborough has been the location, since its creation in 1907, of the MacDowell
art colony
.
The town features an institution it calls "First Friday". This tradition has been awarded "Best Community Tradition", and is celebrated on the first Friday of each month.
In May of every year, Peterborough holds its annual "Children and the Arts Day" festival. The festival is a chance for local students, ranging in age from preschool to high school and beyond, to exhibit their artistic and creative talents. The celebration lasts all day and consists of a Giant Puppet Parade, as well as a rubber duck race
for the benefit of local charities. There are also many other activities, including concerts, dancing, and an international food court.
The Peterborough Town Library is the oldest free library
supported by tax
ation 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. Currently it is based in nearby Lyndeborough
. However, since the early 20th century, Peterborough has been home to the Amoskeag Veterans, founded originally 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.
The film The Sensation of Sight
was shot entirely in Peterborough.
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 380,841 people, 144,455 households, and 98,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 149,961 housing units at an average density of 171 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell
MacDowell Colony
The MacDowell Colony is an art colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.A., founded in 1907 by Marian MacDowell, pianist and wife of composer Edward MacDowell. She established the institution and its endowment chiefly with donated funds...
Art Colony
Art colony
right|300px|thumb|Artist houses in [[Montsalvat]] near [[Melbourne, Australia]].An art colony or artists' colony is a place where creative practitioners live and interact with one another. Artists are often invited or selected through a formal process, for a residency from a few weeks to over a year...
, the town is a popular tourist destination
Tourist destination
A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
.
The central settlement in town, where 3,103 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Peterborough census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and is located along the Contoocook River
Contoocook River
The Contoocook River is a river in New Hampshire. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake on the Jaffrey/Rindge border to Penacook , where it empties into the Merrimack River. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction...
at the junction of U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
and New Hampshire Route 101
New Hampshire Route 101
New Hampshire Route 101 is a state-maintained highway in southern New Hampshire extending from Keene to Hampton Beach. It is the major east–west highway in the southern portion of the state....
.
History
Granted by MassachusettsMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
in 1737, it was first permanently settled in 1749. The town suffered several attacks during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. Nevertheless, by 1759, there were fifty families settled. Incorporated on January 17, 1760 by Governor Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
, it was named after Lieutenant Peter Prescott (1709–1784) of Concord
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, a prominent land speculator.
The Contoocook River
Contoocook River
The Contoocook River is a river in New Hampshire. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake on the Jaffrey/Rindge border to Penacook , where it empties into the Merrimack River. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction...
and Nubanusit Brook
Nubanusit Brook
Nubanusit Brook is a stream located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed.Nubanusit Brook begins at the outlet of Nubanusit Lake in Nelson, New Hampshire...
offered numerous sites for watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s, and Peterborough became a prosperous mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
. In 1810, the first cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
factory was established. By 1859, when the population was 2,222, there were four additional cotton factories, plus a woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
mill. Other industries included two paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s, an iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
, a machine shop, a carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
factory, a basket
Basket
A basket is a container which is traditionally constructed from stiff fibres, which can be made from a range of materials, including wood splints, runners, and cane. While most baskets are made from plant materials, other materials such as horsehair, baleen, or metal wire can be used. Baskets are...
manufacturer, a maker of truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
es and supporters, a boot
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
and shoe
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
factory, seven sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, and three gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 38.1 square miles (98.7 km²), of which 37.7 sq mi (97.6 km²) are land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) is water, comprising 1.08% of the town. Peterborough is drained by Nubanusit Brook
Nubanusit Brook
Nubanusit Brook is a stream located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed.Nubanusit Brook begins at the outlet of Nubanusit Lake in Nelson, New Hampshire...
and the Contoocook River
Contoocook River
The Contoocook River is a river in New Hampshire. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake on the Jaffrey/Rindge border to Penacook , where it empties into the Merrimack River. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction...
. The highest point in Peterborough is South Pack Monadnock Mountain (2290 feet (698 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
), in Miller State Park
Miller State Park
Miller State Park is the oldest state-run park in New Hampshire, a state in the New England region of the United States. It is mostly located in Peterborough.The park is centered on Pack Monadnock, the 2,290 foot mountain...
.
The town center, or census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, is where over 50% of the population resides. It has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km²) are land and 0.04 sq mi (0.1035995244 km²) (0.42%) is water.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 202 and Route 101.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,883 people, 2,346 households, and 1,531 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 156.0 people per square mile (60.2/km²). There were 2,509 housing units at an average density of 66.5 per square mile (25.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.97% White, 0.63% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.15% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 2,346 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.
The median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income for a household in the town was $47,381, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $42,178 versus $27,422 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $26,154. About 6.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Town center
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,944 people, 1,225 households, and 719 families residing in the central village, or census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP). The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 621.4 people per square mile (239.8/km²). There were 1,289 housing units at an average density of 272.1 per square mile (105.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.62% White, 0.41% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.24% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.
