Peterborough, Here and There

We recently had some guests visit from Peterborough, England and they brought us a special gift... a book, "Peterborough Through Time, A Second Selection" about their Peterborough.  The book, written by June and Vernon Bull and first published in 2011, gives some of the history of the town, primarily through photos, illustrations, and postcards from the past and present, with short descriptions.  As I looked through the book, it wasn't the differences between the "then" and "now" photos that fascinated me as much as the similarities, and I couldn't help but think about the similarities and differences between "here" (Peterborough, New Hampshire) and "there" (Peterborough, England).

Although the two towns share the same name, their size and age are quite different.  According to Wikipedia, Peterborough, England has a population of about 184,500 (2007, estimated) whereas Peterborough, New Hampshire is home to only 6,284 (2010 US Census).  Human settlement in Peterborough, England dates back to before the Bronze Age, with the name Peterborough being adopted sometime after the 10th century.   In New Hampshire, Peterborough was first permanently settled in 1749 and later incorporated on January 17, 1760.  As for similarities, both communities lie along rivers - in England, it is the River Nene, and here in New Hampshire it is the Contoocook and Nubanusit Rivers.  Not surprisingly, it was those rivers that helped developed the early economies - Peterborough, England was known for brickmaking and other manufacturing, whereas Peterborough, New Hampshire first developed as a mill town.  Another interesting connection between the two cities is mentioned in a book on Peterborough, New Hampshire's history called "Our Changing Town, Peterborough 1939 - 1989, Vol. 1 Narrative" that describes a friendship between the two cities that developed during the 1940s.  In addition to raising money to purchase an ambulance for the city in England, schoolchildren and residents exchanged letters and visited, including stops by the Historical Society and the Monadnock Chorus while on trips to the UK.

Although we don't have full sets of corresponding photos of "then" and "now", we have collected a few vintage postcards over the years so I thought I'd share them here... along with some photos we've taken ourselves.

View from East Hill, postmark on the back dated 1927

View along Grove Street, 2008 (not the same perspective as above)

Peterborough Town Library, 1906

Peterborough Town Library, 2006 (Portico added in 1914)

Mount Monadnock, 1916 or earlier

Mount Monadnock from Miller State Park, 2010

And I must admit, I probably spent way too much time doing background research for this blog posting, but I found quite a few interesting resources for old and new photos and the histories of both Peterboroughs (England and New Hampshire) and more.  If you are interested, here are some of the links:

www.peterboroughimages.co.uk (England)
The Monadnock Center for History and Culture at the Peterborough Historical Society (NH)
Exploring Peterborough, New Hampshire (Yankee, blog)
The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library (Historical Maps)

A Day Trip for the Senses

Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, MA

As mentioned in our last "Top 10 Things To Do" list, a great day trip or side trip from the Monadnock region is the Mohawk Trail area in western Massachusetts.  And one approach to this trip would be to make it a "Day Trip for the Senses" and include visits to Yankee Candle, Kringle Candle and The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls (in season).

When it comes to candles, Yankee Candle is probably one of the most well-known names, and their original flagship village in South Deerfield, MA is a New England destination for many.  In addition to 400,000 candles in over 200 scents, you’ll find a year-round Bavarian village where Christmas is celebrated every day, hands-on candlemaking, a Yankee Candle Home store, and fine-dining at Chandler’s Restaurant.  Very nearby are other destinations including Historic Deerfield, an open-air living history museum, and Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory.

Founded in 2009, Kringle Candle is a newcomer in the world or candles, but they’ve been making quite a splash with unique scents and contemporary style.  Founded by the Mick Kittredge, son of Yankee Candle founder Mike Kittredge, Kringle Candle has been building their own village in Bernardston, MA, not far off Route 91, just south of the Vermont border.  Their village comprised of multiple buildings on both sided of Route 5 including a candle shop, Christmas Barn, the Farm Table Restaurant, and Chocolate Cottage.  When I was there in the fall, I grabbed a bite to eat at their outdoor cafe that serves quick sandwiches, treats and beverages to go and sat outside enjoying the sunny day.  As for their candles, they feature robust, realistic candle fragrances in all-white candles (so you don't have to worry about whether your favorite scent matches your decor) and many of the scents are food-related, everything from Cranberry Scone and Blueberry Muffin to Fresh Baked Bread and Frosted Cake. Yum!

