March 8, 2006:
HISTORY OF NORTH CONWAY VILLAGE SOON TO BE KNOWN BY ALL

NORTH CONWAY, NH: For more than 12 years, a research project to promote the history of many of the buildings in North Conway Village has been quietly underway. The North Conway Village History Project will be offering some building owners on Main Street, 10x14 inch bronze plaques with the history of their building on it so visitors and residents will know who some of the Valley’s earliest pioneers were and how they lived.

According to Kim Beals, president of Corporate Communications, a marketing firm in the Village and the creator/researcher of the project,” The history of Mt. Washington Valley is fascinating and especially so for North Conway Village. Like today, in the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s attracting tourists to this region was big business. Grand Hotels were located throughout the Village, as were the farms and families that provided the food for this booming trade. The Valley’s first lawyer, dentist, seamstress, and druggist all started businesses here to support the Valley’s growing full time and seasonal populations. From the early 1800’s artists who painted the first views of the White Mountains to Civil War veterans who returned home to North, these plaques will pay homage to those who came before us. More importantly, the history plaques will help personalize our buildings to be more than just a structure or the business in it. This is an opportunity for us to show the spirit of those before us who struggled and survived harsh winters, fires, floods and a difficult economy.”

Beals continued, “About 1992, the Department of Transportation (DOT) did an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of this area in preparation for the bypass.  The Division of Historical Resources (DHR) conducted surveys on many of the older buildings that might be impacted by changes caused by the bypass.  I obtained this information and took it a few steps further by interviewing Valley residents still living at the time who might be able to confirm or elaborate on what was written in the EIS surveys.

The oldest person I interviewed, Helen Von Bernuth, was born in the late1800’s. She was the person I spent the most time with. Her memory was amazing and vivid at the time. Lou Dondero and Mark and Jerry Birch also looked at the histories and commented based on their experiences.  I have also shown the histories to Dave Emerson of the Conway Historical Society and Janet Hounsell for her opinion. Thanks to these living historians, I was able to verify and in a few cases correct information in the surveys.  I owe a debt of thanks to them for their time and interest,”

“While the sources the DHR used were very credible, history is sometimes recorded according to how it is being used. What I hope to contribute to the histories we are using is a more human side to the people who lived in these buildings and what life was like back then. For 1700’s to mid-late 1800’s information, I used the DHR data since they researched census reports from 1850 and 1870 as well as land and transfer deeds. They also interviewed some of the same people I did and other individuals who have long since passed. Through a combined effort of research I think each bronze history plaque will entertain and educate the reader.”

This is a volunteer project whereby building owners can participate if they want to. The plaques cost $200.00 and are free to homeowners.  Business owners, who can afford to, are asked to pay $100.00 towards the purchase. Many businesses have offered to pay for the entire cost of their plaques.  Gemini Signs is arranging all sign production. The Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council is the holder of the non-profit status of this project. The North Conway Village Association, the North Conway Public Library, the North Conway Community Center, and business owners have written letters of support for this project. These history placques are considered non-commercial signs and therefor not under the jurisdiction of Conway’s sign ordinance.

To date, Beals has donated more than $5000.00 to launching the program. The Pequawket Foundation recently contributed $1000.00 to purchase the first plaques. The River Run Company, a long time supporter of community programs, has offered to pay for the plaques on their buildings, which includes the Eastern Slope Inn, the Mt. Washington Valley Theater Co. building, the former Carroll Reed building, and the buildings at Norcross Place among others. Beals emphasized, “We still need another $8-10,000 to put history plaques and interpretive signs on all the buildings we’ve identified, so fund raising will be ongoing.”

“I would like to complete the project by the end of 2006 but it may take longer. Eventually, I would like to have a pedestrian map showing where all plaques are.”  The boundaries of this project to date are from Locust Lane near the Red Jacket on the southern end of Main Street to just north of the train tracks by the Whitaker Recreation Land. 

In addition to the River Run Company buildings, other buildings scheduled to get history plaques this first round of funding will be: the Eastman Inn, 1768 Inn, and the Old Red Inn & Cottages.  There will also be an interpretive sign at the North Conway Community Center where the historic Kearsarge House used to be.

For more information, to make a donation or to help with this project, please contact Kim Beals, at Corporate Communications, Inc. 356-7011 corpcomm@ncia.net.  Anyone having old photographs or artifacts from the 1800’s – the 1950’s are encouraged to contact Kim.