Chasing Grace

Last year, on November 25th, Paul and I along with our friend Joe hiked into the woods nearby to visit a local ‘ghostown’ called Monson. From 1737-1770 Monson attempted to become a thriving New Hampshire town. The remnants of the town that have not been reclaimed by surrounding woodland or assilmilated into what it is now Hollis, is actually Monson Center.

It was so quiet. You could almost feel that you had traveled back in time. We walked through a dark wood and entered a clearing sectioned into fields by low stone walls. After passing through this area we re-entered the woods on the other side to view some of the home sites. The only things that remain of the homes are remnants of stone walls and cellar holes. Many of the road names are designated by wooden markers on trees placed there by local historians. I could feel a lingering presence of some of the folk who lived there, and even heard some children playing along one road. I sensed happiness and love, along with sadness and despair in some places. It only makes sense that there would be such lingering feelings in a place that began with high hopes only end disappointment.

The Gould House is the only building standing in Monson Center. Russ and Geri Dickerman rebuilt it on the site of the original house, owned by Joseph Gould. Geri and Russ maintain the house as an interpretive center for the site. We met and spoke with Geri. She showed us photographs and told us the story of the house and how Russ was descended from the family that lived there originally. She told us that the original house was filled with items that were susequently stolen by local antique dealers over a period of years, and how local youths came out to smoke pot and trash the place. She also told of how she and her husband donated the land to a conservation society, and fought developers with plans to build housing on the land.

Monson’s corporate existence lasted for twenty-four years. Quoted from Monson Site…

Finally in 1770 the people of Monson seemed to abandon hope of maintaining preaching, or of settling the Gospel among them, or of building a meting house, or seven of finding a suitable Meeting-house Place. They petitioned the General Count to end their corporate life and repeal their charter. This is unique in NH. They stated a reason: That the Land in and about the Center of Monson is so very poor, Broken, Baron and uneaven, as cannot admit of many Settlers, so that those Families that are in Town, are almost all planted in the Extreme parts of it.We have no prospect of ever Building a Meeting-House in the Center or elsewhere, any ways to accommodate us, by which Difficulties we think the Gospel will not be settled among us while in the present situation. We therefore pray, &tc.

We have plans to visit Monson again. Perhaps in warmer weather when we can spend more time exploring the place and listening to the voices of the past tell us their story.