New Maple

New Maple, originally uploaded by erich352011.

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Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, originally uploaded by NixBC.

Portsmouth waterfront.

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Enfield, New Hampshire

Enfield, New Hampshire I, originally uploaded by greyscale4.

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From Wikipedia

History of Enfield, NH

The town was incorporated in 1761 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. First named Enfield by settlers from Enfield, Connecticut, the town was renamed Relhan in 1766 to honor Dr. Anthony Relhan (ca. 1715-1776). The doctor was a promoter of sea-bathing as a curative, making Brighton, England, a fashionable resort. Following the American Revolution, the New Hampshire town was renamed Enfield in 1784. [2]

The first European settlers in town were Jonathan Paddleford and family who arrived, after the successful conclusion of the French and Indian War, between 1765 and 1772.[3]

On the southwest shore of Mascoma Lake is Enfield Shaker Village, once a utopian religious community of Shakers, renowned for simple and functional architecture and furniture. Established in 1793 and called Chosen Vale, the village was subdivided into several "Families", with men and women leading pious, celibate and industrious lives. Although the genders shared dormitories, like Enfield's Great Stone Dwelling built between 1837-1841, the sexes used separate doors and stairways. They practiced ecstatic singing and dancing, an expression of their worship, which earned them the appellation: Shaking Quakers, or Shakers.

Several trades operated at the village, from agriculture and packaging of seeds, to manufacture of brooms, brushes, spinning-wheels, and furniture. To speed delivery of products to the railroad across Mascoma Lake, in 1849 the community erected Shaker Bridge.

The Shaker movement crested in the 1840s, with 19 "societies" scattered from Maine to Kentucky and west to Indiana. But growing employment opportunities created by the Industrial Revolution, as near as the mill town of Lebanon, enticed away potential and practicing church members. Others grew disaffected with celibacy, self-abnegation, and communal ownership of property. Indeed, Mary Marshall Dyer, once a member of the Enfield church, became an outspoken Anti-Shaker. Eventually the village would close and, in 1927, be sold to the La Salette Brotherhood of Montreal, a Catholic order noted for its Christmas display. In 1986, Enfield Shaker Village was established as a museum.

Twin Bridges Stream - Merrimack , NH

Twin Bridges Stream - Merrimack , NH, originally uploaded by spdd081603.

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When asked when the best time to visit waterfalls in NH, Matt Goodwin of Re: The best time to visit waterfalls

The best time to view waterfalls in new Hampshire tend to be in the Spring during mud season but even after that they can be very nice (and not so muddy).

The mountains will still have snow melt that contributes to many of the waterfalls in the state.

What we do is watch the northern NH webcams, like The Balsams Webcam. This can be a good indication of the amount of snow in Northern NH. We wait until the snow cover is gone and the tail end of the mud season before we go.

Have fun with the waterfalls!

Old Man of the Mountains Franconia, New Hampshire

Old Man of the Mountains Franconia, New Hampshire, originally uploaded by Jeff Wignall.

This is the famous Old Man of the Mountains (aka Old Stone Face) that looked down on Profile Lake in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire for thousands of years. The great stone face came crashing to the valley floor on May 3, 2003 after a very tough winter. The photo was shot on Kodak Ektachrome film, by the way. You can read more about it the photo (and why it's important to shoot things when you see them!) on my: Travel Photography Blog . Read what Daniel Webster had to say about the Old Man (scroll to bottom of page). Copyright 2008 Jeff Wignall, all rights reserved.

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Today, May 3rd, is the eighter anniversary of the falling of the iconic Man of the Mountain. So iconic was the stone formation on the side of a cliff in Franconia, used on everything from our state highway signs to our state quarter and license plates, that many NHites worried that the state had lost its identity. Now, eight years later, it is evident that the Old Man lives on in the hearts of NHites. We can never forget you, Old Man!

Foggy Tree Reflection

Foggy Tree Reflection, originally uploaded by mattcnh.

Facebook

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And in the lowlands, Spring is here. :)

Dodge's Drop

Dodge's Drop, originally uploaded by kevinjh87.

Skiing Dodge's Drop on Mt Washington on April 30, 2011 with pretty ideal conditions

Photo credit to Chris Malvey

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While Spring is in full force in New Hampshire, it is still a perfect time to hit the slopes. There's nothing like Spring Skiing!

Women's Lacrosse 2011 Ivy League Champions

Women's Lacrosse 2011 Ivy League Champions, originally uploaded by Dartmouth Flickr.

Congratulations to the Dartmouth women's lacrosse team, the 2011 Ivy League champs! The 14th-ranked Big Green topped Harvard 14-7 at Scully-Fahey Field with President Jim Yong Kim and a huge crowd cheering them on. The win also marks Head Coach Amy Patton's 100th career Ivy League win. Go Green! Learn more at www.dartmouthsports.com.

