Life in New Hampshire has been both beautiful and tough. Over the years, things have changed dramatically but it's important to remember what things were like during both the good and the hard times. In the early 1920s and 30s, New Hampshire's mill towns were fairly depressed - much like the state's farm towns - and growth in population slowed down quite a bit. To combat this, towns began working on getting new industries to come to the state. This can be seen in the shoe and electronics manufacturers that were seen. Antique buyers from big cities came to the state to take advantage of the many older items that were for sale. And, of course, as the country became more interested in downhill skiing New Hampshire became an attractive place to visit. Here are some photos from that time. They act as a interesting time capsule and might just transport you to an era you've never seen.
1. Signs of the expanding ski industry in New Hampshire could be found all over ski towns, just like this one. March, 1939.
2. This sleigh for hire at a snow carnival in Lancaster proves that New Hampshirites have always been pretty comfortable in cold temps. February, 1936.
3. If you squint it's almost as if this photo of the Granite Street Bridge looking out over the Amoskeag mills in Manchester were taken today. September, 1936.
4. In a place like New Hampshire, ice was easy to get. Check out this truck loaded with blocks of river ice in Coos County. February, 1936.
5. The process for harvesting ice was work intensive, especially in the cold. February, 1936.
6. No matter what was going on in New Hampshire at the time, life went on and people shopped the downtown areas just like this. September 1937.
7. Scenes like this are fascinating to see today - they depict things we do now, but in much different every-day dress! September, 1937.
8. Lower income families, including this one, were the recipients of rehabilitation. February 1936.
9. Here's proof that New Hampshire's old wooden bridges have been dotting the state for as long as anyone can remember. This one was located on Passaconway Road near Bartlett. February, 1936.
10. During the 1930s, alpine skiing grew in populariy and New Hampshire was a great place to try it out for many nearby folks. February, 1936.
11. An important step in the logging process was loading pulpwood onto a sled for transportation to the local paper mill in Coos County. February, 1936.
12. When the Amoskeag mills were booming, houses were built at a rapid pace, including this Victorian house in Manchester. August, 1937.
To continue your trip down memory lane, check out these 8 facts you probably didn't know about New Hampshire.
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