PHOTO COURTESY OUTDOORS NEW ENGLAND
603 NAVIGATOR / OUR TOWN
Outdoor New England (ONE) operates heart-pumping guided rafting trips at Franklin Falls on the Winnipesaukee River.
Making Waves in Franklin Revitalization of the former mill town creates new economic opportunities BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS
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ew Hampshire’s smallest city, Franklin exists thanks to one of the state’s shortest rivers. The Winnipesaukee River, in its 10½-mile length, flows from Lake Winnipesaukee through a series of lakes before beginning its fast-paced way to Franklin, where it meets the Pemigewasset to form the Merrimack River. The Winnipesaukee’s significant drop just before that meeting point made it a prime location for mills, an opportunity soon seized upon. The first to harness the power of Franklin Falls were saw, grist and shingle mills, active by the 1770s, followed by woolen, pulp and hosiery mills. The latter was to become the city’s primary manufacturing activity, producing hosiery using techniques developed by the Shakers. By
20 New Hampshire Magazine | September 2022
the end of the 19th century, the mills were turning out 3,600 socks a day and employed nearly 100 workers. Today, the long-empty mills are in the process of conversion to apartments and commercial uses, and the fast-moving Winnipesaukee River has a new role in Franklin’s economic future. Although it’s short, for white-water enthusiasts it’s one of the most exciting. From neighboring Tilton to Franklin, the river drops as much as 90 feet per mile. The most challenging section is between Cross Mill Road and the Route 3 bridge in downtown Franklin, a favorite stretch for kayakers and where Outdoor New England (ONE) operates guided rafting trips. ONE promises a
heart-pumping ride on New England’s only urban rafting experience, with Class II-IV rapids and massive waves. Rafting trips are year-round, with wetsuits, splash tops, and neoprene socks and gloves provided in the winter. The success of this enterprise and his sports equipment shop on Central Street, which also rents standup paddle boards and kayaks, inspired owner Marty Parichand to envision New England’s first whitewater park alongside the rapids in downtown Franklin. The idea morphed into a community revitalization plan, designed to bring visitors to the city and re-energize the downtown area.
