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The full account of the 18th-century hanging of a school teacher is detailed in detailed in Carolyn Marvin's dramatic tale.

On a cold December morning in 1768, thirty-one-year-old Ruth Blay approached the gallows erected for her execution. Standing on the high ground in the northwest corner of what is now Portsmouth's old South Cemetery, she would have had a clear view across the pasture to the harbor and open sea. The eighteenth-century hanging of a schoolteacher for concealing the birth of a child out of wedlock has appeared in local legend over the last few centuries, but the full account of Ruth's story has never been told. Drawing on over two years of investigative research, author Carolyn Marvin brings to light the dramatic details of Ruth's life and the cruel injustice of colonial Portsmouth's moral code. As Marvin uncovers the real flesh-and-blood woman who suffered the ultimate punishment, her readers come to understand Ruth as an individual and a woman of her time.

Lebanon, located on the border of New Hampshire and Vermont, is the center of the largest micropolitan area in the United States and the only city in New Hampshire’s Grafton County, but its history has long been overshadowed by its cultural neighbors: Dartmouth College to the north, the Enfield Shaker community to the east, and the Cornish Colony to the south. Here, Lebanon’s history takes center stage, starting from its beginnings as valuable territory for the Indigenous Western Abenaki and the first European colonists on the banks of the Connecticut and Mascoma Rivers. Lebanon follows the city through its development as a railroad hub, its growth as a powerhouse of mill production, and its modern role as a center of healthcare and scientific innovation. This book showcases photographs from the collection of the Lebanon Historical Society—a one-of-a-kind archive of the area’s history. Generations of amateur historians and collectors have produced a resource of thousands of original images supplemented and informed by a vast trove of historical documents and artifacts. 

Considered to be one of the most scenic roads in America, the Kancamagus Highway draws thousands of tourists to New Hampshire annually.

The highway, which runs between Conway and Lincoln and through the towns of Albany and Waterville Valley, was fully opened in 1967, but the development of the highway itself took over 120 years to become a reality.  The Kancamagus is the gateway to the southern White Mountains and such celebrated natural sites as Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls, and Rocky Gorge, to name just a few.

Join historian and author Glenn Knoblock as he details the development of this Granite State treasure, and offers a comprehensive guide to all there is to see and do along the “Kanc”.

The native tribes collectively known as the Abenaki once thrived along the Granite State’s great rivers.

Comprised of the Penacook, Winnipesaukee, Pigwacket, Sokoki, Cowasuck, and Ossipee tribes, influences of these “men of the east” abound even today, from the boiling of sap for maple syrup to the game of lacrosse, and even traditional corn-and-bean succotash. Historian Bruce Heald has mined, curated, and saved the real story of this land’s first people. Learn unwritten laws of hospitality, respect for the aged, honesty, independence and courtesy evident among the Abenaki. Discover celebrations and innovations in the good times, and later, epidemics caused by European diseases, hostilities, and a culture’s enduring legacy.

Granted in 1763 and incorporated in 1777, Moultonborough was named in honor of Col. Jonathan Moulton, a legendary figure in state history. The town’s historical development is closely tied to its location between lakes and mountains and to transportation routes established during the 19th century. Before the advent of tourism, Moultonborough remained primarily an agricultural economy with local supporting industries. Expanding railway and steamboat lines in the late 19th century brought seasonal tourism along with summer homes, grand country estates, and recreational facilities. Long Island became a significant transportation hub, allowing people and goods to be transported all over Lake Winnipesaukee. By the mid-1830s, Moultonborough Corner, at the intersection of stagecoach routes between area towns and lakeside landings, grew into the municipal center. Moultonborough developed a tourism-based seasonal economy in the 20th century, and it is now best known for such landmark destinations as the Old Country Store and the Castle in the Clouds. It is also home to the annual Lee’s Mills Steamboat Meet.

The surpsing story of the Cog Railway on Mount Washington, and how one eccentric man's dream paved the way.

On July 3, 1869, the three-and-one-third-mile track leading to the summit of picturesque Mount Washington opened for public use. Once, only those daring enough to scale the 6,288 feet could enjoy the splendor of the scenery, but now everyone could journey to the summit using the invention of retired businessman Sylvester Marsh, who dreamed of this mountainous mode of transportation. Created at the height of the age of rail, the Cog Railway continues to chug up the mountain and into the hearts of tourists each year. Local historian Bruce D. Heald ties the history of its construction together with the grand romance of the railway as they triumphantly converge at the top of Mount Washington.

