Amen to that, Olentzero (my fellow Arlingtonian). I spent a lot of time in New Hampshire as a kid, have family there, and went to Dartmouth College. At work this morning I am trying to explain to people the gravity of this event for New Hampshire folks, and no one seems to get it. I said to one guy, “Imagine if you woke up one morning and Niagara Falls wasn’t there anymore.” For NH, it’s like that.
I can’t believe my grandmother, who is 99 years old and a twelfth-generation New Hampshire native, has outlived the Old Man. :eek: Maybe we shouldn’t tell her what happened.
The problem with NH symbol-wise is that a lot of its natural beauty doesn’t lend itself well to icons. You can say the same thing about Nebraska (though they do have Chimney Rock… hope that doesn’t fall over!) or Saskatchewan, which is a beautiful province in its own way. Or Virginia, for that matter… besides Natural Bridge there aren’t a lot of natural landmarks that are immediately recognizable from a picture.
I don’t think they should rebuild it. Just let it live on in pictures.
I’d seen pictures, but when I finally drove through NH and stopped to see TOMOTM, I was surprised at how incredibly small it is, even from the official observation decks. Sure, if you’re up there, I imagine it’s pretty big, but I couldn’t help but wonder “Who the heck was looking up from the exact spot at the exact angle to notice this teeny-tiny little rockFace way up at the top of that mountain?”
Still, sorry for your loss, NHians. Can’t help thinking of the Cab Calloway song:
“And he’ll live as long as an old oak tree,
He’ll eat up fools like you and me,
Oh, I often sigh and jump and cry
At the Old Man of the Mountain!”
I have just loved hearing that sentiment over the past few days. Please spread the word. Now that the Old Man is gone, there is absolutely no reason to come to New Hampshire. Everyone should just stay away. That includes Presidential wannabes, high tech workers, Massachusetts exiles, and recreationalists. We’ll just keep our high standard of living and libertarian values to ourselves, thanks. Sure we’ll miss your money, but we’ll get by.
I grew up in MA, but spent a lot of time in NH (Sorry. evilhanz, but this means I can get all that money back, right? right? helloo…)
The Old Man In The Mountain wasn’t just a cool chunk of rocks. Over the years NH folks have taken it to be a physical representation of their finer qualities: stoicism, independence, strength, endurance, etc. That’s why its on the coins, letterhead, road signs, etc. It isn’t the only cool or brag-worthy thing in the state. But it was something more, a way of saying “This is who we are”. If you don’t understand that, you won’t understand the level of psychological loss the collapse of the Old Man means.
Hahaha. I’ll make a deal with you. We’ll give your toll money and liquor taxes back if we can have our income tax money back. An excellent summary of the Old Man’s meaning, by the way. And from an out-of-stater to boot!
I second this. Don’t come to NH. Please. Especially if you can’t drive, or are contemplating moving here with your pack of brats. You wouldn’t like it here without the Old Man, honest.
evilhanz, have you seen the New Hampshire tourist commercials yet? Besides the “ahhh! They’re trying to get more people here to clog up the roads!” reaction, I noticed that they don’t even give a nod to the mosquitos, humidity and black-fly season. It’s not NH without humidity and black-fly season, is it?
I don’t think that Benson’s original statement about rebuilding the Old Man will go anywhere. It’s not something that fits with the NH character. It was his time, he’s gone now, let him rest in peace, or pieces as the case may be.
I run a website about hiking in the White Mountains and received an email from a stone mason in Maine offering his services to rebuild the Old Man, and make it better than it was before. I just can’t see anyone in NH allowing that to happen. I predict there’ll be a commemoration/museum/display down at the viewing area.
I also hope they keep the Old Man on the license and highway signs.
I call upon the great spirits of Sunapee, Winnipesaukee, and Gilmanton Iron Works to smite Zenster for his impudence! Curse his naughty bits so that they collapse like the Old Man of the Mountain whenever he calleth upon them!
That’s a little harsh. Then again the Old man stood proudly errect for thousands of years before collapsing, so maybe Zenster isn’t getting such a bad deal after all.
I don’t know. I was born in Maine and only lived in NH for about 5 1/2 years before moving to Oregon.
The old man WAS pretty much the only claim to fame NH had, to be honest - IMO anyway.
Oh sure, there’s the presidential primary every four years. But in between those, you’ve got the same old fights about “NO BROAD BASED TAXES” and such.
