General John Stark Scenic Byway - SNHPCsnhpc.org/pdf/Scenic_Byways_Document.pdf · Application for Designation of the General John Stark Scenic Byway As a NH Cultural and Scenic Byway

Application for Designation of the

General John Stark Scenic Byway

As a NH Cultural and Scenic

Byway

Prepared by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and the Central New Hampshire Planning

Commission in conjunction with the towns of Dunbarton, Goffstown, New Boston, and Weare, NH

2

Table of Contents

Overview......................................................................................... 3 Goffstown....................................................................................... 5 Dunbarton...................................................................................... 12 Weare............................................................................................. 18 New Boston..................................................................................... 25

List of Maps

Proposed Route............................................................................... 4 Byway Assessment (Goffstown)....................................................... 6 Byway Assessment (Dunbarton)...................................................... 13 Byway Assessment (Weare)............................................................. 19 Byway Assessment (New Boston)..................................................... 26 Byway Assessment Segments.......................................................... 32

Appendix

Byway Assessments........................................................................ 31 Resolutions in Support................................................................... 51

3

Overview Imagine ambling along some of the roads of southern New Hampshire on a sunny Sunday afternoon; the kids in the back seat happily munching fresh, hot buttered popcorn that they bought from the old Circus style popcorn cart that has been operating since the 1930’s. You turn and continue a few miles when you come upon an “out of the way” stretch of road that has numerous old buildings and structures along it with plaques that tell interesting stories of the structures, the town, and ultimately its forefathers…

Imagine being part of a group of eight or ten bicyclists cruising the long, winding stretch of road between Goffstown and New Boston on a crisp September afternoon. The north branch of the Piscataquog River immediately to the side is gurgling and flowing, giving you a constant audible reminder of its presence while you see the mountains ahead in the distance.

These are just two of the myriad experiences that can be appreciated along the route described in this application for designation as a NH Cultural and Scenic Byway. This application describes a circuitous route within Hillsborough County along NH 13 from Goffstown’s downtown west to New Boston, north along NH 77 and NH 114 to Weare, east along NH 77 to Dunbarton, and south along NH 13 back to Goffstown.

This route was chosen for its rich diversity of experiences, both historic and scenic. The four towns of Goffstown, Dunbarton, Weare, and New Boston are neighbors. They share many common historic elements and natural beauty which makes the route a logical choice. For instance, the Molly Stark House (DH-1) is located in Dunbarton, but the Molly Stark Cannon (NBH-1) is located in New Boston and the North and South Stark Highway (NH 114 – between the town center and NH 77) is in Dunbarton. Similarly, the Piscataquog River runs along NH 13 which connects Weare and New Boston to Goffstown. The mountains, particularly the Uncanoonucs which lie in Goffstown can be seen from Dunbarton. All the towns plan to add additional scenic loops to this byway.

The name of the byway, The General John Stark Scenic Byway, was chosen because many of his relatives lived within these towns. The family provided many contributions to the early American fight for freedom during the French and Indian War as well as the Revolutionary War and many of the historic elements on the tour reference the Stark family.

A tour through these four towns provides insights into the out of way charm and history of southern New Hampshire. This area of the state is an undiscovered treasure that should be appreciated and shared with residents and visitors alike. The following sections will take you on a tour of the route through each town.

Attractions noted here are by no means the only ones in each town. These are only the sites directly accessed along the route. The best that NH has to offer is often off the “beaten path”. This route is structured to form the backbone for future additions to the NH Scenic and Cultural Byways in Hillsborough County. Opportunities exist for connections to other currently designated byways. To the north along NH 114 is the Currier and Ives Trail. Traveling south along NH 114 leads to the Amoskeag Millyards in Manchester and views of the Uncanoonuc mountains in Goffstown.

5

Goffstown Goffstown was originally a farming community. The first settlers in the 1700s found the area magnificently forested with hardwood on the hill and unexcelled stands of white pine on the "pine plains" which extended along Mast Road. This area was so named for the many pine trees suitable for ship masts which were cut and hauled to the Merrimack River for use by the Royal British Navy. [The famous "Pine Tree Riot" of 1772 took place nearby in the town of Weare, and included some residents and former residents of Goffstown].

