Tuesday, 20 September. Warm to hot, clear skies.
A lot of touring; not much mileage. Local roads out west mean 70 MPH and no towns. Here it’s 45 MPH and lots of towns.
Old Orchard Beach is your typical resort town that caters to the blue collar crowd. Lots of it is closed for the season. (If I saw a “Closed for the season” sign in San Diego, I’d assume that the store was permanently closed.) They had just had a biker weekend, so the bars had “No group colors” signs. I don’t think my Honda Gold Wing jacket applied. It was interesting to walk around only because it seemed to be a throwback era. If I’d been there in season I’d have kept driving.
Saco, ME, is one of those towns that clearly is led by long term inspired management. Well laid out, nice government offices, historical markers, and a museum. And what a museum! I toured just one of three floors. It’s not just local history. An excellent place that doesn’t shy away from the darker histories. The radical locals (with a KKK chapter) were mostly focused on keeping out the French-Canadians and Roman Catholics. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Rode behind a truck carrying manure for about 15 miles on a country road. Ah, the sweet smell of nature!
The State House in Concord isn’t nearly as pretty as Vermont’s, but the interior is much more museum-like. The lobby has a display of battle flags from over a hundred New Hampshire military units, ranging from revolutionary times to WWII. Many portraits with detailed histories. The gift store has an impressive collection of campaign memorabilia: the welcomer proudly pointed out that every candidate must visit the State House to register for the primary.
Gilsum, NH, is my paternal grandmother’s hometown. Never been there before. I visited both her grave (with the graves of more distant relatives) and the town. It’s literally a one stop sign town (a “T” intersection). The general store predates my grandmother. While standing outside that store I recalled To Kill a Mockingbird, alluding to being able to understand people better when you stand on their porch. I never met my grandmother, but at that moment I felt a connection. Maudlin I know, but there it is.
I only drove a little over 200 miles, but I saw an awfully lot of America.
Old Orchard Beach, complete with cheap looking amusement park, pier, and candy store.
Saco, ME.
Origin of “grandfather’s clock”?
A contract to become an indentured servant. Note the “Shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony”!
I was taking a picture of the marker when I noticed the library sign. Scary! I do not know what it’s referencing.
Concord State House.
The stare of authority.
The State House gift store.
My grandmother. To get the lettering to stand out, I sprayed it with white foam from a can of windshield cleaner, then wiped off the excess.
I was intrigued by the heading first, then the languages.