What town in New Hampshire most closely represents or reminds you of small town America? (Manchester: moving to, best time)

[DareToDream]

Originally Posted by browneil

Re - Friday night bluegrass - there is a link to this band's Myspace page (Back Shed String Band) on a new town website under Groups/Clubs - www.monroetown.com

Browneil - Are you a participant in the "bluegrass jams" at "The Shed"?

We haven't been out there in awhile, but whenever we do go, hubby is warmly welcomed (as a participant) and I always feel comfortable sitting there listening to everyone - it's a great group of people! I really love watching Sam play - she's definitely "one with her instrument" and a super nice person, IMHO.....they all are

[Earthangel1776]

NH nas many quintessential little towns that could fit the image of small-town America. If you avoid the larger "city", metropolitan, and suburban areas, you find these small towns scattered throughout the state. Most are at least 1/2 hour from "civilization" (the nearest Walmart). Some have a more "towney feel" than others, though. Some are more rough-around-the-edges, while others are more upscale. Some even have a snobby air about them... Yeah, Yankees do tend to distrust new-comers. In some towns, if your family doesn't go back at least 3 generations in the town, you'll never feel like you totally fit in. But there are also a lot of ecclectic and nice towns, full of people who have come from all over! My favorites are Antrim, Henniker, New Boston, Wilton, Dublin and Harrisville. Henniker has the Henniker Pharmacy -complete with old-fashioned soda fountain (at least they used to, haven't been there in a long time...) Hancock is beautiful, and very historic, but more upscale, as is Peterborough. Towards the Seacoast, Barrington and Nottingham are nice too. Exeter is great, but is a larger town. If you want to be farther out towards the White mountains, try Freedom, Tamworth and Madison.

[DreamworksSKG]

Keene NH

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by Earthangel1776

NH nas many quintessential little towns that could fit the image of small-town America. If you avoid the larger "city", metropolitan, and suburban areas, you find these small towns scattered throughout the state. Most are at least 1/2 hour from "civilization" (the nearest Walmart). Some have a more "towney feel" than others, though. Some are more rough-around-the-edges, while others are more upscale. Some even have a snobby air about them... Yeah, Yankees do tend to distrust new-comers. In some towns, if your family doesn't go back at least 3 generations in the town, you'll never feel like you totally fit in. But there are also a lot of ecclectic and nice towns, full of people who have come from all over! My favorites are Antrim, Henniker, New Boston, Wilton, Dublin and Harrisville. Henniker has the Henniker Pharmacy -complete with old-fashioned soda fountain (at least they used to, haven't been there in a long time...) Hancock is beautiful, and very historic, but more upscale, as is Peterborough. Towards the Seacoast, Barrington and Nottingham are nice too. Exeter is great, but is a larger town. If you want to be farther out towards the White mountains, try Freedom, Tamworth and Madison.

Hi Earthangel1776! I have to agree with you regarding many of the towns you listed but Henniker unfortunately has that nasty section 8 apartment building right amongst the beautiful old Victorian Homes! Exeter is also very beautiful but the Phillips Academy does invite too much outside trouble.

However, if you go to North Country you will find that Littleton is a great Small Town in so many ways! Even the medical community is very available. Also there are lots of cultural events for such a small town!

[Aptor hours]

Originally Posted by CometVoyager

Hi Earthangel1776! I have to agree with you regarding many of the towns you listed but Henniker unfortunately has that nasty section 8 apartment building right amongst the beautiful old Victorian Homes! Exeter is also very beautiful but the Phillips Academy does invite too much outside trouble.

However, if you go to North Country you will find that Littleton is a great Small Town in so many ways! Even the medical community is very available. Also there are lots of cultural events for such a small town!

Littleton as I have said before is a nice small town. I am hearing over and over (and my job does put me in a position that I hear this) how hard it is to find a primary care doctor that is close. Doctors seem to move out of the area fast and the ones that are hear are very very busy. It is also hard to get into the the Doctor since it appears that doctors have never heard of people working 9 to 5 Monday through Friday I do find this odd...not everybody works in factories or is on welfare you know.

