Historic Alton/Iron Works question

LilacHill · 08-09-2004, 05:33 PM

We bought the Irwin property on Avery Hill Rd. that backs up to the Boy Scout property. There were several cellar holes and barn foundations here from the house that burned down years ago.

We were wondering in what direction to go in looking for old photographs or information about the house/buildings on the property.
Thanks!

mcdude · 08-09-2004, 08:17 PM

click here for history

LilacHill · 08-09-2004, 08:53 PM

Thank you

The Alton Mt. history mentions some of the names in the deed research we'd had done but our property is off the mountain down around the bend past Places Mills on the right. There is an old mill down a logging road out back though.

madrasahs · 08-10-2004, 07:15 AM

New Hampshire settlers 250+ years ago started clearing the forest for farms and building materials. As they plowed (and the soil gradually eroded) rocks would "appear".

"Managable-sized" rocks were moved to the borders and stacked neatly as walls. (It's not called the "Granite State" for nothing).

Most of the original settlers moved West for less gruelling farming. Today, as a result, most of those rock walls are falling away, being given away or being moved elsewhere. A "second-growth" forest is nudging remaining walls into History -- with rare exception.

Boulders which are normally covered with moss and lichens in the forest weathered away in the open to a light color (as in McDude's photo).

Yankee humor refers to such fields as "Rock Farms".

08-09-2004, 05:33 PM	#1
LilacHill Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Historic Alton/Iron Works question We bought the Irwin property on Avery Hill Rd. that backs up to the Boy Scout property. There were several cellar holes and barn foundations here from the house that burned down years ago. We were wondering in what direction to go in looking for old photographs or information about the house/buildings on the property. Thanks! __________________ Karen, Cuddles, and Dilly the Understudy with Rowdy the Ruckus Raiser

08-09-2004, 08:53 PM	#3
LilacHill Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you The Alton Mt. history mentions some of the names in the deed research we'd had done but our property is off the mountain down around the bend past Places Mills on the right. There is an old mill down a logging road out back though. __________________ Karen, Cuddles, and Dilly the Understudy with Rowdy the Ruckus Raiser

08-10-2004, 07:15 AM	#4
madrasahs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	New Hampshire Rock Trivia New Hampshire settlers 250+ years ago started clearing the forest for farms and building materials. As they plowed (and the soil gradually eroded) rocks would "appear". "Managable-sized" rocks were moved to the borders and stacked neatly as walls. (It's not called the "Granite State" for nothing). Most of the original settlers moved West for less gruelling farming. Today, as a result, most of those rock walls are falling away, being given away or being moved elsewhere. A "second-growth" forest is nudging remaining walls into History -- with rare exception. Boulders which are normally covered with moss and lichens in the forest weathered away in the open to a light color (as in McDude's photo). Yankee humor refers to such fields as "Rock Farms".

08-09-2004, 08:17 PM	#2
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	click here for history