Living our lives in New Hampshire on a day-to-day basis we often forget that things weren’t always like this. Today we can hop in the car to go to the grocery store when we forget something. Or, even better, we can order it online and expect to see it within just a few days. We’ve got the internet, smart phones, smart TVs and access to things as quickly as we need them. But, life wasn’t always this way. Long before we were here, New Hampshire was just coming into its own. From new industries to new hobbies, New Hampshirites were on the brink of a new way of life. And these photos show what things were like all the way back then.
- It’s not uncommon to see people standing on Main Street in any New Hampshire town, but back in the 1900s the fashion choices were certainly a bit different. September, 1937.
Edwin Locke / photogrammar.yale.edu
- Camping in New Hampshire has always been fun, but things looked a whole lot different back in the 1900s. Imagine showing up to a campsite to find this car! July, 1940.
dghdeeo / Flickr
- Today we take horse drawn carriage rides to appreciate the season with a little bit of flare. Back in the mid-1900s this was more of a necessity. February, 1939.
Arthur Rothstein / photogrammar.yale.edu
- Can you imagine harvesting ice in below-freezing temperatures directly from a lake or pond? That’s exactly what happened back then! February, 1936.
Arthur Rothstein / photogrammar.yale.edu
- Today we can simply head to the freezer for ice. And, when larger companies need more it’s simply manufactured. Back in some parts of the 1900s, trucks took their ice from nature and brought it where it was needed. February, 1936.
Arthur Rothstein / photogrammar.yale.edu
- New Hampshire’s logging history goes quite far back and the work people put into the industry was back-breaking. These men standing on their logs in Keene proves that the hard work really begins after the wood comes out of the forest. 1930s.
keenepubliclibrary / Flickr
- Today we might expect to see logs being transported with huge trucks on the highway. But back in the 1900s things were just a bit different. This horse drawn carriage system in Keene was slower, but still effective. Approximately between 1900 and 1920.
keenepubliclibrary / Flickr
- We couldn’t resist including some proof that some parts of New Hampshire life remain the same. Our covered bridges are part of what make us so special and many have been around since far before the 1900s. Pictured here is one on Passaconway Road near Bartlett. February, 1936.
Arthur Rothstein / photogrammar.yale.edu
- By the 1930s, New Hampshire was making a name for itself in the downhill ski industry. With people from other states flocking here, local businesses found a way to capitalize. March, 1939.
Marion Post Wolcott / photogrammar.yale.edu
- And as New Hampshire became known as a destination for alpine skiing, more people from neighboring states began heading into New Hampshire to try it out. Can you imagine wearing these outfits for a day on the slopes? February, 1936.
Arthur Rothstein / photogrammar.yale.edu
As we think about the history of New Hampshire it’s impossible to overlook that life was much different during war times. Most people have never seen these 15 photos taken during WWII in New Hampshire and they’re another reminder of what came before us to allow us to live the way we do.
Edwin Locke / photogrammar.yale.edu
dghdeeo / Flickr
Arthur Rothstein / photogrammar.yale.edu
keenepubliclibrary / Flickr
Marion Post Wolcott / photogrammar.yale.edu
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: New Hampshire, USA
