Posts Tagged: crawford notch



May History, White Mountains

12 May
2021
May history, East Branch of the Pemigewasset River in Lincoln, New Hampshire USA during the spring months.
East Branch of the Pemigewasset River – White Mountains, New Hampshire
 

May History, White Mountains – Throughout the years, a number of historical events in the White Mountains happened in May. One event that took place over one hundred years ago still benefits us today, and New Hampshire lost an icon during this month in 2003. Included here are a few interesting May events.

The most significant event took place on May 16, 1918. On this day, President Woodrow Wilson signed Executive Order 1449 creating the White Mountain National Forest in Maine and New Hampshire. Consisting of nearly 800,000 acres, the White Mountain National Forest attracts millions of visitors every year.

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May 12, 2021 | Categories: Monthly History | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Ripley Falls, Crawford Notch

25 Jun
2019
Ripley Falls on Avalanche Brook in Hart's Location, New Hampshire USA during the spring months. The Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail travels pass this scenic waterfall.
Ripley Falls – Crawford Notch, New Hampshire
 

Ripley Falls, Crawford Notch – Located on Avalanche Brook in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, the 100 foot Ripley Falls is one of the more picturesque waterfalls in the White Mountains. The Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail passes by this waterfall. And while the waterfall is impressive, the history of Ripley Falls and Avalanche Brook is intriguing.

There seems to be some confusion on who first discovered Ripley Falls. Most accounts say Henry W. Ripley and a Mr. Porter first discovered the waterfall in September 1858. But other accounts say a fisherman found the waterfall before Ripley. And another account says Henry W. Ripley was a companion of the legendary Abel Crawford (1766–1851), who discovered the waterfall while out trapping sable.

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June 25, 2019 | Categories: Waterfalls | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Crawford House, Gibbs Brook Dam

15 Jul
2018
Crawford House c. 1906 in the New Hampshire White Mountains by the Detroit Publishing Company. Courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection,[LC-DIG-det-4a13669].
c. 1906 Crawford House – Courtesy Library of Congress, LC-DIG-det-4a13669
 

Crawford House, Gibbs Brook Dam – If you are familiar with New Hampshire’s forgotten grand resorts, then you know the historic Crawford House in Carroll. In 1828 Abel Crawford and his son, Ethan Allen built the Notch House near Elephant’s Head. It was destroyed by fire in 1854. The first Crawford House was built in the 1850s and destroyed by fire in 1859. And the second Crawford House, seen above in 1906, was built in 1859. It burned to the ground in November 1977. The history of the Crawford House property is a little confusing because some historians refer to the Notch House as the “first Crawford House” while others do not.

Numerous improvements were made to the Crawford House over the years. And at one point Saco Lake was enlarged and deepened (M.F. Sweetser’s 1876 White Mountains: a handbook for travellers guide). The resort was known worldwide, and notable guests include Daniel Webster, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thomas Starr King, and a few presidents.

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July 15, 2018 | Categories: Abandoned Places | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Mt Willard Section House Vandalism

08 Jun
2016
mt willard - Location of the Mt. Willard Section House, which was at the end of the Willey Brook Trestle along the old Maine Central Railroad in the White Mountains, New Hampshire USA. This section house was built by the Maine Central Railroad in 1887 to house the section foreman and crew who maintained the track. From 1903-1942 the Hattie Evans family lived at the house, it was destroyed by fire in 1972.
Mt. Willard Section House Site – Maine Central Railroad, Crawford Notch
 

Mt Willard Section House Vandalism – In April 2016 the Conway Scenic Railroad, on their Facebook page, posted that the Evan’s family monument at the Mt Willard Section House site had been recently vandalized. I visited the section house site last month and was disappointed to see the vandalism. The monument looks to be permanently damaged.

The Mt. Willard Section House site is located along the old Maine Central Railroad in New Hampshire, next to the historic Willey Brook Trestle, in Crawford Notch. Since 1995 the Conway Scenic Railroad, which provides passenger excursion trains, has been using the track.

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June 8, 2016 | Categories: Human Impact on Nature | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Kedron Flume, Crawford Notch State Park

17 Feb
2015
Crawford Notch State Park - Kedron Flume in Harts Location, New Hampshire USA during the spring months. The Kedron Flume Trail crosses this brook.
Kedron Flume – Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire
 

Kedron Flume, Crawford Notch State Park – Kedron Flume is located on Kedron Brook in Hart's Location, New Hampshire. The flume can be reached by parking at the hiking parking lot along Route 302, next to the Willey House, in Crawford Notch State Park. From the parking lot hike the Kedron Flume Trail (starts behind the Willey House) for three quarters of a mile until you reach Kedron Brook.

Just above and below where Kedron Flume Trail crosses Kedron Brook is where most consider the flume to be. The cascade just below the trail crossing, I find to be the most interesting. And during spring snow-melt it looks awesome! Waterfall buffs and photographers will also find the flume interesting after heavy rains.

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February 17, 2015 | Categories: Waterfalls | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

English Jack, Hermit of Crawford Notch

24 Apr
2013
Hermit of Crawford Notch (John Vials) gravestone at Straw Road Cemetery in Twin Mountain, New Hampshire USA. He died on April 24, 1912 and was known as "English Jack". He lived in a shack at the "Gate of the Notch" along the old Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad. History states he was a tourist attraction.
English Jack, Hermit of Crawford Notch – Straw Road Cemetery, Twin Mountain
 

English Jack, Hermit of Crawford Notch – English Jack, known as the "Hermit of Crawford Notch”, died on April 24, 1912. Born in the 1820s in London, and believed to have been orphaned at age 12, his real name was John Vials. He spent years working on ships (England) but ended up coming to Crawford Notch, New Hampshire to help build the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad. The railroad through the notch was completed in 1875 to Fabyans, but he stayed in the area.

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April 24, 2013 | Categories: Interesting Characters | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »