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.

[The Mayor]

How sad, I have driven by it many times.

[sauropod]

The CIA gave him a report ;-). Just ask Daryl Lamont Jenkins :D.

[El Gato]

It was Hamas or maybe Hezbollah, with material aide from the Syrians, that did the deed. At least we can expect a press release to that effect shortly. If we get one, bring on the MOABs, and rearrange a couple of hills on the road to Damascus.

[Buckeroo]

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"Build It Back! -- Momaw Nadon

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How, with more government funding?

[sauropod]

I've been to the Flume.

[Aliska]

Do you happen to know where in New Hampshire this scene would be? I would like to drive through that pretty town some time. If you don't know, do you know how I could find out? The puzzle company has been bought out and they might try to dig through their archives for me or not; I haven't tried them yet as all I have is an address and 800# (no website).

Am kind of shocked to hear the news about the Old Man in the Mountain. I would have liked to have seen that someday, too.

[PatrickHenry]

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

Not a problem. We still have the Face on Mars.

[Aliska]

Please see my #46 and could you ping others on this forum who might be knowledgeable about New Hampshire geography?

[longshadow]

At least we still have our primary.

...and no income or sales tax, for the moment.....

[Lady Jag]

You could pick almost any town in New Hampshire and it will look like that. The yellow house is gorgeous and you will find a lot of architecture like in the puzzle. New Hampshire Vermont, and Maine are places where, if you like rural beauty and peace and quiet, you could spend every vacation there for the rest of your life.

[sultan88]

The picture on the puzzle looks like it could be from the North Country, Coos County, where my Mom grew up.

[billorites]

and no income or sales tax, for the moment.....

But we do tax interest and dividend income in New Hampshire.

[longshadow]

But we do tax interest and dividend income

I know.......

[RaceBannon]

you can see that anywhere on Rte 5 or rte 10 in New England almost, that is quite a common scene in winter in the old smaller towns.

[RaceBannon]

right across the street!!

Ever go to Mt Washington? Travelling up rte 93 is quite scenic north of Laconia!

[RaceBannon]

What is also a bad thing, there is a fully funded, beautiful walkway paved, large parking lot, tourist center, all dedicated to this natural phenomena, and it is now useless!! Who wants to look at a hole in the mountain that you need binoculars to see? The face was 700 feet in the air, and while visible from the street/highway Rte 93, it was telephoto lenses that captured the pictures posted on this thread!

[grannie9]

My husband is from Coos county.. Jefferson.. Now we live in No. Hampton..

[Ichneumon]

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

Probably a sign of erosion, thermal expansion/contraction, and gravity.

[Buckeroo]

Thats an ugly picture .. propelling government as the controlling mechanism about your life.

[dansangel]

Thanks for the link here. It's a darned shame.

We had an earthquake (4.9) here in Atlanta Tuesday morning that was centered in Huntsville AL. I wonder if a seismic disturbance caused the old man to fall.