It’s always hard to imagine where all that knowledge goes when someone who was so articulate on a particular subject passes into the next life. I guess that’s why writing it all down over the years has been so important to me, given the great array of learned people I have had the privilege of covering all these years in the valley, first for The Mountain Ear with my late brother Steve and staff, and for the past 15 years here at the Sun.
And so here it is once again this week with the passing of former White Mountains tourism leader and avid longtime local history enthusiast and collector Dick Hamilton, 86, originally of North Conway but long of Littleton, where he lived with his wife Sandy, who passed in May.
kAmpD >J DE@CJ uC:52J ?@E65[ s:4< 5:65 (65?6D52J 27E6C 2 A6C:@5 @7 564=:?:?8 962=E9] w6 D6CG65 2D 9625 @7 E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D pEEC24E:@?D pDD@4:2E:@? 7@C bd J62CD 7C@> `hf_\a__d]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 72== @7 E96 ~=5 |2? @7 E96 |@F?E2:?[ w2>:=E@? 962565 E96 ~=5 |2? @7 E96 |@F?E2:? {6824J uF?5] w6 96=A65 DA62C9625 E96 677@CE E@ C2:D6 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD E@ 3F:=5 E96 ~=5 |2? @7 E96 |@F?E2:? |6>@C:2= D:E6 :? uC2?4@?:2 }@E49] p 36?49 :? 9:D 9@?@C H2D 565:42E65 2E E96 D:E6 3J v@G] r9C:D $F?F?F :? a_`f]k^Am
kAms:4< @7E6? E@=5 E96 DE@CJ 23@FE 9@H H96? 96 H@F=5 5C:G6 A2DE E96 ~=5 |2? @7 E96 |@F?E2:? @? 9:D H2J 9@>6 E@ {:EE=6E@? 7C@> }@CE9 (@@5DE@4< 6249 ?:89E[ 96 H@F=5 82K6 FA 2?5 D2J[ “v@@5 ?:89E[ q@DDP”k^Am
kAmp=@?8 H:E9 E96 =2E6 s2? }@6= @7 }@CE9 r@?H2J 2?5 $E6G6 q2C32[ 7@C>6C=J @7 E96 q2=D2>D[ s:4< H2D :?DECF>6?E2= :? DE2CE:?8 E96 |FD6F> @7 E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D 2E !=J>@FE9 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ] p?5 H:E9 =2E6 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? pFE@ #@25 AC6D:56?E s@F8 !9:=3C@@< W`h`e\a__`X[ E@ H9@> E96 pFE@ #@25’D #65 q2C? |FD6F> :D 565:42E65[ 2?5 r2C= {:?53=256[ 7@C>6C 86?6C2= >2?286C @7 E96 #65 y24<6E[ 2?5 q6? t?8=:D9 yC] @? C2:=C@25 9:DE@CJ 2?5 s:4< |2J 23@FE D<: 9:DE@CJ[ s:4< H2D 567:?:E6=J @?6 @7 >J >6?E@CD @? (9:E6 |@F?E2:? 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmx? `hfh[ 27E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> &}w 2?5 DE2CE:?8 H@C< 2E %96 t2C[ >J 3C@E96C $E6G6 2?5 65:E@C p?? (] q6??6EE 2DD:8?65 >6 2 A:646 @? E96 v@=56? p86 @7 (9:E6 |@F?E2:? w@E6=D] %96J E@=5 >6 E@ 42== s:4< w2>:=E@?[ 2D 96 <?6H 2 =@E 23@FE E96 8C2?5 9@E6=D E92E @?46 5@EE65 E96 >@F?E2:? >625@H =2?5D42A6D =:<6 =2?5=@4<65 @462? =:?6CD]k^Am
kAms:4< 4@F=5 ?@E 92G6 366? <:?56C :? D92C:?8 9:D =:76E:>6 @7 DE@C:6D 23@FE E96 8C2?5 9@E6=Dj @7 9@H >2?J 925 E96:C @H? @C496DEC2D 2?5 32D632== E62>Dj 9@H E96J 925 4@249:?8 A2C256D 6G6CJ DF>>6C :? C6D@CE E@H?D DF49 2D }@CE9 r@?H2Jj 23@FE 9@H E96 4@>:?8 @7 E96 C2:=C@25D @A6?65 FA E96 >@F?E2:?D E@ 2? 6?E:C6=J ?6H 4=:6?E6=6]k^Am
kAm%92E 4@?G6CD2E:@? H2D E96 DE2CE @7 2 =:76=@?8 7C:6?5D9:A 7@C H9:49 x H:== 36 7@C6G6C 8C2E67F=[ 2D s:4< H2D >J 8@\E@ 8FJ H96? :E 42>6 E@ 8C2?5 9@E6=D]k^Am
kAmp 76H J62CD =2E6C[ x >6E FA H:E9 s:4< 7@C D@>6 E@FC:D> @442D:@? 2E E96 pAA2=249:2? |@F?E2:? r=F3’D w:89=2?5 r6?E6C[ 3F:=E @? E96 D:E6 @7 E96 @?46 8C2?5 rC2H7@C5 w@FD6] w6 H2D D:EE:?8 E96C6 :? 9:D ’d_D G:?E286 r25:==24 4@?G6CE:3=6[ 2?5 96 4@?8C2EF=2E65 >6 7@C HC:E:?8 2?@E96C 8@@5 A:646 @? (9:E6 |@F?E2:? 9:DE@CJ] “x =62C? D@>6E9:?8 ?6H 6G6CJ E:>6 x C625 @?6 @7 J@FC DE@C:6D[” 96 E@=5 >6] “x 5@?’E <?@H H9J J@F 5@?’E HC:E6 2 3@@< 23@FE E96>n”k^Am
kAmw62C:?8 E92E >256 >J 62CD H9@@D9 — @?6 @7 E9@D6 >@>6?ED H96? J@F 4@>6 7F== 4:C4=6[ E96 E62496C E6==:?8 E96 DEF56?E E92E 96 =62C?D E9:?8D E92E 96 @C D96 5:5 ?@E <?@H] x>28:?6 E92En w2Pk^Am
kAm$@[ C6DE :? A6246[ s:4<[ 2?5 E92?< J@F 7@C 8F:5:?8 >6 @? E9:D ;@FC?6J x 92G6 E2<6? E96D6 cb J62CD] p?5 E@ FD6 J@FC A9C2D6[ “v@@5 ?:89E[ q@DD]”k^Am
kAm$!tpzx}v ~u wx$%~#*[ (9:E6 q:C49 q@@<D @? yF=J af 2E `` 2]>] H:== 9@DE 2 3C:67 E2=< 2?5 3@@< D:8?:?8 3J C6E:C65 |2;] v6?] |2CJ z] t56C @7 sF>7C:6D[ '2][ H9@ H:== DA62< 23@FE 96C 3@@<[ “%96 v:C=D (9@ $E6AA65 ~FE ~7 {:?6[” H9:49 F?4@G6CD D@>6 96C6E@7@C6 F?<?@H? DE@C:6D @7 H@>6? H9@ A6C7@C>65 5:DE:?8F:D965 24ED @7 3C2G6CJ 5FC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx]k^Am
kAm|FEF2= 7C:6?5 2?5 uC665@> C6D:56?E y@9? s@?@G2? — H9@ H@C<65 H:E9 sF>7C:6D 2E E96 !6?E28@? — D2JD E96 3@@< AC6D6?ED `d DE@C:6D @7 H@>6? H9@ C:D<65 =:76 2?5 =:>3 2D C6D4F6 A:=@ED E@ 8@ 369:?5 6?6>J =:?6D[ E@ DAJ[ E@ 76CCJ 5@4F>6?ED 2?5 E@ H@C< @? AC@;64ED E92E C6>2:?65 4=2DD:7:65 D64C6E 7@C 92=7 2 46?EFCJ]k^Am
kAm%96 ?:89E 367@C6 96C }@CE9 r@?H2J G:D:E[ t56C :D E@ DA62< 2E f A]>] 2E E96 (C:89E |FD6F> @7 (@C=5 (2C xx :? (@=763@C@]k^Am
kAmp#%$ y&qx{tt {x't p% ux{{|~#ti s6DA:E6 =2E6 27E6C?@@? E9F?56C\3@@>6CD %9FCD52J[ “q=F6 $<J” H2D 567:?:E6=J E96 E96>6 D@?8 7@C pCED yF3:=66’D D64@?5 D9@H @7 E96 D62D@? 2E rC2?>@C6] %96 C2:? DE@AA65 ;FDE :? E:>6 7@C E96 {:G6 2E E96 u:==>@C6i %96 s67:?:E:G6 %C:3FE6 E@ E96 ~C:8:?2= p==>2? qC@E96CD q2?5]k^Am
