Some Mooseland Grill history (and a pledge to rebuild) from today's Littleton Courier. The 3/302 junction has a long history of hospitality for White Mountain visitors, including the Twin Mountain House from the era of railroad travel and the YD Cabins, which were part of the transition to auto touring and the mo-tel.
[start quote]According to the Twin Mountain/Bretton Woods Historical Society, the Mooseland Grill is believed to have been built in the early 1900s, most likely in the early to mid-'20s. It was originally known as YD Cabins, named for the 26th Division of the Army in World War I, which was also called the Yankee Division. The highway past the building, now known as Route 302, also bore the earlier name of Yankee Division Highway. Over time, the business changed hands and existed for much of the mid-20th century as Winnie McCauley's Store. The store originally sat much closer to the river, but was moved on blocks in 1973 or 1974 to sit closer to the new road being built, the present Route 302. Later it became the Big Red Store, and in the mid- to late-1980s, it was bought by Bruce Glazier, who ran the Holy Cow ice cream and gift shop.
Historical Society member Phil Bell is the current owner of the marble soda fountain that graced the Holy Cow. Bell said the wooden back-bar of the fountain was still in the bar area of the restaurant when it burned and estimated its value at around $5,000.
The Holy Cow was sold to the Boykos of Jefferson before the Eastmans purchased the building eight years ago and Dawn Eastman changed the personality of the establishment, bringing the Mooseland Grill to life.
Dameron said he does plan to rebuild the restaurant. "That's my intention," he said. "I've had a lot of positive feedback and that's what I want to do." [end quote]
