Speaker 1: Deep in the rugged wilderness of New Hampshire lie the
Speaker 1: White Mountains, a place of breathtaking natural beauty, but also
Speaker 1: home to unexplained occurrences and spying, tangling legends that have
Speaker 1: been whispered around campfires for generations. From terrifying encounters with
Speaker 1: supernatural beasts lurking in the ancient forest, to reports of
Speaker 1: strange disappearances on the mountain trails, to sightings of mysterious
Speaker 1: apparitions inhabiting abandoned settlements, the White Mountains harbored dark secrets
Speaker 1: waiting to be unearthed. So join us as we venture
Speaker 1: into this haunted landscape to uncovered just a few of
Speaker 1: the bizarre tales and eerie bits of folklore that had
Speaker 1: become woven into the very fabric of these ancient peaks
Speaker 1: and valleys. Apparent to deleventsure realm where the supernatural and
Speaker 1: the paranormal meat, where a line of reality blurs and
Speaker 1: things become frighteningly uncertain. Are you brave enough to confront
Speaker 1: the strange tails from the White Mountains? Let's walk and
Speaker 1: see number one. The Hidden White Mountains ghost Town. Located
Speaker 1: within the White Mountain National Forest, lies a hidden ghost
Speaker 1: town that thrived in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,
Speaker 1: known for its mustling logging industry. Livermore situated about sixteen
Speaker 1: miles northwest of north Conway, New Hampshire, most of typical
Speaker 1: small town amenities such as a sawmill, a school, a
Speaker 1: town hall, and many homesteads. Its name was derived from
Speaker 1: Samuel Livermore, a New Hampshire senator who had family ties
Speaker 1: to the two Boston lawyers who first established the logging operation.
Speaker 1: With the population of between one hundred and sixty to
Speaker 1: two hundred lumberjacks and their families at its peak, Livermore's
Speaker 1: success was short lived. Like many other logging towns in
Speaker 1: the area, it fell victim to deforestation, blood spires, and
Speaker 1: eventually the closure of its mills in nineteen twenty eight.
Speaker 1: By the nineteen fifties, Livermore had become a forgotten ghost town,
Speaker 1: with only two permanent residents according to the twenty twenty census.
Speaker 1: For those curious enough to seek out this abandoned town,
Speaker 1: one must venture west on Route three O two into
Speaker 1: the White Mountain National Forest before turning onto Sawyer River Road.
Speaker 1: Signs for the Sawyer River Trail will laid hikers on
Speaker 1: a moderate one and a half mile hike along an
Speaker 1: old dirt road through the woods. The journey may be challenging,
Speaker 1: but well worth it. As the remains of Livermore peek
Speaker 1: out from underfallen leaves and trees, visitors may spot stone remnants,
Speaker 1: skeletal foundations, and brick structures who once made up this
Speaker 1: thriving community. It's a hunting thought to consider if one
Speaker 1: day your own hometown might become a ghost town as well.
Speaker 1: For safety reasons, we recommend parking at the lot located
Speaker 1: at the beginning of Sawyer River Road on Route three
Speaker 1: oh two. While driving further is possible if the gate
Speaker 1: is open, Conditions may not be suitable for all drivers.
Speaker 1: Either way, A visit to Livermore is sure to give
Speaker 1: visitors an eerie feeling, while also offering a unique glimpse
Speaker 1: into history. And now to Crawford Notch, New Hampshire and
Speaker 1: the tragic tale of Nancy Barton picture Crawford Notch in
Speaker 1: late autumn of seventeen seventy eight. The promise of snowy
Speaker 1: Knights to come whispers through the wind that rushes through
Speaker 1: these mountain passes. At a property owned by Colonel Joseph
Speaker 1: Whipple and Jefferson New Hampshire, two young employees have fallen
Speaker 1: deeply in love, Nancy Barton, a headstrong servant, and Jim Swindell,
Speaker 1: a farm hand. With plans to marry in mind, Nancy
Speaker 1: entrusted her dowry to Jim and traveled to Portsmouth to
Speaker 1: secure housing for their new life together. During her absence, however,
Speaker 1: Colonel Whipple convinced Jim to abandon his marriage plans and
Speaker 1: join the colonist body of her independence from British rule. Now.