kAm%96 >FD:4 H2D 8C62E[ H:E9 =@?8E:>6 7C:6?5 y2<6 (6==:?89FCDE E6==:?8 >6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 72?E2DE:4 D9@H[ “(:E9@FE BF6DE:@?[ E9:D H2D E96 36DE pCED yF3:=66 4@?46CE 6G6C]” tG6? 36EE6C E92? r6:=: #2:? :? $49@F=6C !2C<n “~z[ D64@?5 E@ E92E — 3FE ;FDE 32C6=J[” 4@?46565 y2<6]k^Am
kAmr9C:DE:2? |2CE:? @7 |2:?6 @A6?65 E96 D9@H 2?5 H2D H6==\C646:G65] r@?46CE b @? yF=J ag :D ':4E@C (2:?HC:89E U2>Aj E96 %C2:?[ A=2J:?8 vC2>>J\?@>:?2E65 AC@8C6DD:G6 C@@ED >FD:4k^Am
kAmx} ~%wt# |&$xr[ x 42F89E @?6 @7 >J 2==\E:>6 72G@C:E6 =@42= 32?5D[ #:4<J U2>Aj %96 v:2?ED 2E E96 2=H2JD 92AA6?:?’ #65 !2C<2 !F3 =2DE uC:52J ?:89E] vC62E EF?6D[ 6DA64:2==J $E66=J s2?’D “|J ~=5 $49@@=]”k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ t?EC2:? C@==65 :?E@ E@H? 7C@> |2CE92’D ':?6J2C5 E@ A6C7@C> 2E E96 q6=:6G6 :? q@@<D {:E6C24J u@F?52E:@?’D uC:52J }:89E $F>>6C r@?46CE $6C:6D =2DE ?:89E[ 2?5 E96 E962E6C H:== AC6D6?E 2 4@>65J D9@H yF=J ah]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ @FE5@@CD 2E %F4<6C>2? qC6H:?8 r@][ $92C< |2CE:? A6C7@C>D 2?5 @? $F?52J[ r9:>6C2 A=2JD[ 3@E9 7C@> b\e A]>]k^Am
kAm{6586 qC6H:?8[ >62?H9:=6[ 92D q@33J $96692?’D {2KJ #:G6C #:56CD @FE5@@CD E@52J 7C@> e\h A]>]k^Am
kAm%96 #65 !2C<2 92D E96 t49E@?6D E@52J 7C@> g\`` A]>] %96 u66= E96 q2C? $6C:6D 2E E96 u2C>DE2?5 :? r9@4@CF2 92D (2E6C>6=@? $=:>’D C@4<:?’ 3=F6D yF=J ac] %96 p|r w:89=2?5 r6?E6C :? rC2H7@C5 }@E49 E@52J 92D 2D A2CE @7 :ED r@96? |FD:4 $6C:6D %H:DE65 !:?6]k^Am
kAmpE %@A @7 E96 }:?E9 :? uCJ63FC8[ 2=D@ E@?:89E[ A=2J:?8 :D y&v H:E9 DA64:2= 8F6DE E96 {2KJ p?2C49:DE]k^Am
kAm%96 (:=542E x?? 2?5 %2G6C?’D ~FE5@@C v2C56? $6C:6D 92D ~?46 2? ~FE=2H yF=J b`j 2?5 =@@<:?8 29625 E@ pF8] ``[ :E H:== 9@DE 2 5:??6C 82C56? D9@H 3J |2:?6 D@?8HC:E:?8 =686?5 s2G6 |2==6EE 2?5 32DD:DE |:<6 q:C5 A=2J:?8 pF8] ``]k^Am
kAmz&s~$ %~ z#x$%p sp* p}s !2F= s68=:p?86=: 7@C @C82?:K:?8 E96 ?:46 A2CEJ 7@C C6E:C:?8 r@?H2J %@H? |2?286C %@> w@=>6D 2E E96 }@CE9 r@?H2J r@F?ECJ r=F3 @? %F6D52J] }:46 ;@3[ 6G6CJ@?6 2?5 36DE E@ %@> 2?5 (6?5J]k^Am
kAmx} wp!!* qx#%wsp*$[ H6 D2=FE6 @?6 2?5 2==[ :?4=F5:?8i %277J r2D6 2?5 #@36CE $EC2H WE@52JXj p=6I {6:49[ (:= v:=D@? 2?5 |2FCJ |4z:??6J Wf\acXj y@2??6 u:@C6[ $92C@? 2?5 $FD2? +6>=2 2?5 E96 $F?’D %6CCJ {62G:EE Wf\adXj z2C6? v=:?6D 2?5 y@6 q6CCJ Wf\aeXj q@3 |288[ !2F= “z2K” z2D:2?49F< 2?5 $F? !F3=:D96C^4@\7@F?56C |2C< vF6CC:?8F6 Wf\agXj 2?5 2== @E96CD]k^Am
kAm%#* %~ $%p* 4@@= 5FC:?8 E9:D 962E H2G6] %2<6 >6 E@ E96 C:G6C[ 2D p= vC66? 2?5 E96 %2=<:?8 w625D H@F=5 D:?8]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.