WONALANCET
Wonalancet is a small community whose history goes back to the 1700s.
It was settled about the time of the Revolutionary War. Timbering was important at first, and numerous mills were established in the area.
After the best and easiest of the timber was exhausted, the population decreased.
But because of its picturesque setting, Wonalancet is now slowly growing again.
In fact, the growth would be strong except there is usually no land for sale �
some is in the White Mountain National Forest, much is protected by conservation easements, and the lucky ones here just don't want to sell.
The most notable landmark is the picturesque Wonalancet Chapel. It sits at the foot of a large field which offers a great view of the mountains. This field is protected by a conservation easement so houses will never spoil this view.
Another landmark in Wonalancet is Chinook Kennels, started by Walden Arthur who introduced sled dogs to the area. His most famous dog was Chinook. Walden was in charge of all dogs and dog training for Byrd's first expedition to the Antarctic. Without Walden's and Chinook's contributions in the Antarctic, Byrd's expedition might have failed. Walden was so proud of Chinock who was lost during that expedition, that when people suggested the road from Tamworth to Wonalancet be named Walden Highway, he objected and had it named the Chinook Trail.
In Wonalancet, Arthur's wife Kate Sleeper Walden is even more famous than he.
She had the foresight and organizational skills to encourage hiking trails to become established so that summer guests could be attracted to the area.
Kate Sleeper Trail and Mt. Katherine are named in her honor.
The following view of Wonalancet Intervale (aka Birch Intervale) was taken from Mt. Katherine.
To the left of Wonalancet Chapel is Ferncroft Road which was named for the Ferncroft Inn. Ferncroft was the largest of a half dozen inns that were once in the Wonalacet area. Although there are no longer any inns operating in Wonalacet, Ferncroft road still is used by many people who come here to hike. The Wonalancet Out Door Club, in cooperation with the Forest Service, maintains over 50 miles of trails in the area. The kiosk, shown below, is adjacent to a hiker parking lot.
The Wonalancet Preservation Association strives to preserve the unique beauty of this picturesque area. Quoting from its mission statement:
"The Wonalancet Preservation Association is an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural existence of the Wonalancet area. The natural existence includes the physical features, geological and geographical, the biological features, including plant and animal life with their diversities, and people, in the context of nature. We hope to maintain Wonalancet as a physically beautiful, rural and undeveloped location, so that the public may continue to benefit from and enjoy the unspoiled bucolic, yet wild, character of the area. To do so requires, above all, special vigilance to ensure that human activities and habitation do
The most notable landmark is the picturesque Wonalancet Chapel. It sits at the foot of a large field which offers a great view of the mountains. This field is protected by a conservation easement so houses will never spoil this view.
Another landmark in Wonalancet is Chinook Kennels, started by Walden Arthur who introduced sled dogs to the area. His most famous dog was Chinook. Walden was in charge of all dogs and dog training for Byrd's first expedition to the Antarctic. Without Walden's and Chinook's contributions in the Antarctic, Byrd's expedition might have failed. Walden was so proud of Chinock who was lost during that expedition, that when people suggested the road from Tamworth to Wonalancet be named Walden Highway, he objected and had it named the Chinook Trail.
To the left of Wonalancet Chapel is Ferncroft Road which was named for the Ferncroft Inn. Ferncroft was the largest of a half dozen inns that were once in the Wonalacet area. Although there are no longer any inns operating in Wonalacet, Ferncroft road still is used by many people who come here to hike. The Wonalancet Out Door Club, in cooperation with the Forest Service, maintains over 50 miles of trails in the area. The kiosk, shown below, is adjacent to a hiker parking lot.
1) View from Ferncroft 2) This cabin was part of the Ferncroft Inn 3) Kiosk
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The Wonalancet Preservation Association strives to preserve the unique beauty of this picturesque area. Quoting from its mission statement:
"The Wonalancet Preservation Association is an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural existence of the Wonalancet area. The natural existence includes the physical features, geological and geographical, the biological features, including plant and animal life with their diversities, and people, in the context of nature. We hope to maintain Wonalancet as a physically beautiful, rural and undeveloped location, so that the public may continue to benefit from and enjoy the unspoiled bucolic, yet wild, character of the area. To do so requires, above all, special vigilance to ensure that human activities and habitation do