RE: The Old Man is gone :(

[AustinBoston]

 On Friday night, the New Hampshire state symbol, the Old Man of the Mountains, finally fell.  There had been efforts for generations to try to prevent this day, but workers discovered at dawn Saturday morning that the cables, pins, and epoxy lost the battle against time and nature, and the huge granite profile finally collapsed.
 
 If you want to know what he looked like, check the back of the New Hampshire state quarter.
 
 His profile is incoroprated into most things New Hampshire.  You find it on their license plates, their state highway signs, and many products from New Hampshire from lumber to maple syrup.  No camping trip to Franconia Notch was complete without a stop to gaze at the old man.
 
 For generations, my family has pondered his profile.  I first saw it as a young child.  My family went up to Franconia Notch for a vacation.  We stopped at Profile Lake just to see the Old Man.  I ve been back many times.
 
 My parents saw him.  My grandparents saw him.  I ve little doubt that at least some of my geat grandparents saw him.  He has been there for thousands of years.  My children saw him.  But my grandchildren will never see him.
 
 Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades.
 Shoemakers hang out a gigantic shoe;
 jewelers, a monster watch;
 even a dentist hangs out a gold tooth;
 but up in the Franconia Mountains God Almighty
 has hung out a sign to show that in New England He makes men. - Daniel Webster
 
 Friday night (or Saturday morning) God reminded us that all men are mortal.
 
 
 

The Old Man of the Mountains
 Glacial Age - 2003

 Austin

[Civil_War_Buff]

 AustinBoston
The Old Man
 by Robert F Doane
 Published 1939 at 13 years of age
 Campton New Hampshire
 
 On the crest of a mighty mountain
 Looking over the lake below,
 A face with a human expression
 Watches many a century go.
 
 It was made from a mountain of granite
 With the skill of a sculptor s hand,
 And guards the green valley below it
 As time passes over the land.
 
 At dusk when the birds cease their carols
 And the wind murmurs through the trees,
 There s a sense of sadness about you,
 As you stand in the evening breeze.
 
 You feel that a great respect s due him -
 So mighty beneath the blue sky,
 There are few who have not been inspired
 By that face as they ve passed it by.
 
 And to me, as to Daniel Webster,
 The thought comes now and again
 That in the great State of New Hampshire
 The Master of Sculptors makes men.
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------
 
 He will be a great loss to the generations......so sad.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

 AustinBoston
I was so bummed out when I read the Sunday paper and saw that.  Only one of my kids was able to see him, and I think he was to young to remember.  []  How sad.

[garym053]

 AustinBoston
We live about 25 miles from Franconia Notch and drive through the notch about every two weeks or so. I never got tired of stopping and admiring the " Old Man"  almost every trip through. I am sad that my grandchildren will never ponder the awesome sight!

[Gone-Camping]

 AustinBoston
I haven t seen the " Old Man"  since I was a kid (that was a very long time ago)... I too read it in the paper, but it was nature s call and all the glue and cables did was buy him a few more years. []

[GeneF]

 AustinBoston
I too will miss the Old Man.  
 
 I don t remember how old I was when I first saw him but I must have been pretty young as we always vacationed in that area.  Always manage to see him on the way to my favorite campground at least twice a year.
 
 Glad that both of my kids got to see him.
 
 Sad part is that some are trying to make a buck off of him already.  Heard on the radio that someone is offering rocks that he claims he picked up " near"  the Old Man.  He asking $2.00 for them on Ebay.
 
 Some people have no respect.