Hanover High School - Hanoverian Yearbook (Hanover, MA)

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8 THE HANOVERIAN HANOVER Hanover, one of the oldest towns of the United States, will be celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. It seems appro- priate to review its history in this issue of the Hanoverian. On the fourteenth day of June, 1727 the Lieutenant-General, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled and passed an Act for erecting a new town within the County of Plymouth by the name of Hanover. This town was to consist of parts of Old Scituate and Abington grants. We do not know why the name of Hanover was chosen, but but how the spelling became changed can be accounted for by the inclination to make improvements in every way on everything. When Hanover was incorporated, it contained about eleven thousand acres, but in 1757, about one tenth of this territory was annexed to that part of Pembroke which is now Hanson. Since 1754, the change in the boundary lines has been slight. There have been several enactments of the Legislature to define the boundaries, but this was to make them clear rlather than to change them. In order to make Hanover a town, the inhabitants had to build within two years a suitable house for the Public Worship of God, and as soon as possible, procure a minister of good conver- sation, and make provision for his comfortable support. Also they had to provide for a school-master to instruct their youth in reading and writing. The First Congregational Church was built in 1728. Much of the lumber was given by men from different towns. The orig- inal church was burnt in 1862. When we look upon the improve- ments of this edifice during the last year we are firmly convinced that the citizens of the town are still upholding the principles which this first church and town stood for. In April 1830, a standing school was voted, at or near the meeting house and May 18, provision was made for building a schoolhouse of wood. This first schoolhouse stood near the center of the town. In 1808, the schools were divided into districts, seven in number. In 1868, the High School was established. The work has been one of steady progress as we can see by the Sylvester High School, a modern building of which any town might be proud. Another example of the interest shown in higher education is the gift of John Curtis' Free Library in 1887, of 1,800 volumes

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THE HANOVERIAN 7 The Class of '27 now stands on the brink of life. We have just begun to shoulder our responsibility. We hardly realize as yet that we, who only a day or two ago, it seems, were exasper- ating our teachers with our thickness of skull, were bothering them with our arguments, were trying to escape the reciting of unlearned lessons, with a bombardment of questions, are about to be shoved out into the world leaving behind us only the intan- gible effects of our influences and traditions. The memory of those individuals alone, who are the destined children of Fame, survives. The teacher, the workman, the married woman, the school's foot-ball hero-their names are lost but it is by these patient and unassuming souls that most of the world's work is done. As men and women we shall always look back on our beauti- ful new school with gratitude to the good man who made its con- struction possible. And never shall we forget that other school, that dear old town hall, in which we spent more than three years of our school life. Each of us will go his separate way. Time and space con- quereth all things, but sweet memory records the friendships and pleasures of other years. Let us move on, dear class of '27 for other classes even now are crowding swiftly behind us, to fill the space we leave. Katherine Townsend, '27. A SUGGESTION Now that we are established in our New High School Build- ing, there are many whose thoughts turn to the memory of one who worked long, earnestly, and faithfully for the consummation of this project but who did not live even to know that her desire would be granted. Of all those, who in the past century, have been interested in our public schools, none have been more de- voted to the welfare of these schools than Mrs. Harriet S. Rus- sell. It seems fitting and proper that something should be done to perpetuate her name, in the New School Building. It has been suggested that the laboratory might be named for her or that a tablet to her memory might be placed in the building.

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THE HANOVERIAN 9 of standard and popular books with cases to hold them. These were given as the nucleus of a free public library. By many other gifts made by his daughter and himself, Hanover was en- abled to build in 1907 the present library. A In the later part of the eighteenth century, and early part of the nineteenth century, we find that considerable ship building was done on the North River. Shipyards ran the Whole length of the river on both sides. The second oldest yard on North River is The Old Barstow Yard . The Barstow family was the most prominent of the first settlers in Hanover. Schooners were built rather than larger ships because they coudn't be floated down to the sea on account of the shallowness of the river. A number of iron foundries were established, in which were made cannons and cannon balls, ploughs and anchors. Also there were several grist mills, saw mills, board and shingle mills. Hanover has the distinction of being the town where the first suc- cessful iron ploughs in America were made. Many anchors also were forged, notably those for the old warship Constitution. We are constantly reminded of these two industries when we see the town seal. Other industries were tack making, wood-making, clock- making and about 1800 to 1888 boots and shoes were manufac- tured. After the latter date this business decreased greatly and now only one shoe factory remains-this being unused at the present time. In 1846 the people asked for a charter granting the Hanover Branch Railroad. This was granted shortly after but the first train went over this road in 1868 showing it took some time to raise money for such a project. At the present time Hanover is a strictly residential town rather than a manufacturing town of earlier days. Hanover has a few industries, namely, E. H. Clapp Rubber Company, National Fireworks Company, Waterman Tack Factory, located on sites of the old industries, also Lot Phillips Kr Company, Hanover Rubber Company and some other smaller ones. We may well be proud of our town as it has always strived to follow the doctrines set down by our forefathers in 1727. Morton Lord, '27.