the Exponential Terrestrial Pedestrian: New London of Merrimack

There isn’t all that much “new” to the town of New London in New Hampshire’s Merrimack County, but the consistency of antiquity throughout the whole is perhaps something new to most. In this increasingly modernized technological world, the quaint and historical New London throws you back into the charm of yesteryears gone by. Incorporated in June of 1779 from the frontier parcel known as the “Alexandria Addition,” sixteen families petitioned the General Court to rename their home in a bi-commemoration of London, England and in honor of a number of its proprietors originating from the Londonderry area. The nearly twenty-six square mile expanse of New London stretches eastward from the eastern shores of Sunapee Lake, and encapsulates a number of other lakes, ponds, rivers and streams which comprise 12% of its total land mass. This plethora of water bodies, and in particular its movement through the area is the very reason behind this settlement’s success, both yesterday and today.

The ability to harness the power of this abundant natural resource of water movement through stream and brook, and lake and pond outlets ensured a prosperous manufacturing industry and plush profiting agriculture. Subsections of New London known as Scythe Factory Village or Scytheville (present day Elkins) due east and Otterville to the west and north. In their prime, products were shipped all over the United States and exported to Canada as well as parts of Europe. Amongst other mills benefiting from this boom were saw mills, shingle mills, cider mills, hosiery mills and tanners. In the late 1880’s however, industries began moving closer to their particular raw source materials and agriculture began to mechanize. New London’s prized source of prosperity was no longer as advantageous. With an over two-thirds population decrease, the once laborious and lively New London was forced into a gradual evolution of its water-related enterprises of today: recreation and tourism.

Winter/early spring activities around New London’s outlying areas include downhill skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, hiking, biking, camping and scenic drives. From spring to fall, visitors may delight in additional activities such as tennis, baseball, basketball, football (soccer) and bocce ball at the New London Outing Club (which overlooks Sunapee Lake and is located at Lakeside Rd. and Columbus Ave.), golfing, swimming, tubing, kayaking, boating, water skiing, canoeing or just walking around through some of the naturally scenic landscape. In and around the downtown area, along Main Street, there are several small “Mom & Pop” shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, beautiful homes and many historic buildings. The Town Common’s large and open field sits amidst Colby-Sawyer College, the historic New London Inn and the Old Colby Academy Building which now contain New London’s Town Offices. The Mary D. Haddad Memorial Bandstand host free concerts on Friday nights throughout the months of warmer weather as well as a festival during the first weekend in August. “Hospital Day” is a charity event which includes a parade, a small carnival and a triathlon all intent on raising funds for the local hospital. Currently, Colby-Sawyer students and towns-folk alike can be seen skating atop the Bob Andrews Memorial Ice Rink located on the common between the town offices and the inn.

Ellie’s Café and Deli at 207 Main St. is a wonderful place to start your tour. Whether its breakfast for the early birds, lunch for the lazy bones or just java for those running on a caffeine diet, this place is full of character, staffed with personality and offers an eclectic menu for breakfast till eleven, lunch till three and coffee and pastries from open to close. From the lunch menu I tried the $9 half serving of the Fresh Tomato and Pesto Napoli Pizza made with a from-scratch basil pesto on a Napoli style pie crust and topped with fresh tomatoes and cheddar cheese. The in-house pesto creation and thin-crust dough were delightful! Unfortunately, when it comes to tomatoes, my tongue-buds operate on a random hit or miss MO most often registering a miss. This was the case for that moment and as so shall I refrain from rating this pie due to my inconsistent tomato bias. Photography and paintings from excellent artists exhibited at The Banks Gallery, located beneath the same roof, dress the walls of the café and add to its country-meets-modern atmosphere of rustic exposed-beam architecture and inviting flicker of the gas-burning fireplace. If you find it to be after three o’clock and yourself with a fist-full of empty-mug, fret not. Although you may not have noted it do to its apparent small home façade and its subdued color scheme and classier sign postings; next-door to Ellie’s you’ll find what is seemingly the only chain-store deemed acceptable by small towns alike throughout all of New England.

Other attractions downtown include the New London Barn Playhouse putting on seasonal performances of both plays and musicals (check nlbarn.org for upcoming shows and times); the Artisan’s Workshop incorporates a “…diverse and eclectic selection of handcrafted and fine jewelry, pottery, glass, home and garden decor, games and gifts, stationery, art and photography, clothing, shoes, and accessories.” (from artisansnewlondon.com); Morgan Hill Bookstore, an independent bookstore hosts book signings, author symposiums and houses a special “book barn” for children. They also carry autographed copies on site of all resident and author Tomie dePaolo’s works; and for history buffs, the New London Historical Society gives guided tours through its sleigh and carriage museum as well as the authentic and modern recreation of a 19^th century New England village (newlondonhistoricalsociety.org for hours and upcoming exhibits), while the William F. Kidder Ice House’s bygone era memorabilia and artifacts provides for a hands-on experience with old automobiles, riding toys, washing machines, padlocks and even the town jail, blacksmith’s forge and a tinsmith’s shop (wfkicehouse.org for times and dates).