Speaker 1: Upon learning of her fiance's betrayal, Nancy raced back to
Speaker 1: Crawford Notch in hopes of stopping him, but when she arrived,
Speaker 1: she found that Jim and the Colonel had already taken
Speaker 1: off and had taken her dowry with them. Heart Broken
Speaker 1: but determined, Nancy ignored the advice of her neighbors to
Speaker 1: stay put and set off on foot with few possessions,
Speaker 1: following a thirty mile snowy trail in pursuit of the
Speaker 1: two men. After twenty miles, Nancy stumbled upon the remains
Speaker 1: of their campfire. Despite the freezing cold, she pushed onward
Speaker 1: until she came across a frozen brook. Driven mad by
Speaker 1: love and determination, Nancy attempted to cross the icy water,
Speaker 1: but fell in, soaking her skirts. Sadly, this mistake proved
Speaker 1: fatal for Nancy. Concerned neighbors who followed her footsteps later
Speaker 1: found her sitting on a rock by the edge of
Speaker 1: the brook, frozen to death. News of nancy tragic death
Speaker 1: drove Jim insane with guilt. Not long after he passed
Speaker 1: away in a psychiatric hospital. Today, it's believed that Nancy's
Speaker 1: final resting place is high on a riverbank north of
Speaker 1: Nancy Brook. Her grave is marked by simple piled stones
Speaker 1: among tall trees. It's best to visit on a warm
Speaker 1: fall day when the leaves are falling and the sounds
Speaker 1: of Nancy Brook can be heard nearby, but don't venture
Speaker 1: into these woods alone. Hikers have reported hearing laughter, screams,
Speaker 1: and heart wrench and crying in the woods along Nancy's Brook.
Speaker 1: Nancy's grave site is located on private property belonging to
Speaker 1: the historic Nochland Inn, just off Route three oh two
Speaker 1: in Crawford, Notch. If you plan on visiting, please call
Speaker 1: ahead and ask for permission from the innkeepers. They're very
Speaker 1: knowledgeable about the history of the area and can give
Speaker 1: you directions to Nancy's grave, as well as a small
Speaker 1: graveyard owned the property where other notable figures from the
Speaker 1: White Mountains are buried. The walk to Nancy's grave site
Speaker 1: is less than a quarter mile through miles moderate forest terrain,
Speaker 1: suitable for most adventures. For those looking for a longer hike,
Speaker 1: you can choose to track the Nancy Cascades, roughly four
Speaker 1: point nine mile round trip journey ending in a picturesque waterfall.
Speaker 1: Please note that this option involves stream crossings and is
Speaker 1: only partially marked, so it may not be suitable for
Speaker 1: beginning hikers. Next we have the story of the burning
Speaker 1: lamp at the Russell colbath House, Passaconaway, New Hampshire. As
Speaker 1: one of the most beautiful roads in the White Mountains,
Speaker 1: many travelers make their way along the Cancamaugus Highway. Those
Speaker 1: passing through the once bustling town of Passaconaway, New Hampshire
Speaker 1: may notice a lone structure standing amidst the surrounding woodland,
Speaker 1: the Russell colbath House. Built in eighteen thirty two, this
Speaker 1: modest home is the only regional building left in Passaconaway.
Speaker 1: Curious Visitors wondering why it still stands deep within the
Speaker 1: White Mountain National Forest need not look any further than
Speaker 1: the tragic tale of Ruth Colbath. One faithful night in
Speaker 1: eighteen ninety one, Ruth's husband Thomas set out from their
Speaker 1: farm to run some errands. However, he never returned that
Speaker 1: evening or even the next day. Weeks turned into months,
Speaker 1: and months turned into years with no sign of Thomas.
