Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-24
For the Freeman.
Dixville Notch Scenery.
BY DIR. HIRAM A. CUTTING.

known rs DiXville Notch. The country
around about is broken and mountainous.
but among the mountains are numerous
sm Ill lakes and ponds, which give beau
tilul variety TO the scenery, which attract
ed Col. Dix and eleven others to locate
their homes in this region. But so severe
were the winters. and so unproductive the
soil, that twenty-three years later only
one familv-that of John Whittemore-re-
min,d. He and his wife both lie buried
near beautiful maple grove just east of
the Notch, being buried on the farm they
cultivated
b., before we speak of its present beau
tful environs, let US see what was said Of
this region of old. DR.. Jackson, in his
Geology of New Hampshire, says: The
Notch NAV be regarded as one of the
most remarkable exhibitions of natural
scenery in the state: perhaps even sur
passing the f.mous notch of the White
Mountains in picturesque grandeur" at
is A natural dy6le through the high noun
tans, which extend in a general north and
south direction through this town"
The angular and precipitous appearance
of the mica slate rocks, rising hundreds
of feet almost perpendicular on either
side, is strikingy different from the
rounded and water-worn appearance of
most Of the primitive rocks in this north
ern region. They seem to come nearer to
the scenery OF the Alps than anything else
in New England"
Prime says Of it: 1T is one Of the
widest and most imposing pieces of rock
and mountain scenery on the Atlantic side
Of our country. Totally different from
and therefore not TO be compared with any
Of the passes among the White Mountains,
it has peculiar characteristics which are
not equtled elsewhere. /" 1t is a very
remarkable and wonderful piece of scene
ry, and taken in connection with this the
various views along the road, | have no
hesita ion in saying that the drive from
Colebrook through Dixvile Notch to Beth
e is the finest drive have ever found in
Ame lea
Beckett says in his narration The
serrated cliffs of mica slate on either
hand shoot into the empyrean, in clear and
saTply defined pinnacles and lances, to
the he ght of eight hundred feet, remind
ing one of the turrets and minarets of
Sarascenic palaces Here and there along
its walls on some knotly spur, or in some
deep fissure, cluster few spruceS and
white birches-foglorn hopes of vegeta-
tion. as it Were, struggling against the
sliding avalanche and almost invulnerable |
sleriityn
Thus numerous historians portray the
scenes in that locaity-let Us review them
and see if the half is told. Taking car
Iiage at Colebrook, Il louri,hing village
with g od hotel accommodations, we ride |
on fine road ten miles up the Mohawk
river. the scene ever changing as Il new
panorama of hills and mountains, cult |
waited fields and beautiful valleys pass be |
fore our gaze.
The" Dix House." built by George Par
sons ESQ.,, and open ID for summer travel
in 1866, and still kept by him, stands upon
level platform, seemingly devised by
nature for Just the purpose for which it is
now used. No more beautiful build.
ing spot was ever seen. In full view
from the house is liable Mountain" and
the serrated and spire-shaped cliffs for
which this notch is famous. Almost in
front of the house are the stairs laid in the
roak, that wind for eight hundred feet up
Table Mountain to Table Rock, which is
scarcely eight feet wide, yet overtops that
sharp spire, standing eight hundred feet,
perpendicular height, above the valley be-
low.
The tourist standing on this rock COM
mands broad view, including Monad-
mock, the Dixville and Magalloway Noun
aims, the plains of Errol and the upper
Androscoggin valley. Beneath this dizzy
height lies the picturesque valley of the
Mohawk, with the village of Colebrook.
and the Connecticut river valley but ten
miles away. Turning from this view. a
short path on the side of Table Mountain
leads to Ice Cave" where snow and ice
may be obtained all the year round. 1t is,
in fine. IA natural ice house, taking in its
supply in the winter and retaining much
of it through the summer
After descending to the Notch road, and
passing TO the top Of he hill perhaps a
quarter of a mile from the stairs, cllt d
Jacobs ladder" which we have ju,t
water on the east flowing into the AndIos-
coggin, and on the other hand into the
Connecticut. The summit of this road is
eight hundred and thirty five feet above the
plain Of Colebrook, and towering ledges
and pinnacles stand nearly vertical on
either side, ranging from six to eight hun
drel feet above the road bed.
Looking down through the Notch upon
the right, we see huge profile in the
rock, which is even larger than that at
frauconia, and as you walk down the hill
ita>sumes variety of expressions, truly
entertaining As you tire Of this majestic
face you have but TO turn in the other di
rrction, and you see an old lady's face,
surmounted with cap Of "ye old n
STYLE apparently laughing at you from
her mountain home
At your left stands Dix's Monument"
massive column nearly one hundred feet
IN height, chiseled by Dame Nature from
the mounain rock-a lasting monument
Of the power that hurled up those majestic
cliffs from be ow. Near it stands Pulpit
Rock, similar structure, but not so high
While behind them towers the Sentinel,
laII SIX hundred feet above the ground at
Your lee'
tnaln