New Hampshire

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.

Located in the southern region of the White Mountains, Campton was granted its charter in 1767 by Gov. John Wentworth, who was in office between 1767 and 1775. Early settlers from Connecticut and Massachusetts were lured by the beauty of the rivers and mountains and beckoned by the fertile fields and virgin forests. Generations that followed the Abenaki Indians transitioned from an agrarian society to one now dominated by the hospitality industry, providing today's inhabitants with jobs in tourism and recreation. Although local ski resorts and neighboring Plymouth State University remain the largest employers in the area, an increase in small businesses and self-employment opportunities began in the mid-20th century. However, it was the completion of I-93 through Campton in the late 1960s that changed many lives, providing an easy commute to jobs outside the immediate area. Without abandoning the values of its founders and what it means to be a community, Campton has fully embraced change over the centuries.

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. 

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.

In the 1950s and 1960s Concord was technically a city, but it more closely resembled a small town. Remote from the larger world, change was slow to arrive – the stunning death of a popular young President, and a war that would tear the country apart and reassemble it as something nobody recognized.

But those innocent decades were a seemingly endless summer, and young residents reveled in it. Riding bikes through the National Guard Armory grounds, hitching a snowy slide on the back of a mail truck and walking barefoot to the corner store for a Coke from the big red cooler. Entertainment was always free, from the Nevers Band to amateur fashion shows.

Author Kathleen Bailey and photographer Sheila Bailey unveil a portrait of a town during a simpler time.

Uniquely New Hampshire

New Hampshire has always been fiercely independent, and its history, museums and festivals reflect that trait. Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe broke baseball’s color barrier with the Nashua Dodgers in 1946, and Holman Stadium is now a stop on the Black Heritage Trail. Three of the state’s historic mansions—the Fells, the Castle in the Clouds and the Saint-Gaudens historic site—remain as impressive today as when they were built. Portsmouth’s historic homes give a portrait of life in colonial and Revolutionary times. From the New England Telephone Museum in Warner to the Exeter UFO Festival, the state has a wealth of history on display.

Kathleen D. Bailey and Sheila R. Bailey lead a trip through the past and present of the Granite State’s most memorable sites.

From its start as a farming community, Pelham has been a place for dreamers and visionaries. It has been home to NASA astronaut Richard Linnehan and current NASCAR host Meghan Lamontagne, who made her television debut winning America's Funniest Home Videos. Pelham has many other residents who may not have reached for the stars but instead focused on making a great community. Harry Atwood ran Atwood's Store, which housed the post office until 1965. Aunt Molly served as librarian at the Pelham Public Library for more than 55 years. The Harris family's Pelham Inn has always welcomed visitors from all over the region. Originally a parade group, the Starlighters Drum & Bugle Corps was soon participating in world open competitions. Twins John and Charles Steck buzzed above the town from their plane but also performed search and rescue missions. Longtime resident Eleanor Burton remembers all her students, served on every committee, and still actively volunteers. These legendary locals are people who, in their own comical or poignant way, have shared their vision to create our community.

There are few places in America that have such a rich variety of landscape and scenery as the Lakes Region of New Hampshire: from the summer calm of Squam Lake to the robust white winter mountaintops of the Gunstock Mountain Resort. So it is no surprise that the people who call it home reflect the same wide palette of humankind—from the pre–Revolutionary War surveyors who first marked their initials on a rock at Weirs Beach to Bob Lawton, the current owner of the world's largest arcade; from one of George Washington's inner circle to Ernest Thompson, the award-winning author of On Golden Pond. The Lakes Region draws them—or grows them—all, because it has it all.

When John T. Benson purchased land in Hudson in 1924, little did he know that Benson's Wild Animal Farm would make Hudson famous. For 60 years, "the Strangest Farm on Earth" became legendary. The former attraction is now a beautiful town park. Volunteers were key to the new Benson Park, just as volunteers have always made Hudson a wonderful place. These pages are filled with stories of many who gave of their time, talent, and treasure. Leonard Smith designed and helped build Central Fire Station. Shirley Nadeau is always ready to lend a hand. Leon Hammond cooked for countless bean suppers. Dr. Alfred Kimball Hills, Kimball Webster, G. Philip Rodgers, and Alvin Rodgers have been generous benefactors. The H in Hudson stands for "heart."

The land now called Concord was originally inhabited by the Abenaki people and the Penacook tribe. Concord's first settlers, such as Ebenezer Eastman, began laying out the Plantation of Penacook, as it was known in 1725, along the fertile fields of the Merrimack River. It was incorporated in 1734 as Rumford and then renamed to Concord by Gov. Benning Wentworth in 1765. Concord experienced a surge in transportation and manufacturing in the 19th century, producing the Concord Coaches, Prescott Pianos, and steam boilers. As Concord celebrates its 250th anniversary, the city flourishes as the state capital and has a thriving community of restaurants, entertainment, and culture for all to enjoy. It retains its town sensibility as it plans for the continued growth of the local economy. Today's civic leaders, like Byron Champlin and James Carroll, work conjointly with business leaders, such as Tom Arnold of Arnie's and Juliana Eades of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, to build and enhance Concord's cultural, social, and economic identity.

From its beginnings as an English settlement to its evolution into a postwar tourist destination filled with restaurants, shops, and historic infrastructures, Portsmouth has seen its fair share of famous residents and local legends. The prominent people of Portsmouth range from the infamous Frank Jones, a merchant who became a world-famous brewer and eventual political playboy, to the lesser-known but equally influential Constance Bean, an administrative assistant in the city's recreation department who changed the lives of countless children through her care and compassion. While mindful of the past, Legendary Locals of Portsmouth focuses heavily on the city's contemporaries. Today's legendary locals include the likes of Frank Catalino, a local businessman whose love for pizza and people earned him a slice of his success on State Street; and Jim Splaine, a lifelong local politician who led the charge to legalize same-sex marriage and solidify New Hampshire's lead role in the presidential primaries. The story of Portsmouth could not be told without these people and other such notable names as "Sal the Barber," Evelyn Marconi, Celia Thaxter, Joe Shanley, Valerie Cunningham, and Macy Morse.

Walkers, bikers, paddlers and snowshoers can encounter relics of the past and their incredible tales from Keene to the Seacoast. Exploring Southern New Hampshire takes history off the page, out of the car and into the welcoming pine-scented woods and pristine waters of the Granite State. Hike Mount Monadnock, paddle the Nashua River and retrace Lincoln's footsteps down Exeter's streets. Experience the legacy of a women's sawmill at Turkey Pond from the waters that powered it. Visit Cathedral of the Pines, a beautiful outdoor altar built with stones from historic sites around the world. Set sail on the Piscataqua River onboard a gundalow and learn about the region's rich maritime history. Local history explorer and nature lover Lucie Bryar leads readers through the Monadnock, Merrimack Valley and Seacoast regions. Granite State natives and transplants alike will explore trails and waterways to gain a new appreciation for the history hidden in natural New Hampshire.