A Beautiful Ending
We had a wonderful week planned at a beautiful resort in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Our itinerary for the remainder of our trip included lots of waterfalls in New York and a visit to Delaware – our 50th state. But things don’t always go as planned, and we left for home early – after one fabulous day.
Today we visited Littleton, NH. There we were blessed with autumn’s splendor as we explored this lovely town on the northern edge of the White Mountains.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit A New England Autumn.
A Slow Start
This was our first stay at South Mountain Resort in Lincoln, NH. Although short, our visit was very sweet and we can’t wait to return again soon to finish our itinerary. We stayed in Lincoln quite a few years ago and fell in love with New England! Check out the Recap of New England at Last for photos of that visit. There may be some glitches in my older posts, so please pardon my mess as I update this site.
Our typical m.o. is to settle in the first day, get organized, get a few groceries, and relax after the drive. But this time it took us two days to get moving. The gloomy, rainy weather certainly didn’t help, so when the weather finally cleared we set out to check off a few items on our list.
The Kilburn Crags Trail
We decided to start off the day with an easy hike, and the Kilburn Crags Trail was googled to be just that. Although it definitely challenged us with a steady incline up to 1,300 feet (and in some places it was muddy), it was not a treacherous climb like some we’ve encountered in the past. As long as we stopped occasionally for a breather (or three), we made it to the top quite easily. And the views overlooking Littleton (where we’re heading next), were definitely worth it!
“Known as “The Crags” to locals, this easy, scenic trail is located on the northeastern shoulder of Walker Mountain in Littleton, N.H. The trailhead and small parking area for it is on NH Route 18/135, also known as the St. Johnsbury Road. (And the parking area is truly small, only big enough to fit about four cars at a time, so plan to carpool if going in a group.)” ~ READ MORE
Littleton is a Classic Main Street in New England
After our Crags hike, we were a little parched and it was lunchtime, so we made our first stop at Littleton Freehouse Taproom & Eatery. It was a gorgeous place with amazing views along the Ammonoosuc River, where we’ll be spending the rest of our day. Our meals and beers made a great first impression, and Littleton was quickly added to our list of must-visits when we return!
“Father-daughter duo, Steve and Jillian are true North Country locals with a passion for locally-sourced food and craft beer. Both take enormous pride in their community and are committed to providing Littleton with a unique dining experience using fresh local ingredients and maintaining the highest quality food and guest service standards.” ~ READ MORE history
The River Walk
The Ammonoosuc River is a tributary of the Connecticut, and is Abnaki for ‘small, narrow fishing place’. Although not small or narrow at this point in its 55-mile journey, it narrows up just below the suspension bridge.
This river played an important role in our enjoyment of Littleton with its rocky riverbed, its babbling water, and interesting bridges. We moved our car down closer to the first bridge and enjoyed the walk to the second.
“Rivers and Roads: The Foundation of Littleton’s Growth. Littleton’s story begins in the 1760s when settlers, encouraged by Governor Benning Wentworth’s township grants, ventured into the fertile river valleys of the Connecticut and Ammonoosuc Rivers. These waterways, with their steep descents, fueled early commerce. Mills processing wood and grains later gave way to tanneries and factories producing shoes, gloves, and harnesses, laying the groundwork for a skilled and industrious workforce.
The Ammonoosuc River was a hub of activity, powering up to ten mills at its height. Littleton’s strategic location on the Connecticut River made it a natural conduit for trade, solidifying its prominence in regional enterprise.” ~ READ MORE
For a great video of some of the rich history of Littleton, CLICK HERE.
The Curran Suspension Bridge
Jim was cool with crossing this suspension bridge because it was not nearly as intimidating as either of the Golden Skybridges in Golden, BC. CLICK HERE to catch a glimpse of those!
After the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, which caused considerable damage to New Hampshire (163 mph winds at nearby Mt. Washington), the town turned to a Littleton native, recently returning home after receiving an Engineering degree from Northwestern University. As a result of this first job coming in under budget and of excellent quality, Kenneth Curran’s firm “grew to be a major employer in the region, employing hundreds and constructing airfields, dams, utilities, schools, and notably, bridges across New England.” ~ READ MORE on the sign just below.
“The Curran Bridge is the third such bridge in this spot, an essential link between the industrial section of town on the north side of the Ammonoosuc and the residential section of the town on the south side. Prior to the first bridge being erected in the late 1800’s, workers used a rope drawn skiff to cross the Ammonoossuc to get to the Saranac Glove Factory, which was founded in 1866.” ~ READ MORE
Littleton Public Library and the Pollyanna Statue
When we saw a significant flight of stairs from the River Walk up to a significant flight of stairs to the library, with more stairs to get a close-up of the Pollyanna Statue, Jim took a break on a bench while I explored. The most wonderful thing about one of those flights of stairs was the display of umbrellas suspended above! The brightly colored umbrellas were strung with lights for illumination after dark. I wish we could have been there to see that!
To be honest, I had never heard of the thirteen books about Pollyanna. I was five when the Disney movie came out and Hayley Mills won an Oscar for her performance. Upon further investigation, “Due to the book’s fame, “Pollyanna” has become a byword for someone who, like the title character, has an unfailingly optimistic outlook; a subconscious bias towards the positive is often described as the Pollyanna principle… Pollyanna and her father played the glad game as a method of coping with the real difficulties and sorrows that, along with luck and joy, shape every life.”
In her (and her father’s) honor, maybe we should all adapt to the Pollyanna principle as a way to cope with the extraordinarily tragic and difficult mountain of things there are to worry about these days.
Schilling Beer Company
A stop at the Schilling Beer Company was another great find. Along with another great beer, the views from its riverside deck were fantastic. We were here for a while basking in the warmth of the sun and the vibrant autumn colors.
The red building in the first photo below is a great shot of the Schilling Beer Co’s original brewpub – the restored 1797 gristmill. To the right of the red building is the black building shown in the header photo – where we enjoyed our second beers – in the Store & Tasting Room.
The deck also offered a great view of the white building across the river. The beautiful Riverglen House is an independent and assisted living facility. The occupants of that building are blessed with quite a view in their later years!
“Born of family, friendship, and a shared commitment to European-inspired beers, Schilling Beer Co. is anchored in an unwavering commitment to excellence. Our original brewpub opened in 2013 after restoring the circa 1797 gristmill that now serves as our pub and kitchen. We added our Scandinavian farmhouse-inspired production brewery, aging facility, and Store & Tasting Room on the river’s edge in 2018. Our beer gardens have expanded annually and are open year-round (including cold weather warming huts!).” ~ READ MORE
Riverwalk Covered Bridge
I’ve been eyeing-up the covered bridge in the distance since the Taproom, but we decided to save the best for last. And we needed a way back over the Ammonoosuc River and to our car. The time has finally come!
This Warren Truss covered bridge is 352-feet long and was completed in September of 2004. It was built partly as a tourist attraction, but it also allows a cool way to cross the river and access the trails along the River Walk-side.
Then our Plans Changed
After a fabulous day in Littleton, we returned to check in with the family. My mother-in-law had taken a turn for the worse and we decided then and there that we’d be leaving the next morning. Elaine was blessed with a long and wonderful life, full of family and friends. I wish I had a nickel for every batch of lefse or meal she helped prepare or serve at her church. She passed just how she had wanted – at home, in her sleep, with her daughter by her side. We should all be so lucky.
Next up: New England Autumn Recap
Happy trails,
Barb
