steve's White Mountain Blog

WENTWORTH

Wentworth is home to Plummer’s Ledge Natural Area and part of the White Mountain National Forest. It has a picturesque town common bordered with a Federal style church and antique homes. With abundant water power from the Baker River, Wentworth once had 9 sawmills; in 1856 during a flood the mills, homes, barns and roads were washed away and the river widened by 90 feet ending the river’s power.

Population in 2009: 7872    Land Area: 41.9 square miles  Tax Rate: $ 15.99/1000

Public Library

Schools: Wentworth Cooperative (grades K-8)  Pemi-Baker Cooperative (grades 9-12)  SAU 48

WATERVILLE VALLEY

Incorporated in 1829 from land grants Waterville was a popular summer resort as early as 1911.  In 1914 when the federal government was authorized to purchase lands for the National Forests- Waterville lost a substantial mount of acreage, Major development of Waterville as a winter recreation area was began in 1965 by Olympic ski racer- Tom Corcoran.  The town name was officially changed to Waterville Valley by the legislature in 1967. 

Population in 2009: 268  Land Area:  64.4 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 11.68/1000

Schools: Waterville Valley (grades K-8)  Pemi Baker Regional (grades 9-12))  SAU 48

Town Boards: Selectmen, Zoning, Planning, Conservation

Special Events:  9/4 and 9/5 Town Square Concert 5:30-8:30; 9/5 End of Summer Bash & Fireworks Noon to 9pm;  10/2 Waterville Valley Chili Challenge Noon- 2PM;

10/9- 10/11 Fall Foliage Festival

WOODSTOCK

Woodstock was first granted in 1763 as Peeling- later named Woodstock after a palace in Woodstock, England.  It includes the village of North Woodstock, the commercial center.  The extensive forested lands include the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest an outdoor lab founded by the US Forest Service. The Appalachian Trail crosses the northwest corner, Russell Pond in the east and Lost River in the west.  The logging industry and grand hotels accessed by rail vanished, but Woodstock remains a popular tourist destination.

Population in 2009: 1,163   Land Area: 58.5 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 15.55/1000

Public Library

Schools: Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative (grades K-12) SAU 68

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning, Conservation

Special Events: 9/1 Road Cycling New England Disabled Sports Center, Lincoln

9/2 Waterskiing New England Disabled Sports 2-6PM River Edge Marina, Holderness

9/3 Lost River Gorge & Caves Wild Caving Tours 8:30am-11am Lost River, No Woodstock

9/4 Summer Send Off, Loon Mt., Lincoln

9/5 Rubber Ducky Regatta 10AM-1PM Cascade Park, North Woodstock

9/17 Golf Tournament New England Disabled Sports

9/17 – 9/19  35^th Annual New Hampshire Highland Games  Loon Mt, Lincoln

10/9 15^th Annual Lincoln Craft Fair, Lincoln Village Center           

10/10 Oktoberfest at Loon Mt, Lincoln

 I have added a real estate search button on the Bottom of the blog page, With the MLS listings for all of Grafton County New Hampshire. Search by price, style property or town and see multiple pictures of each listing. 

SUGAR HILL

Sugar Hill is New Hampshire’s youngest town, incorporated in 1962.  The name comes from the groves of Sugar Maples in the hills.  With panoramic views of both the White Mountains including the Presidential, Franconia and Kinsman ranges and Green Mountains the area became a fashionable Victorian resort destination.  The first resort based ski school in the US was opened there is 1929 by Kate Peckett and Sig Buchmayer, both important in the history of skiing.  Today is still has a number of fine restaurants, inns, original estates and incredible views.

Population in 2009: 613  Land Area: 17.2 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 18.36

Public Library

Schools: Lafayette Regional (grades K-6)  Profile Regional (grades 7-12) SAU 35

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning, Conservation

Special Events: 9/4 & 9/5 Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions, Lincoln

9/11 Annual Corvette Show, Lincoln;   9/11 Easton’s Fire Department Poker Run for Toys for Tots, Franconia; 9/24 Mittersill Open House at 1pm; 9/26 Nor’easter Powered by Eastern Mt Sports at Loon Mt, Lincoln; 10/2 Harvest Supper Train at the Hobo Railroad, Lincoln 7-9pm

WARREN

Warren is surrounded by White Mountain National Forest and includes the village of Glencliff which in the first half of the century treated more than 4,000 people for tuberculosis- the thought being that the pure mountain air was curative.  Mt. Carr is the highest elevation at 3,300 feet. The town’s most famous landmark is a ballistic missile erected in the village center.  It as transported from Huntsville, Alabama in 1971 in honor of Senator Norris Cotton, a Warren native.  The same model launched Alan Shepard, the 1^st American in space.

