Be a part of Laconia’s downtown history!!!

The Patio provides a new community gathering place, and a tribute to the contribution of one man and his family. “It’s an honor to have this named after our family,” said Rod Dyer, a practicing attorney for over 60 years and the city’s mayor from 1968 to 1974.
“I love this mill.”

The Patio connects the mill to Rotary Park, allowing spectators to sit on the lawn to view Belknap Mill programming and enhance the outdoor wedding venue.

Contact Cheryl at the Belknap mill cheryl@belknapmill.org or 603-524-8813

Who is Rod Dyer?

Rod Dyer's great grandfather, Napoleon Dionne, arrived in New Hampshire in 1871 as a young 13-year-old immigrant from Canada. He lived in Franklin for five years before moving to Laconia. Family legend has it that when he first went to work at the Belknap Mill, he was asked for his name, but he thought they were asking him what his expertise was, so he answered, “Dyer.” That’s how his surname changed from Dionne to Dyer. This happened to many French-Canadians. For example, Roy became King, Michel became Mitchell, Boncouer became Bunker and Fortier became Foote.

When Napoleon started working at the Belknap Mill, he was illiterate. Fellow workers helped him to master English by chalking words on cloth as it was being manufactured. He later obtained a dictionary and would spend two hours a day learning English words and definitions. After saving up enough money, he was able to purchase a barbershop which he owned for eight years. He then read and studied the law for five years in a local attorney’s office. In 1889, he passed the Bar exam, becoming an attorney. He practiced law for over 50 years and was also the Laconia Postmaster and supervised the building of the current post office.

Rod lived on Harvard Street during WWII and remember walking, at the age of four or five, past the Forestry building to downtown Laconia. I loved being able to venture out on my own. The kids in town used to wander all over. With  fewer cars on the street, it was a very different era than today.

My father was a Marine in WWII, and I was 6½-years-old when he was killed in action.
I remember him picking me up in his arms at the train station right before he departed for the war. He told me that I was now the man of the family. Vivid memories of the day the telegram arrived announcing his death are seared into my brain. Nelson Dyer was among the number of Laconians who were killed during WWII as shown on the Memorial in Veterans Park. Although I grew up without a father, we lived with my grandparents on my mother’s side, and I did have other male role models. My grandparents, Charles and Mae Switzer worked at Lougee Robinson Furniture. They would be up around 5:30 every morning, and I needed to be up if I wanted breakfast. A Yankee breakfast in those days might consist of steak and eggs, apple pie with cheddar cheese, and hot homemade donuts. Family income for my mother, sister and I came from GI insurance and my mother’s wages. My  mother worked in shops as a salesperson; she was an attractive and stylish person. She was an incredibly stalwart woman, very much a Yankee, and she was firm with her values, right v. wrong! She gave me a moral structure that I abide by to this day. She remarried many years later.

Between the ages of 5 and 12, I practically lived at Opechee Park in the summer. I’d walk there in the morning, take my lunch, and stay all day. My greatest aspiration then was to become a lifeguard. I also liked to bicycle to the Gardens Theatre to watch Batman, Superman and the serials. Admission was a nickel or maybe fifteen cents. Going to the movies on Saturday at the Gardens Theatre or Colonial Theatre was a ritual. The Colonial Theatre was an amazing place, like a fairyland. Memories of the Colonial are what inspired me to become involved in its restoration, beginning nearly 15 years ago.

 Everyone who lived in Laconia did all their shopping downtown. Reminiscing back to those days, I fondly recall when the streets were filled with pedestrians, downtown was vibrant and full of candy shops and peanut stores, and on Thursdays, the stores stayed open late. I recall seeing the Scott and Williams workers carrying their lunch pails to and from work.

 I attended Laconia High School, beginning in the 7th grade. Upon graduation, I went to UNH, then Boston University, obtaining my law degree in 1961; I’ve been practicing law with the Wescott Law firm since 1964. Rod Was Mayor of Laconia from 1968-1974. Rod, and his wife of 58 years, Gail live at the Taylor Community. They have 2 adult children, 2 grandchildren and 3 1/3 great-grandchildren.

Municipal Service

City Attorney in 1967.

During Rod’s time as Mayor 68-70’ He led the change to a Council-Manager form of Government.

During Rod’s time as Mayor 71-74’ he spearheaded the Winnipesaukee River Basin Project which united over 20 communities into one central sewer system, greatly reducing pollution potential of the lakes. He was also a leader in preserving the Belknap Mill, and awarded the Outstanding Service Award. Rod even found time to serve as a chair of the Laconia School Board.

Community Service

Rod is a co-founder of the Lakes Business Group and of Lakes Region Community Health and Hospice which has since merged with Granite VNA.

He was President of Laconia Kiwanis, co-founder of Lakes Business Group, very active with the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH, the Cultural Arts Committee of the Lakes Region. He is current president of Gilda’s Club, 2005 to 2011 chair and now Chairman Emeritus of Bank of New Hampshire (formerly Laconia Savings Bank), and is the Gilford Representative on the Joint Board of Commissioners of the Lakes Business Park.

 Bar-Related Activities

Rod is a member of the Belknap County Bar Association (Past President 1977-1979), and the New Hampshire Bar Association, Board of Governors- NHBA, and a member of the Clients Indemnity Committee.

Recognitions

2021 Nixon Zachos Award Recipient: “Rod is a role model for younger attorneys and and community-minded individuals.”

Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Belknap County Economic Development Council, Daniel Webster Good Scout Award, Belknap Mill Society.

Town of Gilford Dedicated it’s Annual Report to Rod: “The selectman wish it to be known that they have selected Rod Dyer for this honor because of his lifetime commitment to community service...” Allison Ambrose, Wescott Law P.A.