Posts Tagged: abandoned



Forgotten White Mountains

25 Jun
2017
Photos showing the forgotten White Mountains. Mount Washington from the summit of Mount Jefferson in the White Mountains, New Hampshire USA during the summer months.
Mount Washington – White Mountains, New Hampshire
 

Forgotten White Mountains – When most think about the New Hampshire White Mountains, the beauty of the region first comes to mind. The mighty Mount Washington rules the Presidential Range and keeps visitors of the area busy for hours. And during the winter months, ski areas offer an unforgettable view of the mountains blanketed in snow. The White Mountains are an outdoor lover’s paradise.

What I just described is tourism (camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, etc.) and it has been a big part of the White Mountains since the early days. And it has been said the historic August 1826 Willey landslide tragedy in Crawford Notch had a connection to the rise of tourism in America. Now in the 21st century, historical sites are of great interest to many, so today I am going to share a few photos of the forgotten White Mountains.

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June 25, 2017 | Categories: Town History | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Thornton Gore Hill Farming Settlement

20 Mar
2017
Remnants of an old hay rake at Thornton Gore in Thornton, New Hampshire.
Old Hay Rake – Thornton Gore, New Hampshire
 

Thornton Gore Hill Farming Settlement – Many consider Thornton Gore or the "Gore” to be the northern section of Thornton New Hampshire in the area of where Talford and Eastman Brook meet. However, I am currently reading Family Farm by Dick Bradley. And he refers to farms that were located just north of Johnson Brook as being part of the Gore. That area seems to be a little further south of the area today’s historians consider to be the Gore. But because Bradley lived in the Gore, I would have to say his information is accurate.

My work is based on an 1860 map of Thornton by H.F. Walling, a couple of historic resources, and days of field research. And I have focused mainly on the area surrounding Talford and Eastman Brook. This section of Thornton Gore had a bunch of farms, a few mills, a school, two cemeteries, and a church. The 1860 map I am using shows at least twenty-two dwellings in this area.

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March 20, 2017 | Categories: Abandoned Places | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Can You Identify These Artifacts

06 Mar
2017
Can you identify these artifacts at Camp 10 along the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948) in the Pemigewasset Wilderness of Franconia, New Hampshire.
Unidentified Artifact – East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948)
 

Can You Identify These Artifacts – When documenting historic sites in the New Hampshire White Mountains one of the biggest challenges I face is trying to identify some of the artifacts I photograph. In the big picture of my historical work, identifying what the artifact is and its purpose is important. And because of this, I have to do an extensive amount of research on some artifacts.

So I want to share with you some of the artifacts I have come across that I have yet to identify. I suspect a few of you out there can identify these artifacts. And I would be thrilled if you would share your knowledge with me. I plan on adding a few more artifacts I have yet to identify to this blog article in the future.

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March 6, 2017 | Categories: Railroads | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Updating The Culture & History Portfolios

13 Dec
2016
Culture & history of the White Mountains. Remnants of an abandoned cellar hole at Thornton Gore in Thornton, New Hampshire during the autumn months. Thornton Gore is the site of an old hill farming community that abandoned during the 19th century. Based on an 1860 historical map of Grafton County this is believed to have been the P.P. Merrill homestead.
Thornton Gore – White Mountains, New Hampshire
 

Culture & History Portfolios – Every year during the month of December most of my time is spent doing “behind the scenes” work. This work (such as keywording 1000 images in the last two days) is not that exciting, but I need to complete it before the end of the year. This time of year is also when I update the image galleries on my website with new images I shot during 2016.

I am currently in the process of updating my culture and history portfolios. These portfolios showcase my documentary work that focuses on historic preservation in the New Hampshire White Mountains. They are intended to create awareness for the importance of preserving our past. And also to show a side of the White Mountains not often seen.

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December 13, 2016 | Categories: Abandoned Places | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Historic Stone Structures, White Mountains

22 Nov
2016
Historic Stone Structures, remnants of the old 1800s Summit House (foundation) on the summit of Mount Lafayette in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Appalachian Trail travels across this summit.
1800s Summit House Site – Mount Lafayette, New Hampshire
 

Historic Stone Structures, White Mountains – In my work documenting historic sites in the New Hampshire White Mountains I have photographed some interesting and unique stone structures. Visiting an abandoned 1800s homestead in the middle of the forest is a surreal experience. And today I want to share with you some of the interesting structures that remain in the forest.

I realize that everyone interprets the term “historic” differently. So for this blog article, a historic stone structure is anything over fifty years old. And these structures can be anything from old cellar holes to abandoned stone staircases that seem to lead to nowhere. Keep in mind, historic sites are protected and should not be disturbed.

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November 22, 2016 | Categories: Abandoned Places | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Five Historic Sites To Visit, White Mountains

21 Mar
2016
Remnants of the historic powerhouse at the abandoned town of Livermore during the autumn months. This was a logging town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along the Sawyer River Logging Railroad in Livermore, New Hampshire. The town and railroad was owned by the Saunders family.
Ghost Town of Livermore – White Mountains, New Hampshire
 

Five Historic Sites To Visit, White Mountains – Many historic sites in the New Hampshire White Mountains are well known among locals and tourists while others remain forgotten deep in the forest and probably will never be rediscovered. The known sites can help create awareness for historic preservation.

Today I want to share with you a few of the historic sites that are worth visiting in the White Mountains region. I have spent many days exploring and photographing the historic sites included in this blog article. Each site is unique and helps tell the fascinating story of the White Mountains.

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March 21, 2016 | Categories: Abandoned Places | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Swift River Railroad, New Hampshire

07 Dec
2015
Autumn foliage from the Boulder Loop Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Boulder Loop Trail has excellent views of the Swift River Valley. During the autumn months is the best time to hike this trail.
Swift River Valley – White Mountains, New Hampshire
 

Swift River Railroad, New Hampshire – Incorporated in March 1903, the Swift River Railroad was a logging railroad in the Swift River valley of the New Hampshire White Mountains. It was operated by the Conway Company and was in operation from 1906-1916. The railroad began in Conway, at the Conway Company’s sawmill, and traveled up the Swift River valley following the Swift River and much of today’s Kancamagus Scenic Byway. It ended somewhere beyond Pine Bend Brook, below Mount Kancamagus.

It is hard to envision the Swift River valley (above) stripped of its timber. But for ten years, this area was heavily logged which is only a part of the history surrounding this valley. To absorb all the history of this valley in one blog article may be overwhelming so I will briefly touch base on two other interesting features of this area.

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December 7, 2015 | Categories: Railroads | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Village of Livermore, New Hampshire

16 Nov
2015
Foundation of the sawmill in the abandoned town of Livermore during the autumn months. This was a logging town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along the Sawyer River Railroad in the New Hampshire White Mountains. Both the town and railroad were owned by the Saunders family.
Sawmill – Livermore, New Hampshire
 

Village of Livermore, New Hampshire – Incorporated by the state of New Hampshire in 1876, Livermore was a logging town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The village of Livermore was located along the Sawyer River Railroad, on the Sawyer River, in the White Mountains. Both the railroad and town were owned by the Saunders family. At its peak, the population of Livermore was around 150-200 people, but as time progressed more and more people left the town. The town of Livermore was officially dissolved in 1951.

The history of Livermore has been well documented over the years. So instead of repeating what can be easily found on the internet, I will take you on a photo tour of one of the more interesting ghost towns in the New Hampshire White Mountains.

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November 16, 2015 | Categories: Abandoned Places | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »