Peterborough – New England's Narrow Road

The Quaint New England Town of Peterborough

Yesterday I visited the quaint New Hampshire town of Peterborough and took some photos early in the morning before the town woke up.

Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” was based on this town! He wrote the play while staying at the MacDowell Colony back in 1938.

Peterborough has two “main” streets. The one called Main St. and the one named Grove Street (Grover’s Corners). Behind both of those roads, which house their own shops and restaurants, is a place called Depot Square. It’s where you’ll find extra parking and more shops and businesses, like the Peterborough Diner and Toadstool Book Store. The Toadstool has a large mural along the outer wall which changes periodically. I included part of the current scene in my photos. The Waterhouse Restaurant is also there, and it backs up to the Nubanusit Brook which runs through town.

Up on Grove Street, Harlow’s Pub is always a busy place and they offer seating outside by the road. Next to Harlows is Noni’s and the shoe store and Joseph’s Coat. Sarah’s Hat Box store is new, and I’ve never been inside. It’s located beneath the new condo complex, where the old wood stove store used to be. Further up the road is a specialty chocolate shop, ice cream, and the oil and vinegar company. I’m just saying, there is a lot to see and do in a compact area.

On Main Street, find Steele’s stationery store, Roys Market, Maggies Health Food, and more. A wide variety of businesses, museums and restaurants make Peterborough a popular place to visit. Once you find a place to park, it’s just a short walk to see what the town has to offer. There is also a small movie theater that is quite nice.

Other famous places in Peterborough, but not downtown, include the MacDowell Art Colony (mentioned above), Pack Monadnock (Miller State Park), and the Peterborough Players (professional theater). The Sharon Arts Center and Mariposa Museum are also well known.

Saturday, October 17th (2015) is the Peak into Peterborough event. Read more about it at the link.

Good to know: In the state of New Hampshire any people in a crosswalk have the right of way, and cars / traffic must stop to let them cross the road. Be aware that many people take for granted that cars will stop and they tend to walk right out in front of you! They do this even when not on a crosswalk! Fall is a big tourist time for this area, so when driving through town be cautious of that.

Alice Blue shop — Little shop on School St.

Sharon Arts center — Sharon Arts is a unique shopping experience

River Waterhouse back — Back of Waterhouse Restaurant

New England — Nubanusit Brook, from Grove St. near the park

walkway to Grove St. — Walkway to Grove St.

gazebo by river — Gazebo by the Contoocook River

Mural on bookstore wall — Mural on Toadstool Bookstore wall

Toadstool bookshop — The Toadstool Book Store in Depot Square

quaint new england town peterborough — Downtown Peterborough – Main St.

This is a very beautiful place to live, but it is also expensive for a single person like myself. Winters are long, but mostly beautiful, except when the snow gets out of hand like the winter of 2005.

Peterborough New Hampshire Celebrates 275 Years

scenic Peterborough foliage — Peterborough Downtown October 3, 2014

This weekend, October 11th, Peterborough, New Hampshire is celebrating 275 years from the time it was first “discovered”. It’s not a celebration of the official founding of the town, but the town prefers to follow the lead from the time the residents recognized the centennial year in 1839. I suppose they celebrate every 25 years, but I am not sure. I haven’t lived in this area very long. I managed to get these fall foliage photos as I was out driving one recent beautiful day.

The celebration is for the 275th year from the time the first settler came to the area. Thomas Morison is the man who traveled north from Massachusetts to find his own special tract of land in the area of what is now called Noone Falls. He came back later to build his house, but the anniversary is counted from the time of his first visit in 1739.

The celebration will be a big deal with lots of visitors expected. Shuttle busses will be transporting visitors from area parking lots, since downtown parking spots are at a minimum. It seems to me that the best place to park would be the Peterborough Shopping Plaza. From there you can walk the path that leads around the back of the Shell station (it goes under the road, so crossing traffic is not a problem) and then follow the sidewalk into town. Click here for a Bus MAP, where you’ll see the other two parking spots are at the Conval High School and the Community Center on Elm Street. You could also walk into town from Elm Street if you so desired.

There are ongoing events during the day, with a parade in the morning, at 10am, that will travel down into town from PES (Peterborough Elementary School) and the day will end with a fireworks show around 7pm.

This information was taken from the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript newspaper and the link will take you to the entire 275th special section, which includes lots of old photographs as well as aerial town views. Read more about what will take place at Peterborough’s 275th Celebration this coming weekend of October 11th.

If you can’t make it to Peterborough this coming weekend, maybe you will be free to enjoy the yearly event, Peak Into Peterborough, with more festivities next weekend, October 17th and 18th. That celebration includes free hay rides, food, music, demonstrations and a rummage sale. I hope the foliage hangs on, because it’s quite beautiful right now.

The yellow signs advertising the yearly fall event are up along all the major roads in town, as seen in my photo.

peak into peterborough celebration signs — Peak into Peterborough signs

An Afternoon at The Peterborough Farmer’s Market

cat in sink — Enough Lounging Around… Get to The Farmer’s Market

I wish I had a picture of the Peterborough (NH) Farmer’s Market, but I don’t. Instead I decided to show a picture of my cat lounging in the sink with a message to get out and support the local farmers.

