Originally known as Nutfield, the first settlers arrived in 1719 led by Reverend MacGregor, of Londonderry, Ireland. In 1722, a town charter was granted under the name of Londonderry. Located in Rockingham County, NH, 12 miles south of Manchester, Derry is bordered by the towns of Auburn, Chester, Hampstead, Londonderry, Salem, Sandown and Windham. On July 2, 1827, Londonderry separated with the eastern part being called Derry and the remaining part of town being called Londonderry.
During the Revolutionary War, a large number of men served this Country, notably General John Stark and Matthew Thornton who went on to sign the Declaration of Independence. The Town also provided much commerce during this period and became known for its production of "Londonderry Linens". Derry thrived with family business, the most famous being H.P. Hood Company. In 1856, Harvey Hood established his dairy farm, which supplied milk for business in Boston. In 1870, Colonel William Pillsbury purchased 18 buildings for his shoe manufacturing enterprise. The industry provided a major source of employment until 1960, when fire destroyed the large plant. Derry is also known as the birthplace of Alan Shepard, the first U.S. astronaut in space whose famous voyage gave Derry the nickname "Space Town". Robert Frost also lived here as a young adult.
Today, this industry is replaced by high tech manufacturing companies, while most of our business community continues to be made up of many family-owned business.
Historic Fires:
Aug 19 - 1882 -Major Fire - 1 West Broadway at Martin St, Railroad Ave and North Ave - Eastman Block, Smith Block (Smith Hall), Pillsbury and Hardy Block destroyed by fire - Several stores, a tenement house, railroad buildings destroyed and The Railroad House (Rebuilt as Hotel Bradford) - 17 buildings total
Apr 01 - 1900 -Old J.C. Sanders Place - Fire in attic and roof of ell and all along attic and roof of main house - Bucket brigade using 30 pails and 40 large milk cans fought fire for 2 hours - Kitchen and dinning room damaged by fire - entire roof of ell burned off - House roof honeycombed - Alarm of fire rung in by the East Derry Church bell
Jul 29 - 1903 - Lowell (South Lowell) - MA - United States Cartridge Company - 2 large magazine buildings where powder, nitro-glycerin and dynamites were stored exploded killing 20 and injured more than 50 - 65 houses damaged, some completely destroyed - Only two large holes remained where buildings stood ("Blown to Atoms") - Shook felt for 50 miles - In Derry (20 miles away) large buildings were jarred, windows and door were rattled
May 04 - 1907 -Major Fire - Beaver Lake - The Elms 3 - Story Wood Frame Hotel and several exposure buildings destroyed in fire (Former boarding house for Adams Female Academy)
Aug 03 - 1914 -Fire -Crystal Ave - Original St. Thomas Aquinas Church destroyed by fire
Sep 25 - 1915 -Major Fire - Island Pond North Shore Road - Rockingham House Hotel destroyed by fire
Jan 22 - 1918 -Major Fire - Box 222 - Leatherboard Mill of the Derry Shoe Company burned for third time - Fire started on floor 3 - Heavy fire swept entire mill and additions - Several exposures bravely protected by Derry FD
Dec 11 - 1920 -Broadlawn Milk Farm (former Nestling property) described as "The finest set of buildings in East Derry, without a doubt" - Large barn, house, and shed destroyed by fire - Derry News reported that the sky was lit up for miles and attracted over 2,000 spectators - The house was built in 1856
Dec 23 - 1943 -Martin St - Benson's Lumberyard mostly destroyed by fire - 6 buildings leveled including Richardson's Cider Mill, others gutted - Benson residence and Cote tenement burned, 3 families homeless - High winds
May 06 - 1960 -General Alarm on arrival - South Ave - Chelmsford Shoe Company (former Woodbury Shoe) - Large Mill - 4 apt buildings, 12 houses, and 1 store destroyed - Mutual aid from Londonderry, East Derry, Grenier Field AFB, Andover MA, Chester, Methuen MA, Lawrence MA, Manchester, Nashua, Salem, Windham, The National Guard, The Boy Scouts and The Red Cross
Aug 19 - 1960 -Historic Beaver Lake Pavilion heavily damaged by fire
Feb 26 - 1963 -Major Fire - 4 Story Odd Fellows Block, J.J. Newbury Store, Walter Young Block, Goodin's Store burned - 2 fatalities (elderly citizens) - Mutual aid from East Derry, Grenier Field, Manchester, Salem, and Nashua
Mar 04 - 1980 -Crystal Ave - McDonalds Restaurant gutted by fire - Fire through roof on arrival - Mutual aid from East Derry and Londonderry
Sep 06 - 1980 -Rte 102 in Derry Village - Chase's Mill lumber building - Many of 600 firefighters attending the New Hampshire State Firemen's Assn Convention assisted in fighting the fire around midnight - Several of the firemen were still wearing formal clothes from the Firefighters Ball
May 18 - 1992 -29 Sunview Drive (aka 5 Tsienneto Road units 189-- 24 unit condo total loss from fire - Mutual aid from 8 towns - 1 victim in serious condition
Apr 19 - 1993 -106 English Range Road - Propane explosion destroying house - Resulting fire destroyed several farm buildings and burned several fields - 10 departments fought fire
Click here for more information on Derry New Hampshire
