Hope for Shantytown: A History of the Dover Housing Authority lecture at Library Oct. 11

posted on 10/10/2023

Up until the early 1950s, a place existed in Dover known as “Shantytown” or, mockingly by some, “Hollywood”. It was located near the intersection of Tolend Road and Whittier Street and known for the “shack housing, not fit for human habitation.”

Redeveloping Shantytown became one of Dover Housing Authority’s early significant projects. The dilapidated houses, many made from large wooden boxes that once housed pianos, were burned down in 1952, and the following year, Mineral Park was completed, offering clean and modern housing for 124 families.

For the past 70 years, the Dover Housing Authority (DHA) has been working behind the scenes to make major impacts on the city’s development. Tomorrow, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m., learn more about this organization’s storied history in the presentation “Hope for Shantytown: A History of Dover Housing Authority” at the Dover Public Library. This talk will be in-person, with the option to watch virtually from home. Sign-up is needed to receive a link to access the presentation online.

Local historian Mark Leno will use historical photographs to cover the rise of DHA from its early beginnings to its present successes in providing housing for many Dover residents. In addition to providing public housing, DHA was a leader in overseeing the improvements in downtown Dover during its Urban Renewal years, where buildings were torn down, other buildings were saved, and changes brought about new bridges and roadways.

During the 45-minute session, attendees will see pictures of Dover in the 1940s and learn about the creation of the DHA, which was tasked with providing housing for WWII veterans and obtaining better parking in downtown Dover. The presentation will also discuss the creation of new housing at Central Towers, Waldron Towers, and the construction of a former church, St Johns, into elderly housing.

Mark Leno retired from the Dover Police Department and works as a Resident Service Coordinator at the DHA. Interested in local history, Leno has written several books on Dover history, including the Dover Police Department and Dover Housing Authority, and the book “Factory on Fire – The Cocheco Mill Fire of 1907”. He has also researched and written several of the Dover Main Street/Woodman Museum Historical Reveals and has recently written a book on the history of the Mount Washington Hotel and Tourism in the White Mountains of New Hampshire called “I Love This Place.”

This program is free and open to the public.

For more information or to get a link to watch virtually, visit the library’s website at library.dover.nh.gov or call (603) 516-6050.