New Hampshire on Skis follows this development and the rise in popularity of skiing in the state. Such innovations as the Cannon Tram, operating from 1938, marked a high point of state-supported ski promotion. After World War II ended, development of ski areas began in earnest. In the late twentieth century and today, ski areas have combined their ski sport activity with other snow sports-snowboarding in particular. New Hampshire on Skis documents the growth of the ski industry in New Hampshire from its European beginnings to what is now one of the most popular winter destinations on the East Coast.

What could writers Louisa May Alcott and Henry David Thoreau have in common with the inventors of barbed wire, margarine and the washing machine?

They were all deeply moved by their time spent in the beautiful Monadnock region of southwest New Hampshire. Inspired by beloved local storyteller Fritz Wetherbee, Historical Society of Cheshire County director Alan F. Rumrill collected the stories of these notable people in his series, ""Monadnock Moments,"" broadcast on Keene radio station WKNE from 1985 to 2005. In this collection, Rumrill has gathered 100 of his most interesting vignettes and paired them with historic images, chronicling the lives of successful businessmen, politicians and soldiers, and spinning tales of disaster, murder and adventure that all had their roots in towns like Keene, Stoddard, Walpole and Jaffrey. Entertaining, informative, and often surprising, these snippets of history capture the essence of southwest New Hampshire.

In 1805, a member of a survey crew working on building a road through New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch walked down to Ferrin’s Pond (today’s Profile Lake), gazed up the side of Cannon Mountain, and was mesmerized by what he saw—the state’s most iconic symbol, the Old Man of the Mountain profile.

A few years later, the Flume Gorge, an 800-foot-long natural gorge, was discovered. These natural curiosities quickly gained national attention, and by the mid-1800s, Franconia Notch was a tourist mecca; the limited stagecoach travel through the notch became daily, and the simple overnight accommodations were replaced with the Flume House and the Profile House, two grand hotels that could accommodate hundreds of overnight guests. After fire destroyed the Profile House in 1923, the property was put for sale. A joint effort between the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the State of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Federation of Women’s Clubs led to the creation of the Franconia Notch Forest Reservation and Memorial Park (today’s Franconia Notch State Park) in 1928.

This book takes readers on a journey through the rich and fascinating history of Franconia Notch during the mid-19th to late 20th century.

From a small get-together in the early years of the twentieth century to an annual gathering of hundreds of thousands, discover the uncanny history and characters of Laconia Motorcycle Week.

Laconia Motorcycle Week is the oldest national motorcycle rally in the United States. Since 1916, motorcyclists have traveled to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire to enjoy the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains. In 1916, the sport of motorcycling had just begun, and the enthusiasm and participation has continued to grow exponentially throughout the years. As the oldest rally, Laconia Motorcycle Week has certainly seen the good times and the bad times. Since 1998, Laconia Motorcycle Week has averaged over 300,000 visitors into New Hampshire every June. The rally is made up of hundreds of individual motorcycle-related events throughout the state of New Hampshire.

The Portsmouth Naval Prison, now vacant, sits on Seavey Island on the Maine and New Hampshire border. Discover its intriguing history and fearsome reputation.

For over a century, the Castle or the Rock, with its deceptively appealing exterior, has kept both visitors and New Hampshire residents in its thrall. Since its opening in 1908 to its decommissioning in 1974 and into the present day, myth and lore have surrounded this iconic building. For the 66 years it functioned, any prisoner who escaped was brought back dead or alive - or so it has been said. Although the prison's fearsome reputation is cemented in Darryl Ponicsan's The Last Detail, Portsmouth was a forerunner in many ways. Routine inside often reflected the latest advancements in the field. Yet, designed or deserved, the prison's legacy remains an intriguing mix of dread and redemption.

How this roadside attraction became a BEAR-y big hit and turned into a must-see New Hampshire destination that still exists today!

In 1928, Edward and Florence Clark opened a roadside attraction in Lincoln, New Hampshire, for visitors to the White Mountains. Ed Clark's Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch featured guided tours with its purebred Eskimo sled dogs and artifacts from Labrador, Canada. The Stand offered souvenirs, tonic, and maple products to motorists. Three black bears, Soggle, Toggle and Woggle, joined the family in 1935, and the bears acted as the perfect visual attraction, gaining the attention of curious passersby.

