3 minute read
WELCOME TO NH’S MONADNOCK REGION!
I was 18 the first time I visited the Monadnock Region. My brother was marrying a woman from Spofford, and our entire family — my parents and five siblings — made the trip from New York to attend the wedding. I remember standing at Cathedral of the Pines, sunlight filtering through the trees as I walked down the aisle to join the other bridesmaids.
Michael and his bride, Cynthia, seemed like the coolest people in the world, and the region — its beauty, serenity, and sense of place — made an indelible impression. You couldn’t script a better way to be introduced to a place. It was, in every sense, a meet-cute.
From that day forward, I became an enthusiastic, if unofficial, ambassador for New Hampshire. As my brother settled here and started a family, I visited often. When our sister also moved to the area, my ties deepened further.
Some memories stand out more vividly than others. There’s the time my brother and his wife took me and a boyfriend (didn’t last) hiking up Mount Monadnock. My brother promised it would be easy; it was not. I remember swimming in Spofford Lake with my baby niece, amazed by how the beach was filled with people who all seemed to know each other. On one Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend (did last!) arranged a sleigh ride at a local farm, and as we made our way through the moonlit snow, I realized I might just be sitting next to “the one.” He was. Years later, we gathered here for our first Christmas after my mother died, away from the home she had made so special.
It is wild to think I now call this region home. I’ve recently taken on the role of president and CEO of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative, the region’s chamber of commerce. For those who knew me in New York, it’s a natural fit. I was promoting this place long before anyone here knew my name. Of course, the Monadnock Region is also home to those whose families have been here for generations — many descended from the original adventurers who built these towns and communities. These longtimers have welcomed me and my family with open arms. Their generosity, their pride of place and their sense of stewardship have made it easier to make this place our own.
To the newly arrived, to the curious visitors, to those thinking about planting roots, I’ll say to you what I thought 30 years ago on that perfect sunny day in Rindge: The Monadnock Region isn’t just where we live; it’s home, and we’re thrilled to share it with you.