Speaker 1: For thirty nine long years, a devoted and anxious Ruth
Speaker 1: waited for her husband's return, placing a lit oil lamp
Speaker 1: in the window as a guide. Sadly, she passed away
Speaker 1: at the age of eighty in nineteen thirty, still waiting
Speaker 1: faithfully for her beloved spouse. Now, it wasn't until three
Speaker 1: years after her death that Thomas finally showed up, with
Speaker 1: no explanation for his extended absence. Some speculate that he
Speaker 1: wandered off and got lost, while others believe he headed
Speaker 1: west to seek his portrait during the gold Rush, although
Speaker 1: he was a little bit too late for that. Regardless
Speaker 1: of the reason, Ruth's unwavering dedication remains a testament to
Speaker 1: true love that possibly even reaches beyond the grave. On
Speaker 1: the property. There's a small cemetery where Ruth is laid
Speaker 1: to rest. If you wish to visit, you're reminded to
Speaker 1: tread softly and respectfully, and it would be wise to
Speaker 1: do so. There have been claims from passers by on
Speaker 1: dark nights of seeing Ruth's lamp glowing in the window
Speaker 1: trying to guide her husband Thomas back home, and there's
Speaker 1: even been reports of a ghostly figure seen staring out
Speaker 1: the window. The Russell colbath House can be found on
Speaker 1: the Cancamaugus Highway about twelve miles west of passa Conaway.
Speaker 1: This just can explore. The grounds and cemetery are year round,
Speaker 1: and the half mile Ada Friendly rail and river trail
Speaker 1: is also available. There's a five dollars feet apark which
Speaker 1: can be paid in cash on site, and the property
Speaker 1: is part of the National Register of Historic Places. Next
Speaker 1: we have the Haunting of the Omni Mount Washington Hotel
Speaker 1: in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Now the White Mountains has
Speaker 1: a rich history of grand resort hotels, one of which
Speaker 1: is the famous Omni Mount Washington Hotel. Its red roof
Speaker 1: and bread taking view of Mount Washington makes it a
Speaker 1: sight to behold, Oh, the countless tales that can be
Speaker 1: shared by the many guests who have walked in its halls,
Speaker 1: sip drinks on the veranda, and possibly encountered of the
Speaker 1: worldly beings. Built in nineteen oh two by Joseph Stickney,
Speaker 1: the Mount Washington Hotel stands as a testament to his vision.
Speaker 1: Although he passed away shortly after its completion, his wife Carolyn,
Speaker 1: continued to spend summers at the hotel. Carolyn eventually passed
Speaker 1: away at her home in Rhode Island, but since then
Speaker 1: here occurrences have been reported by guests and employees surrounding
Speaker 1: her suite. Brave visitors who have stayed in Room three fourteen,
Speaker 1: also known as the Princess Room, have experienced strain phenomena
Speaker 1: such as life lights flickering on and off, objects moving mysteriously,
Speaker 1: and catching whiffs of a sweet floor perfume in the
Speaker 1: middle of the night. The room still contains Carolyn's bed
Speaker 1: for guest use, and some have claimed to see the
Speaker 1: ghost of a woman sitting at its edge. While Carolyn
Speaker 1: may have never left her beloved hotel, she's said to
Speaker 1: be a friendly ghost who wants others to enjoy their
Speaker 1: stay as well. If you're interested in learning more about
Speaker 1: this hotel's history, ask the front desk about taking a
Speaker 1: guided tour. You may even hear about other spirits who
Speaker 1: call the Omni Mount Washington Hotel their eternal home. Now
Speaker 1: we have the Macob History of the Wiley House, also
Speaker 1: at Crawford Not State Park, New Hampshire. Now, if you're
Speaker 1: traveling through Crawford Not State Park, make sure to stop
Speaker 1: at the Wiley House Historic Site for a bathroom break,
Speaker 1: some ice cream, or a great view of the immense
Speaker 1: rock walls on either side of the road. But next
Speaker 1: time park and visit for a different reason. Near the
Speaker 1: stairs stands a small monument marking the tragic events that
