Editor's note: In occasional Saturday editions, The Conway Daily Sun is presenting the "The White Mountain Chronicles," stories that first appeared in The Mountain Ear newspaper, an award-winning, weekly newspaper published by Steve Eastman from 1976 to 2005, which showcased the culture and history of the Mount Washington Valley. The Ear was bought by Salmon Press in 2005, and the last edition was published in 2014.
Eastman died in 2008, but the spirit of The Ear lives on in the pages of the Sun thanks to his brother Tom, who was assistant editor at the Ear for 28 years and is now a reporter at the Sun and co-editor of North Conway magazine, a monthly publication for visitors.
kAmk6>m%9:D H66<VD DE@CJ[ @C:8:?2==J 7C@> pF8FDE `hfh[ 92D 366? FA52E65 7@C E96 $F? [ 3FE E96 @C:8:?2= DE@CJ H:== D@@? 36 2G2:=23=6 @? 2 H63D:E6 36:?8 4C62E65 3J $E6G6VD H:5@H[ $2C29[ 2?5 7@C>6C t2C DE277 HC:E6C z2C6? rF>>:?8D]k^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>mQp=2DP %96J 925 BF:EE65 E96:C D64FC:EJ[ 2?5 7=65 C:89E :?E@ E96 A2E9 @7 56DECF4E:@?] s@H? 42>6 E96 H9@=6 D:56 @7 E96 >@F?E2:? :? 2 42E2C24E @7 CF:? ]]] {@?8 6C6 E96 E9F?56C @7 E96 vC62E $=:56 925 462D65 E@ C@2C 2>@?8 E96 >@F?E2:?D[ E96 >@CE2= 28@?J 925 366? 6?5FC65[ 2?5 E96 G:4E:>D H6C6 2E A6246]Qk^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>m— 7C@> Q%96 p>3:E:@FD vF6DE[Q 3J }2E92?:6= w2HE9@C?6k^6>mk^Am
kAm}2E92?:6= w2HE9@C?6 HC@E6 E9@D6 H@C5D `h_ J62CD 28@ :? 2 D9@CE DE@CJ 32D65 @? E96 ?@H =686?52CJ (:==6J $=:56 @7 pF8] ag[ `gae[ :? rC2H7@C5 }@E49]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 @E96C DE@C:6D[ 2CE:4=6D 2?5 9@>6DAF? A@6ECJ 92G6 366? HC:EE6? 23@FE E96 :?4:56?E[ H9:49 E@@< E96 =:G6D @7 E96 A:@?66C (:==6J 72>:=J[ E96 724ED @7 E96 5:D2DE6C 92C5=J ?665 7:4E:@?2= @C?2>6?E2E:@?]k^Am
kAm|2?J EC2865:6D 92G6 @44FCC65 :? E96 J62CD D:?46 :? E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D[ 3FE ?@?6 92D 6BF2=65 :? :?E6C6DE E96 72E6 E92E 3676== !@==J 2?5 $2>F6= (:==6J yC][ E96:C 7:G6 49:=5C6? 2?5 EH@ 9:C65 >6? @? E92E DE@C>J |@?52J `h_ DF>>6CD 28@[ H96? >@F?E2:?D >@G65[ E96 $24@ #:G6C DH6==65 2?5 E96 72>:=J A6C:D965]k^Am
kAm{:76 7@C 62C=J A:@?66CD H2D @?6 4@?E:?F@FD DECF88=6 282:?DE E96 6=6>6?ED[ 2?5 ?@H96C6 H2D E92E >@C6 2AA2C6?E E92? 2E E96 DEC6E49 @7 E96 }@E49 42==65 E96 Q}2CC@HD[Q E96 =@42E:@? @7 E96 (:==6J 9@FD6]k^Am
kAm%96 H:?5 3=@HD D@ 92C5 2E E:>6D E9C@F89 E9:D D64E:@?[ 3@C56C65 3J E96 DE66A 4=:77D @7 |@F?E (63DE6C 2?5 E96 7@C6DE\4=25 7=2?< @7 |@F?E (:==6J[ E92E :? E96 H@C5D @7 tE92? p==6? rC2H7@C5[ 27E6C H9@D6 72>:=J rC2H7@C5 }@E49 :D ?2>65[ QxE C6BF:C6D EH@ >6? E@ 9@=5 @?6VD 92:C @?]Qk^Am
