Old Man of the Mountain is gone

Manchester Union Leader ^ | May 3, 2003 | Staff Reports

[billorites]

The Old Man of the Mountain has collapsed.

The beloved New Hampshire symbol fell from its rocky perch 1,200 feet above Profile Lake in Franconia some time within the past day.

Workers at the Flume reported the incident early this morning. It is unknown exactly when the face fell because it has been hidden by clouds and fog for more than a day.

Dick Hamilton, president of the White Mountain Attractions, said it appears the forehead fell and took the nose with it.

“I never thought I’d see the day this would happen,” said Hamilton.

The face was comprised of five stones turnbuckled to hold it in place. The rods that secured the face were still visible early yesterday. The face was first secured with cables and turnbuckles about 100 years ago and routine work on it was done on a regular basis.

It is unknown exactly when the famous profile collapsed because it has been hidden by clouds and fog for more than a day.

The face was discovered in 1805, and is believed to be one of the most photographed natural wonders in the Northeast.

It is unknown if any of the face is intact below its perch, or where the pieces might be. The area below the face is rocky and remote and some officials believe the falling pieces of the face may have broken even when they hit the ground.

It is also unknown exactly where the fallen pieces are located. No injuries have been reported.

The profile is located in Franconia State Park to the West of Route 93. The profile is about 40 feet tall and 25 feet wide and has been the subject of many poems. It appears on the New Hampshire quarter and on state road signs.

[Blood of Tyrants]

My company had a job at a paper mill in Groveton about 18 months ago. Since Southwest flies into Manchester so cheap and I alrady had a hotel room and a car, I invited the family up to see the sights and the Old Man was one. I'm glad we saw it before it fell. Kind of like loosing a friend.

[rabidralph]

It's on the state quarter, our road signs, on travel brochures, and on our license plate since 1926. This is just wild.

Oh, the humanity! Seriously, that is sad that it's gone.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Seems to me there was some legend about the face falling down, but can't remember what the heck it was.

I think it's sad.

[rabidralph]

Kind of like loosing a friend.

To loose a friend is hughly series, indeed. I'm sorry I never got to see it in person.

[cherry_bomb88]

AWWW, that's sad. I know what you mean about photos bringing back happy memories. After my kids & pets, the first thing I'd save in a fire is my photos...I'm such a nostalga geek I've even put the negatives of my whole life in firesafe.

[SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch]

That ol' Momma Nature is a bitch.........

[Cachelot]

Dunno.. looks like Old Nick to me. His horns fell off?

[billorites]

"I've even put the negatives of my whole life in firesafe. "

Wouldn't want them posted on the internet would we?

[lawgirl]

OH that sucks. It's even on their state quarter.

[cherry_bomb88]

ROTFL....they'd be great for some amusement!

[RightWhale]

You have to stand in a particular place to see the profile. Or used to, sounds like. There would be no particular reason to visit the site now, unless relatively uninhabited eroded hills with exposed granite outcroppings [common in the region] are attractive in their own right. Berries in season.

[RJCogburn]

Hard to believe at first.

At least we still have our primary.

[Lady Jag]

That's a bummer. I went looking to see if there were any photos of the breakup yet and didn't find any.

If anyone finds a photo, would you please let me know?

[snooker]

" ... Its a sign...I dont know of what, but its a sign

A sign that the old man couldn't take it anymore. The rats have overrun the place so he said I'm outta here.

[fish hawk]

cant they give him a face "lift".

[nothingnew]

We used to visit this site every year when I was a kid

Same here...The Old Man, The Flume, The Basin, Clarkes Trading Post (remember the trading post...had the trained bears?)

FMCDH

[Mike-o-Matic]

   Its a sign...I dont know of what, but its a sign

Yeah, "Watch for Falling Rocks" is what it says!

[COBOL2Java]

The Democrats will try to find a way to blame Bush for this. Maybe the exhaust from his jet as he took off to land on the aircraft carrier did it. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Psst! Hey! He took off from California; the rock formation is in New Hampshire!

Won't matter. They got rid of "Geography" as a public school subject long, long ago. After all, it's the seriousness of the charges, right?

[SquirrelKing]

"Now will be known as "Micheal Jackson of the Mountain"

Ha Ha! Funy!

[general_re]

Yeesh - guess there's one less anthropomorphic example for me to use on the design threads. Too bad it's gone...