[MtnFlyer]

Originally Posted by Aptor hours

It is also hard to get into the the Doctor since it appears that doctors have never heard of people working 9 to 5 Monday through Friday I do find this odd...not everybody works in factories or is on welfare you know.

That's interesting. Do you know why the doctors leave so fast? Based on your comment, it sounds like there is plenty of business.

Also, are factories the primary employment in that area, and what did you mean by the welfare statement? Do you find that the medical community has to deal with an abundance of welfare cases? How prevalent is it currently in the Littleton area?

Thanks.

[Aptor hours]

Originally Posted by MtnFlyer

That's interesting. Do you know why the doctors leave so fast? Based on your comment, it sounds like there is plenty of business.

Also, are factories the primary employment in that area, and what did you mean by the welfare statement? Do you find that the medical community has to deal with an abundance of welfare cases? How prevalent is it currently in the Littleton area?

Thanks.

Plenty of welfare cases. I don't know exactly why doctors leave so fast. It would be an intersting study though. Dartmouth has tons of good doctors in Lebanon but that is still at least an hour away which isn't very handy for a primary DR.

[MtnFlyer]

Is this just regarding primary care physicians for HMOs? What about the people that go to the doctor and pay the bill themselves? I guess I'm asking if it's more of a doctor shortage or an HMO problem?

[DareToDream]

If I remember correctly (and I may be terribly wrong through a lot of this post - been working extra hours and my brain is a bit "fried" at this point)....The 2 largest employers in Littleton are Littleton Regional Hospital and Hitchner Manufacturing and I think Littleton Coin is 3rd.

The area is experiencing difficulties (like the rest of the country) and there are lay-offs galore. We know this from personal experience and talking to friends. My husband was out of work from the end of October until the beginning of January. Thankfully, with my job, we were able to cover our expenses. We don't live in a mansion, nor do we spend money frivolously. It's been rough.

If he could find a job that utilized the talents he used when working for IBM it would be great, but there's nothing up here in that area. He has started networking to see if he can find something along those lines in other areas in either NH or elsewhere.....but I digress....

I'm not privy to people's finances/situations, but I would guess there are quite a few on unemployment right now or some govt. assistance. There are also many who seem to be doing quite well. It's pretty much like other areas of the country, a "mixed bag."

Regarding doctors, the hospital periodically sends out "newsletters" and their staff seems to be growing when you compare it to newsletters of the past. They are expanding doctor offices near/connected to the hospital, as well, or at least planning to. Some of the doctors are affiliated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock and have "satellite offices" up here, which may be part of the expansion of doctor's offices, I don't really know. One of the orthopedists accompanied the Olympic Team to China as part of their medical staff.

My husband needed knee surgery 2 years ago and had no problem getting in to see the orthopedist or having the surgery. I was very impressed with both the orthopedist and the hospital staff while he was having the surgery - they not only cared about he was doing, but also how I was doing sitting in the waiting room. When the surgery was completed, the doc came out and talked to me and brought me into the recovery room to be with my husband while he came out of anesthesia, which I also liked <g>.

The thing we've had the most problem with is finding a dentist that's open on Fridays! Some are open every other Friday, some not at all. I had to have extensive dental work done and did find a dentist who was available pretty much whenever I needed him and is a very "compassionate dentist." <g> My husband has had some problems that always seem to crop up on a Thursday or Friday and the only dentist he could find that was available on a Friday was in Bethlehem, which isn't far, so it wasn't a big deal.

Neither of us has HMO coverage, we both have PPO coverage.

IMO, what this area needs are businesses that can afford to pay more than the usual "going rate" - I'm NOT talking about the "big box stores" or impersonal stores, but someone with good entrepreurial (spelling!!!!) skills who would be involved in the community and work towards "bettering" the area.....but what do I know

[Aptor hours]

I'm talking about a GP DR. without regard to insurance and to a specialist. I agree Littleton does have two very good ortho people but that isn't something that takes care of the more common needs.