October History, White Mountains – October in the White Mountains is like no other month. With fall foliage peaking during this time of year, our mountain towns, hiking trails, and roadways are crowded with travelers interested in viewing the spectacular foliage.
When it comes to White Mountains history, a number of interesting events took place in October. A Shawnee warrior indirectly linked to the White Mountains was killed, thousands of acres of land were granted, and lumber companies were formed. Included here are a few interesting events.
On October 5, 1813, Tecumseh, a Shawnee Native American chief and warrior, was killed at the Battle of Thames. It’s believed that Tecumseh's body was carried off the battlefield and secretly buried in an unmarked grave. He fought in many battles against the United States and supported the British during the War of 1812. Mount Tecumseh in Waterville Valley is named for him. However, he was from the Ohio Territory and probably never visited the White Mountains region.
For the price of $500.00, on October 23, 1834, land commissioner James Willey granted Hadley’s Purchase to Henry G Hadley. Consisting of around 8,000 acres, the entire tract of land lies within the White Mountain National Forest.
Incorporated on October 21, 1887, and in operation from 1887-1894, the Bartlett & Albany Railroad was a logging railroad in the towns of Albany and Bartlett. It began off the Maine Central Railroad in Bartlett, traveled over Bear Notch, and ended at the Passaconaway settlement.
The Johnson Lumber Company was incorporated on October 24, 1905. Owned by George L. Johnson of Monroe, New Hampshire, the Johnson Lumber Company was one of the many lumber companies in the White Mountains region during the 20th-century. Johnson logged the Woodstock and Lincoln area with his Gordon Pond Railroad.
Livermore was a logging town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The village of Livermore was located along the Sawyer River Railroad, on the Sawyer River. Both the railroad and town were owned by the Saunders family. The village had a post office, powerhouse, school, store, a sawmill, which burned down a few times, and numerous other dwellings. The second sawmill burned down on October 28, 1918.
Incorporated in 1911, the Livermore Tripoli Company mined diatomaceous earth (also known as Tripoli) from East Pond in Livermore during the 1900s. This business adventure was a failure, and the Livermore Tripoli Company was officially dissolved in October 1919.
The Parker-Young Company purchased J.E Henry and Sons’ East Branch & Lincoln Railroad, land, mill complex, and the town in 1917. Parker-Young ran the mill and the railroad until October 1946, when they sold both to the Marcalus Manufacturing Company. Marcalus would reorganize in 1950 as the Franconia Paper Corporation. RiverWalk Resort (above) in Lincoln occupies the site of the old mill complex.
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Bibliography:
Donovan, Erin Paul. “Russell-Colbath House, Passaconaway .” ScenicNH Photography LLC, 24 Jan 2019, https://www.scenicnh.com/blog/2019/01/russell-colbath-house-passaconaway/.
Donovan, Erin Paul. “Gordon Pond Railroad, New Hampshire.” ScenicNH Photography LLC, 15 Feb 2016, https://www.scenicnh.com/blog/2016/02/gordon-pond-railroad/.
Donovan, Erin Paul. “Village of Livermore, New Hampshire.” ScenicNH Photography LLC, 16 Nov 2015, https://www.scenicnh.com/blog/2015/11/village-of-livermore-new-hampshire/.
Donovan, Erin Paul. East Branch & Lincoln Railroad. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2018.
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.