The Andover Community Hub, Susan Chase
In the center of Andover, New Hampshire, stands a building that has served as the town’s heartbeat for nearly 150 years. Built in 1879, the original Town Hall was the site of selectmen’s meetings, elections, graduations, and basketball games until the 1960s. After spending decades divided into private offices, the building faced an uncertain future in 2016 when it came up for a foreclosure auction.
Susan Chase, who is the current Board Chair and one of the founders of The Andover Community Hub, began the journey to save this historic structure with a sense of urgency. It started on a Sunday afternoon, when a small group of residents gathered, believing that Andover needed a community center and that this might be their chance to create one. By the end of that single meeting, the group had pledged $190,000 to buy the structure. When they arrived at the auction, they found little competition—only the bank representative and the owner of the local pizza shop, who was there simply to support the idea of a community center. The group won the building for just a few hundred dollars over what the bank needed to close the mortgage.
"Come On In" became the tagline for the capital campaign that followed, and it remains the essence of the organization today. Since opening its doors for programming in the summer of 2017, The Andover Community Hub has transformed a drafty old building into a vibrant center of community connection, serving everyone from seniors to students in the greater Andover area. The Hub operates on a philosophy of inclusion. Susan recalls a pivotal board decision regarding whether to allow political groups to use the Andover Community Hub space. The board decided, "The choice is we either say everybody or nobody... we’re going to go with everybody." This policy has opened doors to groups ranging from political organizations to the historical society, the emergency services auxiliary, the friends of the library, a local AA weekly meeting and various town committees who occasionally make use of the building.
Today, the building is bustling. In 2024, The Hub tracked approximately 5,500 visits. The programming is diverse, heavily utilized by the town's older citizens but open to all. Offerings include "Bone Builders" (a strength and balance class), Tai Chi, yoga, Mahjong, a cribbage group, a board- game club, crafts groups and a preschool play group. The Hub also hosts a VNA senior health clinic for essential services, and partners with the AARP during tax season to help residents file their returns. Susan notes that while the demographic tilts toward retirees, The Hub is actively working to engage younger generations. They have hosted cooking classes for kids in third through eighth grades, offered occasional painting and craft classes for kids and are exploring more after-school programming.
Revitalizing an 1879 structure has required significant grit and fundraising. Since the purchase, the organization has installed a new roof, built an accessibility ramp, added a main-floor bathroom, and installed air-source heat pumps to make the building comfortable year-round. However, the path hasn't been without obstacles. A major current project involves licensing the new kitchen for commercial use. The Hub envisions a space where community suppers and cooking classes for all ages can be held, as well as where local caterers and startup food businesses can rent kitchen time to grow their enterprises. While the layout and equipment were approved, the project hit a snag with a surprise expense to meet septic requirements. Despite the sticker shock, the board remains committed. "We know we can serve the community in many more ways if we're licensed," Susan explains, noting that they are exploring alternative, cost-effective engineering solutions this winter before moving forward.
Navigating the transition from a grassroots volunteer group to a structured non-profit 501(c)(3) requires guidance. About four years ago, The Hub connected with SCORE, specifically working with mentor Heather Turner. The relationship began with practical improvements to The Hub’s digital presence. Beyond the website, SCORE has provided critical educational resources. Hub board members and volunteers have attended workshops on bylaws, public relations, and graphic design tools like Canva. Heather also facilitated workshops at The Hub for local businesses, helping the non-profit build bridges with the local commercial community.
As The Andover Community Hub looks toward the next five years, the vision is one of continued growth and sustainability. The board is beginning to consider whether it’s time to transition from an all-volunteer model to perhaps hiring a part-time administrator to help manage the scheduling, publicity and outreach that accompany the increasing volume of programming, services and bookings. There is also the dream of the second floor. Currently used for storage, the space features high ceilings and great potential as a teen center, music venue, or event space. While it requires significant work for safety and code compliance, it remains a key part of the long-term vision.
For now, the dedicated board and countless other volunteers continue to do the work of building community, one cup of coffee and one class at a time. Whether it's a neighbor learning Tai Chi, a start-up caterer looking for a kitchen, or a resident needing tax help, the message from the big old building in the center of town remains the same: Come on in!
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