Goffstown has two downtown areas: The Village and Pinardville. The more urban Pinardville, located near Route 114 and Manchester’s western border, supports approximately a third of Goffstown’s population and 50 percent of its commercial and industrial tax base. The Village, located in the eastern section of town, is Goffstown’s more traditional New England village center. The route which is part of the Scenic Byways tour provides access to the downtown Village with NH 13 running through the heart of it along Main Street. In addition to the historic buildings along the downtown corridor, Goffstown has many scenic elements that make for an attractive experience which is unique to New England’s rural character. Views of both the Uncanoonuc Mountains and the Piscataquog River can be seen. This inventory of historic, cultural and scenic elements in Goffstown is focused along NH 13 in the downtown Village. As is usually the case, many additional sights which are considered historic and scenic are present in town, however they are not directly on NH 13 and are not included here. This is the first phase in developing a NH Scenic and Cultual Byway in Goffstown. Future additions will include additional interesting locations that will extend the network of Scenic and Cultural Byways in Goffstown. This stretch of roads is designed to complement a loop that will travel through Dunbarton, Weare, New Boston, and Goffstown. Following is a description of many historic and scenic elements that can be experienced directly from NH 13. A map which helps locate these elements is also included. SOURCE: http://www.town.goffstown.nh.us/ SOURCE: Goffstown Master Plan (adopted 2006) SOURCE: A Walking Tour of Goffstown, NH

[[[[[[[[[

[[

NH

13

NH 114

NH 114A

DunbartonDunbarton

G o f f s t o w nG o f f s t o w n

NBV-3

GH-8GV-1

GV-2

GH-7GH-6GH-5GH-4GH-3GH-2GH-1

Byway Assessment(Goffstown)

Data Sources:

Granit Digital Data (1:24,000)NH Department of TransportationNH Department of Environmental ServicesSouthern New Hampshire Planning Commission

I0 6,400 12,8003,200

Feet

0 0.4 0.80.2Miles

LegendTownline

HydrographyStreams

Rivers/ Lakes

Proposed Route

[ Scenic/Historic

The individual municipalities represented on thismap and the SNHPC make no representationsor guaranties to the accuracy of the features and designations of this map.

This map is prepared for planning purposes only and is not to be used for legal boundary determinations or for regulatory purposes.

Map Produced by GIS Service SNHPC Jan 2007.For reprints or furthur questions

Contact: SNHPC, [email protected] or (603) 669-4664

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[


GH-8

GV-1

GV-2

GH-7

GH-6

GH-5

GH-4

GH-3

GH-2

GH-1

Views

7

Historic and Cultural Elements GH-1: Bridge (1928) and Bridge Abutments Before the American Revolution, masts for the King’s Navy were transported down what is now known as Mast Road. By 1766 the first bridge had been built-only to be washed away like many of its successors by the spring floods. No sooner had that happened than a wooden lattice bridge was constructed here and a roof installed on it the following season. This became Goffstown picturesque covered bridge which lasted until 1900 when a stell span took its place to carry the new trolley cars. This important cement bridge that is in place today was constructed in 1928 and is one of a small group of New Hampshire bridges designed by nationally renowned bridge engineer, Daniel B. Luten. The pedestrian sidewalks on either side rest on large brackets, while colorful fluted concrete lampstandards with globes are located at the four corners of this historic bridge. On the downstream side of this bridge are two abutments that supported the covered railroad bridge which burned on August 16, 1976. GH-2: The Paige Commercial Block (1876) Of the buildings on this site at the corner of Depot and Main Streets, the first built in 1869 was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1876 by Hazen Blood. Later the Paige brothers owned the building and again fire partially destroyed it. After those burning disasters, it settled down to house many businesses. This location actually houses two structures. The southern structure has a flat roof. The northern structure (shown here) is gabled. The two structures were joined in 1865. For over 120 years a barber shop has occupied the southern end of the building.

8

GH-3: Depot (1850) In 1850, the New Hampshire Central Railroad completed a line from Manchester to Gofftsown. Depots were located here at Parker Station, Shirley Station, and Grassmere. Goffstown’s first depot was built here in 1850. About 1880, the original passenger station was replaced with the present structure and the older station was moved westward to become the freight Depot. In 1952, the passenger station was moved about 30 feet and an adjoining new brick hardware store was built on Main Street. The depot has since been restored to its original appearance though today it is the paint department of the hardware store. GH-4: Town Hall (1969) This is the second town hall to stand at this location since 1869. Extensive renovations were made in 1889 to the original building, known as the Opera House. That impressive structure was destroyed by fire in 1937. Because of the Depression, and the pending situation of World War II, the town voted not to spend any monies on rebuilding. Finally, replacement was completed in stages, with business conducted in the basement and front section of the first floor for twelve years, until completion in 1969.