Population in 2009: 975     Land Area: 49 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 19.99/1000

Schools: Warren (grades K-6)   Haverhill Cooperative (grades 7-9) Pemi-Baker Regional (grades 9-12)  SAU 23

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning

For more Real Estate information on all towns in the Grafton County area of New Hampshire please click on the MLS button below my profile.

ORANGE

Originally chartered as Cardigan, Orange is a small town at the bottom of Grafton County.  The name may have been changed because of large quantities of yellow-orange ochre found in Mt. Cardigan. The town is only 16 miles east of Dartmouth College and 10 miles from Plymouth a quiet country lifestyle with easy access to the larger communities. Orange is listed as having no cable access or town utilities.

Population in 2009: 308   Land Area: 23.2 square miles   Tax rate: $ 20.63

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning

Schools: Mascoma Valley Regional (grades K-12)  SAU 62

ORFORD

A small rural community located along the Connecticut River, the boundary between New Hampshire and Vermont, and is 20 miles north of Dartmouth College. One of the original settlers was inventor Samuel Morey, who lea to the invention of the marine steam engine and first used a paddlewheel to propel a steam boat along the Connecticut River. The highest point is Mt Cube at 2,909 feet, it was home to Governor Meldrim Thomson, Jr. The town has natural resources of mountains, hills, ponds giving property owners great beauty.  The Appalachian Trail passes through.

Population in 2009: 1091    Land Area: 48 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 21.68

Public Library

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning

Schools: Rivendell Interstate (grades K-12)  SAU 78

PLYMOUTH

Originally the site of an Abenaki village, burned to the ground during the Queen Anne’s War, it is named for

Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. Located where the Pemigewasset & Baker rivers converge. Daniel Webster lost his first criminal case at Plymouth courthouse. In the early 20^th century Draper & Maynard Sporting Goods Company sold products to the Boston Red Sox and Babe Ruth would come and pick out his equipment. The Plymouth Normal School founded in 1871 was the state’s first teaching college and in 2003 became Plymouth State University. Notable residents have been: Robert Frost, John Cheever, Daniel Webster and Mary Baker Eddy.

Public Library

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning

Population in 2008: 6,385   Land Area: 28.7 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 18.74/1000

Schools: Plymouth (grades K-8)  Pemi Baker Cooperative (grades9-12) SAU 48

As a Plymouth State University Alumi, I have seen great developments in the town of Plymouth and especially on Campus...A new multimillion dollar ice area, the Silver Hall performing arts center, as well as new and improved student housing. If you get a chance to visit the University I would highly recommend it.

The MLS button below allow you to search for real estate all 44 towns in Grafton county New Hampshire.

MONROE

Monroe occupies a narrow strip of land along the Connecticut River- it was once a part of Lyman.  Monroe was authorized by the State in 1854 and named in honor of the country’s fifth President.   The fertile river valley produced crops and the usual river side industries such as sawmills, gristmills, cider mills and blacksmith shops. Today Monroe has a thriving sawmill, large egg farms, some dairy farms and the huge Comerford Dam and smaller McIndoe Falls dam.

Population in 2009: 843     Land Area: 23.8 square miles   Tax Rate: $9.19/1000

Public Library

Schools: Monroe School (SAU 77) (Preschool to 8) for Grades 9-12 a choice of St. Johnsbury Academy, Woodsville High School, or Blue School in Wells River, Vt .

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning

Special Events: Lord’s Acre Auction (Sept.) Annual Community Halloween party (Oct)

PIERMONT

Situated on the Connecticut River, west of the White Mountain National Forest, this town was named for Piermont in the Italian Alps. It is home to the beautiful Lake Tarleton and several summer camps for youths.

Population in 2009: 674; Land Area: 38.6 square miles; Tax Rate $ 17.42/1000

Public Library

Schools: Piermont School (grades K-8)  Haverhill Cooperative (SAU 23) (grades 9-12)

Town Boards: Selectmen, Planning, Zoning, Conservation

Special Events: Every Tuesday 3-6pm until October 13- Farmer’s Market with organic produce, cheeses, raw milk, plants & crafts.