Kringle Candle, Bernardston, MA

Shelburne Falls is a quaint little village along the scenic and historic Mohawk Trail (Route 2) in Massachusetts (about 8 miles from I-91).   It is home to artists, a natural feature in the Deerfield River called Glacial Potholes, the ShelburneFalls Trolley Museum, and the Bridge of Flowers.  The Bridge of Flowers was originally a trolley bridge built in 1908, but by 1927 the railway company went bankrupt, unable to keep up with modern progress such as the invention of the automobile.  Quickly, the unused bridge became overrun with weeds, but in 1928, a town resident had the idea to turn the weed-filled "eyesore" into a bridge of flowers.  By 1929, with funds raised by the Shelburne Falls Women's Club, the project was in motion.  Now, in season, this former "eyesore" is absolutely stunning!  Filled with beautiful, fragrant flowers and mature trees, it is a treat for all... including the birds and bees.

Depending on the amount of time you spend shopping or doing other activities, you could easily visit all three locations in one day!  You’ll want to consider the order in which you visit though, since Kringle Candle is the most north of the destinations, Yankee Candle is the farthest south, and Shelburne Falls is in between (and a little west).
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Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 4)

King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont

Well, here is the fourth and final installment of our "Top 10 Things To Do" lists.  That is... until we start adding more!

Our TOP 10 THINGS TO DO in the area if you have…

A full day or more:

• Go on a custom-designed tour of the region (Scenic Roads, Wool and Fiber Shops, National Historic Sites, Monadnock Visual Arts, “Filmed in NH”, Ice Cream and Chocolate, and more).
• Visit St. Gaudens National Historic Site, the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge and other places of interest along the Connecticut River Valley (bordering Vermont).
• For food and baking enthusiasts, make a pilgrimage to the King Arthur Flour campus (Store, Baking Education Center, Bakery and Café) in Norwich, Vermont and explore other yummy stops along the way.
• Rent kayak or canoe (or cross-country skis or snowshoes in winter) and enjoy the outside!  Did you bring your bike? We can help with bike routes too.
• Experience New Hampshire’s coastline in Portsmouth and the Seacoast Region.
• Step back in time at Canterbury Shaker Village, Enfield Shaker Museum or Strawbery Banke Museum.
• Take a scenic drive in the White Mountains.
• Explore New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.
• Enjoy a day of history in Boston.
• Indulge your senses at Yankee Candle, Kringle Candle and the Bridge of Flowers in western Massachusetts.

Mount Washington Auto Road, White Mountains

Kayaking on MacDowell Lake

 

Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 3)

Alpacas at Spring Pond Farm

Our TOP 10 THINGS TO DO in the area if you have…

A few hours to half a day:

• Hike Mount Monadnock.
• Take a self-guided tour of Historic Covered Bridges south of Keene.
• Hike Miller State Park.
• Explore Keene’s Main Street and Colony Mill Marketplace.
• Visit an alpaca farm.
• Browse antiques shops in Peterborough, Wilton, Greenville, and more.
• Have lunch at Pickity Place (advance reservations required) and explore sites in Mason.
• Discover Hillsborough’s Stone Arch Bridges.
• Explore Willard Pond – Great for hiking, swimming, and kayaking!
• Get out on the greens – Golf at Crotched Mountain GolfClub, Monadnock Country Club, or Shattuck Golf Club.

Mount Monadnock

Gleason Falls Bridge in Hillsborough

 

Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 2)

Hiking the West Ridge Trail in winter.

In a continuation of some of our favorite things to do in the area, here is the second installment!

Our TOP 10 THINGS TO DO in the area if you have…

About 2 hours:

• Hike the West Ridge Trail at MacDowell Lake.
• Take a ride to Harrisville – Browse Harrisville Designs. Walk the historic mill town.  Have a snack at the General Store.
• Hike Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail from Old Street Road to the pond, and back.
• Drive to Hancock – Walk the trail at old railroad depot.  Have lunch on the porch at Fiddleheads.
• Have lunch or dinner AND ice cream at Kimball Farm (seasonal, May to mid-October).
• Get sandwiches from Dublin General Store or Nature’s Green Grocer and have a picnic at MacDowell Lake.
• Visit Frye’s Measure Mill.
• Get a majestic view of Monadnock from Cathedral of the Pines (May – October).
• Browse some of the local antiques and consignment shops.
• Give geocaching a try!

Historic Harrisville

Hancock Depot

 

Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 1)

Early Fall at MacDowell Dam

When guests ask us about things to do while they are in the area, we usually end up following their question with a slew of others... What do you like to do?  How much time do you have?  Are you interested in outdoor or indoor activities?  Etc.  With that in mind, we've had a little fun creating our own "Top 10 Things to Do" lists and breaking them down by time available... 1 hour, 2 hours, half day, and full day.  Now granted, our lists are not exhaustive... there are plenty of things we didn't have room to list... and they may depend a little on weather or season, but we figured they are a good place to start!  Here's the first installment...

