As the shades of winter snow fade into the horizon, this once vibrant white snow that we so openly welcomed as Christmas memories were recently made is destined to melt away. As March arrives each and every year many people feel the need for the next season to usher in, with it the temperatures rise and local sap houses are boiling delectable New Hampshire sap to make delicious maple syrup. Last years visits to sugarbush farms in New Hampshire still a delicious memory, fresh maple syrup upon cold New Hampshire snow. A memory that has remained with me for many decades.
As much as I enjoy the transition from winter to spring, we still have some obstacles that we will encounter here in our little town. Mother nature tempts us time and again as we turn the pages of the calendar, we are all very aware that snow is more than likely still in the next forecast. As I reminisce about winters past here in Concord, N.H., my memory returns to some of the blizzards that have dusted our community with snow, in fact very deep snow. Today we find deep snow enjoyable and certainly a boon to our outdoor sports enthusiast. The snow is forecasted, the snow falls heavily and then our tourist arrive to enjoy the fresh powder decorating our ski slopes. For our local citizens that do not enjoy the annual snowfall the winter only causes mild inconveniences, low temperatures and limited ability to travel about in automobiles. The minor inconveniences today were not so minor several decades ago.
When the colonial settlers arrived in the area around our little town there was a need for enhanced travel. As the years passed, the settlers traveled upon horseback or with small wagons along Native American trails from years before, these trails cultivated and unpaved roads established. For many years the unpaved roads about New Hampshire and further served the purpose allowing people to travel, freight to be hauled and sleighs to ride upon the unplowed surfaces. It was some of the inner cities that first saw streets cobbled with stone, such a modern convenience at first, no more dust upon the wagons but a little bit of a rough ride.
The wagons were put away during the winters in the early nineteenth century, snow was simply too deep. Horses were harnessed to sleighs and travel continued until spring arrived. Mud season was also a hinderance each spring, but the warm spring sun addressed that issue. As more and more need arose to haul large quantities of freight, dry goods and even larger groups of people, the need to utilize wagons during the winter months became very evident. Many thoughts surrounding the cold snow-covered roads of Concord became quite common. How could the people travel the roads year-round when the snow deeply covered each and every road? Where there is a need there is always a way, the snow roller entered the scene in the latter part of the 19th century, this modern marvel sought by each and every community.
The city of Concord initially purchased two snow rollers for use on local roads. These massive rollers were pulled by a team of horses, sometimes horses were added if the roads were long and winded for the team. Where the snow was deep or drifted the horse drawn snow rollers compacted the snow with their smooth surface. The citizens of Concord were delighted to see they could once again pull wagons across the streets, the sleighs ran easier too. Within the city it was common to see two to four horses in the team pulling the rollers, sometimes the outskirts of Concord witnessed several horses in the team. The city of Concord housed the teams of horses in the city stables on Warren Street where they were well cared for by the city employees. The snow rolling arrived and remained a very active winter maintenance procedure for decades until the arrival of the snow plows secured to the new auto trucks in the early 1900s.
When snow is compacted over a period of months each winter there are sometimes additional concerns. The hills such as School Street, Rumford Street and Church Street could not be rolled due to the steepness of the hills. Those streets were closed each winter and enjoyed by the many Concord children that were fortunate enough to own a sled or toboggan. As the winter proceeded the compacted snow reached a depth that was several feet. When the sun began the spring thaw the compacted snow melted creating holes and uneven surfaces, rendering the streets useless for a period of weeks until the real spring temperatures surged and melted the remaining compacted snow.
As we start the month of March and travel about the little town of Concord, N.H., with our automobiles we embrace what is to be. Pothole season the exception, we once again come alive and feel the positive warmth that March and April ushers in. The farmers plan their planting and the recreational fields again contain the shouts of gleeful children. Perhaps we do wish winter away, but we hold tightly to the winter memories so closely within our hearts. As each new season arrives and another season departs, we find a greater appreciation each and every month here in New Hampshire.