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Front Page News
January 8, 2014
Gilmanton’s Greatest Views
Conserved for Everyone Forever!
This iconic view from Frisky Hill (Route 107) in Gilmanton
has been conserved for future generations to enjoy. A
conservation easement, held by Five Rivers Conservation Trust, will
protect this special place, now owned by the Town of Gilmanton and
managed by the Town’s Conservation Commission.
George Twigg, III (center), former long-time Gilmanton
resident now of Kennebunk, Maine, executes final documents to assure
that Gilmanton’s Greatest Views, over property he owned, will be
conserved for agriculture and public enjoyment. Looking on is the
closing team: (L-R) Tom Howe of Gilmanton Land Trust; Attorneys
David Osman and Paul MacDonald, Jay Haines of Five Rivers
Conservation Trust and Anna Mae Twigg.
The project to conserve the extraordinary views from Frisky Hill,
Route 107, plus rich agricultural lands in two other locations in
Gilmanton, came to fruition in late December. The
properties, formerly owned by long-term Gilmanton resident George
Twigg, III, have been conserved for agriculture and public
enjoyment, under conservation easements held by the Five Rivers
Conservation Trust. Gilmanton Land Trust, a local organization,
undertook the project, in cooperation with Five Rivers, to raise the
nearly $1.2 million needed to secure the future of four key
properties owned by Mr. Twigg, including the views long admired by
residents and travelers through the Town.
In addition to contributions from more than 200 individuals, the
project was made possible, in part, by funding from the New
Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP),
the State’s “Mooseplate” Conservation Grant Program, the Town of
Gilmanton’s Conservation Fund, and the US Department of
Agriculture’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP).
All of the properties include important agricultural soils and are
currently used for hay by local farmers.
The land conserved includes four parcels: (1) the 15-acre tract on
the top of Frisky Hill (Route 107) with views to the north and east
over fields, hills and the Belknap Mountains; (2) a 21- acre parcel,
also on Rt. 107, looking northerly over Loon Pond to rolling hills
and Mount Kearsarge beyond; (3) an 8- acre field on Loon Pond Road
providing access to a cemetery once used by the Osgood family; and
(4) a 41- acre tract of fields and forests with extensive frontage
on Meetinghouse Pond across from the historic Smith Meetinghouse
complex. This parcel includes a flax retting pond, where farmers
prepared flax for weaving into cloth in the early 19th century. .The
extensive stone structure built across the pond’s bottom for
processing flax is the only known example of such a feature in the
State of New Hampshire.
The Frisky Hill view toward the Belknaps and the Meetinghouse Road
parcels are now owned by the Town of Gilmanton (subject to
conservation easements held by Five Rivers) under the stewardship of
the Conservation Commission. The remaining parcels, also restricted
by the conservation easements, are now available for sale for
agricultural use, with provisions that require maintenance of
existing fields and associated views; for more information about
this offering, contact Tom Howard, at 253-4999.)
Tom Howe, of the Gilmanton Land Trust, took the lead in organizing
the fundraising campaign and working with several funding agencies
to create conservation easements to preserve these special places
for future generations.
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