A Trip To These Little Known Old Ruins In New Hampshire Is Truly One In A Million
The history in New Hampshire is fascinating. Whether it’s remnants of the ice age or simply museums telling the stories of things that happened before we were here, it’s always fun to learn something new about the place many of us have called home for years. While we love the obvious history lessons, there’s something to be said for the places that have less information associated. The ruins of this deserted town are a great example.
Dating back to the 1730s, the former village of Monson in Hillsborough County was the state’s very first inland colony settled by Europeans.
If you’d visited during its prime of about 50 years, you’d have found what is believed to have been a vibrant settlement with men, women and children building a life for themselves in the new country. But after those 50 years, the colony just disappeared without any real information related to why.
Historians are still unsure what became of the settlers here, but remnants of their land and homes can still be seen. This photo captures a piece of someone's home.
This is a popular place to take in some of the state’s history. Walking among the paths here will reveal pieces of their early structures, including foundations and cellars.
Currently maintained by the Forest Society, the area is a great place to enjoy some local nature while imagining what life might have been like for those who chose to make New Hampshire their home hundreds of years ago.
In addition to history, there are also about 2.5-miles of trails to explore here. The original size of Monson was about 17,000 acres, but Monson Center today comprises about 269 acres.
Exploring each of the trails will take about two hours, which is well worth the time. In addition to lovely surroundings, it’s also fascinating to take in the history of the state. Especially when it’s a bit of a ghost town!
To see more from this unique site, check out the YouTube video below!
Have you visited Monson Village and enjoyed the hikes? More interestingly, have you encountered anything that feels haunted along the way? We’ve heard conflicting reports, so curious to hear your experiences! Let us know in the comments.
Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