In 1949, Ed and Murray, sons of Florence and Edward, began training black bears for show work. The Clark brothers and their bears delighted guests with humor and hospitality as they entertained and educated the audience. Generations later, that philosophy lives on as the Clarks offer bear shows, rides on the White Mountain Central Railroad, family entertainment, and good, honest fun to visitors. There are up to 20 family members working at Clark's Trading Post on any given day, including fifth-generation descendants.

Six groundbreaking essays by Sons of the American Revolution reveal the significance of New Hampshire's role in the Revolution

New Hampshire is one of the oldest American colonies and one of the tiniest, but its small size obscures the mighty importance of its role in the American War of Independence. New Hampshire was one of the first colonies to assert control over its own militia and seize gunpowder from imperial control. It sent more men to Bunker Hill than any other colony, created a state constitution, and declared independence months before the rest of America. The Granite State provided heroes and generals in every major military campaign and cast the decisive votes for the ratification of the country’s new constitution.

William Fahey reveals six penetrating and inspiring essays from the archives and records of the Sons of the American Revolution to bring this rousing tale to life.

Signs posted on the main roads leading into Hollis tell those who pass that they are entering an agricultural community, where pride in the beauty and peacefulness that farming brings to the town makes Hollis a special place.

In this photographic history, hundreds of vintage images of people, landscapes, buildings, and more offer a kaleidoscopic view into the past. The rural way of life, religious matters, sacrifices in times of war, and quiet country living are illustrated through insightful and compelling captions. Although the number of farms has drastically decreased over time, the Hollis area continues to contain thousands of acres of land under cultivation with a diversity of crops. Prosperous farmers of earlier centuries donated land to the town, sparking a tradition of conservation to preserve and protect natural resources such as waterways, forests, and animal corridors. Throughout the year, visitors come so they may enjoy all that farming has to offer or for recreation in Hollis’s forests or on the numerous ponds and waterways.

The Hollis Historical Society was formed in 1958 to preserve and honor the area’s past and connect residents with the history and heritage of the town. The society maintains two museums and their collections—the Always Ready Engine House and the Ruth Wheeler House, both located in the historic district of town. Hollis Historical Society members maintain genealogical databases and catalogs and preserve information and historic objects that are available to assist residents in research.

Around the landmarks of a village--the meetinghouse and common, the inn and the store--we see work and play, celebration and catastrophe; indeed all the elements of daily life as it was played out over a century of change.

Go off the beaten path and explore the captivating history of one of the Granite State's most remarkable places.

For two centuries, Mount Washington has been the object of countless writers' wonder and fascination. In this volume, more than twenty previously written pieces inspired by New England's highest peak have been carefully selected, and collectively these cover nearly every aspect of the mountain's storied past. Tag along on early explorations of the White Mountains and its fabled Presidential Range. Follow the history of the nation's first mountain-climbing train and witness many of Mount Washington's tales of human tragedies. Editor and area historian Mike Dickerman uncovers the fascinating history of one of the New Hampshire's most renowned natural wonders.

Chester sits on one of the highest points in Rockingham County.

In the 1700s, ships coming into Portsmouth Harbor could be seen. The glow from the 1872 Boston fire was visible in the southern sky. An ear on the ground could hear the cannons during the Revolutionary War. The area was first called Winfield, then Chestnut Country, then Cheshire, and finally Chester in 1722 when it was established. The history of the town of Chester is amazingly rich considering its small size.

There are three sites on the National Register of Historic Places in the center of town. It was home to three governors; two senators; several representatives; a stand-in first lady; a famous cello maker; a renowned furniture maker; the Vanderbilts of New York and Newport, Rhode Island; a Tony award-winning actress; the sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial; and a private college. With all this grandeur, Chester has maintained its quaintness.

Jackie Brown is a member of the Chester Historical Society and sifted through the museum’s archives and many private collections for these images. Chester Historical Society is committed to the preservation of knowledge about the history of Chester and supports the continuing education of what shaped the community.

New Hampshire’s seacoast may be just 18 miles long, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for with centuries of fascinating maritime history. Portsmouth developed along the banks of the Piscataqua River to become the state’s colonial capital and a center of trade and shipbuilding. Portsmouth Harbor’s 1771 lighthouse was the first lighthouse established in the American colonies north of Boston. A few miles offshore, Native Americans were fishing and hunting at the archipelago known as the Isles of Shoals for centuries before the islands were developed by European fishermen and settlers in the 1600s, and a lighthouse was established at the southernmost island in 1821. Inland, three wooden lighthouses were built on Lake Sunapee in the late 1800s to guide steamships full of vacationers to their destinations around the lake. All of these locations have stories to tell of dedicated keepers and their families, shipwrecks, rescues, and much more.

