It really is remarkable how little has changed in the grand scheme of things. Many changes behind the scenes of course and demographically, but not that much the casual viewer would notice just from this video. Seeing the old convenience store where Rite Aid is now really threw me off!
This was my old stomping ground. Grew up on the point just a few houses away from Newicks. But it's changed soo much. And not necessarily for the better.
This was 1985-1988. Zayre opened in that location in 85 but was changed to Ames in 88. I was 7-8 years old and remember it well. Dover is my hometown; the very best memories there.
Super cool, thanks for sharing this. Going up the miracle mile, the Shaw's was the there, but the Stop-n-Shop wasn't, and I know the Stop-n-Shop was built soon after the Shaw's went in, so that could be way to pin down the year. Total agree on wishing to see the old Week's Traffic Circle.
It's too bad it didn't take you up and around the old weeks traffic circle. I bet that same drive now would take twice as long. Such a great video. That's gotta be around 1987. Thanks for sharing, lots of memories.
I live in Florida now but lived in the Dover area (grew up in the north end off the traffic circle) for 60 years. Reading the other replies, I agree this video to be the summer of 1989. I noticed while you drove in the north end, I saw a store sign that looked to be a Zayre's department store. Zayre's opened in 1985 but was bought out by Ames department stores around 1989 (give or take a year), so I doubt it's older than 1989. You really didn't drive down the actual downtown area. Heading north, you came to the lower square, then had to take a right on Washington st. and came around to the upper square and continued north, When you turned around and headed south, you turned right on Chestnut st. and followed Chestnut to Washington st. Great to see the video, though.
It's no earlier than sping of 1989. The Parish Hall next to St. Mary's Church burned down in February of '89. It's not there in this video, so that's a helpful marker for timeline purposes. Also, I am guessing it may have been a weekend or a holiday, mainly because there is no activity at the Post Office or banks around the area. Thanks so much for posting this, it's fantastic to see!
Right about the parish hall. I can remember playing basketball in the old hall. Wanted to see the traffic circle as well. Loved how it ended by Prescott Farms. I loved that place. We had a cut-through to there from our backyard. Thanks for posting this video!
Today it would be impossible to sail through Central ave like that, sooo much traffic all the time, very built up compared to the old days. This is the Dover I remember. The Zayre was before my time there but I do remember the Ames in the plaza and that old Friendly's!
I saw an f150 with a body style that started in 87 and a dakota that started in 87. I also noticed your inspection sticker is white. Idk what year that is but its a clue, the color changes every year.
I'm going with 1986. Upper Central has the current configuration, which was a mid 80s change, when Shop and Save and Shaws opened, Zayer's changed to Ames, nationwide in 1990, Strafford National Bank Changed to Bank of NH in the 90s and Seavey Hardware was Handy Hardware by 87/88, it looks like the piano place in front of Shaws is vacant, and that was a late 80s business. Finally, the Oak and Central Intersection looks like the old intersection, and the Hospital still has the standalone building near Old Rollinsford Road.
No, there are cars on the road that are 1988 or 1989 models. This cannot be 1986; my guess is summer 1989, if not 1990. I didn't see any cars newer than this (not that a lack of new cars is a scientific way to age a video.)
At the beginning, entering downtown on 16, you see a church. I had to leave my car in the parking lot overnight in April 1978 because we were playing games with Bacardi 151.
The sign for Zayre's was still up, I worked there for 2 Christmas seasons. Also when going past Foster's Daily Democrat on Central Ave, all their signs had been removed, so they were in the new facility on Venture Drive at that time. I worked for Foster's for 23 years.
Looks very similar to when I moved to Dover (2009), although it still doesn't look that different than now. Downtown seems a little dead compared to now, but otherwise similar.
I Would say no earlier than 1988. At minute 7:13 there is a 1988 GMC Sierra. It could be September-ish of 1987, but I would say 1988 based on the truck seen.
I *strongly* believe this was 1990/91/92(ish) not 80s. I was in highschool during that time. The liquor store billboard over the rebuild. The Century 21 building… are clues for me.
I don't think Marty's market was around in the 90's. So I think it's in the 1980's ish... I was hit by someone drunk doing an estimated 60mph by the PD back then. It was directly in front of Marty's.
That’s not DOWNTOWN Dover!! That’s Main St. going out of Dover. Downtown Dover is Central Ave. Which you turned off of at the beginning of the video!!😖
