This November, the Red Parka Pub will turn 50 years old. Affectionately known as “The Parka” throughout the years, the pub continues to serve as a quintessential après-ski bar and popular steakhouse in the heart of the Mt. Washington Valley.
But did you know that the Parka wasn’t always a pub and restaurant? In 1952, Fred Hanscom built a new store in Glen, which would later be sold to his nephew Ervin Grant. Ervin lived on the property with his wife and daughter Nancy (who originally shared much of this information).
The Grants ran the general store, which had everything from groceries, paint, grain, and clothes until they built a new store closer to the Route 16/302 intersection in 1965, (eventually becoming what is now Grant’s Shop n’ Save). The Grants, in turn, rented the original store to Dottie and Rick Roderick, who reopened it as the Red Parka Pub. In 1972, after the Rodericks moved away, the Grants leased the building and business to Jean and Dewey Mark and Al and Lois Nelson. Eventually, the Marks would partner with Tony Ferruolo to purchase the Nelson’s share, and along with the help of daughter, Terry O’Brien, the Red Parka Pub legacy would begin. Recently, Terry and her mom Jean became sole owners of the Pub. The next time you visit the pub, be sure to look for the original F.E. Hanscom sign—seen in the photo above—hanging over the bar!
For more information about the 50th anniversary, visit www.redparkapub.com or follow Red Parka on Facebook.
This information was recounted by Nancy Grant via Bartlett Historical Society. Support their latest museum project by visiting www.bartletthistory.org and consider supporting their goals. Your help is greatly appreciated.
GLEN JUNCTION: circa 1952
No Dairy Queen, No Gas Station, No Grocery Store.
The building that is now the Red Parka Pub was Ervin Grant’s Hardware Store back in those days. If you CLICK ON THE PICTURE you will get a super high-resolution picture and be able to see the car accident in progress at the junction. Photo courtesy of Alan Eliason (and Walker Eliason who flew the plane)
