Pittsfield NH Photo Links

Home Page

Various web page links focusing upon Pittsfield, New Hampshire

It's Homes, Sights, and Events

by

Paul Oman

Pittsfield, NH is a small community of about 5,000 people located in central New Hampshire. Concord, the state capital is about 18 miles due west and the seacoast is about 35 or 40 miles east. Being not quite in the "Lakes Region", not in the White Mountains, and not on the seacoast, it gets overlooks by the tour books and visitors. We like that. It is a part of the state the people pass through but often don't stop. The town straddles the Suncook River and it was dams and water power that created Pittsfield and turned it into a typical New England mill town. The town became the hub community for the surrounding smaller towns. Pittsfield had shopping in its small downtown, jobs in the mills, and after 1869 railroad connections to the outside world. It peaked in perhaps 1900 with mansions along Main Street and stone / brick public building designed by well known architect. Its Pittsfield Academy was the school of choice for the region's young men and woman and it graduated some well known people.

Today, the town is much different, a shadow of its former self. The mills are gone. The mansions are now apartment buildings. The school system needs improvement and teen crime and drugs were front page news in the Concord Monitor newspaper during the summer of 2007. The railroad is gone. The grand old buildings are silent reminders of better times that are gone for good. Yet traces of the old charm and character remain. While downtown can be described as 'rundown' it is too small in area to invoke any feeling of 'skid row' or 'inner city.' To me, living here is more like putting on an old, albeit worn, jacket that is comforting in its memories and fit even it is no longer in the best of shape.

Of course, the town is not alone in its decline. Nearly all New England communities have seen better days. Only the luck ones become spruced up Norman Rockwell tourist sites. Most, like Pittsfield, become home to hard working, blue collar folks more interested in making a living than in downtown historic preservation. While that is a sad thing in one way, it is a rather ordinary, comforting and natural state of existence in another way. It's my home and I like living here!

SUNCOOK RIVER VALLEY CUPOLAS

During 2005 Paul began taking photos of cupolas in towns along the Suncook River (Pittsfield, Center Barnstead, Parade Barnstead, Epsom, and Chichester, NH). CLICK HERE

ONE YEAR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Starting in Sept 2002, Paul photographed the front of his house every two weeks for a full year. See what the weather is really like in Pittsfield, NH through the year. CLICK HERE

THEN AND NOW PHOTO EXHIBIT

Side by side comparisons of postcard photos (1906 - 1916) and the same shots taken in 2006 in and around the town. - plus commentary about living in Pittsfield. CLICK HERE (Pittsfield Then and Now)

PITTSFIELD ARTICLE - "PITTSFIELD - PLAIN AND SIMPLE AND LIKING IT THAT WAY!" - By Kathleen D. Bailey

Published in New Hampshire ToDo magazine (www.nhtodo.com - June 2009) Reprinted/posted with permission of the magazine.

CLICK HERE (Pittsfield nh article)

TOWN PHOTO ALBUM

Just an album of shots taken in Pittsfield, NH. CLICK HERE

DOWNTOWN MYSTERY PHOTOS

Can you find these 24 objects as you stroll along in downtown Pittsfield? We're looking at door knobs, signs, and house trim etc. on and off Main Steet. Walk with your eyes and not just your feet! CLICK HERE

THE BEST AND THE WORST

CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE (Pittsfield Landmarks)

Enjoy the town's 2007 Old Home Days parade

CLICK HERE (Pittsfield nh Parade photographs)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Info on the men listed on the town's Civil War monument -(www.pauloman.com/monument.html)

More info about certain people on both of Pittsfield's CW markers - written as Memorial Day and Vet. Day articles -(www.pauloman.com/memorialday.html)

Return to Paul Oman's Pittsfield NH Pages home page

######

Town weather