Researched by Barbara Barker

The present Salmond School was constructed in 1931 on the site of a town grammar school which had previously served as Hanover Academy, a private high school. The old school had been constructed in 1852 with money invested by stockholders, many of whom were from the Four Corners area who had children attending the Academy. Mr. Samuel Salmond was the primary stockholder. His eldest daughter Mary Salmond donated a 400 pound bell to hang in the belfry. The bell cost $138 at that time.

When the Academy closed in 1900 the Salmonds and other stockholders turned the building over to the town with the stipulation that the bell continue to be used to call children to the classroom.The promise was kept, and the school bell continued to ring three times a day The old academy was used as a grammar school and replaced the Broad Oak School.

I”The year 1931 will be always remembered in the annals of the Town of Hanover as the year of the opening of the new Salmond School. This building was made possible by the great generosity of the Sylvester family.” So states the report of the School Committee in 1931. Mrs. Hugh Hatfield, (who was Elizabeth Sylvester) Samuel S. Sylvester and Edmund Q. Sylvester gave $25,000 toward the new Salmond School . Mr. J. Williams Bell, Mr. George J.J. Clark and the Odd Fellows were also contributors. The building Committee was Edmund Q. Sylvester, Earl Shepherd and Joseph Church.

The little old white building was moved from its foundation (to Pembroke I think), and a new brick building was erected to take its place as a modern school. The old bell from the old Academy building was saved and hangs today in the belfry and was rung for many years by the elementary children who attended Salmond School. The new building housed the first six grades from Hanover, South Hanover and Center Hanover and the fifth and sixth grades from North Hanover. From 1938 to 1978 many children town attended the family oriented Salmond School and became very fond of it.

In 1978 there was great controversy. It was proposed that Salmond School be closed for economic reasons and the students from that district be bussed to Center School. Many families had a special feeling for this homey school, but economics won out and the Salmond School was closed and the bell silenced.

The school remained empty for only a year or two until it was rented out to a private day care and pre-school center

But as the school population has again bulged, the need for space has prompted the action of reopening Salmond School for the pre-school and kindergarten program for Hanover children in 1997. The school bell will ring again in the Four Corners.

“The beauty of the building, its adaptability to the needs of the pupils and teachers, its adequate heating and plumbing system, its wonderful playground and indoor playroom, should be known and appreciated by all Hanover…” (Town Report 1931) We hope today(1997) it will prove just as adaptable as it houses the pre-school and kindergarten classes