This Epping New Hampshire Dam Was Destroyed Almost 10 Years Ago

Who Knew?  I Sure Didn't

Well, ya think you know where you're living, then all of a sudden, you find out that there's a place just off of busy Route 27 in Epping that you wiz by every day was once a very busy mill and people from all around would come to get their dancing shoes.

It's a Beautiful Spot

The Mary E. Folsum Blair Community Park is just off Route 27 in Epping, about 1 mile from the Center of the Universe, a/k/a, Center of Epping, the Church and Epping House of Pizza, (Go chicken fingers!) heading toward Raymond on the right.   There is also a ball field there!  It didn't look like the ball field was much used, however.

What you will see here is pictures of the Folsom (Bunker Pond) Dam historic site.  The body of water is the Lamprey River.  The damn dam has been known as Bunker Pond Dam.  (Sorry - I feel compelled to say "Damn Dam..."  Hope you're not offended.)

This area used to be a working Mill.  The damn dam to provided water to turn a huge wheel, which provided power used in the Mill.  Engineering prior to our modern age was no less genius than what we are experiencing now.  I understand it just as little whether it's from back then or now.

More history from the Town of Epping:

This property, which had been slated for development, was turned over to the town in lieu of tax payments. It consists of about 22 acres with some riverfront and borders the state recreational trail system......  John B. Folsom is one of the founding fathers of Epping who once owned this land along with a large part of West Epping.

Because the damn dam needed maintenance from time to time and there were people involved in conservation for the entire area, it was decided to destroy the damn dam in October of 2011, almost 10 years ago!

It's a very peaceful place!  The signs all around the trail said that people would come from all around to buy fancy dancing shoes.  And when I say from all around, I mean, people all the way from Chester!  (Hey, they travelled by horse and buggy back then.  Getting from Chester to Epping was a HAUL)

This picture shows how grown in everything now is, but if you listen very closely, you might here some young woman exclaim, "Oh!  These are just perfect for the dance on Saturday night.  Gee whiz, I hope that Flutter-Bum Harold will spin me around the dance floor with these!  They're sure to razz his berries!"

Or, you can sit and enjoy the sounds of the Lamprey River.

There are signs all over the property, which isn't very big, by the way.  You won't get all your steps in on this trail.  It's only a little more than 1/2 mile.