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ABOUT THE AUTHOR A lifelong resident of Andover, James D. Doherty has more than just seniority in his corner as he remembers his hometown through the decades following World War I to the present. Jim has been a participant, not just an observer, in the educational, business, political, and spiritual life of the town of Andover. A graduate of Punchard High School and Boston College, and a U.S. Army Corps. veteran, Jim joined his brother Bill in starting Doherty Insurance and Realty Agencies in 1937. More than fifty years later, the companies are still a cornerstone of Andover's downtown business district. A sports enthusiast, Jim's favorite competitive arena is undoubtedly the political field. He remains active on Andover's Democratic Committee, a body he chaired for twenty years. And Jim is probably best known to today's Andover citizens as town moderator; he has served in that elected position since 1977. In addition to devoting himself to professional and political activities, Jim has given wholeheartedly of his time and energy --- in both service and leadership capacities --- to other interests: the Scouting organizations, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lawrence, the board of trustees of Merrimack College, the Men of Merrimack, the Knights of Columbus, his college alma mater, and, of course, his church. A member of St. Augustine's parish, Jim has been active in many aspects of the churchs ministry his entire life and is still a lector there. The influence of Jim's faith is a hallmark of much of this book. A much honored business man and citizen, Jim Doherty brings many notable achievements and many vivid memories to these pages, in the hope that readers may appreciate the richness of Andover town life. James David Doherty "Andover, everywhere and always, first, last --- the manly, straightforward, sober, patriotic New England town."                       Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

Many years ago I had an idea that someone should write a book about the changes in the face of Andover that have taken place during my lifetime. I felt that the one person to do that best was a man who had chronicled the life and times of Andover for twenty-two years as the Andover correspondent for the Lawrence Daily Eagle and the Evening Tribune.

William A. Doherty covered Andover for the newspaper from January 1926 until January 1948. In that time frame he also served on the Andover school committee for thirty-nine years and established a real estate and Insurance agency that is still owned and operated by members of the Doherty family. I felt that Bill could easily write about the life and times of his town. Most of you do not know that Bill was not a "well" man for the last several years before he died. Every time I mentioned writing the book, he would get interested, but he never seemed strong enough to sit down and concentrate. The book never got started.

Many times in recent years, as I would recount some story or refer to some personality of earlier years, someone was sure to ask, "Why doesn't someone write about those times?" Well, I looked around. I was amazed to see how few natives were still around town from the days immediately following World War II. Most of those who came to mind were, like Bill, on the "tired" side, so I really put the whole idea out of my mind. Certainly I had neither the patience nor the inclination to do the research and documentation that I felt would be necessary.

In the summer of 1989, Sheila and I were at a party at the home of our dearest friends, George and Anne Curtin in Belmont. George and I were college classmates and best friends for about fifty-seven years. And their daughter Suzanne, one of my very favorite people, who was working at Harvard, at the time said that she was hoping to write a book. At that point I made the mistake of telling her my "book idea" but that I would never do the research. Suzanne literally pushed me into a corner, told me that with my memory I should just sit down and write what I remembered, and never mind the research.

Well, she got me really cranked up and I came home and started thinking. If I could just write what was in my memory, without research and documentation, then I would give it a try. Nowhere in this book is there a point at which I turned to another source for accuracy, and I have not sought to confirm any facts or dates on the record. Talking with Cornelius Wood, Jr., the other day I learned that his uncle, William Wood, was killed in 1922. My story indicates that it might have been as late as 1924. Such discrepancies may occur, but that is how I remember it.

I started writing that summer and nearly two years later the task is done. Some things have happened and some people have died since I wrote about them months ago, but I do not plan to make any last minute corrections now.

The chapters are written all from memory, and it has been a joy to recount them. I don't expect anyone to get as much enjoyment out of reading this book as I have gotten out of writing it. I owe a special debt to my family for putting up with me, to Joanne and Frannie for typing, to Suzanne Curtin, for giving me the shove, and of course, to the memory of my brother, Bill, with whom the whole idea emerged.

Had Bill been able, physically, to write this book, I am certain that it would have been a masterpiece and a classic. Therefore, it is with much affection and humility that I dedicate this book to the memory of William A. Doherty, one of Andover's Greatest.