Most of N.H.'s Old Man of Mountain Falls

Yahoo ^ | 5-3-03 | unknown

[jmc813]

The Old Man of the Mountain, New Hampshire's natural stone profile that looks like a gnarled human face, fell from its mountainside overnight, a state official said Saturday.

AP Photo

Don Bliss, the state's director of emergency management, said there were no injuries. A Franconia emergency dispatcher also confirmed that the rock profile had fallen.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the damage, but Amy Bahr, president of the Franconia Heritage Museum, said she has long been aware that the natural profile could slide. There had been several efforts over the years to stabilize it.

"I knew it would go sometime, I just didn't think it would happen in my lifetime," Bahr said.

The profile, about 40 feet high and 25 feet wide, was one of the most photographed sites in the state and was considered New Hampshire's state symbol, appearing on travel brochures and even the state quarter.

It was located in Franconia State Park, about 70 miles north of Concord, and to the west of Interstate 93, about 1,200 feet above Profile Lake.

"You don't think about it much, but it's what everybody comes to see, it's our thing. And now it's gone," said Eric Mueller, who works at Franconia Hardware Store.

___

On the Net:

http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us

[Consort]

Now he's the old man on the ground and we know what might have happened to the Sphinx.

[nutmeg]

sad ping...

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

[babylonian]

He ain't half the man he used to be.

[jdogbearhunter]

speaking of "loosing face"...

[Aliska]

Would it be asking too much for you to ping your New Hampshire list and ask them to help me identify the town pictured at the link on the other nh mountain thread?

Can you identify this town in New Hampshire?

[IYAAYAS]

I've lived all over the country and NH is the place I will eventualy live long term. The lawmakers are part time and make $100 per year. You will regularly see bikers in fine dining restaurants. Good gun laws. Beautiful land. Cool little state.

[IYAAYAS]

But don't move there.

[SamAdams76]

I've always loved New Hampshire's North Country but you have to be into the wonders of nature to find anything at all to do there. Pathetic as this may seem, for non-nature lovers and skiers, looking at a rock formation that looked like the face of a bearded, old man was about all there was.

Actually I make an annual trip up there every summer. It's a family tradition to stop alongside the Kancamangus Highway and take a dip in the creek. Also we go to the top of Mt. Washington where it is always about 30-40 degrees colder. Where else in the country can you see snow flurries on a 75 degree day? And then we have the obligatory lunch at the Road Kill Cafe. This is an an actual restaurant that brings around their appetizers in a trash can. If you are ever up there, order the "Brakelight Delight."

Anyway, I never thought the "Old Man" would fall in my lifetime. Now I guess we'll find out that the Leaning Tower of Pisa will fall next.

Frankly, I never saw the big deal about the "Old Man On The Mountain." It never "moved me."

[Lockbar]

I guess it would have been real bad if you had purchased somekind of recreational viewing area for the "old man" last week.

[nutmeg]

Would it be asking too much for you to ping your New Hampshire list and ask them to help me identify the town pictured at the link on the other nh mountain thread?

Sure, I'll be happy to. I'll ping the NH group on that thread, and make note of your post with the picture of the NH scene puzzle.

I wish I could help you in identifying the town in the picture, but I have to say that scenes like that are very common throughout New England (I'm in Connecticut).

[SkyPilot]

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

8 posted on 05/03/2003 11:57 AM EDT by woofie
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[nutmeg]

ROTFLOL! (#51)

[SkyPilot]

E-Bay Listing #259874387

Reserve not met

Own a piece of history! If you thought pieces of the Berlin Wall were worth a lot--then get a load of this!!! This is a 24' x 58' granite section of the Old Man of the Mountain! This will definitely increase in value over the years.

I accept personal checks, money orders, PayPal, Western Union, and CA$$$$$$H! Insurance extra...and buyer will have to pay shipping, postage, and land property taxes on this baby.

_{just kidding...but someone will think of it---I guarantee!}

[Redleg Duke]

For those of us up here in the Granite State, your flippant comment is repulsive. I took my family up to see it over Christmas break as our son was doing a report on the figure. He is quite saddened by what happened. I am glad he won't be reading your "humor".

[corlorde]

I live in Meredith NH and alot of people are very upset. It's a sad day..


~Corey

[Redleg Duke]

Yes it is, and all of the jackasses who think they are so sophisticated and humous are out in force on this thread.

[Go Gordon]

The before and after pictures in post #19 look like the before (11/2004) and after (11/2004) photos of John Kerry.

[mewzilla]

Well, nuts. But NH should look at this as a wonderful marketing opportunity. They can have a contest to name what the formation looks like now!

[TrueBeliever9]

70 miles north of Concord (40 feet high - the number of testing. 2sheep brought this to my attention and mentioned the "Road Map"; Concord has significance in the birth of America. May the old man made of rock tells us something of the Road Map!

[Celantro]

It's been a long standing family tradition for us too and I've eaten at that very same Road Kill Cafe along route 302 many times. Lot's of fun.

Shame about the Old Man. I couldn't care less about it either (just a distraction while you're driving down rt #3 really) but they've got such an investment in viewing it up there. Heck, it was just a few years ago that the re-did that whole stretch of 3 going through the notch. Remember? It was impossible driving for years and now that they've got it finished, the Old Man falls down. I guess they'll have to make more of a HooPlah about the Indian Head.