TALKING PLACE
If you climb the 894th highest mountain in New Hampshire you
will certain to have a rare adventure. Parker Mountain is steeped
in history- natural and human. It all began in 1820 when Thomas
Parker acquired the 648 acres that is part of a ridge that includes
Evans Mt. and Blue Job Mountain.
20 years after the Civil War Parker Mountain became the site of
one of New Hampshire’s mining operations. The Foss/Buzzo Mica
Mine harvested feldspar and mica from open cut mines at Parker’s base. From the 1880s until 1959 mica was extracted from the
mine and used for building materials and more prominently as
insulation for electrical and electronic components.
FOSS/BUZZO MICA MINE
The mine is still visible and there is still plenty of mica. Rock
hounds have been searching, (and finding) lots of other interesting
specimens on the mountain. If you decide to go prospecting look
for pegmatite. These are stones that bind large crystals and
gemstones such as beryl, quartz, tourmaline, amethyst and
garnet. You could start an impressive rock collection with just
one day on the mountain.
On the North side of the mountain you will find the wreckage from
airplane. On May 5, 1946, Leslie Louis LeVeque along with his
wife and pilot crashed into the mountain during a storm. LeVeque
was an inventor and businessman. The LeVeque tower in Cincinnati Ohio is named after him. He is most known for his innovation
in the development of the automatic pinsetters used in bowling
alleys. Lots of the wreckage is still visible.
Climbing the mountain to the summit by way of the Spencer
Smith Trail you will find lots of signs from past climbers. Engraved
in granite are names of people who memorialized their climb in
1800s. Many of these are characters from local tall tales and
ghost stories.
From the summit is a clear view of Bow Lake and surrounding
mountains. There are also plenty of old fire pits and talking areas
once used by Scouts of the past. Parker Mountain Scout Reservation was known for it hikers when you climb you will understand why. This will surely be a popular rare adventure in the
Northern NeXus.
GO PROSPECTING!
LEVEQUE PLANE CRASH