While the groundhog may or may not have seen his shadow (I just don't believe humans can translate groundhog-speak), I can say without hesitation that the ground in Hancock is starting to peer through the snow. This may not seem like much to those of you in warmer climes, but up here in New Hampshire it means a lot. While there is still plenty of snow, the ice is mostly gone and soon the daffodils will be saying hello again this year. High temperatures are supposed to be in the forties and fifties for the next ten days. So if you need to get out for the last snowshoe adventure of the season, come on up and take advantage of our special this month, stay two nights at the Hancock Inn, and get $50 off your room rate each night you have dinner with us.

Labels: Seeing the Ground

The month of January has been a traditional old New England winter...lots of snow and some pretty frigid temperatures as we got down to 15 below zero this week!!

But we have stayed nice and warm inside the Inn and continue to make changes and improvements. We just installed new carpet in the Dining Room, Tavern and Entry Way after a two year search for carpet we really liked.

The February holidays are coming up fast and we are working on our Valentine's Dinner menu which we will offer on Saturday, February 12, since Valentine's actually falls on Monday the 14th and most folks just don't want to go out on Monday evenings. By the end of this week the menu should be set and we are going to offer a lodging with dinner package for that weekend. Then the following weekend will be President's Day Weekend with most people enjoying a three day weekend. We will offer a special lodging package for that weekend as well. Check back by Monday, January 31, for details on the packages. Meanwhile, enjoy the winter weather and look forward to Spring!!

Labels: what a winter, Wow

As I am writing this we are waiting for the crowd to arrive for Christmas Eve dinner. We will be serving dinner tomorrow on Christmas Day as well. During the winter season we will be serving dinner every night but Monday.

We want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for next year.

Labels: Happy Holidays

Nancy decided that she should do something productive with the 30 minutes or so she has free each day...so she has created Homemade In Hancock, her own company featuring several of the baked goods she has been perfecting for the past nine years here at the Inn. Many of you are big fans of her Pumpkin Bread which is part of her product line along with Banana-Cranberry Bread, Gingerbread and Carrot Cake. Nancy bakes each loaf herself and has developed a very cute packaging of the goods. Currently the breads are available here at the Inn and at Roy's Market in Peterborough. A new website is in the works as well as the ability to do mail order. So if you don't get enough of the breads while you are staying with us, take a few loaves home with you!!

Labels: Homemade in Hancock

So what do John Hancock and I have in common (other than big loopy handwriting)? Why we are both associated with Hancock, NH of course, me as owner of the Inn, and he, well, here is the story as told around here.

Back in 1779 the people that lived in this area decided that they would form an incorporated town and decided that it might be nice to name it Hancock, after John Hancock. Mr. Hancock was the richest man in New England and in fact owned several hundred acres of land around these parts. So, the people, thought, we name the town after Hancock and he will give us money to help found the town. A delegation was formed and made the trip to Boston to see Mr. Hancock. Apparently they waited in the waiting area outside his office all day but he refused to see them. The delegation was offended and stomped back to Hancock with the bad news. But people in the area still thought it might be a good idea to name the town after Mr. Hancock in the hope that one day he might provide for them. Alas, as far as is known, John Hancock never visited the first town in New England named for him and certainly never gave the town even a farthing.

But you can do something that the richest man in New England never did...visit Hancock, NH!! And to make it extra special for you, we are offering a great deal over the Fourth of July weekend, just to rub John Hancock's nose in it one more time!!! Stay two nights over the Fourth of July weekend, eat dinner at the Hancock Inn both nights, and the room rate for the second night will be zero, nada, nothing at all. Two nights for the price of one when you have dinner each night, a deal that might have even made John Hancock come visit for the weekend.

Labels: Fourth of July

Summer is rapidly approaching so it's time for us to tell you what is going on this summer in the Hancock area. For those who are culturally inclined (and ain't we all) Monadnock Music has a wonderful summer program. Concerts (including many free ones) are presented throughout the Monadnock region. More information is available at www.monadnockmusic.org. Other musical events include the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in Nelson (www.applehill.org). Live theater with the Peterborough Players begins June 9 and continues through September 26. They have a very interesting lineup of plays which you can find at www.peterboroughplayers.org.

Almost every day of the week you can find a Farmer's Market in one of the area towns. Hancock Farmer's Market is every Saturday from 9AM until Noon. For late sleepers, the Peterborough Farmer's Market is every Wednesday from 3-6PM. Temple is on Sunday from 10AM -1PM.

And of course, the outdoor opportunities are endless...hiking trails at the Harris Center, climb Mt. Monadnock, canoe or kayak the lakes and ponds in Hancock (Nubanusit, Willard, Norway, Half Moon, Hunts and Powdermill), blueberry picking at Pitcher Mountain, or for the very intrepid, sit on our front porch with your favorite beverage and watch the world go by.

Labels: Fun Things to Do This Summer

Most guests are aware that we are a family-owned and operated inn, but some may not know the individuals involved. Besides the owners Robert and Nancy, there is Laurie, the assistant innkeeper who is Robert's niece. Laurie works Monday - Friday setting up and serving breakfast, checking guests in and out and providing lots of advice on things to do in the area. While she is not often at the Inn, Robert's mother, Mary, plays an important role---she bakes those fabulous pies that we serve for dessert (if you have had her Coconut Cream Pie, you know what I'm talking about). Then there is our extended family. Although they are not actually related, we have been together for so long that we indeed consider them family. Andrea serves dinner, makes drinks and pretty much runs the dining room. She has been at the Inn since 2001. Pam, our head housekeeper also been with us since 2001 and is the person most responsible for all the compliments we get on cleanliness. Finally, there is the other Robert, who goes by Rob and has been with us since 2004, first as sous chef and now as Chef for the past three years. He makes the Pot Roast and other dishes which keep our guests happy and coming back for more. Each and everyone of them is extremely important to us and the well-being of the Inn, we couldn't do without them.