Years later Continental Boulevard was built. It was soon a bustling street that lead to Digital Equipment Company and to Route 101A Nashua. Our towns landscape made way for cookie cutter developments, condos, and became laden with Dunkin Donuts and McDonald’s. In the surrounding areas, some of the local icons I grew up with began to dissapear. Some of the places that I grew up with and loved where The GreenRidge Turkey Farm, which was torn down and now houses a Barnes and Noble; The Uncle Gus Show, a children’s show that almost every parent had their child become an active audience member of; and McQuade’s Department Store to name a few. So many places that I grew up with and seemed to be a part of New Hampshire, just like the Old Man of the Mountain’s face, are now just distant ghosts of a memory.
Needless to say, just as any local of a small town, I sometimes feel that the authentic landscape of what I feel is my land has been fading away. Just like Faneuil Hall, whose cobblestone walkways now pave the way to Victoria Secret and The Gap, New Hampshire too is beginning to look a bit too generic, too commercial.
There are towns that adamantly deny a change that will take away from their natural, rustic persona. We still have towns that conjure up images of Norman Rockwell, like Dixville Notch. While folks of Peterborough and Dublin for instance, will just not have commercialism. They would not, could not, see the likes of McDonald’s in their town. The town folks are intellects but country, they wish to remain both Thoreau like but insist on being incognito. Even Og Mandino, the author of “The Greatest Salesman in the World,” spoke about his New Hampshire town in very anonymous terms. Og warned his readers not seek out the real name of the town in New Hampshire where he lived. Og claimed that the town folks go to great lengths to basically have their peace and quiet.
From time to time, I will take a short ride and end up into Peterborough or the area. I’ll venture over to Rosalie’s Garden and pick some fresh flowers and take home some organic vegetables. Or might venture over to the Peterborough Diner, Twelve Pine, or the Toadstool Bookstore. As I head home, I battle with my inner country girl. Gee, the untainted part of New Hampshire sure is nice. I love the vibe of the country stores and the quaint roads. But then again, I am now spoiled by the more modern conveniences that surround me in the nearby cities of Nashua and Manchester.
No one has a crystal ball here. Let’s just hope that New Hampshire still remains a place that has a landscape filled with many trees, beautiful natural ponds, and places where we can really find our peace and quiet. While I do root for the mom and pop shops to thrive, there are some companies that are larger but still offer a lot to us in New Hampshire. I just really hope the entire state does not become a cobblestone walkway to The Gap.
Stay tuned for all my blog entries, video and journal commentaries about an array of businesses, places to visit and products that we see have in New Hampshire. Feel free to visit me on Twitter or Like my page of Facebook for updates on what I have just posted, user name is Great Finds NH. Until next time, enjoy the New Hampshire summer days and nights.