STARK — In the north country of New Hampshire, nestled in a valley, is the picturesque town of Stark, where farms dot the upper Amonoosuc River valley and small streams cascade into the Connecticut River in nearby Northumberland.
Stark is a small town and its residents are rugged and resilient. Possibly the most resilient is Bob Kidder, a passionate conservationist.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? yF=J a_a` z:556C @77:4:2==J 4=@D65 @? @G6C g_ 24C6D @7 2 4@?D6CG2E:@? 62D6>6?E @? 9:D =2?5 :? $E2C<[ 46>6?E:?8 :ED A=246 2D @A6? =2?5 2?5 AC@E64E:?8 y:>>J r@=6 qC@@<[ 2?5 DFCC@F?5:?8 2C62D 7C@> 56G6=@A>6?E :? A6CA6EF:EJ] t?C@==:?8 E96 =2?5 :? 2? 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@?D6CG2E:@? 62D6>6?E AC@8C2> E9C@F89 E96 &$sp C6AC6D6?E65 2 >:=6DE@?6 7@C E96 g`\J62C\@=5 z:556C] %96 7@F?52E:@? 7@C E9:D 249:6G6>6?E H2D D6E 564256D 28@ H:E9 2 D:>A=6[ EH@\5@==2C EC2?D24E:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@3 H62CD 9:D =:76 6IA6C:6?46D :? E96 566A =:?6D 2?5 HC:?<=6D @? 9:D @FE5@@CD>2?’D 7246] *@F 42? D66 56DA:E6 =:G:?8 2 =:76 @7 E96 F?56C5@8[ 96 92D DE2C65 25G6CD:EJ :? E96 7246 2?5 =2F8965]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@3 H6?E E@ =:G6 H:E9 9:D 8C2?5A2C6?ED H96? 96 H2D EH@ J62CD @=5[ H9:=6 9:D >@E96C H@C<65 >:=6D 2H2J :? 2 >:== E@H?] w6 7@F?5 2 5:776C6?E H@C=5 :? E96 H@@5D @7 $E2C<] w:D A2CE }2E:G6 p>6C:42?[ p36?2<:[ 96C:E286 96=A65 56G6=@A 9:D A2DD:@? 7@C E96 =2?5 2?5 D9@H65 9:> E92E 3J 42C:?8 7@C :E[ E96 =2?5 H@F=5 E2<6 42C6 @7 9:>] w:D 8C2?5>@E96C D9@H65 9:> 9@H E@ 2AAC@249 25G6CD:EJ :? 9:D =:76 2?5 9:D 8C2?572E96C D9@H65 9:> E96 >6C:ED @7 92C5 H@C< 2?5 E6?24:EJ] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9@D6 =6DD@?D 42>6 62C=J 2?5 @7E6?] (:E9 ?@ CF??:?8 H2E6C[ q@3 EC2G6=65 3J 9@CD6 E62> D6G6C2= E:>6D 2 H66< H:E9 9:D 8C2?572E96C E@ E96 =@42= DAC:?8 E@ 86E H2E6C] w6 H@F=5 9F?E[ 7:D9[ 2?5 =62C? E@ H@C< E96 =2?5 ;FDE E@ DFCG:G6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(9:=6 96 2EE6?565 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=[ 96 H2D 492DE:D65 7@C 9:D :?23:=:EJ E@ =62C?] %96 DFCC@F?5:?8 H@@5D 3642>6 9:D D@=246] q@3 92D 5JD=6I:2[ 2?5 56DA:E6 2 =@E @7 677@CE[ 96 4@F=5 ?@E =62C? E@ C625 2?5 DECF88=65 H:E9 :E >@DE @7 9:D =:76] x? 724E[ 96 5:5 ?