LIVERMORE

Livermore is an unincorporated civil township in Grafton County. It was briefly inhabited as a logging town in the late 19th century.  In 1937 all but 1 12-acre parcel is sold to the US Forest Service and in 1951 the town is dissolved by an act of the NH legislature. Located 15 miles from Lincoln on the Kancamagus Highway, which opened in 1959, it also borders a southern tip of Bethlehem and to the south is Waterville Valley. Lincoln, in the 70’s presented a bill in the State House to annex Livermore but was defeated. The elevation is 2,054 and a 2000 census recorded a population of 3.

For More Real Estate listing information in the Grafton county area of New Hampshire , open the MLS button on the bottom of this blog.

LEBANON

Located in Western, New Hampshire it is home to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Dartmouth Medical School-comprising the largest medical facility in NH. It was named for Lebanon, Connecticut, home of Reverend Eleazar Wheelock,  the founder of Dartmouth College.  A former mill town, much of the old district was destroyed by fire in 1964, and with the routing of Interstates 89 & 91 through Lebanon and the growth of Dartmouth College the town experienced an economic revival. This is event today with a mixed economy of medical services, education, high technology and retail. Novell, Microsoft, Merck and Tele Atlas all have major facilities here. The town has matched these with upgraded recreational facilities: hiking trails, municipal ski area, swimming pools, tennis courts, sports fields, indoor skating and golf courses.  Also a municipal airport.

Public Library

Population in 2009: 12,722     Land Area: 41 square miles   Tax Rate: $ 24.14/1000

Town Boards: Selectmen, planning, zoning

Schools Lebanon School District SAU 88 (grades K-12) and private & parochial schools (grades 1-8)

Special Events:  Every Thursday 4-7pm Farmers Market in Colburn Park

LITTLETON

Situated at the edge of the White Mountain and bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River- Littleton is on the bank of the Ammonoosuc River where today a grist mill that opened in 1798 has been full restored. Kilburn Brothers opened a factory to produce stereoscopes that were popular in the Victorian age.  Littleton has long been the prosperous hub of the western White Mountain region and major development followed the 1960s opening of Interstate 93 providing better highway access from Boston and points south. Today it offers many economic opportunities- shopping, services, industry, good schools, social services, state of the art hospital and “big box” stores.

Population in 2007: 6,173; Land area: 54.1 square miles;  Tax Rate: $21.06/1000 

Town Boards: Selectmen, zoning, planning, conservation

Public Library- with bronze statue of Pollyanna, written by town resident, Eleanor Porter.

Schools:  Littleton School District SAU 84 (grades K-12)

Special Events: 9/15 6pm slide show Rick Bidgood of French Rivieria travel and 4 stages of the Tour de France race.

9/17 Littleton Regional Hospital 15^th annual Moose Golf Tournament at Maplewood

9/18 4:30-8pm 38^th annual Rotary Lobster Festival at Bretton Woods ski area

9/25 9/26 29^th annual Antique & Classic Auto Meet with pancake breakfast, flea market

9/25  41^st annual Littleton Art Show on Main Street

If you want to see any listings in Grafton County...use the MLS search botton at the bottom of this blog.

Ellsworth Hill, Campton New Hampshire Price Reduced by one-third Price of $150,000 down to $99,900…seller wants it gone before it snows.

What a great piece of land for someone with vision, there is a small brook that will need to be crossed to complete the access to the dream Property.

It has nice local views and frontage on a Beaver pond and small brook.

The site is 18.83 acres for $99,900 that is an asking price of a little over $5,000 / acre.

Quiet Country road maintained by the town…close to Owls Nest Golf course and Waterville valley ski area, this is a recreational paradise with no neighbors in sight.

If you are planning a foliage trip to the White Mountains in the near future, put this property on your list, four lot subdivision approvals are completed or keep it as a single family home site and have no houses near by. Listing

 Open the MLS search function click on the Button at the bottom of this blog...to see all area properties for sale.

It is feeling a lot like fall in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and I'm alright with that, It's August in New Hampshire temperature in the mid-50's tonight...But the weather calls for low 90's by Sunday. I hope you enjoy this series of photos taken from along the Pemigewasset river Friday night. Want to experience four seasons all in one week...move to New Hampshire.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I hope you enjoyed these riverfront photos from Woodstock New Hampshire. If you need the services of a White Mountain real estate expert give me a call...I know all about -location-location-location. Steve Loynd your Loon Mountain area ski resort Realtor and waterfront development expert.

