TOPOGRAPHY--RIVERS AND BROOKS--LAND--FORESTS--HILLS--MOUNTAINS--NATURAL CURIOSITIES--FISH AND GAME--FISHERIES OF AMOSKEAG

Goffstown as originally laid out was bounded north by Dunbarton, east by the Merrimack River, south by Bedford and west by New Boston and Weare. The forty-third parallel of latitude cross the town a little north of the north Uncanoonuc Mountain. The longitude is 71^o 35'.

The area of the town was originally 29,000 acres. Situated in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Since originally granted a part of Hooksett has been taken therefrom, July 2, 1822. Certain islands in the Merrimack River were joined June 20, 1825. The farm of Isaac Parker was severed from New Boston and annexed to Goffstown June 18, 1836. The line between Dunbarton and Goffstown was established January 7, 1853.

All that part of Goffstown east of the eleventh range of lots was annexed to Manchester July 1, 1853. The town was first known as Narrangansett No. 4, then as Shove's town, on account of one Edward Shove who was interested in ungranted lands and was chairman of a committee for regulating said township under Narragansett No. 4 grant about 1733-34.

The surface of the town is uneven, diversified by the valley of the Piscataquog River, and quite high elevations on either side.

The Piscataquog River is formed by the three streams called the north, middle and south branches. The north branch has its source in Gregg's Pond in Deering, and flows through Deering and Weare. The middle branch flows from Scobie Pond in Francestown through New Boston and empties into the south branch at Langs in New Boston near the railroad bridge. The south branch comes from Pleasant Pond in Francestown running through Francestown, a small part of Lyndeborough and New Boston. The north and south branches unite near the western boundary of the town on Parker's interval, and flow through Goffstown to the Merrimack at Manchester. There are now four mill privileges on the river in Goffstown, formerly there were eight. It receives the waters of several brooks on each side, prominent among which upon the northerly side are Gorham, Harry, Catamount and Black brooks, and upon the southerly side Bog, Whittle, Little and Mystic.

The Merrimack formerly bounded the town on the east for a distance of five miles, beginning a short distance above the Granite bridge and extending up the river to the northeast corner of the Todd farm near the Quincy Shirley place.

The islands in the river at Amoskeag Falls were within the limits of this town.

Gorham Brook is the outlet of Gorham Pond in Dunbarton from whence it receives its name. It flows in a southerly direction, and empties into the Piscataquog River at Parkers Village. There were once six mills or shops upon the same, not one remains.

Harry Brook flows from Long Pond in Dunbarton in a southeasterly direction, and discharges its waters into the Piscataquog River about a quarter of a mile below the bridge at Grasmere. There is now one mill upon the same, and three mill sites upon which there were formerly sawmills. There is a matter of uncertainty how Harry Brook derived its name. Possibly it might have been named by the residents of Harrytown.

Catamount Brook rises northerly of the residence of George W. Hunkins in a swamp east of the residence of Charles Martin, crosses the highway a little west of Mr. Hunkins' residence and flows into the Piscataquog River. It receives its name from the fact Col. John Goffe once shot a catamount from a tree in the valley of the brook.

Black Brook, said to derive its name from the color of the stones in the brook, known by this name as early as 1723, is the outlet of Kimball's Pond in Dunbarton; flows in a southerly direction, and discharges into the Merrimack River at Amoskeag. There have been five mills upon this stream, only one of which remains.

The Bog Brook rises in the southeasterly part of New Boston, and one branch between the Uncanoonuc Mountains in Goffstown flows through New Boston and Goffstown, and empties into the Piscataquog River a short distance west of the outlet of the Whittle Brook. There were formerly two mills upon this stream in Goffstown. It derives its name from the fact that it flows through an extensive tract of bog or meadow land in New Boston.

The Whittle Brook rises in the McGregor Meadow (so-called), east of the south Uncanoonuc Mountain, and flows in a northerly direction, and empties into the Piscataquog River near O. B. Pierce's mill at Goffstown Village.

The reservoirs of the Goffstown Village Fire Precinct are upon this stream. There was once a gristmill where the first constructed reservoir (mentioned above) is located. It derives its name from William Whittle who was once a merchant at Goffstown Village, and resided where Henry Kelley lives.

The Little Brook has its source very near the head waters of the Whittle Brook, flows in a northeasterly direction, and empties into the Piscataquog River near the residence of the late Daniel Little. It was so named from his ancestors. I do not know that the waters of this stream were ever utilized.

Mystic Brook flows through the Addision Meadow, and has its source to the westward of the same; flows in a northeasterly direction and empties into the Piscataquog River northeasterly of L. T. Barnard's. There have been five mills upon the same; there are none now.

The intervals in the valley of the river are fertile and easy of cultivation and capable of producing fine crops, while on each side of the river back on the elevations the soil is not so easy of cultivation but productive. There are many fine farms in Goffstown, and it was formerly characterized as a farming town.

The town was originally covered with a dense forest, such as characterized all New Hampshire, but none of the original remains. The pine plains of Goffstown were once covered with a heavy growth of pine, as also the intervals.

In "Hillsborough County History" Dr. A. F. Carr speaks of the growth of pine on Parker's interval as follows: Old Captain Eliphalet Richards said "that he bought the timber upon ten acres of Parker's interval for one hundred dollars, and the masts and timber were so thick upon it that he was obliged to haul a large portion away before felling the whole. There was not room enough for them all to lay without lying upon each other which would make it inconvenient to get them off."

