Wapack Lodge

New Ipswich Historical Society

Wapack Lodge

Discussed as early as the mid-1800s, the Wapack Trail was completed in 1923, mostly by Frank Robbins of Rindge, N.H., who farmed 1,200 acres of land around Barrett Mountain, and Marion Davis of New Ipswich, N.H. Marion Davis became the trail’s best-known personality by operating the Wapack Lodge for three decades through the late 1950s, providing lodging and hosting up to 100 people at a time. Sunday dinners are still remembered in the area a half-century later. She also invented the name Wapack, from the names of the mountains at each end of the trail – Mt. Watatic and North Pack Monadnock.

Uncle Walter

UNCLE WALTER WILLIAM born Mar. 20, 1910

Your Uncle Walter was always second-in-.command to Father. We learned early in life to follow commands without comment, well, almost without, anyway. What I remember most about Walter was that he was always chopping “kindling wood”.. I guess with the cold winters of New Hampshire, we burned a never-ending supply of it and being the oldest boy at home (the girls were not trusted with an axe for fear they would cut off their own limbs) it fell on Walter to supply the need. Brother Eddie used to help but he left home at an early age, so Walter was blessed with this chore. For a hobby, or perhaps by necessity, Walter was always busy tinkering on his car. But things did not always work out too well and we would hear a volley of cussing coming from under the hood. Times such as this, it was wise to stay out of range of thrown missiles. When he grew older and blueberry season was over, he would pack up and spend two-three months picking cranberries at Cape Cod. We were always pleased to get his letters and hear he was 0.K. and settled in. He was usually in a different town than the season before. He would “batch it” with one or two buddies in a camp provided for them by the owners. He would bring home a crate of cranberries which Mother made into puddings. I’m not sure how, but it was either with farina or cornstarch.

Reminisces  from Hilma Stark (b. 1917) who grew up in New Ipswich. She was sister to the late Elmer Stark who lived at the family place on Fox Farm Road (uncle of Sharon Anderson Rosenfelder). (probably recorded in the late 1970’s)

James Roger diary entry

20th June 1912

Fair and warm; wind west. David and W. Hardy at Spoffords’ until noon. I piled the wood in woodshed and went to Mail which was late. Horse lame. After dinner David went with one horse wagon to Greenville for grain and flour and brought Margaret & Elizabeth, and I went with Democrat and brought May and the other three children. Got p.c. from Hamish who is feeling well.

From Drovers to Trail Blazers

The Story of the  Creation of the Wapack Trail

Presenter Larry Anderson

Saturday, June 24, 2023 - 1:30 p.m. 

New Ipswich  Congregational Church 

(156 Main Street)