Rest day.
Bitter cold day, inside-oriented, but first took a peek at S. Bow Rd changes. Have not been that way since spring. Took some promised Nottingcook maps. Found Dennis Ordway (Ordway La on se map) rebuilding an old barn. Lots of stuff inside, incl a 30's vintage auto not driven since late 50's - everything in the open barn neglected/falling apart. Dennis told me about Ethan Howard. Surmised what his daughter might do with property. He suggested a historical zone, incl Nottingcook forest 'donation', of the 3 farm families (Ordway, Woodbury, Howard). Trade building rights in NF woods for more concentrated same rights nearby. But inertia for now.
Went to Doc Howard's place - he died some 5 wks ago, age 90. He used to invite me in to kitchen where his wife spent the entire day, recliner-bound with severe Alzheimer's. His son died earlier this yr, leaving a daughter, Cathy, to inherit the old place & all the lovely woods to the west & north on the map. She lives in Maine, Bow house empty. Stopped by Jet Jennings, the other Ordway La house in the se map. She was not home. Dennis told me she has cancer & is not well. She also owns a lot of acres in the area w/ a son not a mile to the NE, also on map. Ordway is a time-forgotten, dead-end lane, probably soon to be overrun by modernity.
Took the dogs for a walk, visited the Ordway cemetary on map. Noted Dennis' father's grave & his father's parents grave alongside. Earliest Ordway grave was Nathan who died in 1834 when this was really, really rural. Also, noted again the pet cemetary of Doc Howard & wife - earliest was Sam, born around 1961, died '64 - last dog death was '83.
Went to Crescent La & took this picture
of this hideously selfish 13,000sq ft trophy house for the presumed family of 4-5 Americans living the non-sustainable, self-destructive American lifestyle. I once sat on a stump in the geo center of this house (on 9ac parcel) before built; looking north, one could see Mt. Washington. I pondered the sensible, sensitive home one might build over looking the town forest. Never did I imagine this, & ashamedly, owned, I'm told by reliable source, by a Concord physician (think orthopedist - which would fit...money & ego, perhaps). Also stopped to see Woodbury logging just east of Great Hill - certainly not clear cut & done with conscience but nevertheless, hard on O terrain.
Ordway Cemetary, grave of Nathan d. 1834 on left...