9

GH-5: Congregational Church (1845) The second congregational church built in 1845, was Greek Revival with huge Doric columns. Very little of that styling is visible since the 1869 alteration and the 1891 remodeling in the Queen Anne style. Its historic interest as one of the two churches constructed in the village during the 19th century demonstrate the development and increasing dominance of the village center during that period. The focal point of the triple stained glass central window with its decorative arch adds considerable beauty to the town’s Main Street. GH-6: Town Common and Monument Square (1907) In 1907, the town appropriated $500 to match $500 previously received through public subscription for the “beautification and adornment” of the lot left vacant by the destruction by the fire of the Central Block. In 1916, a granit monument to honor Goffstown servicemen of all ward was given to the town. The common was enlarged on the southerly side in 1940 on the lot on which the demolished Bretton Inn once stood.

10

GH-7: Popcorn Stand (1930’s) and Watering Trough Now owned and operated by Goffstown’s Lions Club, the Popcorn stand came into existence in the 1930’s. Louis Prince sold hot, buttered popcorn to residents and the traveling public from the circus style cart at the intersection of South Mast Street and Wallace Road. “Popcorn Charlie” Ray purchased the cart in the 1940’s and placed it at its present location. The Lions Club purchased the cart and land in an effort to maintain the long standing tradition of hot buttered popcorn for devotees from late spring to early fall. Anchoring the northwest corner of High Street and North Mast Street is one of Goffstown’s four remaining granite watering troughs. The watering troughs once served the physical needs of the traveling public, now being filled with flowering plants and maintained by the Goffstown Community Garden Club. The troughs continue to serve the traveling public, this time aesthetically. GH-8: Public Library (1909) From a memorial gift of 150 books in 1888, the library had its beginnings in the Town Hall. In 1907, land at the north end of Main Street was donated and the town appropriated $14,000 for a public library and memorial hall. Dedication exercises for the Classical Revival building as the Memorial Library were held on Oct. 2, 1909. At the annual town meeting of 1910, the name was changed to Goffstown Public Library. Scenic Elements In addition to providing glimpses of Goffstown’s history, traveling along NH 13 invites the traveler to enjoy several scenic vistas that are unique to Goffstown. GV-1: Views to the South When traveling south on NH 13 through the town center, the Uncanoonuc Mountains situated in southwest Goffstown greets the traveler.

11

GV-2: Views of the Piscataquog River The Piscataquog River and the old bridge abutments (on the downstream side of the bridge) can be seen when crossing the historic cement bridge on South Mast Street.

12

Dunbarton Dunbarton has a rich and productive history that has been kept alive by her many sons and daughters. The importance of history in the community is evidenced by two active historic groups, the many publications documenting Dunbarton’s historic resources, and its inclusion as an important part of the elementary school history curriculum. The first authoritative mention of Dunbarton (originally named Starkstown) is from 1692, with a description of the Nipmuch Native Americans roaming the territory. Permanent settlements first appeared in 1749 when James Rogers, followed by James Putney, erected homesteads. In the mid 1700’s, John Stark was granted 100 acres of land to build a sawmill, which remained open until 1890. The presence of the Stark mill led to the construction of framed houses beginning in 1765, followed by the laying out of highways two years later. From 1752 to 1862, Dunbarton was a thriving agricultural town with dairy products regularly shipped to Boston. The production of wool, hops, wheat, flax, vegetable crops and lumber provided most families with a comfortable living. From these beginnings to the community it is today, Dunbarton residents have continuously documented and tracked its historic and cultural heritage. Residents and visitors alike enjoy this town for its wealth of history as revealed in its many old structures and landmarks. Dunbarton also has many scenic views which add to the character of this rural New England town. This inventory of historic, cultural and scenic elements in Dunbarton is focused along NH 13 and NH 77. These are two of the main thoroughfares that connect Dunbarton with Weare to the west and Goffstown to the south. The roads are smooth and paved asphalt. The speed limit is less than 55 mph which is a comfortable speed to enjoy the sights. It should be mentioned that many additional sights which are considered historic and scenic are present in town, however they are not directly on NH 13 or NH 77 and are not included here. This is the first phase in developing a NH Scenic and Cultural Byway in Dunbarton. Future additions will include additional interesting locations that will extend the network of Scenic and Cultural Byways in Dunbarton. This stretch of roads is designed to complement a loop that will travel through Dunbarton, Weare, New Boston, and Goffstown. Following is a description of many historic and scenic elements that can be experienced directly from NH 13 and NH 77. A map which helps locate these elements is also included. SOURCE: http://dunbartonnh.org/ SOURCE: Dunbarton Master Plan (adopted 2004)

