By 1790, white settlers began to settle in the areas of
higher elevations around what is presently Deansboro, because they felt it was
healthier; the valley was considered a swamp hole. They settled at Paris Hill,
then called South Settlement; Hanover was a dense forest at that time. In 1795, the first settlers in Hanover, Isaac
Miller (who became the first supervisor of the Town of Marshall ) and his wife
Irene and their children, chose the hillside, fearing malaria in the lower valley,
possibly due to the close proximity of the Oriskany Creek (called
"Okrist" which means "river of nettles".) David Barton,
ancestor of the present Bartons in Waterville and whose name was given to the
Barton Hose Company in Deansboro arrived next. David Barton first settled in
the west hills, on the farm now owned by the Bishopp family; but, because he
inadvertently landed in Brothertown land, he was obliged to move, and he did so:
to the east hills. The State paid him for the improvement (or, as it was called,
betterments) of land lying outside the Native American claim, which in
retrospect seems short-sighted. Therefore, the most important early
"white" settlement in the Town of Marshall was Hanover in the east
hills.
As stated, Hanover at that time was basically an unbroken
forest; and clearing the land, making a home and a livelihood must have seemed
like daunting tasks, especially since the settlers had just completed an
exhausting journey from Connecticut. But
they had heard of the deep, rich, well-drained soil and the abundance of game, and
had high hopes of seeing rich, rolling meadows of healthy crops and
envisioned many neighbors, which would eventually
present the need for a church and a school.
On the settlers came, mainly from Massachusetts and
Connecticut. Once the area became more inhabited, it was decided to organize a
religious society. On October 22, 1797, the Hanover Society was formed, made up
of Congregationalists of old Puritan stock. At that time, the Society held
their meetings at private homes, but with so many families moving into the
area, plans were made to erect a church. The first meeting to discuss the
building of a meeting house was held at Phinney's Tavern on Peck's Corners.
There was a dispute where the church should be: Peck's Corners or Hanover;
Hanover won the day. Construction started in 1804 and by 1806 was completed and
the building was occupied. The structure was built with square pews, which were
sold at auction to the parishioners to
obtain money to defray building expenses. It was a large edifice and as many as
100 people worshipped there at one time.
The story goes that in the early 1800s, David Barton, Jr., a
member of the Hanover Society, didn't feel than an unheated place of worship
such as the first church, irreverently called "God's Barn," was such
a good idea for older churchgoers, those in poor health, or children. In very
cold weather, the minister preached in mittens, striped or huge fringed ones,
and the ladies huddled over foot stoves, while the men shuffled their feet or
rubbed their hands to keep warm. Mr. Barton proposed putting a stove in the
church, which he would supply, amid much opposition. It was thought that
"religious zeal" should be enough to keep the parishioners warm.
However, despite the opposition, a Franklin stove was installed, and for once
the members of the congregation, including the minister, were comfortable.
Around the same time, the Hanover Green, a tear-shaped plot
of about half an acre was laid out "for military and training purposes."
The main highway from Waterville to
Utica was through Hanover. Over the years, Hanover saw much growth. The Turkey
Creek, which flows down the slopes of the east hills to the Oriskany Creek
provided plenty of water power for the
many mills which had sprung up. There was a cheese factory, a furniture shop, a
blacksmith shop, a distillery, and a tannery.
The first general store in town was opened by Isaac Miller,
and the first hotel by Newman Gridley about 1813-1814. A cobbler went from
house to house, selling hide to make shoes for the family from the leather. The
resulting shoes were supposed to last two years; and if they fit, all well and
good. If they didn't, they were still worn. Hanover also boasted the first post
office in the Town of Marshall, in 1824 (early settlers had their mail brought
to Hanover by a post rider who came once a week). The first postmaster was Henry L. Hawley, who was in partnership with
Eli Buckingham - they had a general store attached to the post office -who was also
a skilled and capable physician, much loved in the area.
At first, there were three school districts near Hanover: one
at Peck's Corner, one at Cowings Corners, and one in Hanover. After a while, the
districts were consolidated, a two-story brick building was built on Hanover
Green, and all the children attended there. It was called Hanover High School
and sometimes the attendance numbered up to 100 children. Besides the basics of
a good education, all children were taught manners and deportment, and girls
were taught practical matters, which would come in handy when they married. Punishment
was severe, and discipline rigid. Little attention was paid to the comfort of
the students - the chairs were high so some smaller students' feet couldn't
touch the floor - and they had to hold their tablets on the laps because there
were no desks. However, much attention was paid to the pupil's moral
development.
Hanover was an important, bustling community, and a great
place to live, with its well-tilled land, pleasant houses, and magnificent view
of the West Hills across and the Oriskany Creek valley below. However, in 1837,
the Chenango Canal was built followed by the railroad along the canal route in
1867. Homesteaders saw that the soil in the so-called "Fever Valley"
was just as fertile as that in the hills - witness the crops of the
Brothertowns! - and realized there was plenty of water for their mills. The
settlers began to understand that the canal, and then the railroad, offered
them all kinds of opportunities for their businesses. So they started settling in the lower
regions.
Meanwhile, The Hanover Society - the Congregational Church -
was suffering. A Presbyterian church was built in Waterville, and several
families who lived in the south part of Hanover began to attend church there.
Then, a Universalist church was built in Forge Hollow, which took many young
people from Hanover's ranks; and finally the Methodist Church, which was built
in Deansboro took all the congregation inclined towards Methodism. In 1841, the
church was considered to be too large, and was torn down. Another church was built on the same site;
smaller, but still elegant with a tall spire. Then a final blow: the
Congregational Church was erected in Deansboro, attracting more families from
the Society. However, Meetings were still kept up, although it is reported that
the entire Society could fit in a room 10-feet square. Little by little, the
parishioners either passed away or moved, and the building stood empty, except
for occasional services and school exhibitions.
For a while, when it was
determined that there should be a division of polling places, Hanover was Town of Marshall District #2 and voting was held in the church. However, after a few years, District
#2 was changed to Waterville, and the building continued to decay. The trustees
received permission to sell the building and use the proceeds for much needed
improvements to the Hanover cemetery near the green, and the building was sold at
public auction to Joseph Maxwell for $140.00 It was torn down around 1906 and
moved to Mr. Maxwell's farm to be used as a barn.
The Post Office which was so much a part of the community
closed, and was relocated in Deansboro. This also did away with the Post Rider,
who left the mail at the doors of many people, and often did errands for the
people. The last post master, John Collins, used to walk five miles to
Waterville with the out-going mail and back to Hanover with the in-coming mail
every day for 30 years. The mail is now delivered by rural delivery from
Deansboro or Waterville.
The two story school in Hanover, of which the people of
Hanover were justly proud, was abandoned as well when the merger took place and
the children were bused to school in Waterville. The school was renovated and
is now a private home.