@E =62C? E@ C625 F?E:= 96 H2D @G6C d_] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 H@@5D @? 9:D 8C2?5A2C6?E’D AC@A6CEJ 3642>6 9:D H@?56C=2?5] %96C6 96 =62C?65 E@ 36 C6D@FC467F= 2?5 7@F?5 9:D ECF6 E2=6?E[ H@C<:?8 H:E9 9:D 92?5D] w6 DE2CE65 2D >@DE 3@JD 5@[ H:E9 7@CED[ 2?5 3C:586D 56G6=@A:?8 9:D E2=6?E E@ 3F:=5 >@C6 4@>A=6I DECF4EFC6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmuC@> DF>>6C E@ 72== 96 H2E4965 7:D96C>6? 5C:G6 A2DE 9:D 9@FD6 E@ E96 }2D9 $EC62>[ @?6 @7 E96 36DE 7:D9:?8 DEC6E496D :? E96 DE2E6] w6 D2H 2 ?665[ 2?5 2 D@=FE:@? AC@G:565 3J ?2EFC6] pE E96 286 @7 E6?[ 96 5F8 H@C>D @FE @7 E96 7:6=5D :? 7C@?E @7 9:D 9@>6 2?5 D@=5 E96> 2D 32:E] %92E H2D E96 DE2CE @7 9:D 6?EC6AC6?6FC:2= ;@FC?6J]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(96? x H2D E6? J62CD @=5[ x H2D E96 @?=J <:5 :? D49@@= H:E9 >@?6J :? >J A@4<6E[” 6IA=2:?D q@3[ “?@ @?6 4@F=5 36=:6G6 :E]” k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~?6 DF>>6C 52J H96? 96 H2D `` 9:D 8C2?572E96C E@=5 9:> E@ 4=62C D@>6 3CFD9 7@C 2 DFCG6J@C] “x C6>6>36C H6 H@C<65 2== 52J @? E9:D] x 5:5?’E <?@H H92E 7@C[ 3FE x <?6H ?@E E@ 2D< BF6DE:@?D[” D2:5 q@3]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(96? 96 H2D `e[ 2E 9:D 8C2?5>@E96C’D FC8:?8[ 96 2EE6?565 2 EC256 D49@@=[ =:G:?8 :? 2 3@2C5:?8 9@>6 5FC:?8 E96 H66< 2?5 9625:?8 9@>6 @? E96 H66<6?5D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~?6 H66<6?5[ 2D D@@? 2D 96 H2=<65 :? E96 5@@C 9:D 8C2?5>@E96C 4@?7C@?E65 9:> ‘*@FC 8C2?572E96C H2?ED E@ E2=< E@ J@F]’ w6 4@F=5 E6== 3J 96C G@:46 :E D@F?565 D6C:@FD] $:EE:?8 5@H?[ 96 C6>6>36CD ?@E <?@H:?8 H92E H@F=5 4@>6 ?6IE “|J 8C2?572E96C ?6G6C C2:D65 9:D G@:46 E@ >6[” C642==D q@3[ “x>>65:2E6=J x E9@F89E[ H92E 4C@AA65 FA E9:D H66< H9:=6 x H2D 2H2Jn”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 C6>6>36C65 9:D DE@:4 8C2?572E96C D:EE:?8 :? 9:D 492:C 2?5 2D<:?8 q@3 :7 96 C6>6>36C65 4FEE:?8 E96 3CFD9 7@C 2 DFCG6J@C 2?5 AFEE:?8 2 =:?6 :?] %96? 9:D 8C2?572E96C E@=5 9:> E92E 96 H2D D6==:?8 q@3 6G6CJE9:?8 ?@CE9 @7 E92E =:?6 7@C Sa] q@3 C642==D A2J:?8 9:D 8C2?572E96C[ E96J D9@@< 92?5D[ E96? 9:D 8C2?572E96C D2:5 “%96C6[ :E’D 5@?6[ :E’D J@FCD]” q@3 25>:ED E92E D@>6E:>6D 96 DE:== 42?’E 36=:6G6 :E 92AA6?65]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@3 42CC:65 @? H:E9 EC256 D49@@= 2?5 9:D D<:==D 4@?E:?F65 E@ 8C@H] %96?