kAmr@?D:56C:?8 E96 92CD9 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 :D@=2E:@? @7 E96 D:E6[ :E :D 92C5 E@ F?56CDE2?5 H92E =65 E96 (:==6JD E@ =62G6 E96 D64FC:EJ @7 E96:C }@CE9 r@?H2J 72C> E@ >@G6 :?E@ E96 5:=2A:52E65[ `fhb\3F:=E 423:? :? ~4E@36C `gad]k^Am
kAm%96:C ?62C6DE ?6:893@CD H6C6 >:=6D 2H2J] x? 7C@?E @7 E96 9@FD6 H2D 2 4=62C:?8[ 24C@DD 7C@> H9:49 7=@H65 E96 $24@[ ?@C>2==J 2 EC:4<=6 :? DF>>6C 3FE 2 >F5\3@:=65 E@CC6?E :? DAC:?8 H96? C2:?D >6=E65 E96 D?@H]k^Am
kAm%96 5@@>65 72>:=J C646:G65 2 7@C6H2C?:?8 @7 E96:C 72E6 @? yF?6 ae[ `gae[ EH@ >@?E9D AC:@C E@ E96 8C62E D=:56] p36= rC2H7@C5[ 7@C H9@> E96 }@E49 :D ?2>65[ H2D 2E H@C< H:E9 2 4C6H @7 >6? @? E96 EFC?A:<6 E92E 3:D64E65 E96 2C62[ H96? 2 962GJ C2:?DE@C> 7@C465 E96 >6? E@ E2<6 D96=E6C H:E9 E96 (:==6J 72>:=J]k^Am
kAm{@@<:?8 @FE 2 H:?5@H[ E96 (:==6JD D2H 2 42D4256 @7 C@4<D 2?5 62CE9 4C2D9:?8 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:?D:56 369:?5 E96:C 9@>6[ E2<:?8 2== :? :ED A2E9] (9@=6 EC66D H6C6 E9C@H? 5@H?[ DE2?5:?8 FAC:89E 7@C 5:DE2?46D @7 `_ C@5D @C >@C6 367@C6 E:AA:?8 @G6C[ 2?5 E96 >2DD 7:?2==J DE@AA65 @? 2 =6G6= DFC7246 24C@DD E96 C@25]k^Am
kAm!@==J (:==6J H2D 7C:89E6?65 2?5 FC865 96C 9FD32?5 E@ 92C?6DD E96 9@CD6D D@ E96 72>:=J 4@F=5 8@ E@ p36= rC2H7@C5VD] qFE (:==6J 76=E E96 C@25 H@F=5 36 7F== @7 H2D9@FED 2?5 @3DE24=6D 7C@> E96 D=:56 2?5 E92E E96 72>:=J H2D D276C :? E96 423:?[ D@ E96J C6>2:?65]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 DE@C>[ 96 =@@<65 7@C 2 36EE6C 9@FD6 D:E6[ 3FE 6G6?EF2==J 564:565 E96J 4@F=5 DE2J H96C6 E96J H6C6] pD 2 AC642FE:@?[ E9@F89[ 96 A=2465 2 8@@5 42CE 3@5J 2H2J 7C@> E96 9@FD6 D@ E92E E96 72>:=J 4@F=5 7:?5 D96=E6C :? E96 6G6?E @7 2?@E96C D=:56]k^Am
kAm%96 DF>>6C 5C@F89E 6?565 E96 >@C?:?8 @7 pF8] ag[ `gae[ H:E9 @?6 @7 E96 962G:6DE 5@H?A@FCD 6G6C E@ DEC:<6 E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D]k^Am
kAm$2>F6= (:==6JVD 3C@E96C q6?;2>:?[ r@?8C682E:@?2= >:?:DE6C :? }@CE9 r@?H2J[ 925 366? AC6249:?8 E96 52J 367@C6 E96 DE@C> :? 2 E@H? E@ E96 D@FE9] (9:=6 5C:G:?8 9@>6 E92E |@?52J[ 96 ?@E:465 E92E E96 4=@F5D H6C6 3=24<6C 2?5 8C62E6C :? G@=F>6 E92? 96 925 D66? 367@C6]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 3@@<[ Qx?4:56?ED :? (9:E6 |@F?E2:? w:DE@CJ[Q q6?;2>:? HC@E6 E92E E96 4=@F5D QC6>:?565 @?6 @7 D@>6 962GJ 2C>65 =68:@?D >@G:?8 D=@H=J 2?5 DE625:=J :?E@ 32EE=6 ]]] 4@G6C:?8 E96 >@F?E2:?D ]]] 7@=5 27E6C 7@=5 H:E9 E96:C D@=6>? 52C< 5C2A6CJ]Qk^Am