For us this was a two-fer, we had planned on dinner at Govoni's restaurant in Woodstock New Hampshire anyway, but we also love the Waterfall directly behind the venue as well. It really makes waiting to be seated  enjoyable, and of course many people not there for dinner were there to explore lost river.

If you haven't been to the lost river caves that is a great place to spend a hot august day. they are mostly shaded and cool in more ways than one.

  The Story of Lost River Caves:  The first documented exploration of Lost River took place in 1852. Similar to Alice’s tumble down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland, local historian Elmer E. Woodbury related in his writings how the Jackman brothers, Royal and Lyman were busily fishing along the stream, working their way over and around the boulders when suddenly Lyman disappeared out of site as if the earth had swallowed him up. He had slipped into a moss covered hole and fallen into a cave about 15 feet below into a pool of water about waist deep. Now known as Shadow Cave, it was the first of the many caves the boys would soon discover.   Lost River Link

Lost river Road is the other end of the Kancamagus which is also called rte 112...from North Conway to Lincoln is the Kanc...From Lincoln to the Vermont boarder it's called Lost River Rd.

Here are a couple of shots I took From Govoni's Restaruant...Hurry and visit for dinner they close after Labor Day but Lost river Caves stay open well into the fall.

 This is the Foot Bridge behind Govoni's and the Indian leap...with about a 25 foot drop to the river below.

New Hampshire Scottish Highland Games: Sept 17-19^th 2010.

      Loon Mountain Resort – Lincoln New Hampshire

The Highland games originated in Scotland, as a way to bring the clans together to celebrate “Celtic Culture”. The Heritage of the homeland has been reenacted in the mountains of New Hampshire for the past 35 years.

The Colors of the clans can be seen in the fabric of their member’s kilt. The competition comes in many forms from the brute strength to the delicate steps of the dance. Come to Loon Mtn and see the athletes toss the Caber, hear the Bagpipes and the marching bands and experience the Gaelic culture.

The choice of holding the Highland Games in the White Mountains, allows a decidedly colorful field of onlookers…Foliage nears its peak and the crowd offers a rainbow of family kilt colors.

This venue is known to offer some of the most diverse highland game visitors compared to any other such gathering the in the U.S. The Canadian’s field a band or two, folks travel from Scotland and of course the driving distance from all the major Northeast city, towns and states allow many to visit easily. Over 60 clans are expected to be represented at this year’s game.

Some of the festivities to enjoy: Sheepdog trials, Fiddle competition, Piping & drumming, Scottish Harp, Scottish Athletics, Highland Dance competition, wonderful food to sample and a Celtic Music Concert to watch and hear. The New Hampshire gathering of the Scottish clans is a non-profit group established to further the Gaelic culture through: dance, music and athletics. Since it’s inception they have awarded over $1 million as prizes, and scholarships to the competitors so they may continue growing the Scottish arts and Culture and in recognition of participant’s dedication.
For more about this organization  I recommend you visit them online and sign up to be a member , or receive their calendars and newsletters www.nhscot.org

I also found some great stories about the Scottish heritage and ways to purchase your own families tartan or clans kilt at this retail site Click here

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Little Ski House or Guest house for your big dream...oh so close to Loon & Waterville Valley N.H.  ski resorts.

Want a little place in the mountains to get away from the day-to-day grind. Set back from a state maintained road, always have easy access but feel like you are truly in the woods.  Your own private hideaway…no worries, no lawn to mow –all major mechanical systems installed 5 years ago nothing to fix, nothing to update. Nearly 4 acres come with this modern cabin in the Woods. Woodstock / Thornton boarder, New Hampshire home & land For: $159,900.

   A second floor loft is the only bedroom , a super insulated full basement allows comfort with little more than a touch of heat or a fire in the wood stove.

 This stretch of the Pemigewasset river is a quick stroll through the thickly wooded landscape.

  If you are looking for a simple crash pad near loon Mountain ski resort - this works. ( 3 major ski resorts 10 -to-15 minutes away).

 If you are looking for 4 acres and room to build a great vacation or primary home (with a small starter home, walking distance to the river).

 If  you are looking for a White Mountain adventure...in an affordable well maintained hidden gem, for really short money - don't miss this one (two major golf courses 10 minutes away)

       Efficient Kitchen new appliances and cabinets, Comfortable living Room -small and cozy spaces.

Loft Bedroom built-in bunk and room for a queen size bed, Breakfast bar and flat screen are part of this efficient economical design. Full basement with Laundry and plenty of work space for ski tuning or hobbies.