First- and second-grade students at Dublin Christian Academy who proposed a new Historical Highway Marker saw their request fulfilled on Friday.
Inspired after reading Sarah Whitcher’s Story by New Hampshire author Elizabeth Yates, the children gathered more than 20 signatures need to create the marker and drafted sample text backed supporting documents.
The N.H. Division of Historical Resources is pleased to announce that installed the New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker at the intersection of N.H. Route 25 and Swain Hill Road in Warren.
It reads:
‘Sarah Witcher and the Bear’
“Three-year-old Sarah Whitcher became lost in these woods in June 1783 while gathering flowers. During a four-day search, Sarah’s footprints were found near Berry Brook alongside bear prints. A local man joined the search after dreaming three times that ‘Sarah would be found under a pine bough near Berry Brook guarded by a bear.’ His dream proved to be true: Sarah was found as he stated and she told her rescuers that ‘A great black dog had kept her each night.’ The lore of this little girl saved by a bear has entertained generations of people and inspired several children’s books.”
Unveiling of the marker took place Friday with the students involved in proposing the marker among those in attendance. A reception was held afterward at Warren Town Hall.
An interactive map of all of the state’s historical highway markers is available at the N.H. Division of Historical Resources’ website, nh.gov/nhdhr.