(photo by Bonnie Barber)

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Congratulations! :)

Spring Trees

Spring Trees, originally uploaded by nhexplorer.

Another spring view of the Hunt Memorial building.

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For 68 years, the Hunt Memorial Building served as the Nashua Public Library until the city outgrew the building and a new and larger facility was built on Court St. in 1971.

The Hunt is now owned by the city and managed by a volunteer board of trustees. Designed by noted American architect and New Hampshire native Ralph Adams Cram, the building opened to the public in 1903 and was entered on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1971.

In May, 2004, Cram and Ferguson, successor to Ralph Adams Cram's firm, completed a Facility Master Plan for the full restoration and renovation of the Hunt. This effort is currently underway utilizing public and private funding.

In 2009 the Nashua Board of Alderman approved a City Building Improvements bond issue which included funds for for the restoration of the Hunt Building. The building was closed for contruction February 1, 2011 and the trustees expect to reopen it in Fall, 2011.

The restoration of the Hunt Memorial Building to its original splendor while making it available for public use in keeping with the intent of the original gift to the people of Nashua. The newly restored building will be available for lectures, concerts, theatre, meetings and receptions and as a home for non-profits and creative arts organizations. In addition it will provide 6 private offices/conference rooms for lease.

Augustus Saint-Gaudens IV

Augustus Saint-Gaudens IV, originally uploaded by greyscale4.

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Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site
Discover the beautiful home, studios and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of America’s greatest sculptors. Over 100 of his artworks can be seen in the galleries, from heroic public monuments to expressive portrait reliefs, and the gold coins which changed the look of American coinage. Enjoy summer concerts, explore nature trails, or indulge your hidden talents during a sculpture class.

Reflections

Reflections, originally uploaded by rgallant_photography.

Went to one of my favorite spots - Sunrise lake - Easter Sunday. I went for the sunset but got this instead. The water was so calm it was like a mirror.

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Muskrat Busy Eating

Muskrat Busy Eating, originally uploaded by dlv1.

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Some more Spring goodness from New Hampshire!

Did you know that muskrats can stay underwater for 15 minutes? Me either.

Happy Easter!

dreamy, originally uploaded by debthepicturelady.

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Lined Sky

Lined Sky, originally uploaded by Patrick Turek.

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Dover Mill Reflecting Sunset

Dover Mill Reflecting Sunset, originally uploaded by erich352011.

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A History of Dover's Mills

We've come so far.


It is fitting that we recount here portions of an editorial entitled "The City is United to Keep the Mills" written on November 13, 1941 in Foster’s Daily Democrat:

When the city councils vote unanimously…the plan to keep the Pacific Mills Property by city purchase, it is time someone stood up and cheered. Dover has been a great old city in days gone by. It has traditions which few municipalities can claim. And these are mightier than folks realize.

The history of Dover is one of sacrifice and struggle, but of victory.The great fires which have struck the city have not dampened the enthusiasm of the citizens. Always from the ruins better buildings came into being.

And now that the Pacific Mills are a memory except for the buildings, the citizens do not propose to let any wrecking company walk away with the grand prize. The city of Dover stands ready to bid and get the property for future industrial developments right here.

It may be that this will mean more to us than anything else which has taken place in recent years. It may well be the start of a larger life for the city. When public spirited citizens stand together for a common and noble purpose they are always invincible.

How prophetic and how true! We cannot imagine traveling down Central Avenue and not seeing those colossal brick structures on our left side. The mills created Dover and they should stand forever as its symbol of history, purpose and expectation.

General Stark - "Live Free or Die"

General Stark - "Live Free or Die", originally uploaded by dlv1.

Cloudy gloomy day - was doing an Earthcache (see www.geocaching.com) at the State House and snapped a few shots with my point and shoot. It was a dreary day. General Stark was a Revolutionary Hero and the State's motto "Life Free or Die" is attributed to him. The statue was erected in 1890.

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"Live Free Or Die;
Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils."

-- General John Stark as extracted from a toast on July 31, 1809. Due to poor health, General Stark was unable to attend the anniversary reunion of the Battle of Bennington in which he fought. Stark is New Hampshire's most famous Revolutionary War hero.

"Live Free or Die" was adopted in 1945 by the state of New Hampshire as the official state motto and was adopted at the same time as the official state emblem on which the motto appears.

Strawberry House

Strawberry House, originally uploaded by Tyler Aldrich.

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Strawbery Banke is about connecting with the past.

Visitors to Strawbery Banke have the opportunity to experience and imagine how people lived and worked in this typical American neighborhood throughout four centuries of history. Through its restored houses, its featured exhibits, its historic landscapes and gardens, and its interpretive programs, Strawbery Banke tells the stories of the many generations who settled in the Portsmouth, NH, community from the late l7th to the mid-20th century.