Every day, hundreds of students pass through Baker Berry Library to get a moment of warmth from the below freezing temperatures of Hanover, N.H. At its grand entrance, Reiss Hall — otherwise known as Blobby — the many couches and group tables rest atop a checkered floor, bustling with students. Welcome mats become covered in snow, couches get moved, tables shift — chip bags and muddied footprints from the snow are left behind in the continuous flow of students.
One morning, while attempting to catch a sunrise, I stumbled into Blobby to find a custodian meticulously re-arranging and moving every piece of furniture that stood out of place. He wiped the surfaces of every desk and threw away trash. It is often easy to overlook these everyday tasks of custodians, but it is this hard work that keeps our facilities in good shape.
Driving 40 minutes every morning to campus, Christopher Melcher wakes up before the sun rises at the early hour of 3:30 a.m. The custodian team plans out their work each week, and with the recent influx of snow, it can get intense.
“You’re constantly cleaning more because of the winter months, because of the salt that gets tracked in,” Melcher said.
In the past, he’s worked night shifts as a custodian for over 27 years with multiple jobs and a busy schedule. He enjoys helping out as best as he can — whether that’s keeping the floors clean or picking up extra shifts.
“When you hear it, a thank you goes a long, long way,” Melcher said. “People don’t realize that it makes your job that much easier.”
Melcher also worked as a firefighter for 11 and a half years before becoming a custodian at Dartmouth. He stressed the importance of family and home — finding a second one in the firehouse even after retirement.
“I like to serve my community, I like to help people, and that’s why I did it,” Melcher said.
Beyond work, Melcher grew up in Newport, N.H., and has had a longstanding relationship with the Dartmouth community.
He likes the burgers and fries at the Courtyard Cafe or the Class of ’53 Commons and enjoys Friday nights at local sporting events.
He also has many fond memories of his son’s youth football team playing on the campus field, and acknowledges the importance of
“When you see a younger generation look up to a college football player, that’s really something,” Melcher said.
Melcher especially loves his family — often taking road trips with his wife or hunting in his spare time. As opposed to the brutal night shift hours at other places, his job at Dartmouth enables him to be home more often.
“When I started this job last March, it was good for my family, my wife was happy to have me home every night,” Melcher said. “We spend more time together.”
He is part of a family of hard-workers, rarely idle, he said. Melcher works several jobs and even returns to campus in his off time whenever his supervisor needs.
In the summertime, for example, he runs a side business with his dad mowing lawns to help out his local community.
It “keeps him busy,” he said. “We make a pretty good team when we mow together.”
In many before and after hour moments like these, custodial staff check every part of Baker, wiping the corners of columns where dust can quickly accumulate or moving back the whiteboards on FFB. The custodians have a multitude of stories and interests — one having the cheeriest blue nails, or another who worked through the dangers of the COVID pandemic.
Whether that be the custodians who vacuum the halls, or those that wipe down campus bathrooms, a little note of gratitude or a short conversation can brighten their day.
