Snapshot: Bethlehem
Bethlehem, located in the heart of the White Mountains, was recently named the poetry capital of New Hampshire. Its beauty has lured poets and inspired poetry. Spend some time here, and you will be inspired, too.
Quick Facts
History
Governor John Wentworth granted one of his final land charters to James Lloyd in 1774, shortly before returning to England for good. The area, known as Lloyd Hills, would later be renamed Bethlehem by the first settlers, who didn't arrive until 1787. On December 27, 1799, Bethlehem was incorporated.
Agriculture was the mainstay of the early settlers. Rugged terrain and harsh winters left them isolated, and often facing starvation. They prevailed and slowly the town grew. By the mid 1800s, new roads were built and, as travel in the region was improved, Bethlehem's economy also improved. Lumbering, which supported the operation of five sawmills, became the town's second most important industry.
Slowly another industry began to take hold - summer tourism. Bethlehem's pristine beauty, clean air, and close proximity to attractions such as the Old Man of the Mountain and Mount Washington made it a tourist magnet. Once again, improvements in travel made an impact on the economy. Coach roads were upgraded and railroad travel expanded. Suddenly tourists could get to Bethlehem in reasonable comfort. Soon, splendid accommodations sprang up along Main Street. By the 1880s, this little town of 1400 residents had 30 hotels. The era of the Grand Hotel was born. Scores of tourists, including the rich and famous, came to Bethlehem to wine, dine, gamble, play golf, and enjoy the amenities of these famous hotels. Hotels drove the economy until after World War I. Tourists turned their attention to cruises, and those that chose to remain land bound used the new freedom and mobility afforded by the invention of the automobile to explore other parts of the country. The grandeur of the hotels gradually faded, and down through the years they disappeared, many lost to fire.
Bethlehem remains a popular tourist destination. In addition to nearby White Mountain attractions, Bethlehem's offerings include hiking, climbing, camping, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, shopping, fine dining, and antiquing.
Tidbit - Sir Isaac Newton Gay, who ran a curio shop and whose family was the seventh to settle in Bethlehem, recalled its wild days when they had to "bolt the door against wildcats and other beasts."p 99, Wilson
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