Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor the city of Dover, NH, on the 400th anniversary of its first settlement. In 1623, brothers Edward and William Hilton, two fishmongers from London, sailed up the Piscataqua River and set up their Cochecho Plantation near Pomeroy Cove. The name of the settlement changed in the early years, first to Bristol, then to Dover, then to Northam, then back to Dover. But the settlers remained, which leads many historians to contend that Dover is the oldest continuously settled city or town in New Hampshire. It is also among the oldest cities in all of the United States. The city of Dover's nickname, The Garrison City, has its roots in these early years. Its settlers took advantage of the area's abundant forestlands to fell trees for use in heavily fortified houses called ``garrisons.'' Made with sturdy logs and slits in the walls for rifles and muskets, these structures provided protection and a sense of security in cases of emergency or attack. Most of Dover's garrisons were destroyed in the late 1600s, but modern day residents and visitors can see for themselves the intact Damm Garrison at the local Woodman Museum. It is a symbol of the common threads of resilience, grit, and solidarity that are woven into the long and proud history of Dover. The city of Dover has hosted many thriving industries over the past four centuries, including agriculture and shipbuilding in the 1700s and brickmaking in the 1800s.…”