New Hampshire Covered Bridges is a photographic study of the state's enclosed wooden spans that date from as far back as 1827. The book contains rare photographs of historic bridges that no longer exist, as well as pictures of many that still stand today. The images are accompanied by detailed information about the design and construction of covered bridges and the men who built them. Each bridge has its own life story. Some have defied floods and hurricanes and still stand; others have fallen victim to nature or arson or the demands of modern transportation.

From iron works to tourism, explore the sweeping landscapes of Franconia and Sugar Hill throughout the centuries

Although geographically contiguous and linked by their shared industries of early iron works and later tourism, Franconia and Sugar Hill are unique areas with distinct personalities that have developed over the years. The discovery of rich deposits of iron ore in Sugar Hill in the late 1700s and the establishment of iron works in Franconia brought the two areas together in a working partnership. The coming of the railroads brought tourism into both communities, with Franconia supplying the scenery with its mountains and far-famed Franconia Notch, and Sugar Hill rounding out the scenery with a generous offering of grand summer hotels. The sharing of the summer tourist industry was greatly broadened by the development of skiing in the early part of the present century. Again, Franconia provided the major terrain and Sugar Hill provided many of the guest accommodations, including the first formal ski school at the prestigious Peckett's Inn. With all of its attributes, the area has attracted a number of notables, including movie star Bette Davis.

The New Hampshire Seacoast has a wealth of overlooked history - some remnants are hidden in plain sight, while others are just plain hidden.

Meet the minister and early religious founder who was involved in an armed confrontation in Dover with another preacher in 1640. Find out how a one-time high school assistant principal in Rochester became a world-famous business leader and ended up meeting President Grover Cleveland. Discover the story of “ghost” racetracks in Somersworth before they disappear, as well as the “pile of rocks” that stopped a multimillion-dollar building project in Windham. Author Terry Nelson reveals some of New England’s most fascinating history, from Durham and Madbury to North Hampton and Portsmouth.

Welcome to New Hampshire! Parent and child snowshoe hares tour New Hampshire in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, New Hampshire! join the pair as they boat on the lakes, ride the Cog Railway Train, and explore the rocks of Polar Caves! Along the way, visit historic Portsmouth, meet animals at the farm, and hike or ski in the mountains! For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

Ghost stories from Nashua, New Hampshire have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 

Welcome to spooky Nashua, New Hampshire!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know that Nashua's historic Clocktower Place is buzzing with supernatural activity? Or that when the sun goes down in Mine Falls Park, ghostly miners wander the woods in search of hidden treasure? Can you believe that on autumn nights, when the moon shines bright, a mischievous spirit takes the shape of a raccoon?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Nashua forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Ghost stories from Amherst, New Hampshire have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky roads of Amherst, New Hampshire! 

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know Town Hall once had skeletons in the basement? Or that a haunted cottage sits near the shores of Baboosic Lake? Can you believe ghostly wolves roam the forests at night, their eerie howls echoing until dawn? 

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Amherst, New Hampshire forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

The town of Stoddard, located in the Monadnock Region of southwest New Hampshire, is blessed with a handsomely severe landscape of forests, lakes, and hills admired for their natural beauty. Hundreds of farm families settled in the town between 1768 and 1820. When the rock-laden and thin-soiled farms failed in the mid-1800s, the town turned to industry to survive. An extensive woodenware industry and a nationally known glass industry provided employment through the 19th century. Those industries also failed by the early 20th century, and the town’s population toppled by more than 90 percent. The introduction of the automobile revived the community, allowing families to easily visit the town’s numerous lakes and ponds. Stoddard became a tourist destination as the 20th century progressed. Today, two-thirds of the land area has been conserved as natural open space, most of it available for public use. Stoddard’s natural beauty and unaltered historic character are enjoyed by visitors and a growing population of permanent residents.

With the development of photography in the mid-nineteenth century the grandeur of Littleton's mountain scenery soon began to attract photographers to the area, and their images of the mirror-like lakes, winding rivers, dense, dark forests, and craggy mountains began a tourist boom that continues to this day.

Join author and longtime Cannon skier Meghan McCarthy McPhaul to learn about the history of this historic mountain that is steeped in legends and lore.

