Old Man of the Mountain

[Theresa]

State landmark falls from mountain
Saturday, May 3, 2003 Posted: 5:17 PM EDT (2117 GMT)



The Old Man of the Mountain before collapsing, left, and on Saturday.


FRANCONIA, New Hampshire (AP) -- New Hampshire awoke Saturday to find its stern granite symbol of independence and stubbornness, the Old Man of the Mountain, had collapsed into indistinguishable rubble.

The fall ended nearly a century of efforts to protect the 40-foot-tall landmark from the same natural forces that created it. Only stabilizing cables and epoxy remained Saturday where the famous ledges had clung.

"There's only so much you can do," said Mike Pelchat, a state parks official who hiked up the mountain Saturday to make sure there were no signs of foul play.

"With heavy rains and high winds and freezing temperatures, the combination was just right to loosen him up," he said. "We always thought it was the hand of God holding him up, and he let go."

It was unclear when the outcropping actually fell from Cannon Mountain because clouds had obscured the area Thursday and Friday. A state park trails crew reported Saturday morning that the Old Man of the Mountain was gone.

Gov. Craig Benson quickly declared that the face should be restored and said in a written statement that he was meeting with state officials and planned to form a fund to take donations for the project.

"I am committed to doing everything possible to restore this important monument to our Granite State," he said.

The Old Man was New Hampshire's most recognizable symbol.

It appears on the state quarter, on state road signs and on countless souvenirs and tourist brochures. Millions of tourists have traveled through Franconia Notch to view the profile, 1,200 feet above Interstate 93 about 65 miles north of Concord.

In the 19th century, the profile inspired New Hampshire statesman Daniel Webster to write: "In the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men."

Dick Hamilton, president of White Mountain Attractions, a tourism group, has commuted through the notch every day for more than 30 years, and said goodnight to the Old Man every night when he drove by. On Friday, with his view blocked by the clouds, he said, "Good night, boss, wherever you are."

"I've just lost my number one attraction," he said Saturday.

The state had used cables and epoxy to try for years to keep the rock profile from falling from erosion and the natural freeze-and-thaw cycle. Those who did the work had warned that a collapse was inevitable, but few thought they would live to see it.

David Nielsen, whose father was the profile's official caretaker for decades before passing the job on to his son a few a years ago, had tears in his eyes as he looked at the mountainside Saturday.

"The oldest person in my family just died," he said.

[Theresa]

I've been there dozens of times, it's so sad,

[@Chuckles]

awh i never got to see it

[Tyvek]

I know it is soooo sad, But the govenor plans to rebuild it, How I do not know!

[Josi Rockholt]

I heard about it.Never got to see it thought.It's very sad indeed.

[Ksim3000]

I wish I could have seen it too.

[PicardsTrueLove]

That was so sad. Such a NE landmark, and a big one for NH especially. My favorite joke about it, though, comes from a guy my friend who lives in NH knows. Someone asked him, "Did you hear about the Old Man in the Mountain?" and he said, "Yeah: a Vermont tourist group is claiming responsibility."

[John Luck Picard]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.....

not really too funny

[PicardsTrueLove]

I thought so: maybe it's just my political sense of humour...

[sabertooth1217]

aw so sad