[ 962CE3C62<] s6DA:E6 92G:?8 DEC2:89E p’D :? 2== 9:D D9@A 4=2DD6D[ 96 H2D E@=5 96 H@F=5 ?@E @77:4:2==J 8C25F2E6 5F6 E@ 9:D :==:E6C24J] w6 H@F=5 C646:G6 2 46CE:7:42E6 @7 2EE6?52?46 :?DE625] (9:=6 D92EE6C65 3J E96 ?6HD[ 96 5:5?’E 5H6== @? :E] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm*62CD H@F=5 A2DD 2?5 q@3 4@?E:?F65 E@ 9:56 9:D 5:D23:=:EJ 7C@> E96 H@C=5] %9C@F89 E6?24:EJ 2?5 C6D:=:6?46[ 96 DE2CE65 2 4@?DECF4E:@? 4@>A2?J 2?5 5:5 7:?6 H@@5H@C<] w6 C6?@G2E65 E96 A6HD :? E96 9:DE@C:4 $E2C< r9FC49 2?5 56D:8?65[ 4@?DECF4E65[ 2?5 =62D65 @FE @77:46 3F:=5:?8D] qJ 92AA6?DE2?46[ @?6 H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J 36 E96 {2?42DE6C[ }]w] &$sp’D =@42= D6CG:46 46?E6C 7@C E96 u2C> $6CG:46 p86?4J 2?5 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D r@?D6CG2E:@? $6CG:46 :? r@@D r@F?EJ] w6 2=D@ 3F:=E 2 724:=:EJ E92E H@F=5 9@FD6 (@@5DG:==6[ }]w] &$sp $6CG:46 r6?E6C 7@C vC27E@? r@F?EJ] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp7E6C 9:D 8C2?572E96C’D A2DD:?8[ 96 C62=:K65 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C D@>6 @7 E96 >:?6C2=D @? A2CE @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 DE2CE65 2 D2?5 2?5 8C2G6= 4@>A2?J] w6 D@=5 E96 288C682E6 E@ E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 8C@H:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D @7 E96 ?@CE9 4@F?ECJ] p== H9:=6 ?@E 36:?8 23=6 E@ C625] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@3 C642==D] “x H@F=5 92G6 E@ 5C2H A:4EFC6D @7 H92E x ?66565 367@C6 D6?5:?8 H@C<6CD E@ E96 =F>36C J2C5 @C 92C5H2C6 DE@C6] x =@@< 324< ?@H 2?5 H@?56C 9@H x 6G6C >256 :E H@C<] x 4@F=5 C625 2 E2A6 >62DFC6[ x 4@F=5 C625 2 =6G6= 2?5 2 DBF2C6[ 3FE x DE:== 4@F=5?’E C625 2 3@@<]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpE d_ 96 C62=:K65 :E H2D E:>6 E@ E9C@H @77 E96 G6:= 7C@> 9:D 5:D23:=:EJ 2?5 DE@A 9:5:?8 9:D :==:E6C24J 7C@> 6G6CJ@?6[ :?4=F5:?8 9:D 7@FC 52F89E6CD] w6 H2=<65 :?E@ 2? 25F=E =62C?:?8 :?DE:EFE:@? :? ?62C3J $E] y@9?D3FCJ[ 'E] %96C6 96 >6E 9:D EFE@C[ y@2? r@==:?D[ H9@ E2F89E[ 4@24965[ 2?5 >6?E@C65 9:>] {62C?:?8 23@FE 9:D A2DD:@? 