It was a beautiful, sunny and coolish, day yesterday which was perfect for strolling the market. My neighbor had called me and mentioned going so we traveled there together. I am somewhat of a regular, but she hadn’t been. She wanted some goat milk soap, and I knew just the person to buy it from! One of my favorite venders is Rebecca of Holland Homestead farm. I first got to know her when I saw her plumeria scented soap and she mentioned that she had sold a bunch of it as wedding favors. Since I run a beach / tropical wedding site, we got to talking about that idea. I purchased some of the plumeria soap with good intentions of writing about it on my Sandpiper Wedding site, which I have still not done (sorry Rebecca!). But I still plan to do it!

Anyway, she sells awesome granola, and the super fresh eggs (the yolks are so yellow), and other lovely things, but most of all she is friendly and fun to talk with. I wanted to treat myself to a piece of her goat milk fudge, but she didn’t have any with her. She sells her things online too so check out the Holland Homestead site.

I came across a vender who knits the most beautiful sweaters. I hadn’t seen her at the market before yesterday, but I don’t go every week. Her business is Buddy Sweaters, and the photos at the website don’t do those garments justice. In person, they are absolutely lovely. The long, coat sweaters were my favorite, and the children’s things were very sweet. As someone who only knits scarves, I truly appreciated all the work that goes into her craft. And the fine yarns she uses would make any of the garments costly, what with all the skeins she must go through, plus the time it takes to create any one item. That must be taken into consideration when looking at the prices. And plus you’ll have a one of a kind, unique, handmade fashion accessory!

Another of my favorite stands sells garlic, onions, and delicious greens, among other things. Yesterday he didn’t have any greens, but I bought a container of his homemade hummus. I picked up some chard instead at another vender’s area.

I came across a jewelry maker, who looked familiar. I knew I had seen her at another time and as I was saying that to her, she said, “Yes, I see you are wearing my earrings” and sure enough, I was. Find her online at Good Gaud Designs.

Then we met Sue Henley at her calligraphy table, where she had hand-written quotes on cards and stationery. We got to talking about her wedding calligraphy and I had to mention her here in case any locals (to Keene and the Peterborough area) are interested. You can contact her through the NH made site: at Calligraphy Write From the Heart.

I also bought a loaf of cinnamon bread, and regularly I purchase coffee beans from Parker House Coffee, which is located in Greenfield. Everything is delicious and fresh, and I always enjoy my myself, even if I go alone.

The Peterborough farmer’s market is open year round and sets up on the lawn outside the Community Center on Elm Street (right off Rt.202 after the lights in Peterborough, but before the Shaws / CVS). In October they move indoors. If the weather is especially bad in summer, they will cancel. I went by one Wednesday when it was raining and no one was there. Apparently they can’t use the inside facility in case of bad weather. But according to Rebecca, that doesn’t happen often.

I fully believe in supporting the local farmers and growers, and any of the Farmer’s Markets give all of us the perfect opportunity to do so.

Eating Healthy in Peterborough New Hampshire

seal of the town of peterborough — Peterborough, NH

One of the things I enjoy about living in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire is the emphasis on buying local. Eating healthy and organic, while supporting local farms is easy to do. The quaint and picturesque community of Peterborough has farmers markets all summer long, and an indoor farmers market at the Community Center in winter. There are two health food / organic stores that I know of which sell local and organic produce and meat. Maggie’s Market on Main Street and the Green Grocer on Union Street are the ones I visit. The Green Grocer has tables with various items to purchase for lunch.

Going out to eat is another way to support the locals. Although I don’t get out much and have only eaten at a couple of places in Peterborough, restaurants tend to advertise that what they cook was purchased from farms nearby. I loved that the Bantam Grill listed all the local places that supply their food right on a chalkboard. By the way, they have delicious food and are right on the main road, Route 202 (Jaffrey Rd.), in the plaza.

Harlows is an interesting and cozy place to eat. I’ve only been in there once, but looking at their online menu, I see some yummy sounding sandwiches (Avacado Bliss) and meals, loaded with good veggies- don’t know if they are local. There is a little stage in the back where they feature a variety of live bands and music in the evening. It’s a popular place.

Much of the produce that is local comes from Rosaly’s Garden and Farm Stand. I’ve been there once, at the end of summer, or maybe it was mid summer. There is a long row of hydrangea bushes at one end of the garden, which grabbed my attention. It was beautiful. Here’s what the website says, “Rosaly’s is one of the largest Certified Organic Farms in New Hampshire and is the oldest certified organic farm in the state.” I see that she offers “pick your own” blueberries and raspberries, and sells herbs (also pick your own if you want) as well as flowers and vegetables.

And right after I wrote this post I bought some eggs at Roy’s Market that had a flyer inside. They (the eggs) came from Oxbow Farm, and the flyer mentioned that The Bagel Mill uses Oxbow eggs on their sandwiches.

There is no excuse for not being healthy eater, if you live in or near Peterborough!