Published by The History Press
Charleston, SC 29403
www.historypress.net
Copyright 2008 by D. Quincy Whitney
All rights reserved
Cover design by Marshall Hudson.
Cover image: Old Man Framed by Branches, 1985. Photo Credit: E.W. Whitney III.
First published 2008
Second printing 2009
Third printing 2010
Fourth printing 2012
Fifth printing 2013
e-book edition 2013
Manufactured in the United States
ISBN 978.1.62584.390.6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Whitney, D. Quincy.
Hidden history of New Hampshire / D. Quincy Whitney.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
print edition ISBN 978-1-59629-537-7
1. New Hampshire--History--Anecdotes. 2. New Hampshire--Biography--Anecdotes. I. Title.
F34.6.W48 2008 974.2--dc22 2008022545
Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Hidden New Hampshire History
Hidden not from view,
but from the common view of many,
like the Old Manvisible only from the right angle,
otherwise, a jumble of rocks, even now
forever gone from view
except in the truth of the imagination.
PREFACE
In 1998, it was determined that New Hampshire would be the featured state on the Mall in Washington, D.C., at the Smithsonian Institutions Annual Folklife Festival, held from June 23 to July 4, 1999. In preparation for this celebration in the nations capital, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts joined with many other state organizations to research history and build sets that would showcase the Granite State.
One unique research subject that was uncovered centered on the fact that New Hampshire had inspired many of its residents to initiate impressive feats of personal and professional magnitude that had had an integral role in shaping state history. Initially referred to as New Hampshire Firsts and Bests, this research topic encompassed many idiosyncratic, often unsung moments in New Hampshire historyand resulted in an anthology of local history events, many of which were largely unknown not only to the public but also to Granite State residents.
Because of my extensive coverage of New Hampshire cultural history as the primary Boston Globe New Hampshire Weekly arts feature writer for fourteen years, I was asked by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts to research this topic. The resultant research report included sixty-two little-known moments in New Hampshire history.
Hidden History of New Hampshire is an anthology composed of a selected portion of these incidents with several new stories added. As anyone can tell by perusing the table of contents, this book offers an impressive collection of intriguing local history stories about New Hampshire.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I want to thank my husband Eli for the many hats he wore to help me with this bookagent, photographer, stenographer, graphics specialist and number one fanand for his unswerving support in every other aspect of my life.
Next, I have to thank Judy Northup for asking me to write features for the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Newsletter, where I became impassioned about the cultural news of the Granite State.
A multitude of thanks must go to Boston Globe New Hampshire Weekly editor John Burke, who took a chance on me in 1987, and to Janet Insolia, my subsequent editor at NH Weekly, who never lost her sense of humor. Both editors fostered an atmosphere at NH Weekly that nurtured and challenged each writer to stretch and excel.
Many thanks to Van McLeod, commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources, for his untiring enthusiasm for the cultural life of the state and for his support of and interest in my particular path.
Throughout my stint as a Globe feature writer, I worked on many stories linked to the wonderful people who make up the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. I want to thank Director Rebecca L. Lawrence, Arts in Education Coordinator Catherine OBrian, Traditional Arts Coordinator Lynn J.M. Graton, Creative Communities Coordinator Judy Rigmont and Visual Arts Associate Julie Mento. I especially want to thank the Arts Council for asking me to research New Hampshire Firsts for the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
The production of any book with lots of wonderful images usually signifies the cooperation and generosity of many people. I am most grateful to everyone who took an interest in this anthology.
At the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Headquarters, I want to thank Executive Director Susie Lowe-Stockwell and assistant Shelly Roy. I also want to thank Carol Fusaro, Sullivan Creative, a public relations and marketing firm located in Newton, Massachusetts.
Many thanks to Joan Desmarais, assistant director of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and librarian Bill Copeley.
My thanks to Steve Barba, former managing director at The Balsams and Plymouth State College executive director of university relations, for his willingness to paint a small portrait of only one aspect of his long association with this grand hotel, and The Balsams Reservations and Front Desk Manager Jerry Owen for showing me the Ballot Room.
At the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society, I thank Ann W. Sprague for her interest and enthusiasm.
At the Northern Forest Heritage Park, I thank Jim Wagner, AV Economic development director, and Berlin photographer Mark R. Ducharme.
Many of the unique images in this book illustrating tales of the White Mountains would be missing without the interest and gracious support of three people. At the Mount Washington Observatory Library, I owe many thanks to Peter Crane for his willingness to do thorough and extensive pictorial research. At the Mount Washington Auto Road Visitor Center, I thank Manager Howie Wemyss for his enthusiasm and his stories. At the New England Ski Museum, special thanks to Director Jeff Leich, who not only helped with images but also helped organize my thoughts about New Hampshires complicated ski history.
At the Mount Washington Hotel, I also want to thank Adventure Desk Manager Eileen Savoy for a tour of the hotel and Public Relations Manager Irene Donnell for her support and astute photographic research.
At the Appalachian Mountain Club Headquarters in Boston, I want to thank Senior Public Relations Manager Laura Hurley and AMC librarian Becky Fullerton, and Rob Burbank, AMC manager at Pinkham Notch.
At the MacDowell Colony, I thank Communications Director Brendan Tapley.
