Home | About Us | Events | Museum | Your Research | Get Involved Summer in Hancock Nestled in the foothills of Mount Monadnock and offering the pleasures of Norway Pond and Lake Nubanusit, Hancock has been a summer destination since the mid-1800's. For years, many Hancock residents took in "Summer Boarders" into their homes for the months of June, July and August. A few guests who could afford to be away so long even stayed into early October to enjoy the fall foliage. This phenomenon began in the 1870s as the railroads were being built closer and closer, finally being completed through Hancock in 1879, and grew in popularity so that more and more Hancock homes were filled with summer guests annually. In the September 6, 1894 issue, the Peterboro Transcript reported that "the summer business has been unusually large this season. In the village alone, 250 boarders have been accommodated." This when Hancock's entire year-round population, as reported in the 1890 US Census, was 637. Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Hayward were "the first ones to induce city people to come to town" in the early 1870s according to the Transcript of July 17, 1913. Their home, 47 Bonds Corner Road, was known as "the city resort of Hancock" and their first guests could take the train only as far as Wilton, coming by stage coach the rest of the way because the rails to Lyndeborough, Greenfield and Hancock had not yet been laid. The Welch Boarding House, formerly located at the end of Welch Farm Road, began taking in summer guests in 1883. The Welches met the six o'clock train from Boston at the depot with a four-seater wagon (three passengers to a seat) drawn by a pair of horses. A second wagon would follow to carry the luggage. Guests entertained themselves with day trips to local fishing holes, boating or hikes up Mt. Monadnock. Special events for the guests were Hancock's Old Home Day and the Greenfield Fair. Evenings were spent playing cards, dancing, singing or swapping tales. Most of the food served was grown on the farm including fresh milk, veal, pork, eggs, poultry and vegetables, apples and berries. The Hancock House, formerly the Jefferson Hotel and known today as the John Hancock Inn, was built by Noah Wheeler prior to 1800. The Hancock Inn continues to welcome summer travelers to this day. Come learn about the several children's summer camps which thrived in Hancock over the years, the evolution of the town's celebration of Old Home Day and the 4th of July, the fun at Nubanusit as well as boating, fishing, bicycling, and, or course, baseball and ice cream! The exhibit is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am - noon. HOME | ABOUT US | EVENTS | MUSEUM | YOUR RESEARCH | GET INVOLVED | SITE MAP Contact Us Hancock Historical Society - PO Box 138, 7 Main St., Hancock NH 03449 (603) 525-9379 Last update: June 22, 2009