Middletown transcript., 1894-09-01
AMONG THE HILLS.
Observations and Experiences OF 8
MiddIetown Lady.

Observations and Experiences OF
Mfddletown Lady.
The following is from very inteFestin
letter received by pupil of the writer,
teacher in the Middletown Schools, who
summsring among historic and picturesqu
scenes of New England. The recipient o
the letter appreciated it SO highly that sh
desired to share it with her fellow pupils
and at her request, we give number o
extracts from it.
The letter is dated August 22d, Maplewoot
Cottage N. H:
The morning left Boston, rain and mis-
threatened to destroy our expected view o.
the grand Crawford Notch; but fortune
favored US, for by the time we reached thu
Notch the clouds lifted and that grand
view of those two mountain walls wa.
before us. The Notch is really two noun
| tain walls enclosing narrow valley, the
train or railroad climbs half way up the
left mountain wall. The discovery of thi,
| Notch happened under romantic circum-
stances. A hunter named Nash, was chas-
| ing moose on Cherry Mount when he saw
| the Notch opening through the mountain;
he entered and explored it. He thought
that road could be made through this
pass connecting the upper county or country
with the coast, the road then used being
long and rugged. He told his discovery to
Governor Wentworth (1773) who told Nash
if he could get horse through the pass he
would give him large grant of land.
Nash had another hunter to help him; a
horse was gotten through but they had to
lower him over cliffs and drove him through
streams. Then one of the men broke
bottle of rum against the ledge and named
it Sawyers rock. A road was built and the
first article of county produce sent through
the Notch was barrel of tobacco, while
the first merchandise sent up from the
coast was barrel of rum.
This is the story told of the first use Of
the Notch, but even the tobacco and rum
cannot spoil the wonderful beauty. While
we paused, the brakeman pointed out the
Wiley House and told its sad history
This boarding house which was built for the
traders who went down the pass in winter
was occupied in 1926 by Mr.. Wiley, his
wife and five children, also two bired men,
In August Of that year, after long, severe
drought the mountains were assailed by
furious storm, which caused the river to
rise rapidly and during the night an enor-
nous mass Of earth. rock and trees slid
from Mt. Wiley into the valley. This
avalanche was split by sharp ledge back
of the house, and flowed on both sides
without harming it, but the family had
left the house. probably fearing the swell.
ing torrent of the Saco, and being some
where in the track of the slide every one
was killed. The house is not open now
except by paying small fee it may be
viewed by morbid tourists.
Maplewood is about mile from Bethie- |
hem and is mainly composed of two
hotels Every way one looks one sees
nothing but these beautiful, beautiful hills /
Yesterday Mount Washington was COW
cred with snow. 1t is very cold here 1 am
sitting by wood fire most of the time; all
the halls are heated by steam, so we are
quite comfortable.
Last Thursday l went up Mount Wash
ngton. was very nervous at the thought
'f going up, as so many are overcome by |
he altitude, but as soon as 1 was seated in
he car drawn or rather pushed by one Of
hose strange looking engines all my fears
I enjoyed every movement; the
grades in places were frightful. Just think
# going up 1880 feet in one mile. The
lverage grade is about twelve hundred fee
Is there are series of natural terraces
The vegetation decreases just as you know
t Goes when going toward the poles At
irst there were beautiful birch, maple, pine
md cedar trees, but they grew smaller and
mailer till the stunted cedar and pine
howed only few inches above the rocky
oil, finally nothing was to be seen but a
'ast expanse Of rocks broken and scanned
" the many storms that winter has sent
mong these hills. We reached the top at
leven; the temperature was 47o; they told
IS it was very, very warm day. 1 was
ressed as I am home in winter so was not
BILE to judge of the weather. felt 80 well
oing up that when reached the summit
thought could climb over rocks as fast
s wished, but when I started to run up
he stairs of the observatory I found had
yer estimated my lung power. was just
asping for breath and when 1 reached the s.
econd landing had to pause ten minutes
r more for my lungs to fill. The view
rom the top was wonderful; below us were
he cities, the lakes, the rivers and towns
ar away and below us in the valley rested
cloud. ! was really above the clouds.