The Lower Mount Washington Valley became the gateway to the entire valley in the 1700s. Settlers saw both the scenery and the possibilities of the deep and steady rivers for water power and travel, the timber for homes, the rich earth for planting, and the abundance of food in forests and streams. The early years were not easy, and men and women faced the challenges of the wilderness: hard work, fierce wildlife, possible injury, and loneliness. Seeking
companionship, families bonded together and created a
sense of community amidst the mountains and valleys of New Hampshire's expansive...