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

[

Man

sion

Rd

Star

k H

wy

N

Riv

er R

d

NH

13

NH 77

Dunbarton

W e a r eW e a r e

H o o k s e t tH o o k s e t t


DV-4

DV-3

DV-2

DH-9

DH-8

DH-7

DH-6

DH-5

DH-1

DH-4

DH-3

DH-2

DV-1

Byway Assessment(Dunbarton)

Data Sources:

Granit Digital Data (1:24,000)NH Department of TransportationNH Department of Environmental ServicesSouthen New Hampshire Planning Commission

I0 5,000 10,0002,500

Feet

0 0.2 0.40.1Miles

LegendTownline

HydrographyStreams

Rivers/ Lakes

Roads

Proposed Route

[ Scenic/Historic





Views

14

Historic and Cultural Elements DH-1: Pages Corner Cemetery Originally, this was the Page family’s private burial ground. In the northeast corner of the cemetery are several unmarked fieldstones marking the graves of the slaves who were owned by Captain Caleb Page. DH-2: Molly Stark House (1759) This building has been called the Molly Stark House, for it was here, in the home of her father, Caleb Page, that she resided while her husband, General John Stark, was off to the wars. This house was built in two or more stages, the southern end being the oldest part. The cellar walls under the south end are laid up fieldstones in various sizes and shapes. DH-3: First Congregational Church of Dunbarton (1836) On June 18, 1789, the First Congregational Church of Dunbarton was founded with the Reverend Walter Harris as its minister. The Congregational Church members used the Town Meeting House for worship peacefully until the year 1833. Because of the increasing competition for worship space with the Baptists and Universalists, the ongregationalists decided to build a church of their own. In 1836, the Congregational Church commissioned the skills of master builder, Capt. Samuel Kimball. The Church was constructed in the center of town, west of the Town Common. Its steeple design mimics the architecture of the steeple of the North Church of Boston. The First Congregational Church of Dunbarton worships in the historic church to this day.

15

DH-4: Page’s Corner Schoolhouse (1855) Built in 1855 from bricks manufactured at a brickyard on Gorham Pond Road, this one-room schoolhouse served as the school for the Page’s Corner area. It is now owned by the Dunbarton Historical Society and is part of their museum. DH-5: Dunbarton Center School Comprising the most westerly-situated third of the Town Office Building, this structure was originally the Dunbarton Center School. It was built in 1866 and continued being used until 1972. DH-6: Town Hall Gracing the center of the Town Common, the Town Hall was built in 1908. It is erected on the same site as the original 1789 Town Meetinghouse, which was destroyed by fire in 1908. DH-7: Town Pound (1791) In 1791, the Town voted to build a town pound of stone for town use. The dimensions of the pound were to be 32 feet square inside, 6 feet high of stone and a stack of timber on top with one side flat that the locks the corners. The walls were to be 4 feet thick at the bottom and 3 feet thick at the top and built of large stones. The pound was used to contain loose livestock and pets until the owners could claim them.

16

DH-8: Waite Blacksmith Shop (1820) A beautiful stone structure, the blacksmith shop was built by Jonathon Waite. The shop was originally located on the north side of Grapevine Road and was built from stone cut from the Guinea Road area. In 1980, under the ownership of the Dunbarton Historical Society, the blacksmith shop was moved stone by stone to its present day location on Stark Highway North and is now part of the Dunbarton Historical Society’s Museum. DH-9: Statue of Caleb Stark A recent addition to the Town Common near the public library, this life-like bronze statue commemorates the son of General John Stark, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Caleb joined his father at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

17

Scenic Elements In addition to providing glimpses of Dunbarton’s history, traveling along NH 13 and NH 77 invites the traveler to enjoy several scenic vistas that are unique to southern New Hampshire. DV-1: Views to the West When traveling north from Goffstown on NH 13, Dunbarton greets the traveler with a beautiful panoramic view to the west of Mount Monadnock and Crotched Mountain. DV-2: View from the Top of Mill’s Hill Traveling along NH 13 northbound yields an idyllic view of Mount Kearsarge in the distance. DV-3: View of Mt. Uncanoonuc When traveling south on NH 13, a fleeting but attractive view of Mt. Uncanoonuc can be seen to the west over the shoulder of the First Congregational Church at the center of town. DV-4: Pine Grove heading on NH 77 (Concord Stage Road). When traveling east or west along Concord Stage Road into or out of Weare the traveler is reminded of the boreal forests of the north as one travels across a dam that is lined on both sides by large coniferous trees.

