East Rochester, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Rochester, New Hampshire
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Bird's-eye view c. 1905
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 East Rochester, New Hampshire
Location in New Hampshire
East Rochester, New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Strafford |
| City | Rochester |
| Elevation | 230 ft (70 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
03868
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| Area code(s) | 603 |
| GNIS feature ID | 866724 |
East Rochester is a lively neighborhood in the city of Rochester, New Hampshire, in the United States. It sits right next to the Salmon Falls River, which forms the border between Maine and New Hampshire. About 3,600 people call East Rochester home. It's one of two special areas, or "villages," within Rochester, the other being Gonic.
Contents
Discover East Rochester: A Historic Neighborhood
East Rochester is located about 3 miles (5 km) east of the main part of Rochester city. Its location by the Salmon Falls River was very important for its history. The river was a source of power for early industries.
A Look Back: History of East Rochester
Long ago, this area was mostly farmland. The Abenaki people, who lived here first, called the river Newichawannock. This name means "river with many falls," which perfectly describes the river's powerful flow.
Mills and Industry
In the 1800s, during the time known as the Industrial Revolution, East Rochester grew into a busy town. It became a center for making textile (cloth) and shoes. The powerful river provided water power for two big factories, called mills.
One mill was the Cocheco Woolen Manufacturing Company. A smaller one, called the White Mill, was built further up the river. From the 1880s to the 1920s, East Rochester, often called "Eastside" by locals, grew a lot.
It even had its own train station, named "Rindgemere," on Autumn Street. This station was part of the Nashua & Rochester Railroad, which later joined the Boston & Maine Railroad.
Tough Times and New Beginnings
During the Great Depression, which was a very difficult economic time, the mills started to struggle. They finally closed down in the 1970s. With its main jobs gone, East Rochester faced some challenges.
However, in recent years, the neighborhood has started to grow again! Its small-town feel and location near major roads have attracted new residents. Many beautiful old buildings, built in the Victorian style, have been fixed up. East Rochester also gets a lot of visitors and business from nearby Lebanon, Maine.
What's East Rochester Like Today?
Today, East Rochester has a main street with several small shops. There's also a shopping center called Shoreyville Plaza. This plaza is named after the very first settlement in the area.
On Main Street, you'll find two churches and a small library. The old fire station, which was used from 1902 until the early 1980s, has been turned into a museum. Fire services for the area now come from the main station in Rochester.
A three-story building on Main Street used to hold the post office and a clothing store. The post office later moved to a different brick building further north. Even though the post office is no longer there, East Rochester still has its own ZIP code (03868).
