Daniel Webster Highway opened city, southern NH to visitors, shoppers

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is another in an occasional series of stories examining 50 years of Nashua business. Stories and multimedia pieces will focus on Milestones, Hidden Assets, and Economic Engines in the city’s business community. Earlier generations will remember Flanders Poultry Farm, Dr. Bent the veterinarian, Gene and Rita’s, the Ning Wa, Ford’s Garden Center, Little Red Antique Shop, and maybe even the Bancroft estate. Their children can summon fond memories of Hannah Dustin, Blue Line Express, the Olde Coach, Cathay Island, Ten Pin Bowl, Green Ridge, Shakey’s Pizza, A&W Root Beer, the D.W. Motor Court and, of course, the iconic Howard Johnson’s. Today, Nashua’s Daniel Webster Highway has become an asphalt and concrete retail mecca that holiday shoppers swarm to almost ’round the clock between Thanksgiving and Christmas.