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August 27, 2009

Chester a living history lesson

By Julie Huss

"It may be arguably the most historic small town in the state."

— Richard Holmes, author of "Chester Revisited"

Standing majestically still in the shallow waters of the Exeter River, the great blue heron is almost a daily sight as travelers and residents take to the back roads and winding paths around Chester.

If not for the nature, there would certainly be enough historic spots to enjoy in this quaint New England town, incorporated in 1722 and described in a town history as "a swell of land dividing the waters that flow directly into the Atlantic Ocean with soil that is fertile, though hard and stony, and air that is pure and bracing like that of a mountain region."

It has even been said that standing atop Walnut Hill, one could actually see from housetops on a spectacular, clear morning vessels in the ocean or the Isle of Shoals and points as far as Portsmouth and the Monadnock mountains.

Today, if one stands atop Walnut Hill and looks below, the view of the center of town includes historic steeples and tops of buildings dating back to pre-Revolutionary War days when the town was full of orchards, pine trees, tanneries, mills, blacksmith shops and coopers.

This town of more than 4,000 residents works hard to maintain its natural charm and small-town flavor as it grows to meet the changes of the future. With many of the scenic back roads now home to subdivisions and homes under construction, it's easy to notice that Chester is among the fastest-growing towns in Southern New Hampshire

The burst of history one receives traveling through the center of town can be seen on all four corners, where history is kept alive within the walls of many of the town's most prominent buildings. Chester Congregational Baptist Church towers on one corner, dating back to 1730 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As one looks across busy Route 102 toward Sandown, another corner is a place of rest for centuries of town residents — preachers, teachers, mothers, soldiers and children — those who fought in many wars, tended farms, raised children and worked hard. The Chester Village Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has graves dating back to pre-Revolutionary times, with carvings by prominent New England craftsmen suitable for tracing and among the most intricate and artistic of stonework. Over the years, tours of the cemetery have been given so visitors can see and hear the stories and history behind all the stones that stand within its stony border. A commemorative walkway winds through the oldest portion of the cemetery.

Another corner in the center of town is the site of Spollett's General Store, a store that has been a key player in the history of town since it opened more than a century ago.

Samuel Morse established the store around 1880, primarily as a meat market, and the store went through many hands and many name changes through the decades until Perley Spollett purchased the store and ran it for six years under his own name. After he retired, he sold the store to the Welch family, who ran it as Welch's General Store. When Francis and Mary Gesel purchased the country store, the name reverted back to Spollett's, since most of the town knew it by that name. The store is now run by the Joseph Mosonyi family.

The fourth corner in Chester Center is the home of Stevens Memorial Hall, the town's first town hall and a building that housed many offices and hosted social events. The building was constructed through a gift by George Washington Stevens, born in Chester, and a man who wanted his beloved hometown to have a town hall. The town accepted Stevens' gift of $11,396.35 and built the hall to bear the benefactor's name.

The eclectic style of Stevens Memorial Hall is a mixture of architectural designs. The building is no longer used as Chester's town hall, but still is home to many social events, meetings, and now is the official headquarters of the Chester Historical Society, and also its historic artifacts collection. Through the work of the Historical Society and many volunteers, the building has undergone refurbishment to help maintain its historical integrity and was named to the National Register of Historic Places. The building has stood in the center of town for a century.

These four corners of Chester Center form a nucleus of history from which many spokes of a town framework emerge. Down Chester Street one finds the town offices, Chester College of New England and the old town pound. In another direction, there are fields and historic Colonial homes. Another road leads to Derry, and a fourth heads up Route 102 to Raymond and points beyond.

No matter what direction one is looking to travel, all roads lead from the center of town to a sense of community, a strong sense of history and a resounding trek into the future. As times change, and populations grow, it's Chester's small-town feel that keeps people here and brings new faces, too. While close to major highways and metropolitan spots, it is still a picture postcard of a New England town. Visit the town online at www.chesternh.org

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