There were 1,225 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,313, and the median income for a family was $53,409. Males had a median income of $41,533 versus $28,333 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $26,091. About 7.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The public schools are part of Contoocook Valley school district (SAU 1) which has a total of 11 schools and 1 applied technology center.- Contoocook Valley Regional High SchoolContoocook Valley Regional High SchoolConVal Regional High School is a high school in Peterborough, New Hampshire that serves nine surrounding towns: Peterborough, Greenfield, Antrim, Dublin, Hancock, Sharon, Temple, Bennington and Francestown. Brian Pickering is the current principal...
, built in 1970, serves approximately 1350 students. - South Meadow School, founded in 1989, serves approximately 500 students. The school was originally named Peterborough Middle School.
- Peterborough Elementary School, locally known as PES, serves approximately 300 students.
- The town's only private school, The Well School, founded in 1967, serves approximately 160 students, grades Preschool-12.
Economy
Peterborough is home to one of the oldest basket manufacturers in the country, Peterboro Basket CompanyPeterboro Basket Company
The Peterboro Basket Company is a basket manufacturer that has operated in Peterborough, New Hampshire for more than 150 years.-History:The company's history dates to 1841, when Amzi Childs came to Peterborough from Deerfield, Massachusetts to work on the manufacture of lead pipe...
, which has been in business since 1854, as well as home to the headquarters of Eastern Mountain Sports
Eastern Mountain Sports
Eastern Mountain Sports is an outdoor apparel and equipment retailer in the U.S. Northeast headquartered in Peterborough, New Hampshire.EMS sells outdoor equipment and clothing from both name brands and its own EMS line...
, an outdoor apparel and equipment retailer.
Culture
MacDowell Colony
The MacDowell Colony is an art colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.A., founded in 1907 by Marian MacDowell, pianist and wife of composer Edward MacDowell. She established the institution and its endowment chiefly with donated funds...
art colony
Art colony
right|300px|thumb|Artist houses in [[Montsalvat]] near [[Melbourne, Australia]].An art colony or artists' colony is a place where creative practitioners live and interact with one another. Artists are often invited or selected through a formal process, for a residency from a few weeks to over a year...
.
The town features an institution it calls "First Friday". This tradition has been awarded "Best Community Tradition", and is celebrated on the first Friday of each month.
In May of every year, Peterborough holds its annual "Children and the Arts Day" festival. The festival is a chance for local students, ranging in age from preschool to high school and beyond, to exhibit their artistic and creative talents. The celebration lasts all day and consists of a Giant Puppet Parade, as well as a rubber duck race
Rubber duck
A rubber duck is a toy shaped like a stylised Yellow-billed Duck , and is generally yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic...
for the benefit of local charities. There are also many other activities, including concerts, dancing, and an international food court.
The Peterborough Town Library is the oldest free library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
supported by tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
ation in the United States. It was founded on April 9, 1833, by Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
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
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
in the mid-19th century, and Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
stayed at the home. Moses' son Oren B. Cheney
Oren B. Cheney
Oren Burbank Cheney was the founder of Bates College, an abolitionist, and a Free Will Baptist clergyman.-Early life:...
founded Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
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
James Whitmore
James Allen Whitmore, Jr. was an American film and stage actor.-Early life:Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, before graduating from The Choate School in...
and Sam Huntington
Sam Huntington
Sam Huntington is an American actor, best known for his role as Mimi-Siku in the 1990s film "Jungle 2 Jungle" and as Jimmy Olsen in "Superman Returns". He now stars in the TV series Being Human.- Personal life :...
.
New Hampshire's oldest continuously active state militia unit, the Lafayette Artillery Company
Lafayette Artillery Company
The Lafayette Artillery Company was founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1804 as the Artillery Company of the 22nd Regiment. It was part of the State of New Hampshire's artillery system, a forerunner to the National Guard. The group has continued to operate continuously since its founding,...
, was founded in Peterborough in 1804. Currently it is based in nearby Lyndeborough
Lyndeborough, New Hampshire
Lyndeborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2010 census.- History :Originally granted by the Massachusetts General Court to veterans of New England's first war with Canada from Salem, Massachusetts, the area was known as Salem-Canada...
. However, since the early 20th century, Peterborough has been home to the Amoskeag Veterans, founded originally in Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
in the mid-19th century.
The town was a model for the play Our Town
Our Town
Our Town is a three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder. It is a character story about an average town's citizens in the early twentieth century as depicted through their everyday lives...
, written by Thornton Wilder
Thornton Wilder
Thornton Niven Wilder was an American playwright and novelist. He received three Pulitzer Prizes, one for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and two for his plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth, and a National Book Award for his novel The Eighth Day.-Early years:Wilder was born in Madison,...
while in residence at the MacDowell Colony. His fictional town of Grovers Corners appears to have been named for Peterborough's Grove Street.
The film The Sensation of Sight
The Sensation of Sight
The Sensation of Sight is a feature film produced by independent film company Either/Or Films. Shot in 2005 and completed in 2006, it was written and directed by Aaron Wiederspahn and stars David Strathairn, Ian Somerhalder, Daniel Gillies, Jane Adams, Ann Cusack, Elisabeth Waterston, Joseph...
was shot entirely in Peterborough.