Our TOP 10 THINGS TO DO in the area if you have…

About 1 hour:

• Walk the trails at Shieling Forest
• Explore MacDowell Dam and Lake
• Check out the County Covered Bridge in Greenfield
• Browse shops and cafes in Depot Square and downtown Peterborough
• Drive the auto road to top of Miller State Park (seasonal)
• Visit the Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) Headquarters store
• View the exhibits at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture or Mariposa Museum
• Shop at the Peterboro Basket Company
• Visit Rosaly’s Farmstand (seasonal, spring to late fall, PYO berries and flowers)
•  Enjoy ice cream at Kimball Farm in Jaffrey (seasonal, mid-April to mid-October)

Glacial boulders in Shieling Forest (Can you see Rob?)

Sunny day in Depot Square

Do you have a favorite?  Let us know! 
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Marshmallows and s'more! (Cookie Tour 2012 Recap)

snowman overseeing the last of the cookie making!

Wow! What a Cookie Tour!!!  This was our third year participating in the Currier & Ives Cookie Tour (now in their 8th year) and although we expected a larger turnout, this year exceeded the last two years by far!  As one of the ticket sales locations, we sold at least 100 tickets in just the first hour!  (Last year we sold 46 total.)  We had made 24 DOZEN S'Mores Cookies (yup, 288 cookies) and actually ran out by about 3 PM.  (Last year we made about 200 cookies and had some leftover.)  And although we were able to come up with a back-up plan and substituted some very fresh-baked and still-warm Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, we even ran out of those near the end.  Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the tour... and a special thanks to those who came by the B&B late in the day and missed having one of our original cookies.  Your understanding was truly appreciated.  The great news is that this should translate into more proceeds going to this year's Cookie Tour charity recipient, Santa's House in Jaffrey, for their work providing gifts to local children in need.

As mentioned above, our cookie this year was a S'Mores Cookie - a chewy graham cracker cookie with a homemade marshmallow and melted chocolate on top.  (If you are just looking for the S'Mores Cookies recipe, you'll find it here as a pdf.)  Although the cookie is delicious with store-bought marshmallows, we decided to go with homemade ones to give the cookies just a little something extra.  If you've never had them, homemade marshmallows are these fluffy little bites of melt-in-your-mouth sweetness... and they aren't even that hard to make!  So for those of you who would like to give them a try, here's the way I did it.. with pictures!  (You'll find just the Marshmallows Recipe here as a pdf.)

Homemade Marshmallows

(One batch makes more than enough marshmallows for a batch of the S'Mores Cookies)

 

1 envelope unflavored gelatin, 0.25 oz (such as Knox)

3 Tablespoons cold water

2/3 cup granulated sugar

3 Tablespoons light corn syrup

1 1/2 Tablespoons water

pinch salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

corn starch, potato starch, or confectioner's sugar for dusting

gelatin and cold water

 1. Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap or a non-stick mat and spray lightly with cookie spray.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 3 Tablespoons cold water.  Let stand about 10 minutes.

sugar, corn syrup, and water - boiling

3. Meanwhile, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1 1/2 Tablespoons water in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium or medium-low heat and boil rapidly for 1 minute.
 

after several minutes of beating

4. Pour the boiling syrup over the gelatin that has been soaking and beat at high speed.  Add salt and beat for a total of about 8 to 10 minutes.  (Marshmallow will get very thick and sticky.)  After about 10 minutes, lower the mixer speed and add the vanilla, then slowly increase speed and beat just long enough to incorporate.
 

marshmallow spread to cool

5. Spread marshmallow evenly onto prepared pan, as thin or as thick as you'd like (will make an 8x8" layer, about 1/2" thick).* Wet hands or spatula with a little bit of water to smooth out easily.  If desired, take another piece of lightly oiled plastic wrap and place over the top of the marshmallow.  Let the marshmallow sit at room temperature for a few hours or overnight, until completely cooled and set. (*A plastic scraper worked better for this than a rubber spatula, but don't try to get every bit of marshmallow off the beater and bowl - it is very sticky and you'll go crazy trying to get it all.  Then, when you get back to spreading out the marshmallow it will be even tougher to smooth out.)

cutting with a cookie cutter

6. Cut marshmallow into desired-sized pieces using a pizza wheel, kitchen scissors, or cookie cutters (spray with cooking spray then wipe off to leave a very light layer).  Dust with cornstarch, potato starch or confectioners' sugar and store in an airtight container (for up to a few weeks).

yum!

And finally, for those who came later and received the Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, here's the recipe for those (as a pdf... or below)!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 4 dozen

1 cup margarine or butter (softened)
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Cream together margarine, sugars, and peanut butter with mixer.
2. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat well.
3. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and oatmeal, and mix well by hand.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Chill for two hours.
6. Preheat oven to 375 F.
7. Drop cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake.

ENJOY!