kAm%96 C2:? =2DE65 F?E:= >:5?:89E] %96?[ 2D DF556?=J 2D :E 56G6=@A65[ E96 DE@C> 4=62C65] x? E96 G2==6J[ q6?;2>:? ?@E65 E96 56DECF4E:@? E92E 925 @44FCC65 @G6C?:89E[ H:E9 FAC@@E65 EC66D[ 5:DA=2465 C@4<D 2?5 8@F865 EC24<D H96C6 E96 H2E6C 925 7=@H65]k^Am
kAm~? E92E %F6D52J >@C?:?8[ 96 2?5 E96 C6DE @7 E96 G2==6J H6C6 F?2H2C6 @7 E96 E6CC@C E92E 925 @44FCC65 9:89 :? rC2H7@C5 }@E49]k^Am
kAmp >2? ?2>65 z:> q2C<6C H2D E96 7:CDE E@ EC2G6= 5@H? E9C@F89 E96 }@E49 E92E %F6D52J[ 9625:?8 E@ 9:D 9@>6 :? t77:?892> @C E@ qC:58E@?[ |2:?6]k^Am
kAmq2C<6C 925 C646:G65 96=A 7C@> tE92? p==6? rC2H7@C5 — D@? @7 p36= rC2H7@C5 — =2E6 :? E96 27E6C?@@? :? 4C@DD:?8 E96 C:G6C[ H9:49 3J c A]>] 925 5C@AA65 27E6C E96 962GJ C2:? @7 E96 ?:89E 367@C6] %96 C@25 E9C@F89 E96 }2CC@HD H2D 3=@4<65 :? A=246D 3J `d\E@\a_\7@@E 4C2E6CD 2?5 72==6? EC66D]k^Am
kAmw6 C624965 E96 (:==6J w@FD6 23@FE 52C<j E96 DECF4EFC6 H2D F?E@F4965 3FE 56D6CE65] qFE E96 32C? :? 324< H2D 56DEC@J65 3J E96 D=:56 2?5 EH@ 9@CD6D H6C6 5625]k^Am
kAm%H@ 4@HD A:??65 F?56C E96 4@==2AD65 E:>36CD H6C6 DE:== 2=:G6[ 2D H2D E96 72>:=J 5@8]k^Am
kAmx?D:56[ E96 =@?6 H2=<6C 7@F?5 E96 9@FD6 :? 5:D2CC2J[ H:E9 4=@E9:?8 2?5 36=@?8:?8D D42EE6C65] ~? 2 E23=6 =2J E96 q:3=6[ @A6?65 E@ E96 `gE9 !D2=>[ H9:49 C625D[ Q%96 {@C5 E9F?56C65 :? E96 962G6?D ]]] %96? E96 492??6=D @7 H2E6C H6C6 D66?[ 2?5 E96 7@F?52E:@?D @7 E96 H@C=5 H6C6 5:D4@G6C65 2E E9J C63F<6]Qk^Am
kAm~? (65?6D52J[ q2C<6C D6E @FE 7@C q2CE=6EE H:E9 ?6HD @7 E96 EC2865J[ E9@F89 ?@E F?E:= 96 H2D 23=6 E@ 7C66 E96 2?:>2=D]k^Am
kAm(@C5 D@@? DAC625 2== @G6C E96 G2==6J[ 2?5 :? =2E6 27E6C?@@?[ A2CE:6D @7 D62C496CD 3682? E@ 4@?G6C86 2E E96 9@FD6]k^Am
kAm~? %9FCD52J E96 b`DE[ E96 D62C496CD 7:?2==J 7@F?5 E96 3@5:6D @7 !@==J 2?5 $2>F6= (:==6J[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 9:C65 >2?[ s2G:5 p==6?[ 2?5 E96 J@F?86DE 49:=5 F?56C 2 A:=6 @7 7=@@5H@@5]k^Am
kAm%96 >2?8=65 3@5:6D H6C6 E2<6? FA[ A=2465 :? 4@77:?D 2?5 :?E6CC65 ?62C E96 9@FD6] %96J C6>2:?65 E96C6 7@C E96 H:?E6C 367@C6 36:?8 C6>@G65 E@ E96 72>:=J A=@E ?62C E@52JVD |@2E |@F?E2:? $>@<69@FD6 2?5 qC6H6CJ @? #@FE6 `e :? }@CE9 r@?H2J]k^Am
kAm%96 #6G] q6?;2>:? t2DE>2? 2?5 E96 @E96C 9:C65 >2?VD J@F?86C 3C@E96C[ v6@C86 }:4<6CD@?[ 4@?E:?F65 E96 D62C49] ~? $F?52J[ H9:=6 82E96C:?8 >2E6C:2= 7@C 2 C27E[ E96J 7@F?5 2 DEC2H\>2EEC6DD 7=@2E:?8 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 HC64<286 :? E96 C:G6C] $@@?[ E96J F?4@G6C65 E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 J@F?86DE 49:=5VD 7@@E] p 76H >:?FE6D =2E6C[ A@=:?8 E96 C27E :?E@ >:5DEC62>[ E96J 7@F?5 E96 3@5J @7 E96 6=56DE 49:=5[ `a\J62C\@=5 t=:K2 p??] }@ 3CF:D6D @C >2C<D H6C6 7@F?5[ 2?5 :E H2D 86?6C2==J 2DDF>65 E92E D96 925 5C@H?65]k^Am
