Over the years, Dover has been known for many things (calico fabric, wool fabric, bricks, shoes, electronics). Little attention has been paid to his role as a flower producer. There’s a little history here.
In the past 1880s, a guy named Henry Johnson bought land on the south side of Joseph Ham’s Garrison Hill and built several greenhouses. On April 8, 1891, a chimney exploded and much of the facility was destroyed or severely damaged. (Contemporary reports have commented on the poor functionality of the chimney site crews that responded.)
The company was then sold in 1893 to Charles Luke Howe. Howe had moved to Dover from Nashua several years earlier, where he had been involved in several floral companies. Upon arrival, he opened the Sunnyside Conservatories on Rutland Street “a 4-minute walk from sawyer Depot”.
He left the company in favor of the Garrison Hill site, which in 1905 had become the largest green space in the state, with 14 glass structures and several acres of outdoor plantations (he had bought more land from Joe Ham). The duration of the transaction was such that it was able to open and obtain outlets in Portland and Augusta, Portsmouth and Laconicia. He took root by marrying a local woman, Ellen “Nellie” Vittum, and built a giant space next to the green space complex. In addition to developing flowers, he was an active member of Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and an exclusive organization, the Society of the Colonial Wars (perhaps the male equivalent of the Daughters of the American Revolution?).
In 1921, Howe sold the business to Elwill Shortridge, a prominent Dover businessman and owner of CE Brewster Co., a wholesale pharmacist, who was housed in a construction site on the corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets, now the site of St. Mary’s Parish. . Room. At one point, Shortridge also president of Merchants National Bank and president of Dover Realty Co. He and his wife, Ada Massingham, lived on four West Concord St. 19four6s. Ada then took over and with his nephew, Tom Massingham, he ran the operation until his death in 1958.
Tom Massingham was born in England, but at the age of five was sent through his circle of relatives to Dover to live with the Shortridges. As a young man, he worked in the company, served in World War II and, after his return and Ada’s death, became the owner of the Garrison Hill greenhouses. In 1950, he was one of the first to build a construction on the nascent Miracle Mile, in what was then called Page Corner, off Glenwood Avenue. Originally intended to be a retail flower and gift store, but on November 2 and November 26, Mother Nature entered the Garrison Hill site with hurricane winds that broke the glass of the greenhouse, absolutely uprooting one construction that landed on another. and causing an estimated $5,000,000 hurtArray over half a million dollars in money today.
As a result, production at this location was limited and a very small greenhouse area was grafted into the Central Avenue building. Over time, the original greenhouse structures were dismantled and removed, the area was eventually covered through apartment buildings, and the only reminder we had of the street name, Floral Avenue. (However, the company is still in operation, with the next generation, Thomas Massingham as owner, located in the small square on the corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets).
It’s not the only florist in town. Recently, we discussed Elliott’s greenhouses some distance from Dover Point Road (the location of the existing Ponte Place development). It is a first manufacturer of roses, with domestic and even foreign clientele. For a time there was a retail store, Thornwood, in the construction that now occupies Patty B’s restaurant.
Bob and Barbara Drew had a small greenhouse on Tolend Road. There, Bob’s Flower Shop, owner of Robert Ham, at 2 Central Ave. In the mid-1940s, Brown’s Flower Shop (Aaron and Ralph Brown, owners) at 107 Washington St., which advertised to be open on Sunday mornings.
The Whatnot Flowers and Gifts at 517 Central Ave., owned by Edward and Natalie Duffy, with “a full diversity of devoted items”.
Perley Lee and his wife Mabelle had a greenhouse and a retail store at 120 Stark Avenue, next to their home. In the mid-1980s, Siranian’s circle of relatives at 103 Stark Ave. he had a small greenhouse, and just down the street, beyond the existing Chevrolet Dover complex, John Viola, who worked for many years for the Lees, had two small greenhouses. their circle of relatives. Home.
The green areas of Meader at 21 Back River Road (the remains of some of the green area buildings are still visible) are a giant and longer-lasting company. Meader’s circle of relatives had deep roots in the Dover area. John lived on the corner of Back River and Durham Road. Herbert lived a little beyond the green area assets at 31 Back River Road (the area with the stone wall), and his son, David, lived at number 43 (Herbert, for a time, trustee of Traders Bank). 10 Third St., then a giant addition built in front of the green areas, under the direction of David, and later became Sweet Meadows. The business was sold to William Hopkins and the next owners have been at the existing Portland Avenue location for many years. (The original Sweet Meadows area is now Deco Dogs’ canine nursery and hairdresser).)
Just across the line in Madbury, near Durham Road, was the Colpritt nursery, and much of the current dominance is likely to be provided through the Wentworth greenhouses in Rollinsford, which has evolved over the years, while other wholesalers in the domain have declined and neighborhoods have evolved and landscaping has a major advertising company. Locally, in addition to Garrison Hill and Sweet Meadows still active, is the flower room in the upper square, at least making sure the Dover flower industry stays alive.
Tony McManus is from Dover. He is a former administrator of the Woodman Institute and an amateur student from Dover’s past. It can be [email protected]
Gannett (c) USA TODAY NETWORK
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