PHOTO COURTESY ROBBIE SHADE / VISITNH.COM
603 NAVIGATOR / OUR TOWN
Climbers at Rattlesnake Mountain’s cliffs in Rumney
Rumney’s Rocky Start Explore cliffs, boulders, caves and more BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS
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umney is known for its rocks, to the delight of climbers, kids and people like me who “collect” interesting rocky places. The town’s settlers stuck with it despite the rocky terrain, farming the rich valley land beside the Baker River, and by the mid-1800s, the town of more than 1,100 had 15 sawmills and a couple of other local industries. Rumney Village looks much as it did then, with homes around the common, a church, a tavern (now The Common Café and Tavern, though still closed as the issue went to press) and the former Stinson Hotel (no longer a hotel but with its sign identifying it). This center is largely intact, reflecting
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the transition from a farming community to a small-scale industrial town. The industries sat close to the rivers, their power source. Just behind the church, beside the brick-and-granite Byron G. Merrill Library on Buffalo Road, the former town hall is now the home of the Rumney Historical Society. Built in 1856 as a Methodist and Universalist church and later used by the Baptists, it was given to the town and served as town hall until 1990 when the historical society assumed it. This active group maintains a museum (open Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day), offers occasional free guided walks, and sponsors two popular summer events, an ice cream social in July and Old
Home Day in August. In front of their building, a large signboard shows locations and photos of historic buildings in Rumney, several of which are still there. Of course, we set off in search of them. On Old Route 25, we found the West Rumney Community Church, a perfect example of the Stick Gothic architecture popular in the late 19th century. Old Route 25 continues through the center of West Rumney, where we also identified the former school and a general store building. From Old Route 25, we also got a good view of Rattlesnake Mountain’s cliffs to the north. Back to them later. Climbing north from the common, Stinson Road leads to the good-size Stinson Lake, past the former home of Mary Baker Eddy. She lived here in 1860 to 1862, and the house has been restored to its appearance when she lived here; it is open to visitors
