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.

[dansangel]

If you hate it here so much, you need to find a new place to live.

And don't you go apologising (SP) "about" me. You have attacked my character for no good reason. I have plenty of dignity. You know nothing about me or what I have had to do to retain my dignity. You obviously have a problem with people that get down on their knees and thank GOD that they live in this country. I am one such person.

I'll pray for you. God tells us to bless our enemies. May God bless you.

[ozone1]

When I read about the old Man of the Mountain this morning, it ruined my day.
I remember when I was a kid camping on the Kank and then of high school church youth trips up there. Then my hippy dippy college days.

This one is up there with the loss of Edaville Railroad.

[RaceBannon]

Thanks for the help. I would still like to id the exact town if I can. I want to see that exact house.

Well, I wasn't trying to be smart, but that architecture, those styles of churches, and the way things look in that picture, that is a dime a dozen uuup here, and in my opinion, there are many better views of older churches with large victorian houses in the viewing area nearby.

Tons of those scenes exist up here, even in lowly Connecticut. In fact, for a first time visitor, you wouldn't know what state you were in if we put a blindfold on you and just helicoptered you around to the different churches that look like that! :)

[Aliska]

Yes, well I would know I was in Massachusetts, and it used to be more like that :-)

I would love to leisurely drive through those towns, mountains and hills.

What county are you in?

[Lady Jag]

Check out the photos.

[KPfromDerryNH]

Thats a beautiful quarter! No one can tell me otherwise. Today is a sad,tragic day. I took it to heart, what Daniel Webster said about NH being the place where men are made, God put up a big sign saying so, despite that that I'm a woman. It made me feel special and as though more was expected of me character-wise because I'm from NH. Thats what I think of when I see, saw the Old Man and if that makes for a "boring" quarter-then your not looking at it the right way!
Growing up, my sister and I would get so excited to see him, we found him fascinating, best of all it meant only a few more minutes till we got to Grammy and Grandpas house. Thats why we never stopped to view him, we wanted to get to Grammys. That place was like home to me.
I'm so sad today, it feels like the whole world is turning upside down. So sad. Big glass of wine.Gonna call Grammy.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Mrs. NHD and I were returning from a week's vacation in Virginia when we heard about it from another New Hampshirite that we met at a rest stop in Conn. Thought he was joking at first.

Guess we could now rename it something like "Barney Rubble."

Somewhere in my collection of stuff I have an old photograph of an annular solar eclipse with the sun just above and to the side of the Old Man's profile. I've been meaning for years to find out if the photo is authentic.

[Buckeroo]

---

"If you hate it here so much, you need to find a new place to live." -- dansangel

---

No I don't. I need to stand my ground and fight for my liberty.

[longshadow]

Design Inference Bump.

I wondered what that "thump" was this morning that woke me up.....

;-)

[sultan88]

He may know of West Stewartstown, where my Mom grew up. I haven't been there since I was a kid, but I remember the beautiful scenery. I remember stopping to see the Old Man on every trip.

[longshadow]

Somewhere in my collection of stuff I have an old photograph of an annular solar eclipse with the sun just above and to the side of the Old Man's profile. I've been meaning for years to find out if the photo is authentic.

If the photo shows the South face of the "Old Man" (that is the usual side profile) it would have to be a composite, as it is never possible to see the sun looking North if you're North of the Tropic of Whatever-it-is.....

[mercy]

Finally. An 'after' pic. I was getting ticked.

[mercy]

I think NH should spend as many million as it takes to blast away the loose stone and carve a decent replacement in it's place. Furthermore they should pay for it through a tax increase.

[Lockbar]

"I've just lost my number one attraction," said Dick Hamilton, president of White Mountain Attractions, a tourism group."


Time for dancing chickens and two headed alligators.

[InvisibleChurch]

i blame it on bush tax cuts

[scott7278]

I see a dog's face in the upper center, and Piglet on the right holding a scroll. :)

[ALS]

Old Men

[Mogger]

Well, even though we've lost the Old Man of the Mountain, we have many other Profiles and Faces in New Hampshire for you to see!

Here's the Old Man of the Valley:

We also have Indian Head, about 5 miles south of the Old Man, and Washington in Repose, viewed the Flume path, across from Indian Head.

It looks like the Old Woman of the Mountain survived too.

[nutmeg]

Please see post #46. Can any of you help Aliska identify the New Hampshire town in that picture? Thanks. :-)

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent New Hampshire ping list.

[nutmeg]

Please see post #99.