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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Old Man before Return to index of stories... |
For decades the famous profile of the Old Man of the Mountain was a must see stop on a drive through Franconia notch. It took millions of years to create the great Stone face. |
| new Old Man Shot Return to index of stories... |
It took one night for it to crumble into pieces. This is a program about that pile of rocks. We'll talk about its symbolism and meet the people who climbed great heights to care for and decorate it. We'll hear some ideas about its future and learn why some native americans are celebrating the passing of the Old Man's spirit. |
| Intro Memories Return to index of stories... |
We begin with the memories. This weekend, hundreds of people from all over Northern New England gathered at the base of Cannon mountain to share their memories of the Old Man and think about its future. |
| Old Man Memories Return to index of stories... |
OLD MAN REMEMBRANCE --- Scenic shot - pans down. Good open. "America" as sung by a choir. David Neilson - official caretaker On May 2, 2003 our world changed forever. We cannot move back in time, we will take time and the challenges of the future one day at a time. We will survive and we will become stronger because of it. Please take a minute today to hug your family. If they're not with you call them and let them know how you feel. Lastly, speaking from The Old Man's family and crew please know that is was our pleasure to serve you. Thank you. Craig Benson Nature made the Old man in the mountain and nature took it back and its now time to build a new chapter in NH history - this one having lasted 10,000 years in duration. I will make this commitment to you - while the old mans face has disappeared We will never let the memory die. --- Pipes and drums --- Crowd Shots Cindy Adams - North Attleboro, MA. What brings you up today? 'Forever Gone, Never Forgotten' - sign she's holding. The old man. Saying goodbye. This says it right here. It's too long to go into - he's just a friend. I love this area and always came by - said hi to him, bye to him, for years since I was 8 - my grandmother introduced me to him - so I came to say goodbye for the whole family. Ladd Eaton - Melvin village, NH Very sad. Just can't believe that he's not here. It's like losing a member of your family almost. You expect to come up here and just be able to look up and stop. Even if you just look at him for 5 minutes that's all a person really needs to feel better. And not to have that is a sad thing and I think we should do whatever we can to make sure that his memory is still here somehow. Jude Hakala - Sunapee, NH It's really - it's a piece of this area's history and heritage and part of the natural beauty of the area and I know that there's a governors council evaluating whether or not to reconstruct and Tyler and I are both like minded - we don't think that they should. Honey what do you think? Zbigniew Mroczko - Whitefield, NH To me it's part of the family departure and it's a New Hampshire icon. You can look around and see the profile of the old man on license plates, state troooper cars - almost everywhere. And I hope somebody is going to come up with a solution and we still have memory of that icon. 21:27 - NH Police Association Pipes and Drums. Old Man Mural. |
| Intro Whetherbee Return to index of stories... |
I'm sure by now you've heard many great stories about the Old Man of the Mountain. When looking back into the archives of New Hampshire Public Television we came upon a few of our own. So. we go back in time with Fritz Weatherbee in "On the Road with New Hampshire Crossroads." Fritz joins the caretaker and his family atop the old man as they give him his yearly face lift. |
| Fritz Whetherbee Return to index of stories... |
We go back in time with Fritz Whetherbee as he joins the crew atop the old man as they give him his yearly face lift. |
| Tag Weatherbee Return to index of stories... |
The Nielsen family spent more than 40 years caring for the Old Man of the Mountain. Neils Nielsen passed away in September Two-thousand and one at the age of 74. His son David became the official caretaker in nineteen ninety one continuing his father's tradition. his wife, Debbie by the way, is currently the Sergeant at arms for the State House of Representatives. |
| Intro Brooks Dodge Return to index of stories... |
You saw the aparatus used by the Old Man's caretaker. Imagine hanging over the Old Man's forehead in the middle of the night. That's what two young men did back in July of 1948. And when they climbed down the mountain, the Great Stone face was sporting a beard. No one owned up to the daring caper until years later. Theresa Kennett has the story. |
| Brooks Dodge Return to index of stories... |
