Crawford Notch
"A Great Artery"
A main route to Mount Washington was through Crawford Notch, which follows the Saco River to Saco Lake-just southeast of here. Like much of the rest of northern New England, Crawford Notch was part of the homeland of the Abenaki tribe of Native American people; it saw its first European visitors in 1771. Thirty-three years later, in 1803, the Tenth New Hampshire Turnpike opened through the Notch connecting with turnpikes running north and west. It was a vital link between the upper Connecticut River Valley and the seacoast, in particular Portland, Maine, and a major route for goods going north and agricultural and forest products going south. In 1875 the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, which had to be blasted out through the Notch's sheer stone cliffs, opened in the same corridor, providing direct access for visitors to the west side of Mt. Washington. In the 20th century, the Teddy Roosevelt Highway running from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon was routed through the Notch where today U.S. Route 302 is located.
The romantic pass of the Notch is a great artery, through which the life-blood of internal commerce is continually throbbing between Maine, on one side, and the Green Mountains and the shores of the St. Lawrence, on the other.
The Crawford Family
The Notch was named for Abel
Crawford; he and his family were
key early promoters of the area.
innkeepers, guides, turnpike builders
and investors. Crawford arrived in
1792 and built a cabin just north
of here but soon moved 12 miles
south into the Notch and eventually
established an inn. In the Notch, the
Crawford family constructed the
Notch House and Crawford House, the
latter one of the White Mountains' grand hotels. Their first
homestead remained in the family and also became an inn; it
was later the site of the Fabyan House and rail station three
quarters of a mile to the north of here.
The next morning, the light smoke was seen stealing from the cottage chimney up the mountain side. Within, the fire was yet smouldering on the hearth, and the chairs in a circle round it, as if the inhabitants had but gone forth to view the devastation of the Slide, and would shortly return, to thank Heaven for their miraculous escape.
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) "The Ambitious Guest” 1835 (based on story of the Willey Family)
The Willey Tragedy
The Notch was central to the history
of White Mountains tourism in another
respect. In August 1826, Notch
innkeepers
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.
Location. 44° 15.241′ N, 71° 26.985′ W. Marker is in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in Coos County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 302 and Mt. Washington Hotel Road, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 302. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bretton Woods NH 03575, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mount Washington (here, next to this marker); The Mount Washington Hotel (here, next to this marker); Executive Councilor Raymond S. Burton (here, next to this marker); Mount Washington Hotel / Bretton Woods Monetary Conference (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Crawford Family (approx. ¾ mile away); Zealand and James Everell Henry (approx. 2.6 miles away); Crawford House (approx. 3.1 miles away); Crawford Depot (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bretton Woods.
Also see . . .
1. Crawford Notch State Park. (Submitted on December 18, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Crawford Notch (Wikipedia). (Submitted on December 18, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2020, by TeamOHE of Wauseon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 34 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 15, 2020, by TeamOHE of Wauseon, Ohio. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.