ANDOVER – Housed in a former town shed, the history of Andover can be traced through numerous publications, genealogical compilations and memorabilia, thanks to a dozen or so faithful members under the leadership of President Beverly Swan.

In 1975 a Town Meeting voted to donate the old building, which had been used over the years by various organizations and even a barber shop, to the Historical Society to use for the storage of Andover’s written history.

Shortly thereafter, when postage was still 15 cents, all interested people gathered at the Warren Percival house to stuff envelopes and address letters asking for funds to renovate the building. With the funds received they were able to clear the building, replace doors, and windows and build new steps. A rock, named by the town people as the Abe Lincoln rock, was moved onto the front lawn and in 1977 the Historical Society incorporated.

Strolling among old glass cases from various businesses you see trophies from Andover High School and memorabilia from the Ellis River Band that dates before 1900. Various documents, family history, books and pamphlets on the history of Andover are on display. A $400 grant that was given to the Historical Society last year is being used to help preserve and recondition some of this information.

There is a room with period clothing as well as jackets from Andover High School before it was incorporated into SAD 21. A case displays rocks and minerals native to the Andover area.

An old cobbler’s sewing machine, double-runner toboggan and cream separator attract your attention as you enter another room where one end is dedicated to Telstar.

When the Russians launched Sputnik in 1957 the space race started and the United States’ first tracking station was built in Andover. The site was selected because of how the valley reduced radio interference.

The walls display more Andover history on the three covered bridges and three large hotels the area once supported. There is information on former churches, transportation, fairs and a book of Civil War letters.

Also visible is the box that once carried the mail on the stagecoach and an old switchboard similar to the one that carried phone lines for Andover.

Outside the building is a massive ho re-drawn snow roller and a snub machine that was a braking device that kept horses from being killed when a wagon of logs was carried down an incline.

Refreshments were served to guests who perused the multitude of historical material.