Littleton

Sep 22

Today we headed off to explore the southern countryside. Our first stop was Littleton, NH. This little town was holding an arts and crafts fair as well as a car show. So Mike and my uncle Bill went off to find the cars and the rest of us wandered through the arts and crafts fair.

This then took us across the town covered bridge and we toured the working gristmill. The mill was started in 1797 by Solomon Mann who built a dam and then erected not only the grist mill but a saw mill also. At that time the prime source of power was an overshot wheel that utilized the water stored behind the dam.

Now the dam is gone but the mill still runs with an undershot water source when the water in the river is high enough. The rest of the time electrical power is used. The mill has been restored and the flour produced is sold throughout New Hampshire.

Our next stop was the Bath General Store, it is billed as the oldest general store in America. It had everything and lots of few samples, fudge, cheese, sausage, and pepperoni. We all had a blast.

As we were taking pictures of the outside my uncle was admiring a Harley sitting there. The owner told him to go ahead and sit on it. His statement as he was sitting there was "I always wanted one of these." It was great to see an 87 year old man living a dream.

We got pictures of the bridge and enjoyed ice cream from the small ice cream shop next door and then we were off and running again.

The intent was to explore the Lost River Gorge but after reading the sign, 300' descent, 1000 stairs, crawling through caves and then climbing back up we realized that the older ones would not be able to do this so we just looked around the store and headed up the road to the Beaver Pond for a Kodak moment.

From there we were off to Robert Frost's home in Franconia. This is a small house with tours that is still lived in during the summer by an up and coming poet. It gives them a chance for reflection and a change of pace from their normal lives. The site is lovely with trails and benches to sit in. It was a nice break from the driving.

Next it was on to Sugar Hill an area where Roger and Linda had stayed once before. There is a cute little church here, St. Matthew's Chapel a museum and gift shop. We explored the museum and did all the tasting in the gift shop.

In thr 1880's Sugar Hill became one of the famed summer resorts in the White Mountains. The area would swell with over 1000 visitors to the four grand hotels in the area. Many of the familes came for the entire summer and the nearest Espicopol Church was in Littleton nine miles away, a long ride by horse and buggy or the new "motor car."

So, in 1893 the cornerstone was laid and the vu9iding dedicated the following August. At that time the building was painted a dark red with a solid stone foundation. The church still holds services during July, August and one Sunday in September.

Next, Bethlehem and we thought we would get dinner. As we went through Franconia we turned off at the Stone Iron Furnace, the only blast furnace still standing in New Hampshire. This is the remains of a 200-year-old iron smelter. It is 32 feet high, built of local granite and lined with firebrick laid in a cylindrical shape. The space between he firebrick and stone exterior is filled with clay.

The farmers burned trees to make charcoal to fire the furnace. It ceased operation in the late 1860's as the ore and trees diminished and iron production in Pennsylvania progressed at less cost. (Hopewell Furnace)

We got to Bethlehem and it took us over 30 minutes to find the restaurant. We drove through town several times, asked several people and through some misunderstood directions we got messed up few times but eventually found it. Dinner was good eaten on the patio and it was still light enough for us to go on a moose hunt.

After several passes along the area where the moose are suppose to be and no moose we called it a night and headed for home.

Sep 22, 2007

Show all 7 photos