kAm}@?6 @7 E96 @E96C 49:=5C6? H2D 7@F?5[ 92G:?8 6:E96C 366? DH2==@H65 3J E96 CF33=6 @C DH6AE 2H2J 3J E96 C2:?\DH6==65 C:G6C] %96 3@5J @7 E96 @E96C 9:C65 >2?[ s2G:5 }:4<6CD@?[ H2D 7:?2==J =@42E65 3J 9:D 3C@E96C @? %9FCD52J]k^Am
kAm!6C92AD E96 EC2865J A=2JD D@ @? E96 >:?5D @7 2== 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 DE@CJ 3642FD6 >F49 @7 :E C6>2:?D 2 >JDE6CJ]k^Am
kAmx7[ 2D :? w2HE9@C?6VD E6==:?8[ E96 72>:=J H2D CFD9:?8 @FE @7 E96 9@FD6 E@ 2G@:5 2 D=:56 EF>3=:?8 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:?[ H9J H2D 2 DEC2H >2EEC6DD E2<6? 7C@> E96 9@FD6n w@H 5:5 :E 92AA6? E92E t=:K2 p?? 5C@H?65nk^Am
kAmp 3C@E96C @7 $2>F6= (:==6JVD 4=2:>65 96 925 2 5C62> :? H9:49 9:D 5625 3C@E96C E@=5 9:> E96 72>:=J 925 762C65 E92E E96 C:D:?8 H2E6CD @7 E96 $24@ H@F=5 DH66A 2H2J E96 9@FD6[ D@ E96J =67E :E 7@C 9:896C 8C@F?5[ C:89E :?E@ E96 A2E9 @7 E96 D=:56]k^Am
kAmw@H E96 9@FD6 H2D =67E DE2?5:?8 H2D 6IA=2:?65 3J E96 #6G] t2DE>2?] %96 D=:56[ 96 D2:5[ F?4@G6C65 2 9F86 3@F=56C @? E96 D=@A6 23@G6 E96 9@FD6] %96 7C@?E @7 E96 D=:56 7=@2E65 @G6C E96 6>365565 C@4< 2?5 282:?DE E96 3F:=5:?8[ H9:=6 E96 CFD9 @7 H2E6C 2?5 >@F?E2:? 563C:D >256 492??6=D @? 6249 D:56 @7 E96 C@4< EF>3=:?8 5@H? 2C@F?5 6:E96C D:56 @7 E96 9@FD6]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6HD @7 E96 EC2865J DAC625 72C 2?5 H:56[ 2?5 3642>6 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE 62C=J E@FC:DE 5C2HD[ 2D ?@ G:D:E E@ E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D H2D 4@>A=6E6 5FC:?8 E96 8@=56? 6C2 @7 E96 8C2?5 9@E6=D @7 E96 `hE9 46?EFCJ H:E9@FE 2 42CC:286 C:56 E@ E96 D:E6]k^Am
kAmx? 2 >6E6@C@=@8:42= 4@:?4:56?46[ %C@A:42= $E@C> xC6?6 :? a_`` DECF4< @? E96 `gdE9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 DE@C> E92E 42FD65 E96 (:==6J $=:56]k^Am
kAmxE 42FD65 >2DD:G6 56DECF4E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 H2D9:?8 @FE E96 $2HJ6C #:G6C 3C:586 :? rC2H7@C5 }@E49 2?5 >2?J 9:<:?8 EC2:=D] %92E 3C:586 H2D C6A=2465 2?5 EC2:=D H6C6 @C 2C6 DE:== 36:?8 C6A2:C65]%96 &]$] u@C6DE $6CG:46 6DE:>2E6D E96 DE@C> 42FD65 S`_ >:==:@? :? 52>286]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ E96 DE2E6 >2:?E2:?D 2 G:D:E@C 2C62 2E E96 (:==6J D:E6 :? rC2H7@C5 }@E49 $E2E6 !2C< We_b\bfc\aafaX]k^Am
kAm%96 pAA2=249:2? |@F?E2:? r=F3VD rC2H7@C5 s6A@E 2E E96 w:89=2?5 r6?E6C We_b\afg\ccdbX 2=D@ 4@?E2:?D >2?J 9:DE@C:42= 6I9:3:ED @? =@42= 9:DE@CJ[ :?4=F5:?8 23@FE E96 (:==6J $=:56]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.