Exeter History Tellers: If These Walls Could Talk

Like people, every building has a history.

On October 9, as part of the E250 Committee’s Fall Festival activities, the new Exeter Historic Walk will be dedicated. This one-mile walking tour will begin at City Park and share stories and secrets about Exeter’s historic buildings and landmarks.

The route will travel north on E Street and east on Pine Street to CACHE, loop around Joyner Park to D Street, and then return to City Park. More than 20 points of interest will be featured, with their stories presented through a special phone app. Signs displaying QR codes will be placed along the route.

City Engineer Javier Andrade and his team have played key roles in bringing this project to life. The City of Exeter, the Rocky Hill Triathlon Club, Mark Hellwig, and CACHE have made important contributions to the historic walk.

Many other downtown buildings will not be included on the tour. I will feature some of them during my CACHE Chat, “If These Walls Could Talk,” on Monday, August 17, at 7 p.m.

One of the first things to notice about Exeter’s early buildings on Pine and E streets is that most were constructed of brick. Many were built during the early 1900s, some following the disastrous fires of 1910. During that year, four fires in three months destroyed numerous buildings in downtown Exeter.

Exeter California water tower

Exeter voted to incorporate in 1911. What people are unaware of is the successful vote came after two failed attempts in 1910. Some believed that the fires of 1910 became a major reason Exeter residents ultimately voted “yes” to incorporation. Building owners were having difficulty obtaining insurance because the town’s water system was woefully inadequate for fighting fires. Exeter had a 10,000-gallon tank to use near the alley behind what is now Bell Craft Beer. A gasoline-powered pump moved water from the tank through redwood pipes installed underground and operated by a private water company.

When the enormous Mackey Livery Stable caught fire in July 1910, the gasoline pump had been sabotaged. The entire community gathered in the darkness and could do little more than watch as the livery stable, located on the site of today’s fire station on F Street, burned. The fire also consumed the Hamilton Blacksmith Shop, where Exeter Meats now stands at the corner of F Street and Palm Avenue; Mack Dungan’s coroner’s office; and a billiard hall near Pine Street.

Exeter residents watched as 19 horses died in the fire, along with a tremendous loss of property. The horses were later buried in a large hole dug at the site. Foul play was suspected, but if there was a “firebug,” that person was never caught.

The year 1912 was a momentous one for Exeter. The new water tower was built, along with nine miles of water lines and fire hydrants throughout town. The new volunteer fire department trained with special hose carts, one of which is now displayed at the CACHE museum.

The Sellars Insurance Company was established that year. New buildings were constructed and insured, and the company’s successor, NSE Insurance, continues to serve the Exeter area. It is the oldest continuously operating business in the city. Brick construction was encouraged because it was believed to offer much greater protection from fire. Many of downtown Exeter’s buildings date from this era.

At the same time the community was celebrating its new high school. Students and staff had occupied the building in March 1911, and the excitement surrounding its opening was phenomenal. The modern high school, new water tower, expanded water system, and rapid construction of brick buildings along Pine and E streets gave the young city a wonderful sense of optimism.

The Exeter Sun chronicled these developments with a mixture of glee, thoroughness, and seriousness. Exeter’s streets were still unpaved, although sand and oil were occasionally added to control dust and mud. Horse-drawn carts created deep ruts, while modern automobiles parked in front of businesses along Pine Street. The streets were dusty in summer and a muddy mess in winter.

Exeter's Dougherty Building

The Dougherty Building has many stories to tell from its 114-year history. Now beautifully remodeled, the building is home to Stafford’s Chocolates and several salons on its upper floor. Now called the “E Street Square,” the building will receive special attention during the August 17 CACHE presentation.

Exeter has many other buildings with fascinating stories, and I hope eventually to uncover most of their secrets. The new Historic Walk will help preserve and share the stories of some of those buildings—because if their walls could talk, they would have quite a tale to tell.