Speaker 1: occurred on August twenty eighth, eighteen twenty six. Ethan Crawford,
Speaker 1: a well known figure in the region, purchased the Wiley House,
Speaker 1: then known as the Old Notch House, in eighteen twenty three,
Speaker 1: with plans to turn it into an end for a
Speaker 1: guest using his Mountain Guide services. Despite its location at
Speaker 1: the base of rocky cliffs and jumbles. Samuel Wiley, his
Speaker 1: wife Polly, and their five children moved into the house
Speaker 1: in the fall of eighteen twenty five. Surrounded by majestic
Speaker 1: peaks and breathtaking nature, one can imagine the Wileys living
Speaker 1: a peaceful but rugged life. However, life in the mountains
Speaker 1: is sometimes unpredictable. In June of eighteen twenty six, a
Speaker 1: rock slide narrowly missed their home. Thankfully, they were unharmed,
Speaker 1: but luck was not on their side for long. On
Speaker 1: the night of August twenty eighth, eighteen twenty six, a
Speaker 1: heavy rainstorm triggered another massive rock slide. The noise and
Speaker 1: vibrations woke up the Wileys and two higher hands who
Speaker 1: were staying with them. In fear, they fled from their home,
Speaker 1: but straight into the path of the slide. All nine
Speaker 1: people were crushed to death under enormous rocks. In a
Speaker 1: strange twist of fate, the house itself was spared from
Speaker 1: destruction by the rockslide. The giant boulders had veered left
Speaker 1: hand right above the house and then came back together below,
Speaker 1: continuing on their destructive path. The following day, neighbors, including
Speaker 1: Ethan Crawford, went to check on the house and found
Speaker 1: an abandon was belonging scattered, indicating that everyone had left
Speaker 1: in a hurry. Over the next few days, they recovered
Speaker 1: six of the bodies, but three of the wily children
Speaker 1: were never found and remained buried beneath the rocks to
Speaker 1: this day. Interestingly, this tragedy sparked an influx of visitors
Speaker 1: to the region, with artists like Thomas Cole and writers
Speaker 1: such as Nathaniel Hawthorne documenting the site of destruction. Brawford's
Speaker 1: homestead also suffered great damage during the storm, but thanks
Speaker 1: to the surgeon tourism, he was able to repair his
Speaker 1: home and build a new Notch House at the northern
Speaker 1: end of the Notch. It opened for business in eighteen
Speaker 1: twenty nine. The Wiley House came under new ownership in
Speaker 1: eighteen forty five when Horace Fabian converted it into a
Speaker 1: fifty bed hotel, but eventually a fire in eighteen ninety
Speaker 1: nine and nature itself reclaimed the side of the devastation.
Speaker 1: Now all that remains is the marker at nearby Mount Wiley,
Speaker 1: which is named after the lost family. During peak summer season,
Speaker 1: you can visit the Wiley House Mister Center in Crawford
Speaker 1: Notch State Park. However, all buildings are closed with the
Speaker 1: season starting on October fifteenth. Check the New Hampshire State
Speaker 1: Park's website for updates more information. The stone marker is
Speaker 1: successful year round and now a historic marker at the
Speaker 1: site of an alleged alien abduction in Lincoln, New Hampshire.
Speaker 1: On the evening of September nineteenth, nineteen sixty one, Betty
Speaker 1: and Barney Hill were returning home to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Speaker 1: after a vacation in Montreal. As they drove south on
Speaker 1: Route three, they both noticed a strange light in the
Speaker 1: sky that seemed to be following their car. They eventually
Speaker 1: pulled over as a light got closer and an object
Speaker 1: began to take shape. The couple suddenly lost consciousness, and
Speaker 1: when they came to, they couldn't account for several hours
Speaker 1: of their journey. Years later, under hypnosis, they revealed details
Speaker 1: of being abducted by creatures aboard a UFO. This event
Speaker 1: sparked a fascination with aliens that continues to this day.