26:45 - 27:00 It's a great memory for me and it was a fun thing but as I say when I look back we were kind of young an foolish. Brooks Dodge's was 18 years old when he and a friend, hung the famous beard off the old man's chin in 1948. 00:31 -:41 My partner in that prank was Bill Putnam, a legendary mountaineer and great rock climber. At the time, the two young men were working for Joe Dodge, Brooks Dad, at an AMC hut when they decided the Old Man of the Mountain was old enough to grow whiskers. 6:35 -:41 That night was pitch black not a star in the sky, no moon. Jump to 7:15 -:33 Willie and I stook the two spruce trees and tied the stumps together and and carried them over to the edge of the forehead so they would be easily lowered. then Willie and I climp down belaying each other to about the level of the nose. Once they reached the chin, they lowered the spruce trees and tied them onto anchors. Jump cut 6:44 to to 7:06 When I think back about how crazy we were if we were to fall off from the top of the forehead, you'd drop about 500 to 800 feet before you hit the first time and then bounce the rest of the time before you head down to profile lake. But since we couldn't see, we didn't think very much about that. Dodge said people were intrigued that the Old man had grown a beard overnight. 15:44 During those three weeks the traffic count through Franconia notch increased between two and three times. Because everybody wanted to come and see the whiskers on the old man in the mountain. Dodges and Putnams involvement didn't become public knowledge until Putnam's book entitled The Education of an Alpinist was published in 1997. 24:16 - tlk's voice: Tlk says did you ever think that you would see it fall. 24:17 I did because when I first went up there to put the beard on the old man it looked extremely fragile and then when my wife and I later climbed up it it looked even more fragile. Dodge says he hopes the state will retain the old man as a symbol for NH. 23:59 Its too bad we've lost it but lets not try to do anything upthere on the side of the mountain but create the history of it and create a model down below. Jump cut to 22:30 so that people could walk around it and see that only from one angle does itmake any sense and then people would have the opportunity to ssee what was there and look up and see that its all gone. In Jackson, I'm Theresa Kennett. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Former Governor Steve Merrill is leading a task force to determine the future of the Old Man of the Mountain. Joining me now to talk about some of the plans and ideas is George Bald, Commissioner of the New Hampshie Department of Resources and Economic Development and a member of the task force. Commissioner thank you for joining us. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
some ideas come in economically so important whackiest idea |
| Intro Abenaki Return to index of stories... |
Not everyone is mourning the loss of the granite state's symbol. While we were at Profile Lake - we met Abenaki Elder, Nancy Lyons. She told us a story she knew about the Old Man that, she says, dates back hundreds of years ago. It goes like this - An Abenaki Chief fell in love with the daughter of a Mohawk Chief in New York. He married her and brought her back to New Hampshire to live with him. But when her father fell ill, she returned to her tribe in New York. As she began her journey home, the chief climbed the highest mountain so he could watch her for as long as possible. |
| Abenaki Return to index of stories... |
On Cam While we were at Profile Lake - we met Abenaki Elder, Nancy Lyons. She told us a story she knew about the Old Man that, she says, dates back hundreds of years ago. It goes like this - An Abenaki Chief fell in love with the daughter of Mohawk Chief in New York. He married her and brought her back to New Hampshire to live with him. But when her father fell ill, she returned to her tribe in New York. As she began her hjourne home, the chief climbed the highest mountain to so he could watch her for as long as possible. -- roll tape ** tape #3 ** 2:14:40 at the end of the summer he went back to the top of the mountain to wait for her return and the snow came and it was getting cold but still she didn't come back so he stayed there 2:14:49 ** music comes up ** 2:14:50 in the springtime the men from his village went to the top of the mountain and they found just his bones… 2:14:56 ** music up again ** 2:15:01and with great sadness, they started back down the mountain to go to the village and they turned looked back at where they had just had ceremony for the chief and there are the side of the mountain was the chief's face…. So they said he turned himself into stone forever to watch for his wife's return 2:15:17 ** music up again ** 2:15:20 The other thing we believe a when a formation like this falls - and Many cultures believe this also a spirit is released from that and if this was indeed one of our old chiefs That his spirit has been released go back to the creator and to come back to our people 2:15:38 ** music here maybe? ** and I'm hoping with all these years he's had to rest and watch and to listen he brings us lot of strength and a lot of wisdom to help us make the right decisions today for the next seven generations 2:15:51 *** |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
For more information on our program, streaming video, links to our guests and interviews and to tell us what's on your mind in our discussion forum, visit our website at nhptv.org. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - While the Presidential primary looks to be a Democratic affair, President Bush is not about to let New Hampshire voters forget he too is running in 2004. We'll hear from his political strategist Karl Rove. And we'll sit down with former NH Speaker Donna Sytek who has written a new book about political protocol. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We leave you with Ken Sheldon, with his tribute "Goodbye Old Man". |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| Long Credits Return to index of stories... |
Deadroll this 2:40 left in show |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. We remember the old man of the mountain. A video keepsake. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Politics and Protocol, we hear from political strategist Karl Rove. And we'll sit down with former NH Speaker Donna Sytek who has written a book about political protocol. Tonight at 10pm. |