18

Weare The Town of Weare has an extremely vibrant history which dates back to the mid 18th century. The people of this town are very proud of their heritage which is demonstrated through their efforts to preserve the scenic and historic elements existing throughout the town. These efforts include the implementation of historic districts and development of the Weare Heritage Commission. Their planned role is to work with the community to promote and coordinate various historic preservation initiatives. The first record of inhabitants in Weare (then know as Beverly-Canada) dates back to 1735 with the presence of Col. Robert Hale, of Beverly Massachusetts. Hale petitioned the province of Massachusetts to create a township six miles square to be given to soldiers and their families. During this same time period, the name of the town was changed to Halestown. The town name was changed to Robiestown in 1740 after the new leader of the town’s proprietors, Ichabod Robie was granted control. In 1748, the town name was changed again to Weares Town. In 1764, King George the third named the town Weare, after Meschech Weare, the first governor of New Hampshire. In 1831, Moses Sawyer created the Weare Woolen Mills which helped aid the railroad extension from Manchester, through Goffstown, Weare, and into Henniker. The implementation of railway transportation significantly aided the development of many early industries. A defining moment that changed the face of the town came in 1938 when a hurricane sent gale force winds and heavy rains into the region. The vast amounts of water collapsed the Wear Dam causing a massive flood which engulfed a large section of the town. From the start of this historic town, to its existence today, residents and historians have successfully documented and preserved the historic and cultural aspects of this beautiful municipality. The inventory of the historic, scenic, and cultural sites in the Town of Weare for this project concentrates on NH 114 and NH 77. These two main routes connect the towns of Dunbarton which lies east and New Boston to the South. These roads are paved and governed by speed-limits of 55 miles per hour and less which provides a safe, enjoyable route for historic and scenic site seeing. There are many other historic and scenic areas existing in the Town of Weare, however many are located off the route designated for this project and will be excluded from this inventory. This is the first step in creating a NH Scenic and Cultural Byway in Weare. The extension of this Scenic Byway in the future may include additional historic and scenic sites existing elsewhere in the town. SOURCE: http://www.weare.nh.gov/ SOURCE: Weare Master Plan (adopted 2005)

[

[[

[[[

[

[

[

[[

[

NH 77

Man

sion

Rd

NH

114

NH 149

NH 114NH 77

NH

114

Riv

er R

d

S S

tark

High

way

N S

tark

Hig

h way

DunbartonW e a r eW e a r e

N e w B o s t o nN e w B o s t o n


WH-8WH-7

WH-3

WH-2WH-1

DV-4

WH-10

WV-1

WV-3WV-2WH-6

WH-5

Byway Assessment(Weare)

Data Sources:


I0 6,700 13,4003,350

Feet

0 0.3 0.60.15Miles

LegendTownline

HydrographyStreams

Rivers/ Lakes

Roads

Proposed Route

[ Scenic/Historic





Views

20

Historic and Cultural Elements WH-1: Weare Town Hall (1837) The Weare Town hHll is located on North Stark Highway and was once a Universalist Church on the second floor and town meeting hall on the first. In 1919 the first Public High School Classes were offered on the top floor of the Weare Town Hall. Weare Town Hall has been added to the National Register of Historic Places

WH-2: Stone Memorial Building (1896) The Stone Memorial Building is located in Weare Town Center. It is the home of Weare Historical Society and houses Weare artifacts and memorabilia along with items for sale, including 1888 and 1892 maps, reprints of Weare's histories, and several other publications. This building is also eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Originally, the building was constructed to house an office for the selectmen, a library and a veteran’s memorial.