Rising at the western edge of New Hampshire's magnificently beautiful Franconia Notch State Park, the granite-domed mountain has been the playground of skiers since the 1930s. Here, the country's first down-mountain ski trail was cleared in 1933, the first aerial tramway was built on the mountain and the first professional ski patrol was established. More than a dozen members of the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame--whose contributions to the sport include historic racing feats, the development of ski techniques and designing countless ski areas across the country and around the world--have called Cannon their home hill.

Discover the ghosts of former ski areas that made the White Mountains the destination it is today.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are world-renowned for the array of skiing opportunities offered to every skier, from beginner to gold-medal Olympian. Today over a dozen resorts entice tourists and locals each year with their well-manicured trails, high-speed lifts and slope-side lodging. But scattered throughout this region are long-forgotten ski areas that can still be found. In the White Mountains alone, 60 ski areas have closed since the 1930s. Author Jeremy Davis has compiled rare photographs, maps and personal memories to ensure these beloved ski outposts that have been cherished by generations of skiers are given recognition for transforming the White Mountains into a premier ski destination.

Six groundbreaking essays by Sons of the American Revolution reveal the significance of New Hampshire's role in the Revolution

New Hampshire is one of the oldest American colonies and one of the tiniest, but its small size obscures the mighty importance of its role in the American War of Independence. New Hampshire was one of the first colonies to assert control over its own militia and seize gunpowder from imperial control. It sent more men to Bunker Hill than any other colony, created a state constitution, and declared independence months before the rest of America. The Granite State provided heroes and generals in every major military campaign and cast the decisive votes for the ratification of the country’s new constitution.

William Fahey reveals six penetrating and inspiring essays from the archives and records of the Sons of the American Revolution to bring this rousing tale to life.

The islands of southern Lake Winnipesaukee have a rich and diverse history.

The first summer home on Sleepers Island was Hale’s castle, a replica of a medieval castle constructed by the same stone masons who built Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough. An indigenous archeological site and other relics have been uncovered on Rattlesnake Island. Treasure Island and Cub Island were originally developed as a boy’s summer camp. Diamond Island was a stop for the steamboat Lady of the Lake, and the Diamond Island House was cut in half and moved across the lake to become the Hotel Weirs. In later years, the U.S. Navy established a research station on the island.

Local author and islander Stephanie Erickson shares the history of the islands and how they have shaped the culture of the islanders today. 

With its lush forests, fertile land, and abundant waterways, Epping began attracting European settlers as early as 1710, before incorporating as an independent town in 1741.

The town became home to successful farms, lumber operations, and mills built along the Lamprey River. Clay that lay beneath the fertile soil emerged as an important resource when commercial brickyards began popping up all over town in 1822. Epping became a crossroads for multiple rail lines, which spurred economic development and population booms. In 1862, undeveloped land became home to the Methodist campground Camp Hedding. Factories, especially those specializing in shoes, were established in the area as well. Epping's industrial concerns lasted until the late 20th century, when it grew as a retail center at the junction of Routes 101 and 125. Epping has been home to prominent residents, including a Revolutionary War general, three New Hampshire governors, a world heavyweight boxing champion, the first person to circumnavigate the world on a motorcycle, and a female collegiate basketball great.

Documenting the history of Lake Winnipesaukee from its early Native American heritage to the lasting legacy of the first American settlers.

A world unto itself, Lake Winnipesaukee and its environs have attracted and sustained a variety of cultures over the past centuries from early American Indian tribes to New World settlers to today's seasonal tourists. Whether Indian hunter, aspiring pioneer or modern-day angler, each, in turn, fell for the region's wild allure: its sheer natural beauty, fertile soils, and waters teeming with an assortment of fish, including great quantities of shad, salmon, pickerel, smelt, and trout. Within this magnificent setting, scores of hardy and resolute frontier men and women worked tirelessly to fashion homes and towns along the bays, tributaries, islands and shoreline of the lake.

With over 150 accompanying illustrations, the many stories recorded in this unique volume evoke memories of a simpler way of life, when the lake was evolving from a scattering of humble villages, like Laconia, Meredith, and Wolfeboro, and just beginning to toy with a budding tourist industry. Readers of many generations will enjoy reliving the early summer camps, upstart businesses and the variety of entertainment and recreation the lake's waters have provided, such as canoe trips, steamships rides and ski boat adventures.