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Rochester History

Like many small towns in New England, Rochester was settled under the presence of hostile Indians. Rochester, an industrial city on the east bank of the Cocheco River, was originally a part of Dover. Although granted in 1623, the Indians greatly impeded settlement. Several later grants were made even after 1656, but the Indian wars kept settlers away.

Rochester dates back to 1722 when it was originally incorporated as Norway Plains. Citizens struggled through rough times and multitudes of Indian attacks. However, early settlers brought rich cultural traditions and craftsmanship from their homelands. Sixty families settled on and around Haven Hill, then the center of the settlement.

The Parson Main Monument in downtown Rochester was erected in 1896 in memory of Rochester’s first minister, the Reverend Amos Main, a greatly honored and beloved parson here from 1731 to 1774. In addition to his clerical duties, his services as doctor, lawyer and advisor took him long distances from Rochester. It is said that, though he carried his gun, the Indians had such a sacred regard for his character that he was never attacked.

During the next few decades, farming was the chief occupation — with corn and potatoes being the important produce. Economic vitality came to Rochester, due in part to being blessed with three rivers (the Cocheco, Salmon Falls and Isinglass). These rivers provided ideal opportunities for farming and industrial growth.

The 1800s brought major industries such as woolen mills and shoe factories along the rivers. A private home in the early decades of the 19th century, Dodge’s Hotel was important in the county. Judges, witnesses and lawyers drawn to the Strafford County Courthouse, then in Rochester, were entertained here. The demands of the Civil War led to the development of the shoe industry, which began in 1843, and were responsible for the beginning of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company in East Rochester in 1863. Later industries included machine and box making and brick-making. By the late 1890s, Rochester was bustling with four railroads and its factories turning out goods. Immigrants came from around the world (especially Canada) to Rochester to work.

Rochester was incorporated as a city in 1891, reflecting its economic success during the industrial boom. In 1892, Charles S. Whitehouse was the first Mayor of Rochester. Municipal buildings were constructed in Rochester in the early 1900s. The Opera House, located on the second and third floors of Rochester’s City Hall, was the center of Rochester’s culture for decades. It is believed to be the only one of its kind still surviving. It is of unique design with slanted balconies, moveable seats and a floor that can be raised and lowered to suit the occasion. Because of its history and uniqueness, major restoration efforts continue to preserve this magnificent treasure.

Rochester was very politically active in the state. The city is proud to be home to three former New Hampshire governors — Samuel Felker (1913-1915), Rolland Spaulding (1915-1917) and Huntley Spaulding (1927-1929).

The depression of the early 1900s hit Rochester hard, as it did many other manufacturing communities. But before long, Rochester enjoyed the development of a major highway system — the Spaulding Turnpike. The turnpike brought new industry and created urban growth.

The city’s commitment to economic development continues to spur major growth of manufacturing and high-tech companies. The combination of the quality lifestyle, natural beauty and economic diversity found here keep these companies in Rochester. Many pieces of Rochester history remain to tell our city’s story. It is the mission of the Rochester Historical Society to collect, preserve, exhibit and research the history of Rochester, Gonic and East Rochester. The blueprint of the richness of the city’s past is a stepping-stone that can lead us to recapture that richness. The Rochester Historical Society’s unassuming brick building, itself historic, contains these blueprints.

The Rochester Historical Society leased a building from the city in 1994, and began to put together the pieces of Rochester’s history, which members had collected and stored for 50 years in private homes throughout the city. Miles Dustin, who designed and built the Bandstand, founded the Historical Society in 1950. A devoted few have worked tirelessly to amass the present collection — which includes photographs and history of the oldest house in Rochester and the first high school.

The Rochester Historical Society’s Museum is open to the public for the viewing of the collection, rotating exhibits and for you to do research on Rochester during regular hours. For more information, contact the Rochester Historical Society at (603) 330-3099.