WH-3: Paige Memorial Library (1927) Weare established a free library in 1892 in compliance with state statutes passed the previous year. The book collection outgrew several locations, finally arriving at a building on East Road in Weare Center. This building, constructed with money left by Eben L. Paige, was dedicated in 1927 and remains in use today as a part of the expanded Weare Public Library

21

WH–4: Piscataquog River Mill Sites In 1938, a severe hurricane and Flood destroyed many of the mills located in Weare along the Piscataquog River. These mills were the economic life-blood of the town for over 200 years. The mills provided employment, goods and services, and manufactured textiles, toys, wood and metal products and even shoes. Several factors contributed to the decline of these mill sites including Fire, floods, and growth of new industry in the city of Manchester. The only mill to be still in existence in the 21st century is the Amos Chase Mill of the National Historic Register.

WH-5: Weare Congregational Church The Weare Congregational Church, located on Concord Stage Road was built in 1841 and used over the century as a Baptist church, congregational church and is presently a federated church. In 1921, Quakers and Congregationalists formed the Weare Federated Church which was amicably dissolved in 1994.

WH-6: Amos Chase Home Amos Chase Homestead is a large white house, owned by Amos Chase in the mid to late 1800’s. In back of the house was/is the Amos Chase Shop which was built in 1836 and used as a carriage manufacturing site until 1844. The building was burned in 1844 but was re-built in 1850. Moses Currier made screwplates, augers, and tools on this site from 1850-1870.

22

WH-7: Maplewood Tavern The Maplewood Tavern, also known as the Dearborn Tavern, located on Dustin Tavern Road is one of many historic residences in the Town of Weare. The original building was known as the “Dustin Tavern” but was burned and rebuilt in the 1880’s. An interesting fact about this residence is that the second floor of the building was laid on springs for dancing. WH-8: John Dearborn Residence The John Dearborn Residence is located on NH 77 and is one of many historical homes located in Weare. WH-9: North Weare School House The North Weare School House, located on Concord Stage Road is also known as the Riverside Academy. The building was constructed in 1855 and was in use as a school as late as 1952. The building was later owned by Halestown Grange and is currently privately owned.

23

WH-10: Weare Center Store The Weare Center store, located on South Stark Highway is another historical building located along this proposed scenic highway. Also known as “Stubby’s Store”, this building was burned in 1891 only to be re-built the following year. The building was used as a post office from 1813-1940’s.

Scenic Elements In addition to providing glimpses of Weare’s history, traveling along NH 114 and NH 77 invites the traveler to enjoy several scenic vistas that are unique to southern New Hampshire Region. These scenic views can be noticed all along Route 114 and 77 which makes this byway very attractive to tourism and site seeing. WV-1: Scenic view on route 77 When traveling southbound on Route 77 headed through Weare into the Town of New Boston, the traveler is shadowed on both sides of the road by vast coniferous forest which help characterize the region WV-2: Weare Stream Meander This is a scenic view of a Weare town stream located near the congregational church on the John Stark highway. This is one of many sites along the route where this beautiful meandering stream can be viewed.

24

WV-3: Scenic View Northbound on Route 77 This view can be seen on NH 114 looking northbound. The view helps depict the basic scenery which can be noticed while driving along this route. The typical coniferous forest’s along each side of the road adds beauty to the scenery while driving through the Town of Weare.

25

New Boston The land that is today known as New Boston was granted to John Simpson and 52 others by the Great and General Court or Assembly on January 14, 1736. Simpson and the other 52 settlers who were originally from Boston suggested naming the new township “New Boston” and was later applied for the first time by the proprietors on April 16, 1751. By 1740, on what was called Pine Plain, there had been 60 buildings erected including houses, sawmill, and a meeting house which was later destroyed by fire. By September 25, 1756 a first census recorded 59 persons within the New Boston Township, 215 cleared acres, 32 dwellings, 2 camp houses, 1 barn, 1 sawmill, 1 grain mill, a dam, and 6 frames not enclosed. A second census was conducted in 1820. At this time New Boston had a population of 1,686 and the town had grown substantially to 16 school districts, 14 schoolhouses, 1 tavern, 3 stores, 25 sawmills, 6 grain mills, 2 clothing mills, 2 carding mills, 1 bark mill, and 2 tanneries. On May 12, 1887 was the “Great Village Fire” which started at noon time from a spark from Abram Wason’s cooper shop. As a result of the fire almost 40 buildings were destroyed as well as many permanent records kept for the town. The destroyed papers have resulted in gaps in New Boston’s town history. In 1893, the Boston and Maine Railroad came to New Boston, stopping at Parker’s Station, the Depot, and Gregg’s Mill. J. Reed Whipple was the man responsible for getting the railroad through New Boston so that it could provide his hotels in Boston with fresh produce. The railroad operated through the mid 1970’s before it was abandoned. Today, the old railroad tracks serve as a walking path for New Boston residents and tourists alike. New Boston is the quintessential New England town with a rich history and an abundance of natural beauty. SOURCE: www.new-boston.nh.us SOURCE: New Boston Master Plan (adopted 2006)