The single most outstanding place you need be sure to visit while touring the town is the truly fascinating Art of Nature boutique boasting designs not only unique in New London, but incomparable throughout terra firma! Owner and artist Mauli McDonald is responsible for ninety-plus percent of all in-house pieces naturally distinctive. “Mauli’s shop is filled with curiosities. You will find anything from natural, raw materials such as feathers, ostrich and quail eggs, to turtle shells, rattlesnake skins and mounted butterflies from around the world, birch-bark mirrors and wild rustic furniture, herbal soaps and more.” (from natureswildart.com) Ms. McDonald was pleasantly friendly and easy to converse with and if you love dogs, her lion-like maned Chow Chow is another precious sight to behold.

Finally, one mustn’t skip town without throwing back a pint at the rustic bar or dining on a fine meal from the menu of Peter Christian’s Tavern while seated in one of several uncommonly niched booths just around the corner. If you don’t like it so private or secluded there is also open seating available around the bar area. On this St. Patty’s Day, I was met at the door with the type of aromas that will instantly have you seriously considering gnawing at your arm if you’re to wait long for available seating! Arriving at prime dinner time, on St. Patrick’s Day, the tavern entertaining with a live acoustic duo… I was pleasantly surprised when the hostess bid me wait a mere ten minutes. During my self-imposed, perturbing postponement I was lucky enough to discover Gourmet Garden down the hall through the waiting area. At one time the front porch to the Edgewood Inn, now inhabited by both services of great taste, the gift shop isn’t your typical “Get your New London paraphernalia here!” type gift shop. It’s more of a hub for many local artists of visual and culinary craftsmanship. Items produced from locals of the New London/Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee region including PC’s own Chef’s Original Homestead Mustard and Champagne Maple Mustard can be purchased separately by individual connoisseurs on site or personalized packages may be contracting for creation of a gift basket and sent out to family, friends or other loved ones online. (gourmetgardenonline.com) Small world that it is the proprietor and I found ourselves in conversing fast as friends; one tangent spurring from some commonality leading to another, I completely forgot that I was waiting for a table to open up for me. No sooner than I had remembered did I turn in the direction of the tavern and there bursting through the threshold with menus in hand was the hostess, come to find me… you’ve got to love small towns.

Seated, I was treated to pretzels and PC’s Homestead Mustard while I awaited my server. The pretzels were just approaching stale, but the mustard was quite a treat. Offering no local brews I opted for a Smithwick’s Draft being St. Patty’s and all. The specials menu offered traditional Irish fare of which I chose the Black and Tan Braised Ribs basted with Guinness and Smithwick’s, smothered in BBQ sauce and served with herbed mash. To my dismay, the special plate came with no accompaniment of any form of bread so I had to tack on to my order a Bread Board that ended up being nothing noteworthy. The tasty and tender ribs however, fell from the bone. They were plenty saucy, yet not overly, as both flavors black and tan alike were equally present. The potatoes were dense and creamy and the heartiness of little unmashed bits made them as good as or better than any made from home. The much welcomed tab of $19.03, plus tip, made the decision for me that I’d be back for some of the other main menu standouts such as the Hummus and Pita Board appetizer, Peter’s Russian Mistress open-faced sandwich and Peter’s Smokin’ Hot Sister from Texas burger.

As seems to be the recurring theme throughout New London, the décor was rustic with lots of exposed wood creating a grounded, earthy feel… perhaps as you might expect the air of a pub in The Shire – home to the Hobbits – to feel. The band playfully interacted with the patrons and the service was friendly all around. The atmosphere was light, comfortable and intimate. The celebratory festivities afforded me the opportunity to meet a little lady Leprechaun whom I had the pleasure of conversing with at length and so learned a little about the town from an insider’s perspective, albeit not native. From this inside-outsider perspective, Haley was in agreement with there being something about small towns that you just don’t experience anywhere else: connection and community.

So plan a trip soon. There is so much there that you are missing out on! There is so much more that I am unable to share with you here. You aren't far away from a completely new experience, a completely new horizon and a complete, New London.

* To read more of my writings and view my illustrations and photography, look me up at theXYZFoundation.blogspot.com.