Derry Historic Marker Unveiling

William Hobdy was the first Black business owner on record in Derry, NH.[i]  He was the sole proprietor of Star Cleaning & Repairing Co., which opened in the summer of 1899.[ii] Located in the Derry Depot, his shop was under that of F.S. Pillsbury.[iii] Besides owning a business, William was also a talented musician with an entrepreneurial spirit:

• In November 1902, he held the first-ever ragtime ball in the area.[iv]
• He hosted ice cream gardens for summer visitors at his own home.[v]
• Between 1900 and 1915, he held summer concerts at West Windham and Adams Memorial Hall and was an entertainer that summer guests specifically requested.[vi]

William had to work incredibly hard to get by. Throughout his 17 years in Derry, he was known to bury dogs, shoe shine, ump for the occasional local game, clean chimneys, houses, and basements, and play music for private parties.[vii] He navigated Derry at a time when there were only a few Black people in town. It’s difficult to ignore the racism that swirled around him while he resided here. Coburn’s Crossing was called Ni**er Crossing until the 1950-60s.[viii] Minstrel shows were performed at the same venues Hobdy performed in.[ix] While he showed interest in fraternal orders, including the Knights of Pythias, he never joined the Derry order, instead, he traveled to Lawrence to attend the “colored lodge.”[x]  

And yet, Hobdy successfully set up shop, worked, and lived in Derry for over 18 years. He was the first Black business owner on record and his entrepreneurial spirit and musical talents enriched the Derry economy.

[i] Correlations throughout earlier census records and the Derry News Archives indicate that there were several other Black residents between 1790-1900, but Hobdy was the only one who worked on his own account. Other Black residents were servants, laundresses, laborers, farm hands and hucksters. See attached census abstracts.

[ii] “Star Cleaning & Repairing Co.” Advert, Derry Times (Derry, New Hampshire) 25 August, 1899, p. 8 c. 5; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); Derry Public Library.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] “William Hobdy” The Derry News (Derry, New Hampshire) 21 November 1902, p. 1, c. 6, para. 19; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); Derry Public Library.

[v] “William Hobdy,” The Derry News (Derry, New Hampshire) 4 April 1902, p. 1, c. 6, para. 29; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); Derry Public Library.

[vi] “Derry Doings,” The Derry News (Derry, New Hampshire) 22 April 1910, p. 5, c. 1; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); Derry Public Library.

[vii] Annual Report of the Town of Derry (The Derry Enterprise, Derry, New Hampshire) 1906, p. 25;  digital image, The Internet Archive (https://archive.org/ : accessed 2 February 2022) also Annual Report of the Town of Derry (The Derry Enterprise, Derry, New Hampshire) 1907, p. 33;  digital image, The Internet Archive (https://archive.org/ : accessed 2 February 2022); And  “Whitewashing, House Cleaning,” advert, Derry Enterprise (Derry, New Hampshire) 18 May 1906, p. 8 c. 3, bottom; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); Derry Public Library. Also “Sad Defeat, The Local Barbers and Clerks Cross Bats” The Derry News (Derry, New Hampshire) 27 June 1902, p. 1 c. 4; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); Derry Public Library. And “Shoe Shine” The Derry Enterprise (Derry, New Hampshire) 19 October 1906, p. 8. digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022); And “Chimney Cleaning” advert, The Derry Enterprise (Derry, New Hampshire) 6 July 1906, p. 5, c. 1, bottom; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 February 2022).

[viii] “An Aged Colored Woman,” The Derry Enterprise (Derry, New Hampshire) 18 March 1919, p. 1, c. 3; digital images Advantage Preservation (https://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : Accessed 2 March 2022); Derry Public Library.

[ix] “Fourteen Derry Women Perform in Burnt Cork Disguises,” The Derry Enterprise (Derry, New Hampshire) 1 February 1907, p. 3 c. 4; digital images, Advantage Preservation (http://derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : accessed 2 March 2022

[x] “William Hobdy was in Lawrence, MA,” The Derry Enterprise (Derry, New Hampshire) 19 May 1908, p.8, c.1, bottom; digital images, Advantage Preservation (https://www.derry.advantage-preservation.com/ : accessed 2 March 2022); Derry Public Library

Marker Unveiling

Come celebrate William Hobdy, ragtime musician and first known Black business owner in Derry, NH (1899), with a Pop-Up museum and BHTNH historic marker unveiling on August 5.

This all-ages event will kick off at 1:00 pm in the Derry Opera House where patrons are invited to step back in time and explore Hobdy’s era with music, games, and history. The event will culminate with a walk to the Derry Rail Trail to unveil the new marker and enjoy some ice cream.

After hours, patrons can continue the celebration at Rockingham Brewing Co. to purchase pre-prohibition style lager and pretzels (via Hop Knot of Manchester).

Schedule of Events