Notable inhabitants
- Charles Bass, congressman
- Perkins BassPerkins BassPerkins Bass was an American elected official from the state of New Hampshire, including four terms as a U.S. Representative from 1955-63.-Biography:...
, congressman - Robert P. BassRobert P. BassRobert Perkins Bass was an American farmer, forestry expert, and Republican politician from Peterborough, New Hampshire. He served in both houses of the New Hampshire Legislature and as chairman of the state's Forestry Commission before being elected governor of New Hampshire in 1910...
, farmer, forestry expert and governor - Jotham BlanchardJotham BlanchardJotham Blanchard was a lawyer, newspaper editor and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1830 to 1836....
, lawyer, newspaper editor and politician - Moses CheneyMoses CheneyMoses Cheney was an abolitionist, printer and legislator from New Hampshire.Cheney was born in 1793 in Thornton, New Hampshire. Cheney entered the paper printing business in Holderness . On June 23, 1816 he married Abigail Cheney...
, abolitionist, printer and legislator - Frank Gay ClarkeFrank Gay ClarkeFrank Gay Clarke was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire.Born in Wilton, New Hampshire, Clarke attended Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, and Dartmouth College in Hanover. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1876, commencing practice in Peterboro.He served as member of the New...
, congressman - Person Colby CheneyPerson Colby CheneyPerson Colby Cheney was a paper manufacturer, abolitionist and Republican politician from Manchester, New Hampshire. He was 43rd Governor of New Hampshire and later represented the state in the United States Senate....
, manufacturer, abolitionist and politician - Matt DeisMatt DeisMatthew Christopher "Matt" Deis is an American musician and songwriter. Originally from Peterborough, New Hampshire, he is best known as the former bassist of CKY with whom he performed with between 2005 and 2010, and metalcore band All That Remains, with whom he performed between 2003 and...
, musician - Charles Franklin HildebrandCharles Franklin HildebrandCharles Franklin Hildebrand, usually known as Franklin Hildebrand , was an American journalist who from 1930 to 1957 published the Jeff Davis Parish News, subsequently renamed the Jennings Daily News and located in Jennings, the seat of Jeff Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana.Hildebrand was...
, journalist - Sam HuntingtonSam HuntingtonSam Huntington is an American actor, best known for his role as Mimi-Siku in the 1990s film "Jungle 2 Jungle" and as Jimmy Olsen in "Superman Returns". He now stars in the TV series Being Human.- Personal life :...
, actor - Paul Maher, Jr.Paul Maher, Jr.Paul Maher, Jr. is an author, book critic, photographer and filmmaker best known for his published books about Jack Kerouac.-Biography:Paul Maher Jr. was born on December 6, 1963, in Amarillo, Texas, where his father was stationed in the Air Force. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Lowell,...
, author - James MillerJames Miller (general)James Miller was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire, the first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and a Brigadier General in the United States Army during the War of 1812....
, congressman and general - Walter R. Peterson, Jr.Walter R. Peterson, Jr.Walter Rutherford Peterson, Jr. was an American realtor, educator, and Republican politician from Peterborough, New Hampshire who served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and two terms as Governor of New Hampshire....
, realtor, educator and politician - Jeremiah SmithJeremiah SmithJeremiah Smith was an American lawyer, jurist and politician from Exeter, New Hampshire.Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Smith attended Harvard University before graduating from Queens College, New Brunswick in 1780. He served in the Continental Army, and read law to enter the bar in 1786...
, jurist and politician - Robert Smith, congressman
- Samuel SmithSamuel Smith (New Hampshire)Samuel Smith was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, brother of Jeremiah Smith and uncle of Robert Smith....
, manufacturer and congressman - John Hardy SteeleJohn Hardy SteeleJohn Hardy Steele was an American mechanic, manufacturer, and politician from Peterborough, New Hampshire.Born in 1789 in Salisbury, North Carolina, he was a prominent factory owner and cloth manufacturer, who also served as Governor of New Hampshire. He died in 1865 in Peterborough, New...
, mechanic, manufacturer and politician - James Wilson IJames Wilson I (New Hampshire)James Wilson was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, father of James Wilson .Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Wilson attended Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard University in 1789. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1792, commencing practice...
, congressman - James Wilson IIJames Wilson II (New Hampshire)James Wilson was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, son of James Wilson .-Life:Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Wilson attended New Ipswich Academy and the academies at Atkinson and Exeter...
, congressman - John WilsonJohn Wilson (Massachusetts)John Wilson was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Peterboro, New Hampshire, Wilson graduated from Harvard University in 1799.He studied law....
, congressman
External links
- Town website
- Peterborough Town Library
- Peterborough Historical Society & Museum
- Miller State Park
- Edward MacDowell Lake
- Guide & Calendar for Downtown Peterborough, NH
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
- Peterborough Players
- Peterborough photographs