| key: Community Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/12/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, people from all over New Hampshire have been sharing memories and pictures of the Old Man of the Mountain. We'll take you to family memory day at Franconia Notch, take a look back at the keeper of the Old Man, hear from the Abenaki tribe on the significance of the icon and its loss and bring you the story of one man who shares a story about his legendary prank. It involves a 75-foot spruce and a goatee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Fritz Wetherbee, Theresa Kennett, Ally McNair, Celene Ramadan, Jennifer Ellis NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David Nielsen\Official Caretaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Cindy Adams\North Attleboro, MA, Ladd Eaton\Melvin Village, Jude Hakala\Sunapee, Zbigniew Mroczko\Whitefield, Fritz Whetherbee\NH Crossroads, Neils Nielsen\Old Man of the Moutain Caretaker, Brooks Dodge\Jackson Resident, George Bald\Old Man Task Force, Dept. of Resources & Economic Development |
| key: Economy / Business Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/12/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, people from all over New Hampshire have been sharing memories and pictures of the Old Man of the Mountain. We'll take you to family memory day at Franconia Notch, take a look back at the keeper of the Old Man, hear from the Abenaki tribe on the significance of the icon and its loss and bring you the story of one man who shares a story about his legendary prank. It involves a 75-foot spruce and a goatee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Fritz Wetherbee, Theresa Kennett, Ally McNair, Celene Ramadan, Jennifer Ellis NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David Nielsen\Official Caretaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Cindy Adams\North Attleboro, MA, Ladd Eaton\Melvin Village, Jude Hakala\Sunapee, Zbigniew Mroczko\Whitefield, Fritz Whetherbee\NH Crossroads, Neils Nielsen\Old Man of the Moutain Caretaker, Brooks Dodge\Jackson Resident, George Bald\Old Man Task Force, Dept. of Resources & Economic Development |
| key: History Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/12/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, people from all over New Hampshire have been sharing memories and pictures of the Old Man of the Mountain. We'll take you to family memory day at Franconia Notch, take a look back at the keeper of the Old Man, hear from the Abenaki tribe on the significance of the icon and its loss and bring you the story of one man who shares a story about his legendary prank. It involves a 75-foot spruce and a goatee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Fritz Wetherbee, Theresa Kennett, Ally McNair, Celene Ramadan, Jennifer Ellis NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David Nielsen\Official Caretaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Cindy Adams\North Attleboro, MA, Ladd Eaton\Melvin Village, Jude Hakala\Sunapee, Zbigniew Mroczko\Whitefield, Fritz Whetherbee\NH Crossroads, Neils Nielsen\Old Man of the Moutain Caretaker, Brooks Dodge\Jackson Resident, George Bald\Old Man Task Force, Dept. of Resources & Economic Development |
| key: Recreation / Leisure / Sports Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/12/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, people from all over New Hampshire have been sharing memories and pictures of the Old Man of the Mountain. We'll take you to family memory day at Franconia Notch, take a look back at the keeper of the Old Man, hear from the Abenaki tribe on the significance of the icon and its loss and bring you the story of one man who shares a story about his legendary prank. It involves a 75-foot spruce and a goatee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Fritz Wetherbee, Theresa Kennett, Ally McNair, Celene Ramadan, Jennifer Ellis NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David Nielsen\Official Caretaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Cindy Adams\North Attleboro, MA, Ladd Eaton\Melvin Village, Jude Hakala\Sunapee, Zbigniew Mroczko\Whitefield, Fritz Whetherbee\NH Crossroads, Neils Nielsen\Old Man of the Moutain Caretaker, Brooks Dodge\Jackson Resident, George Bald\Old Man Task Force, Dept. of Resources & Economic Development |
| key: Environment Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 5/12/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, people from all over New Hampshire have been sharing memories and pictures of the Old Man of the Mountain. We'll take you to family memory day at Franconia Notch, take a look back at the keeper of the Old Man, hear from the Abenaki tribe on the significance of the icon and its loss and bring you the story of one man who shares a story about his legendary prank. It involves a 75-foot spruce and a goatee. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Fritz Wetherbee, Theresa Kennett, Ally McNair, Celene Ramadan, Jennifer Ellis NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David Nielsen\Official Caretaker, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Cindy Adams\North Attleboro, MA, Ladd Eaton\Melvin Village, Jude Hakala\Sunapee, Zbigniew Mroczko\Whitefield, Fritz Whetherbee\NH Crossroads, Neils Nielsen\Old Man of the Moutain Caretaker, Brooks Dodge\Jackson Resident, George Bald\Old Man Task Force, Dept. of Resources & Economic Development |