Archeologists discover a lost community in Holderness

HOLDERNESS — Thie "Last House in The Hollow," a report from the state Division of Cultural and Historic Resources to the Friends of the Pemi/Livermore Falls Chapter, depicts a summer-long archeological survey done on the river's edge along the east side of the Pemigewasset just below Livermore Falls where, it has been learned, there was once a thriving mill community lasting well into the 1930s. In fact, one Holderness resident, Abby Brown Frizzell, who was raised there, has been able recall firsthand what life was like in "The Hollow."

State archaeologist David Trubey, part of the investigative team examining the site, noted from artifacts recovered by digging test pits, that the former mill village, complete with company housing, a school, store and more, dated back to 1769 starting with grist and fulling mills owned by Moses Little. Buried evidence verified much of the industry that followed.

With the assistance of old photographs from the Campton Historical Society, the state's Division of Historical Resources has been able to reconstruct what life was like there. Trubey presented his findings before a meeting of Friends of the Pemi/Livermore Chapter Oct. 25 at the Campton town office.

In 1877, over worries that Atlantic salmon were being blocked by dams down river, the state's first fish hatchery was constructed at Livermore Falls. The came Arthus Homan's pulp mill in 1888. Fires destroyed more than one structure researchers could determine from layers of ash they noted around old cellar holes. Just across the river the J.E. Henry pulp mill went into operation in 1901 operating there until 1953. Logs were floated down river from the northern forest, beaten into pulp, baled and returned to Lincoln by rail for processing into bond quality paper.

Archaeologists wondered where The Hollow residents got their drinking water. No sign of any wells. Frizzell was able to recall a nearby spring. Company housing for mill employees went for $8 a month firewood provided but no running water or electricity. Hand-wrought nails were found dating to pre1830, along with a clay pipe made in Glasgow, buttons and tools.

In 1992 the state Department of Resources and Economic Development purchased Livermore Falls for its eventual conversion as New Hampshire's newest park making both sides of the Pemi more visitor friendly. Parking has been on the east or Holderness side but a little over an acre is being purchased at the Plymouth/Campton town line to facilitate parking on the west side along Route 3.

Plans are to return to the site next summer to expand upon what is already know about The Hollow and to reach further back into history - thousands of years in fact - to determine the extent of Native occupation where surely there must have been extensive fishing underway.