A task force met over the weekend to begin deciding what to do with the high rocky spot where the Old Man of the Mountain once hung. NHPR’s Trish Anderton reports.
IT'S NOT AN ENVIABLE TASK.
FORMER GOVERNOR STEVE MERRILL AND ELEVEN OTHER APPOINTEES WILL HAVE TO SIFT THROUGH THOUSANDS OF LETTERS AND E-MAILS.
THEY'LL HAVE TO WEIGH THE FUTURE OF TOURISM HERE, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE STATE'S PSYCHE.
AND THEY'LL HAVE TO TRY TO RECONCILE WHAT MERRILL DESCRIBES AS TWO PASSIONATE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT.
one group wants to build something up on the face of the mountain, the other group wants to leave it alone, and both groups are going to have to be understanding of one another although I think that's going to take some time. :11
THE TASK FORCE BEGAN WITH SOME SIMPLER ISSUES.
THEY APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO COME UP STRATEGIES FOR THIS SUMMER'S TOURIST SEASON.
THEY DETERMINED THE CORRECT NAME FOR THE BELOVED ROCK FACE: IT'S "THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN," NOT "IN THE MOUNTAIN" OR "OF THE MOUNTAINS."
AND THEY LISTENED AS STATE GEOLOGIST DAVID WUNSCH EXPLAINED WHY THE GREAT STONE PROFILE FELL.
OTHERS HAVE THEORIZED THAT THE LARGE, BROODING FOREHEAD GAVE WAY FIRST.
BUT WUNSCH DIAGNOSES THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS A WEAK CHIN. :30
it looks like the piece referred to as the adams apple, right below the chin of the old man, and this is preliminary, it appears that that chunk let go and once it did the whole face fell off. it was a very small piece of solid that was supporting the old man. :21
cowbell
AFTER THE MEETING, A HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRANCONIA STATE PARK TO CELEBRATE THE MEMORY OF THE OLD MAN.
Click here to see pictures.
AMONG THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WAS BOSSIE, A BLACK AND WHITE COW WITH A SPLOTCH ON HER SHOULDER THAT RESEMBLES THE STONE PROFILE.
BOSSIE IS THE OFFICIAL SPOKESCOW FOR A GROUP THAT PROMOTES THE NEUTERING AND SPAYING OF PETS.
HER OWNER, MICKEY de-RHAM, CONFESSES BOSSIE HASN'T ACTED ANY DIFFERENTLY SINCE THE OLD MAN PLUNGED TO THE EARTH. :27
she's glad to be here, though. even though it's a sad occasion, she's glad to be here. :06
ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, RON MITCHELL LEAFED THROUGH PICTURES HE TOOK DURING SEVERAL YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER CARETAKER FOR THE OLD MAN.
HE POINTED TO ONE OF ROOKIE ROCK, A BOULDER THAT SAT AT THE CLIFF EDGE JUST ABOVE THE PROFILE. :14
when we have new volunteers we try to get them to go on the rock, we tell them the view there is much better. when they step on the rock, there's a cable going over there, you step on the cable and the rock goes back and forth. it kinda startles them a little bit (laughs) :18
OTHERS BROUGHT ARTWORK DEPICTING THE OLD MAN.
SOME EVEN WORE COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRTS.
THEY BOUGHT EVERY SOUVENIR THEY COULD FIND.
THEN THEY WENT HOME, WITH THEIR MEMORIES INTACT, BUT WITH THE FUTURE OF THE OLD MAN'S FORMER DWELLING PLACE STILL UNCERTAIN.
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