East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, Utility Poles – Telephone wires were strung from utility poles along the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948) to the numerous logging camps. In some areas along the railroad, side mounted wooden telephone peg holder pins nailed directly to trees were used in place of utility poles. Today, these utility poles are considered artifacts of the White Mountains logging era.
While this blog article focuses only on the abandoned East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, other logging railroads in the White Mountains used the same approach described above. And remnants of utility poles can still be found along some of the other railroads. However, as nature slowly reclaims the East Branch & Lincoln territory, standing utility poles are becoming a rarity.
Remnants of utility poles can be found along the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, but only a handful remain standing today. And up until the 2010s, there were at least five still standing along the Upper East Branch of the railroad; today’s Bondcliff Trail and Wilderness Trail utilize this branch of the railroad. However, between natural causes and vandalism, the count has gone down. The above utility pole near logging Camp 16, seen here in 2013, was still standing in 2011. Because of the delicate state this pole was in, it likely fell on its own.
In 2011 a utility pole near logging Camp 15, on the side of today’s Bondcliff Trail, was knocked down and burned in a campfire. While these utility poles do blend in well with the trees around them, when standing next to one, they are easy to identify. The pegs on top of the pole (above) are the give away that this is not a tree. It's hard to buy that this was an innocent mistake.
The side mounted wooden telephone peg holder pins nailed to trees also blend in well with nature. Outdoor enthusiasts can pass by them without even noticing them. The above one remains on a tree along the Upper East Branch of the railraod, near logging Camp 17.
It’s likely, but without proof, that some of the utility poles that remain standing along the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad were put in place over 100 years ago. And while it's amazing that some are still standing today, at some point, none will be standing. So if you do come across these delicate artifacts, take only pictures.
Happy image making..
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Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC
Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.
ScenicNH Photography LLC
Specializing in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Erin Paul’s photography and writing focuses on the history of the White Mountains, and telling the story of abandoned places and forgotten historical sites.