Waumbek
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The OMM plans include the idea that skiers and hikers could "have lunch" and hang out there. Maybe breakfast or apres-hike but I wonder how many hikers would have lunch there? Or use it at all? (Now if it had showers....) As a local, it's hard to gauge what out-of-town hikers would find useful or desirable.
From yesterday's Caledonia Record:
Monday June 20, 2005
FRANCONIA NEW HAMPSHIRE
Some people say The Old Man of the Mountain stood longer than it ever should have.
As Saturday marked the bicentennial of the Old Man's discovery, enthusiast Dick Hamilton led the charge to keep the icon's memory standing for new generations of locals and tourists.
Plans for a memorial and museum were unveiled to a packed Franconia Heritage Museum.
The Old Man museum would stand three stories tall with 16,000 square feet of space at the Old Man viewing site.
The building would double as a visitor center and meeting place for skiers and hikers to rest, have lunch and move on.
"We want the building to go beyond something just to memorialize the Old Man," Hamilton said. "Right now there's no place in the notch like that."
A Link to the Past
In an effort to recreate the aura and draw of the Old Man, about 30 people were treated to Hamilton's collection of memorabilia, ranging from 1880s-era to present-day beer steins, sugar bowls and other items.
Hamilton, former president of the White Mountains Attractions Association, amassed hundreds of proud Old Man items over almost 40 years, starting with his first introduction to the landmark in a book, "Open for the Seasons," that cost 25 cents at the time.
"You could buy almost anything with the Old Man on it," Hamilton said.
Many Old Man relics were lost when the Profile House burned in August 1923.
"We have to [build the memorial and museum] quickly while we can before the memory of the Old Man is gone," Hamilton said. "We hoped to break ground in spring 2006 and open to the public in 2008, but that may be ambitious."
The Outlook
Money for the memorial is being raised through the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund.
A portal with the outline of the Old Man is being planned at the viewing area. It would enable gazers to line up a hollow cut-out of the profile where it used to be, and then look at the same location without the outlined face.
Though no price tag has been set for the memorial and museum, Hamilton predicted it would take a couple of million dollars.
"Someone's going to want to put their name to it," Hamilton said. "It'd be nice if a major corporation could step up."
From yesterday's Caledonia Record:
Monday June 20, 2005
FRANCONIA NEW HAMPSHIRE
Some people say The Old Man of the Mountain stood longer than it ever should have.
As Saturday marked the bicentennial of the Old Man's discovery, enthusiast Dick Hamilton led the charge to keep the icon's memory standing for new generations of locals and tourists.
Plans for a memorial and museum were unveiled to a packed Franconia Heritage Museum.
The Old Man museum would stand three stories tall with 16,000 square feet of space at the Old Man viewing site.
The building would double as a visitor center and meeting place for skiers and hikers to rest, have lunch and move on.
"We want the building to go beyond something just to memorialize the Old Man," Hamilton said. "Right now there's no place in the notch like that."
A Link to the Past
In an effort to recreate the aura and draw of the Old Man, about 30 people were treated to Hamilton's collection of memorabilia, ranging from 1880s-era to present-day beer steins, sugar bowls and other items.
Hamilton, former president of the White Mountains Attractions Association, amassed hundreds of proud Old Man items over almost 40 years, starting with his first introduction to the landmark in a book, "Open for the Seasons," that cost 25 cents at the time.
"You could buy almost anything with the Old Man on it," Hamilton said.
Many Old Man relics were lost when the Profile House burned in August 1923.
"We have to [build the memorial and museum] quickly while we can before the memory of the Old Man is gone," Hamilton said. "We hoped to break ground in spring 2006 and open to the public in 2008, but that may be ambitious."
The Outlook
Money for the memorial is being raised through the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund.
A portal with the outline of the Old Man is being planned at the viewing area. It would enable gazers to line up a hollow cut-out of the profile where it used to be, and then look at the same location without the outlined face.
Though no price tag has been set for the memorial and museum, Hamilton predicted it would take a couple of million dollars.
"Someone's going to want to put their name to it," Hamilton said. "It'd be nice if a major corporation could step up."
but that is a good point. A very nonecofriendly corporation could try to improve their image by paying for thier name to be on the sign. 
