There are few hotels in America so completely intertwined with the identity of a college town as the Hanover Inn is with Dartmouth and the village of Hanover. At once a front porch for returning alumni and a stage for daily life, the Inn has long stood as both landmark and participant in the comings and goings of town and gown. With its porch perched perfectly on the corner of Main and Wheelock Streets, the Inn does more than offer lodging; it offers a seat in the center of it all.
This sense of belonging: to campus tradition, to small-town routine, to major occasions and fleeting reunions alike—is vividly captured in a feature published in the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine in June 1962. At that moment, the Inn was celebrating 60 years under its current name and 180 years of history on the same site. The article offers a colorful account of its origins, key figures, and evolving role in the Dartmouth community—from Captain Ebenezer Brewster’s 18th-century tavern to the postwar era of “Big Jim” McFate and beyond.
Below, we present the article in full—a time capsule and tribute, rich with anecdotes and affection:
Dartmouth Alumni Magazine: June 1962
Commanding the corner of Main and Wheelock, with one front to the campus and another to Hanover's business area, the Hanover Inn links town and gown in a happy and historic union. Hanover has had places of lodging and refreshment— taverns they were usually called in the early days—since the 1770's, and such a hostelry was established on the present site of the Hanover Inn as early as 1782. The proprietor of this tavern was none other than the college steward, Captain Ebenezer Brewster, though all who could pay were welcome at the Captain's board or bottle; and during the 180 years that have elapsed there has been a similar welcome to townsfolk and gownsfolk and good cheer for all.
From 1814 to 1902 the establishment carried the famous name of Wheelock and it was in the latter year—just 60 years ago—that the sign was changed to read THE HANOVER INN. The 1814 structure had burned in the great Hanover fire of January 1887. The building erected after that fire had been almost completely rebuilt in 1902 and the change in name to its present form bore witness to its refurbishing. It was after the fire of 1887, also, that the hotel came under the ownership and management of the Trustees of Dartmouth College and that arrangement has continued ever since.
Some years ago consideration was given to moving the Inn to a new site outside of the village—on the Lyme Road for instance—where there would be more land for lawns and gardens and more adequate parking space. There was a strong cry against such a move, particularly from the alumni of the College, and in many cases local townsfolk added their voices to the clamor. This is easily understandable, of course, to anyone who knows Hanover, whether he be of the Dartmouth fellowship or not, for a seat on the present Inn porch or a good spot in a front window of the Inn affords a close-range coverage of activities of town and gown which few other sites can even approach. And for the returning Hanoverian or Dartmouth alumnus a seat on the porch is almost a "must." Many such folk have remarked that during an hour or two spent at this vantage point you are almost bound to see all the old-timers you remember—that is, of course, providing they are still alive, and in town.
And the Inn provides orchestra seats for all the doings on the campus, from intramural athletics to a tug-of-war or a bonfire or the Carnival Queen being photographed in the lee of the snow statue in the center of the Green. It makes you one with the ebb and flow of Hanover's main business district and makes errands and shopping for necessities or gifts only the matter of a short stroll. And it puts you on the spot for all visiting celebrities, for since the visit in 1817 of the President of the United States in the person of James Monroe hardly a personage has come into town without at least visiting the Inn. To be sure President Eisenhower was entertained at the President's House on Tuck Drive and F.D.R. at least on one occasion only stopped outside the Inn, but they are the exceptions which prove the rule. The guest list at the Hanover Inn at spots reads like a world's "Who's Who" for what with speakers for Great Issues, and recipients of honorary degrees, and participants in one of the Dartmouth special convocations, along with outside lecturers in general, a guest at the Inn may be happily surprised at who and what he sees.
The post of Manager of the Hanover Inn puts the occupant in a unique and influential position and much of the character of this particular hostelry reflects the manager's tastes and interests—and prejudices. If you are a dean or higher, or happen through personality or character or position of influence to enjoy the management's favor, special attentions and little extras may sometimes come your way. But whoever you are, you always enjoy "the quality food, the comfortable lodging, and the fine service which rate the Hanover Inn tops among New England hostelries."
Even the oldest alumni memories do not go much back of the early 1900's and in recalling past managers we may start with Arthur Perry Fairfield '00. Perry took over in 1905 and remained in power until 1936 during an era which Professor Hurd has aptly characterized as "the hey-day of elderly widows and spinsters of superior tastes, impeccable backgrounds, and passionate dislike of loud noises." Perry, who lived outside the Inn, tended to be very quiet and aloof and during most of his long reign the color and life of the institution centered around his chief clerk, Lon Gove, who has been correctly described as a "Dartmouth Institution." Stories about Lon, with his derby hat, his broad black eyeglass ribbon draped over his left ear, and his ebony cigarette holder, are a fond part of memories of those happy days. Lon could and did accommodate his speech to the person he was addressing and to the Philadelphia lady who in World War I days inquired if a lady might smoke a cigarette in the lobby Lon replied in his best Harvard manner, "It is permissible, Madame, but certainly not customary."
Undergraduates have never patronized the Inn to any great extent, particularly because the Inn dining room has always required coat and tie and also because by the student scale of values it is expensive eating. Faculty members have never been frequent patrons of the Inn but back in Perry's day the offer of a full course meal for one dollar did make great appeal to lean purses and many old-time faculty folk remember the pleasures of a full Sunday dinner there.
Perry retired in 1936 and was replaced by that almost perfect team, Ford and Peggy Sayre, who are chiefly responsible for the modern Inn as we know it. They redecorated the whole building, making it bright and attractive, and started the Hanover Inn Ski School. Skiers began to crowd in from everywhere and their buffet suppers only increased the number. With the coming of the war, Ford entered the Army Air Force and met his early and tragic death in July 1944. Peggy stayed on for two or three years and was succeeded in the managership by Dave Heald '42 who was in control from 1946 to 1948.
In 1938, Adele Ives, widow of Freddie Ives '19, had joined the staff as hostess and assistant manager. Adele, small as she is in stature, proved a strong anchor to windward under the relatively brief managerships of Heald and of Chester Wescott '14 (1948–1951), with the Inn more or less marking time. In fact, for the two years 1951–53 Adele served as Room Manager while the Trustees turned over the dining room and kitchens to Food Manager August Zollilkofer of Hotel Coolidge fame. This was not a particularly happy period in the history of the Inn but the sun rose in 1953 with the arrival of James T. "Big Jim" McFate from Wayne, Pennsylvania. Jim and Adele were able to work most effectively together and did so until Adele's retirement in 1959. Under Big Jim things were now for the first time really in the hands of a professionally trained hotel man and slowly but surely changes and improvements were made, including the cocktail lounge with its murals by Paul Sample, the pine-panelled Tavern Room for parties and private dinners, and the spanking new Hanover Inn Motor Lodge which represents all that is modern in equipment and decoration and yet is as comfortable and attractive as your favorite room at home.
But this account of the present, and even more the future picture with the physical tie-in with the Hopkins Center, are the subjects for another story. In the meanwhile greetings and many happy returns to the Hanover Inn in this its sixtieth year under the name which has come to mean so much to all the Sons of Dartmouth.
