Lebanon’s Recreation Director Paul Coats scans Colburn Park and says, “You don’t get settings like this everywhere.” At 400 x 235 feet, Colburn Park is not huge, but what might be no more than a giant roundabout, is in fact the physical hub and community anchor of Lebanon’s compact downtown. This was never more apparent than in the summer of 2021, when Covid weary citizens took to the park for escape, diversion, and connection. 

Coats first discovered New England while hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1998. When he returned home and saw a job opening for a recreation coordinator in Lebanon, he went for it. Since then, he’s been instrumental in the evolution of the park and the activities it hosts. Many of them may be new, but the little park’s ability to serve the community in a big way is a long-standing tradition. 

The area that is now Colburn Park was given to the town by Robert Colburn, on the condition that it become the site for the town meetinghouse. Over time two turnpikes converged in the park, and in 1839, the town voted to move the meetinghouse to the present-day Lebanon City Hall. 

In 1849, the State of New Hampshire agreed to route the turnpikes around the common, thus opening the opportunity to make the common a proper park. It was then graded and surrounded by the granite and wrought iron fence which still stands. The roadways became the four cross-park footpaths, and in 1884, the common officially became “Colburn Park.”

The park was consistently used for town meetings and auctions, speeches, celebrations, fairs and gatherings. Nicole Ford Burley, curator of Lebanon’s Historical Society says, “Colburn Park has had a bandstand since at least the mid-19th century, and concerts have always been regular occurrences.” Ford Burley tracks the park’s use through pictures dating back to the 1860s.

Pictures from 1910 show a crowded gathering of horse and buggies and a lone automobile. Soon Model T Fords filled the spaces around the park, their owners shopping at the bustling shopping district along Hanover Street. Photos from 1910 also show thick bundles of utility lines hanging on telephone poles around the park. Those were likely buried during the Urban Renewal that Lebanon undertook after the massive fire of 1964 destroyed the downtown shopping area, and Hanover Street was converted to today’s outdoor pedestrian mall.  

Jude Dutille grew up in Lebanon and works in the downtown Lebanon jewelry store his family has owned since 1959. Growing up, Dutille remembers the summer fair in the park as a major social event. His graduating class from Lebanon High had their annual Alumni Day parade around the park, a tradition that endures today. Having worked in the store daily since 1981, he attests, “There’s more going on in the park than there used to be.”

Music remains the mainstay of events, anchored by the Thursday night Front Porch Music Series concerts that can draw up to 1000 people. A robust Farmers Market runs from May through September every Thursday 4 – 7pm, leading into the concerts. For the past five years, Movie Screen on the Green has offered outdoor movies every Friday in September. The winter highlight is the long tradition of the lighted Christmas tree, though Ford Burley notes that during the 1920s, a part of the park was flooded each winter to allow ice skating.

The fair may have stopped in the 90’s but a steady uptick in annual festivals and special events at the park include 4th of July festivities, the Food Truck Fest in August, Lebanon Rotary Club’s Brew Fest in September and LebFest: a joint venture between the Recreation Department and the Upper Valley Business Alliance to showcase local businesses. 

The latest addition is the Lebanon Opera House Nexus Music and Arts Festival. When all performances were canceled for the summer of 2020, Joe Clifford, executive director of LOH envisioned and created Nexus Fest. The three-day event featured events and performances in three close venues – the Lebanon Mall, a stage behind the Opera House and Colburn Park. LOH also utilizes the park for “Silent Disco” nights, where a DJ transmits music through special glowing headphones. 

Private businesses and municipal efforts have collaborated to vitalize the area surrounding Colburn Park. Coats points to the renovation of the Lebanon Opera House in 2001, and the subsequent additions of Salt Hill and Omer and Bob’s to Lebanon Mall mainstays like Village Pizzeria and Three Tomatoes. Lucky’s Coffee Garage has become a lively anchor at the northeast corner of the park and Roger’s House – the luxury hotel converted to senior housing in 1970 – recently had a significant facelift. 

Covid, and the suspension of expensive city programs like the day camp and the pool, presented an unusual opportunity to divert funds to park improvements, like repaving the walkways to make every part of the park accessible to all. 

“Colburn Park really is the epicenter of the arts in Lebanon,” says Clifford, noting the proximity of the City Center Ballet, the AVA gallery, and the Upper Valley Music Center. “I’m really proud of the city for putting resources to it.” 

Coats’ tenure has seen steady upgrades at the park, from the modest but hugely popular play area to the Little Free Library kiosk, to the upgraded electrical outlets in and around the perimeter of the park. By the time of publication, two new streetlights will be installed, and with them, free town Wi-Fi.

Parking areas on the south side of the park that are allocated for up to three food trucks offer more options for park visitors, and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Lalo’s Taqueria, a popular eatery on the Lebanon Mall started out as a food truck on the park, as did Phnom Penh Sandwich Station which now has two permanent locations. 

As with any well-trafficked park, healthy, vibrant trees are both the greatest invitation and the greatest ongoing challenge. When the native Elm trees died off in the late 20th century, they were replaced by hardier species, like the invasive red Norway maples that thrive there today. The long-term plan is to replace them with native trees. 

