Mondays – the beginning of the workweek – can be magical.  When they’re not, it’s sometimes healthful to turn one’s thoughts to escapist getaways.  For me, this takes the form of New Hampshire‘s White Mountains.  Growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts, I spent a lot of summer days in the White Mountain communities of Conway, Jefferson, and Bartlett.  I frequently visited the Old Man of the Mountain, the iconic stone profile that once stared out from the mountains over Franconia, New Hampshire.

I also have some great memories of Jackson, New Hampshire.  In researching other posts for this blog, I came across this excerpt from Page 226 of Moses Foster Sweeter’s  1875 travel book: “New England:  A Handbook for Travellers”.  Sweeter’s words provide some interesting insights into the history of Jackson, New Hampshire:

“The Jackson people became  discontented during the Secession War, on account of crushing taxes, and after some acts of violence on their part, it was found necessary to occupy the place with U.S.  troops, who were quartered in the church.  The town was settled in 1778, and in 1790, Capt. Pinkham and five families came on snow shoes and sledges.  Shortly after, Daniel Pinkham built a rude road through the notch which still bears his name, and the little settlement was called New Madbury.  In 1800, its name was changed to Adams, and in 1829, when Adams and Jackson were candidates for the Presidency, and the latter received every vote, except one, in the town, it took the name of Jackson.” 

The towns of the White Mountains all offer interesting histories (as well as some great views) that I hope to cover in coming posts.  I’m finding that the sepia and black-and-white photographs just don’t truly capture the beauty of the mountains.  But, this postcard, from 1907, and in color, does just that.  Can’t you just picture whiling away a Monday here?