[[

[[

[

[

[ [

[[

[

[

NH

13

NH 13

NH 1 36

NH

77

W e a r eW e a r e



B e d f o r dB e d f o r d

NBV-4

NBH-6

NBV-3

NBV-1

NBV-2

NBH-1

NBH-3

NBH-2

NBH-4

NBH-5

BYWAY ASSESSMENT(NEW BOSTON)

Data Sources:


I0 4,800 9,6002,400

Feet

0 0.2 0.40.1Miles

LegendTownline

HydrographyStreams

Rivers/ Lakes

Roads

Proposed Route

[ Scenic/Historic





Views

27

Historic and Cultural Elements NBH-1: Molly Stark Cannon The Molly Stark Cannon was built in Paris in 1743 and was later captured from the British at the battle of Bennington, Vermont by General John Stark on August 16, 1777. The cannon was named after Stark’s wife, Elizabeth “Molly” Page Stark and donated to the New Boston Artillery Company by General Stark for the company’s contribution to the success of the battle of Bennington. NBH-2: Community Church This Presbyterian Church replaced a chapel that was destroyed in a fire in 1887. The steeple is home to a genuine Paul Revere bell which was purchased in 1826 and installed in the church in 1892. NBH-3: Historical Marker (1984) Residents of New Boston placed this marker on the common in 1984 to represent and explain the history and importance of the Molly Stark Cannon. It was sponsored by the New Boston Artillery Company and Rep. Roland Sallada.

28

NBH-4: Davis Scenic Drive The Davis Scenic Drive was dedicated in the memory of Ronald Charles Davis. Davis was killed in action on January 23, 1970 in Vietnam. The 3.3 mile section is located along New Hampshire Route 13. There are 2 route markers at either end of the drive. NBH-5: Town Depot The New Boston Depot was the old fire station and now serves as the town Historical Society offices. Built in 1889, the fire station at one time housed horse drawn pump and later actually fire engines. The station had to be remodeled to accommodate the large fire engines resulting in the doors being moved from the front of the building to the side. The renovation cost $2,000. NBH-6: Town Hall The Town Hall was built after the fire of 1887 destroyed the lower town hall. The Town Hall was and still is the meeting place for the Joe English Grange No. 53 which was formed in 1875. It is the current location of New Boston’s town offices.

29

Scenic Elements NBV-1: Route 77, North Open fields flank Route 77 North. These rolling, open fields are lined with historic stone walls and thick forest edges.

NBV-2: Piscataquog River Along the north side of Route 13 is the beautiful and picturesque Piscataquog River which runs along the majority of Route 13 within the region. There are numerous stops along Route 13 which provide access to these views. These sites are favorite local fishing spots. NBV-3: Open Fields Along Route 13 South are striking views of coniferous and deciduous tree lines which provide open space and a sense of place.

30

NBV- 4: Open Farm Fields Across from the river along Route 13 South are open fields that surround older farm houses. These well preserved areas offer an extensive panoramic view.

31

Byway Assessments

NH 77

Man

sion

Rd

Sta

rk H

wy

NN

H 1

3

NH

13

NH 13

N H 1 36 NH 114

NH

114

NH 1 49

NH 114NH 7

7

NH

114

Riv

er R

d

NH 11

4A

2

5

4

87

16

9

3

Dunbarton

W e a r eW e a r e



BywayAssessmentSegments

Data Sources:

Granit Digital Data (1:24,000)NH Department of TransportationNH Department of Environmental Services

I0 10,000 20,0005,000

Feet

0 0.5 10.25Miles

LegendTownline

HydrographyStreams

Assessment Segments

Rivers/ Lakes

Road NetworkMajor Roads

Proposed Route





51

Resolutions in Support

Documents

General John Stark Scenic Byway - SNHPCsnhpc.org/pdf/Scenic_Byways_Document.pdf · Application for Designation of the General John Stark Scenic Byway As a NH Cultural and Scenic Byway