Pop Quiz - What is the Oldest Public Monument in New England
 

Now, it's not fair to answer if you recently caught this little tidbit on New Hampshire Chronicle (honor system, folks), but I thought it was a cool piece of information. Can anyone answer the following questions:

1. What exactly is "the oldest public monument in all of New England"? (Hint: it is in New Hampshire, and is Winnipesaukee-related)

2. Where is it located?

3. How old is it?

I'd almost be willing to bet that McDude (being the historical guru that he is) will already know the answer.

Before someone else says this ...
 

Oooh, oooh, I know ! Answering in order ....

1) Not sure what it's called but you can see it here.

2) In Gilford I think.

3) I'd say about 31.4159 light years ;) (yes I know, wrong units)

Can I look at the show now ? :laugh:

Oldest Public Monument In New England
 

1. Endicott Rock
2. Between the parking lot and the channel abutting Weirs Beach.
3. 354 yrs old (August 1, 1652)

Senter Cove Guy - you're very close, but that's not it.

Which rock did you say ?
 

Hmmm, did you say Plymouth Rock, which should pre-date Endicott Rock by 30 or so years ...

Endicott Rock

Plymouth Rock

Both rocks mentioned

(I think you are correct. Perhaps JG meant to say oldest NH, not NE, landmark ?)

Nope - I did mean to say in all of New England, but I didn't say landmark. I said "public monument".

Monument you say
 

Well then ... my money's on RG ... I think she has more time on her hands then mcdude does. Unless he's goofing off at work, again, then it's a dead heat !

Like I said, Senter Cove Guy was sooooooooooooooo close, but believe it or not, it's not the rock.

(And, the answer can be found in this great thread by RG if you really look for it - http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=1510)

The Pilgrims landed in 1620, but Plymouth rock was just a rock until the 18th century when it was made a monument.

WORK???? I work at a school and I haven't been there since June 23rd!.....and RG is out goofing off on her island and doesn't get on-line too much when she is out there. Anyway..... I read through RG's wonderful post. She was wondering what happened to the statue of Capt. Jack. It can be found at the Laconia Library, however, a new statue was installed just recently by the Weirs Action Committee. See LINK

I'm not sure of the answer to JG1222's question, however the Weirs Times calls Endicott Rock the "Oldest Inscribed Monument in America"

My curiousity is piqued!!:D

Answer
 

Well, on the location, Senter Cove Guy was geographically closest. On the concept, Bizer had the right idea.

So, according to Fritz Weatherbee (and Bizer), Endicott Rock itself is just a rock. We all know it was found in 1833 when they were dredging the channel to/from Paugus Bay to allow steamships to pass through.

Anyway, it wasn't until 1892 when the New Hampshire Legislature voted monies to build the granite mausoleum AROUND the rock to prevent further vandalism did the entire package (rock and the surrounding structure) become the first public (by way of funding) monument in all of New England (at least according to Fritz).

I just thought it was an interesting story, and a fun fact about the lake.

Did that get beamed up to the top of that stone structure? Last time I saw that it was sitting either on a trailer or on the ground down in Alton.:laugh:

PS....What exactly is that (pls don't say"yellow submarine")? Was just wondering since it makes it way onto this forum on a regular basis.:confused:

Yellow UFO
 

Is it OK if I say Yellow Bathyscaph ? :D Or maybe bathysphere, I'm not sure if we ever came to a firm conclusion.

OK, we didn't "all" know that. I thought the rock was where it had been since it was discovered? How did it end up in the channel?:confused:

Misspelled
 

Also on Chronical was a little tidbit from Fritz that the spelling of Endicott has been changed.It used to be Endicut.

I would guess the rock could have gotten into the channel in one of two ways...prior to the construction of the dam at Lakeport the Weirs was the natural barrier/restriction that kept Winnipesaukee at "full lake". There was a more significant elevation drop into what is now Paugus Bay and thus more significant flows. This being the case the material under the rock could have eroded causing it to fall into the channel or it could have been moved in by ice floes being pushed by the current in the spring. I can't imagine that there were too many bored, disillusioned, spoiled...whatever... teenagers around that would have amused themselves by vandalizing public mounuments... err...landmarks... back then so I'm guessing it must have been natural causes.

I thought that was a neat tidbit too. For me, the jury's still out on Fritz Weatherbee - his voice is a little out there and can be very irritating sometimes, but similar to a traffic accident I can't NOT watch him!

I still say that New Hampshire Chronicle is one of the best shows on television, simply for the reason that you can tell within the first 30 seconds if there's a segment you want to watch. I record it each night, and had to "train" my TiVo to only catch NH Chronicle - not that other "south of the border" Chonicle.

Yah,I agree.Fritz:"I'll tell you the story...."

Ha ha - I know. Kind of like the "High Presshah!!!" weather guy - Al Kaprelian.

Although, Fritz's "How to Speak New Hamp'sha" segment was spot on!