A mast was once cut upon the farm of George A. Bell that exceeded in size and length any other ever cut in this region. It was so large that a yoke of "seven-feet oxen" could be turned with ease upon its stump. The pine stumps used as a fence beside the road a part of the way from Parker's to the Howe Bridge, being the last witnesses of the primeval forest, speak in truthful terms of the gigantic trees they once supported. The writer has often heard one who helped pull these, and clear the ground for William Parker, father of the later J. M. and D. A. Parker, relate how thick the stumps stood on the interval and plain.

In the early settlement of the town large quantities of pine, sawn into deck plank for vessels, and oak plank used for sides were drawn with ox teams to the village of Piscataquog, and there rafted to Newburyport, Mass. Other principal forest trees were white and red oak, maple of all kinds, beech, birch, ash, chestnut and hemlock.

In the cedar swamp on the northerly side of the river the rose bay (Rhododendron Maximum) was once found, but in small quantities, and on the southerly side in the months of June and July is found the beautiful species of laurel known as (Kalmia Latifolia) commonly called spoonhunch. When this is in full bloom the country has the appearance of one immense flower garden, which, varied with the different shades of pink and white, presents a view as beautiful as the magnolia of the south. During the autumn season when the foliage is changing the forest offers one of the finest of views, and nature seems robed in her grandest colors.

When wood was used for fuel on railroads and in the mills of Manchester, many hundred cords were cut annually to supply the demand, and the wood business was an important interest for many years, but this is now wholly supplied with coal.

A great many chestnut ties were formerly furnished from town, and quite a goodly number are cut now each year, although all the land upon which lumbering operations are carried on now has been cut over once or twice. Some quite extensive lots of second growth are now standing in town which proves that this is a great country in which to raise a forest, and an indigenous growth is valuable.

Kuncanowet Hills are a long ridge of hills in the westerly part of the town; the line between Goffstown and Weare is very near the summit. Their highest elevations in Goffstown are westward of the farms of D. Byron Brown and Jacob Bailey. The name is of Indian origin.

The Mine Hill westerly of the residence of B. F. Hazen is quite a high elevation of land, and is so-called from the fact that minerals were supposed to abound there.

Rattlesnake Ledge is an elevation of land northwesterly of the residence of William S. Whipple; it is very abrupt on the southwesterly side. It was so named from the fact that rattlesnakes were said to abound there.

On the southerly side of the river is Yacum Hill, a prominent Hill, a prominent elevation of land westerly of the Abram Buzzel place, sometimes called Scribners' Hill. A commanding view is obtained from the summit of this elevation. It is said to derive its name from the fact that most teamsters, in the days of King George III, used this expression when coming around the point of the hill, as we would use the expression "haw" in order to cause the team to swing to the left and thus avoid the point of the hill.

Walnut Hill is situated near the residence of the late Samuel Barnard, quite an elevation of land so named from the growth of walnut trees upon the same.

The Uncanoonuc Mountains lie wholly within this town, have an elevation of 1,324 feet, and upon this summit of the southerly mountain is a large hotel and several cottages. The same has become quite a popular summer resort. The hotel was opened in the spring of 1908, and the same year an incline railway which renders the ascent of the mountain easy.

From the summit a fine view of the surrounding country is obtained. To the north far away we behold the lofty summits of the White Mountains and Franconia Range, the towering peaks of Mt. Washington and Lafayette. Coming nearer Kearsarge lies in full view, and the city of Concord, towns of Hooksett, Bow, Dunbarton, Hopkinton, etc. To the northwest and west Ascutney in Vermont, Sunapee, Ragged Mountain, Crotchet, Monadnock, Lyndeborough and Joe English Hill. To the south we behold Wachusett and the Blue Hills near Boston, and the towering shaft of Bunker Hill. Coming nearer the city of Nashua, and seemingly almost beneath us, the fertile farms of Bedford and Amherst interspersed with the ever changing scenery of hill and valley, and the glittering waters of Baboosic Lake. To the east we see the city of Manchester, the beautiful Merrimack in its meandering course, Massabesic Lake and its surroundings.

There are but few natural curiosities in town. Those which are the most notable are Rock Rimmon, now within the limits of Manchester; Rattlesnake Ledge in the northerly part of the town; the abrupt face of the south mountain; tipping rocks on Shirley Hill and the cave on land of Charles C. Hadley. The waterfalls most prominent and from which the greatest utility is derived are the Amoskeag upon the Merrimack, Kelley's, Gregg's, the falls where the Blaisdell mill formerly stood and the falls at Goffstown Village upon the Piscataquog.

The Amoskeag Falls were early noted for their grandeur and sublimity. In August, 1737, they were visited by Governor Belcher and the commissioners appointed to determine the division line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and Governor Belcher pronounced the falls "Mighty."

The Manchester Mirror of March 25, 1918, has the following: "That eminent divine Henry Ward Beecher used to pay summer visits to Manchester as the guest of the late Gov. Frederick Smyth. It was Beecher who said: "I have stood on the field of Waterloo, have gazed over the panorama presented at the field of Austerlitz, have stood within the gates of the Holy City, have lingered in the Alps and balmy Italy, have wondered at the majestic and superb Niagara, but not in my whole life have I looked upon a lovelier or more entrancing scene than that right here--the falls of Amoskeag."