Trees also figure into park lore. Dr Myrick Wood who lived on S. Park St, is said to have chased down the vandal who cut down the park’s former Christmas tree. The current tree was dedicated to Wood in 2006, with a plaque that stands guard next to it. Local war veterans are honored at two monuments on either side of the bandstand.

On a mild fall day, Amos Hoyt and Juliette King have pulled their motorized scooters up to enjoy the sun at a picnic table in the park. Hoyt lives across the street at Roger’s House and Juliette King lives a half mile away in Lebanon Towers. Hoyt comes to the park two to three times a day in warm weather, while King visits frequently. Both meet their respective great grandchildren over by the playground on occasion. When asked about their favorite event in the park Hoyt answers without hesitation: “All of them.” 

Learn more about Colburn Park at the Lebanon Historical Society http://www.lebanonnhhistory.org. Reserve Colburn Park free for a group or personal event at lebanonnh.gov 

Among the outdoor events that went virtual through Covid last year was the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.  The event is held every fall in more than 600 communities across the country to raise money and awareness for the work of the Alzheimer’s Association. The walk went on nonetheless, and Lebanon locals came through with a strong show of participants, sponsors and spirit. They’ll be at it again this year on October 2, this time with the option to do what communities do best – to connect in person.  

The Power of Purple: Purple is the color of the Alzheimer’s Association, and “going purple” is a way to show support for the cause. Several local schools used the power of sports, with teams wearing purple socks and shirts for their games and practices around the week of the walk. The Cheer Team led the purple charge at Lebanon High. At Kimball Union Academy the effort was motivated by an especially deep connection.    

John Custer is a history teacher, soccer coach, and hockey coach at KUA. His wife Karen was also a math teacher at KUA before being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, at age 51. At the time their two sons were in high school. She passed away 10 years later, in 2013, after a long struggle for herself and the family. In her memory, Custer hopes to spread awareness that Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of the elderly but can also affect people in the prime of life. 

Last year, Custer was looking for a way for KUA to be involved with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, but the volunteer options were out. He found the solution through KUA’s science department and sports teams. Then-junior Libby Kotei-Fearon,  one of KUA’s Stem Scholars, was looking for a two-year project based in neuroscience. As part of her studies, she put together a presentation on Alzheimer’s for the all school meeting the Wednesday before the walk. 

“For a high school student to even think about mental decline is pretty cool,” says Custer.  Libby’s presentation explained the disease as well as the significance of KUA athletes wearing purple socks and arm bands at their athletic events that week, and the importance of spreading awareness for the cause. The goal is to make sure as many people as possible know about both Alzheimer’s Disease and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association, which includes a free 24/7 Helpline, no-cost education programs (accessible virtually), free care consultations for families facing a diagnosis and more.  These services are funded entirely by the money raised during the Walks and other fundraising events each year. This year Libby and the Neuroscience Club will be participating in the Walk.

In addition to starting or joining a team, local businesses support the cause by sponsoring the event. Among them are Mascoma Dental and here, too, the connection is personal. Lauren Andreolas is one of the four dentists at Mascoma Dental. Her grandmother was one of three sisters, all of whom developed Alzheimer’s. Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. As Andreolas describes it: “We watched three strong, beautiful women who lived through the depression, raised children, non-traditionally went outside the home to work: who broke glass ceilings, who were great cooks, who were the matriarchs of their families become debilitated by the disease.” She recalls the experience of watching them forget their loved ones, eventually stop eating, and ultimately pass away from the disease. Andreolas and her three sisters shared that experience, and now the accompanying anxiety. “Of course, we all have the fear that this will also be our fate, so it is our job to support Alzheimer’s treatment and research.”

In addition to the services it provides, a major focus of the Alzheimer’s Association is funding research toward treatment, prevention and, eventually a cure. For Andreolas, along with so many others, directing resources and energy towards a cure provides a productive channel and a way to connect with others who share experiences and concerns. 

Among them are Jude Dutille, owner of Dutille’s Jewelry, a first-time event sponsor this year. Dutille lost his father and his father-in-law to Alzheimer’s and is all too familiar with the long and difficult journey, “My wife and I experienced it all, beginning to end.” As a local business owner, he wants to support causes in a meaningful way. Raising funds and awareness to support people touched by Alzheimer’s seemed like a natural fit. Now that Dutille and his wife are catching their breath, he recalls, with both his father and father-in-law, the times that mattered most: “Good days, or a great moment or when they laughed, or you felt like they were their old selves. You’ve got to appreciate those, because these small moments…that’s what you can give them.” 

This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s kicks off Saturday, October 2, at 9:30 am at Hanover High School. Here are all the ways you can support the community effort:

• Register a team or walk on your own (registration is free but all walkers are encouraged to fundraise and support the work of the Alzheimer’s Association)
• Volunteer the day of the event 
• Donate to a team or a general donation to the event
• Encourage your business to Go Purple leading up to the Walk or to display a poster 

For information on all of the above go to https://act.alz.org/uppervalley.