The first week of August in 1917 brought with it a five-day heat wave. “Saturday and Sunday were delightful,” reported the Exeter News-Letter, then began a period of extreme heat, the 2 pm temperature at Boston on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday having been 98. These figures doubtless approximately correct for Exeter, are official and taken in absolute shade and away from the reflected heat of streets and buildings.” Twenty year old Betty Tufts was home, working on her Victory garden on Pine Street. She noted the heat in her diary, “HOT! 92 degrees late afternoon on front piazza.” Through the hot days, a long line of mules slowly made their way to Exeter. The Borax 20-Mule Team was on an advertising junket across the northeast.

In 1974, an athletic shoe company called Blue Ribbon Sports began to seriously pursue a location in Exeter. The old Wise Shoe Shop, on Front Street, had been vacant for nearly two years after losing business to foreign imports. Blue Ribbon, itself an importer of Japanese shoes, seemed interested in creating its own product – some of which would be produced in the United States. That firm would rebrand itself as Nike and the plant on Front Street would become its first stateside factory.