7@C 7@C6DED 2?5 H:=5=:76[ D96 C64@>>6?565 2 3@@< E92E 492?865 9:D =:76 2?5 A6C46AE:@? @7 4@?D6CG2E:@? ‘q=24< t=< $A62<D]’ k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(:E9 E9:D ?6H 5@@C @A6? E@ 9:>[ q@3 3642>6 2? 2G:5 C6256C[ 4@?DF>65 2== >2??6C @7 AC:?E65 >2E6C:2= 2?5 DE2CE65 E@ C67=64E @? 9:D =:76] w6 E9@F89E 23@FE E96 3F:=5:?8D 96 925 3F:=E[ 23@FE E96 }#r$[ 23@FE E96 >2E6C:2= 96 925 D66? :? E96:C @77:46 E92E 96 4@F=5 ?@H C625 2?5 F?56CDE2?5] w6 DE2CE65 E@ G@=F?E66C :? E96 }#r$’D #6D@FC46 r@?D6CG2E:@? 2?5 s6G6=@A>6?E AC@8C2> 2?5 E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE 4@?D6CG2E:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 H@C<65 H:E9 E96 286?4J E@ :>A=6>6?E AC24E:46D @? 9:D AC@A6CEJ 2?5 56=2J65 >@H:?8 E@ 96=A G2C:@FD 3:C5 DA64:6D 2?5 A@==:?2E@CD] w6 3682? E@ F?56CDE2?5 D@:= 962=E9] }62C=J 56A=6E:?8 E96 D2?5 2?5 8C2G6= A:E @? 9:D AC@A6CEJ[ q@3 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 7FCE96C :>A24E E96 362FEJ @7 E96 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D 2?5 3642>6 :?E6C6DE65 :? 6?C@==:?8 9:D =2?5 :? 2 4@?D6CG2E:@? 62D6>6?E] “x 7@==@H E96 }2E:G6 p>6C:42? H2J @7 E9:?<:?8[ E92E J@F FD6 :E[ 2?5 E96? J@FC D@? FD6D :E[ 2?5 9:D D@? FD6D :E 2?5 D@ @?[ 3FE J@F 5@?’E @H? :E[” 6IA=2:?D q@3] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 DE277 2E }#r$[ E96J :56?E:7:65 q@3’D AC@A6CEJ 23FEE:?8 }2D9 $EC62> $E2E6 u@C6DE[ H:E9 y:>>J r@=6 qC@@< CF??:?8 C:89E FA E96 >:55=6 2D 2 AC:>6 42?5:52E6 7@C 2 (6E=2?5 #6D6CG6 t2D6>6?E] q@3 6?C@==65 >@C6 E92? g_ 24C6D @7 E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 286?4J[ 92D 56G6=@A65 A=2?D E@ :>A=6>6?E 7FCE96C 4@?D6CG2E:@? 24E:G:E:6D E92E 36?67:E E6CC6DEC:2= 2?5 2BF2E:4 DA64:6D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu@C q@3[ E9:D 92D 2== 4@>6 7F== 4:C4=6] uC@> 2 DE@C:65 J@FE9 :? E96D6 H@@5D E@ 8:G:?8 :E 324< E@ ?2EFC6 2?5 AC@E64E:?8 :E 7@C6G6C] “(92E x’> 92AAJ H:E9 :D C:89E :? 96C6[” D2:5 q@3 A@:?E:?8 E@ 2 DE2?5 @7 EC66D[ “2? F?36=:6G23=6 566C J2C5[ :E 2=H2JD 92D 366?[ 2?5 x 9@A6 E96 964< :E 2=H2JD H:== 36] %92E’D @?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D x 5:5 E9:D[ 7@C E96 2?:>2=D[ 7@C E96 H:=5=:76] %96J’== =:G6 96C6[ E96J’== 5:6 96C6[ E96J’== 92G6 E96:C J@F?8 96C6[ 2?5 :E H:== 8@ @? 2?5 @? 2?5 @?] %92E’D H9J x 5:5 E9:D] $276 … 7@C6G6C]”k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.