Speaker 1: Regardless of what you believe, their story remains one of
Speaker 1: the most intriguing tales of the Light Mountains. Interested visitors
Speaker 1: can see the historic marker at the Indian Head Resort
Speaker 1: on Route three in Lincoln and also in Crawford Notch
Speaker 1: State Park. We have the Pet Cemetery. Just off the
Speaker 1: half mile loop trail around Socco Lake and Crawford Notch
Speaker 1: State Park lies a small, unmarked pet cemetery. The exact
Speaker 1: origins of this somber spot are unknown, but is believed
Speaker 1: to have been started by locals who love their furry
Speaker 1: companions and wanted to honor them in the great beyond.
Speaker 1: The cemetery is a peaceful place, surrounded by tall trees
Speaker 1: and the sounds of nature. It's not uncommon to see
Speaker 1: visitors taking a moment to pay their respects to these
Speaker 1: beloved pets. While it may seem eerie at first glance,
Speaker 1: the cemetery adds an element of mystery and wonder to
Speaker 1: this already beautiful area. After visiting the Pet Cemetery, to
Speaker 1: recommended that you take a short hi cup to Elephant
Speaker 1: Head or Mount Willard for studying views of the surrounding
Speaker 1: mountains and valleys. For more outdoor recreation options in Crawford Notch,
Speaker 1: stop by the AMC Highland Center just down the road
Speaker 1: from Saco Lake. The friendly staff can offer recommendations for hikes,
Speaker 1: scenic drives, and other activities in the area. Tell them
Speaker 1: Steve Stockton sent you. While you're there, don't forget to
Speaker 1: take some time to simply soak in the natural beauty
Speaker 1: of Crawford Notch State Park. With its rugged cliffs, cascading
Speaker 1: waterfalls and abundant wildlife. It's no wonder this area has
Speaker 1: captured the hearts of visitors for centuries. As we wrap
Speaker 1: up this exploration of the mysterious and airy places in
Speaker 1: New Hampshire, it's important to keep in mind that these
Speaker 1: are real locations that hold special significance for many people.
Speaker 1: Whether it's a place of historical importance, natural wonder, or
Speaker 1: just a spooky legend, these spots should be treated with
Speaker 1: the utmost respect and caution. If you do decay to
Speaker 1: visit any of these locations I've mentioned, remember to always
Speaker 1: follow proper etiquette. This includes obtaining permission before entering private
Speaker 1: property and being respectful of any rules or regulations at
Speaker 1: public sites. Some sites may be closed to visitors or
Speaker 1: have restricted areas, so make sure to obey any posted signs.
Speaker 1: Also keep in mind that some of these places may
Speaker 1: be located and hard to reach, remote or secluded areas.
Speaker 1: Always take precautions, such as dressing appropriately for the weather,
Speaker 1: bringing necessary supplies such as water and snacks, and letting
Speaker 1: somewhat know where you're going and when you plan on
Speaker 1: your turning. Lastly, have fun exploring these rumored, haunted and
Speaker 1: strange spots, but remember to leave no trace. Whether it's
Speaker 1: an abandoned building or natural area, Always clean up after
Speaker 1: yourself and preserve the environment for future visitors. Happy exploring, Well, friends,
Speaker 1: there you have it. What do you think of these
Speaker 1: strange places in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I
Speaker 1: look forward to your comments, but please be friendly and respectful.
Speaker 1: If there's an area you'd like to see us cover,
Speaker 1: please mention in the comments. In the meanwhile, be good
Speaker 1: to yourselves and each other. Stay safe out there. As
Speaker 1: for me, I'll see you a little further on down
Speaker 1: the trail. I'm Steve Stockton and I'll talk to you
Speaker 1: next time. And please tell your pets I said hi.