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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 27 NOVEMBER 27, 2008 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY Valley Profile: Thad Thorne is about as native as a non-native of the Valley can be ... A 2 A Sweet Tradition: The 12th Annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie and Candy Tour returns Dec. 13 & 14... B1 MAILING LABEL A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH The MWV Skating Page Two Club presents From forester to Attitash president to saw mill owner to retired entrepreneur HOLIDAY ON Thad Thorne - Mount Washington Valley’s ICE 2008 native non-native son By Sarah Earle Indeed, as a kid, Thad was much more a forester for the UNH cooperative Contributing Writer interested in his teamster neighbor’s hors- extension. Looking for something differ- N THE 1930S WHEN es on the Brownfield Road than in going ent, he started Thaddeus Thorne Surveys Figure Skating Show Thaddeus Thorne was small, his back to school in Connecticut in the fall. in South Conway, and led the ski patrol at Igrandmother, who lived at the corner At 16 years old he ran away and enrolled Wildcat, grooming the mountain at night. of Potter and Brownfield Roads in South in the Royal Canadian Air Force, using an In the late 1960s Thad designed the ski Conway, would hoist him onto her old ink eradicator to fake his age on his birth trails for Attitash Mountain, where he horse Apple Stain. Apple Stain would certificate. He was soon discovered. later became president, a position he held plod up Potter Road, taking Thad to visit “Come back in three years, they said,” for 20 years. He admits his feelings were the painter, Joe Nesmith. Thad laughs. When the U.S. entered mixed about heading Attitash. “Oh Joe, here I am! Here I am, come World War II, Thad enlisted in the “Well, I liked to build the trails, but I get me,” recounts Thad now, in his South Mountain Troops Division, and eventual- didn’t like to talk to the insurance people Conway kitchen overlooking Conway ly was shipped to Guadalcanal in the and all that stuff you have to do when Lake and Mount Chocorua. With pierc- Solomon Islands, though by that point, you’re running the place,” he says. He had ing blue eyes and a strong voice, Thad’s Thad says, “we were just mopping up.” a family to support, however, and he adds, got a reputation for storytelling. “And After the war, Thad got a masters “They gave me a good wage and I was he’d come out and take me off the horse, degree in forestry from the University of happy.” take me in the house and we’d have a nice Michigan. He and his wife, Ginny, moved Thad retired over 20 years ago, and, little chat,” he says. Visiting the neigh- to Gulf Road in South Conway not long like only someone who enjoys physical bors, or the “natives” as he calls them, was afterwards. They had seven kids, and lived labor would, built a saw mill. “I kind of Thad’s introduction to the area where he in an old farm house. thought it would be fun to do, and I kind spent every summer, and eventually set- “The wind would blow through the of thought it would be something for me tled in for good. house and all my kids would take hot to do,” he says. “It isn’t a big business, but It’s clear that “native” is a title Thad rocks up to bed with them, wrapped in it’s a business.” reveres. South Conway, flanking 1,299- towels. It was cold,” he recalls. But they Now Thad is 85 years old and he and acre Conway Lake, has long been a place were of stiff blood. “My wife is a New Ginny have 22 grandchildren. Logan, th where summer people and permanent Hampshire girl, from Concord, so she’s a their 19-year-old grandson, has taken Saturday, December 6 residents have lived side by side. “In those native,” Thad says proudly. “But I’m not a over the sawing at the mill — mostly post days, the summer people didn’t segregate native. My father was an engineer; he was and beam orders in hemlock and pine — Ham Arena, themselves from the natives; they were all always moving us one place or another.” though Thad still manages it. Other intertwined,” Thad says. In the 1950s, Thad started his career as retirement projects have included the W. Main Street, Conway fundraising campaign to build the Ham Ice Arena in Conway, fishing in Alaska, raising water buffalo for meat and encour- Show begins at 7pm aging neighbors to put their undeveloped land, like he has, into easement. Development, he says, “is the ruination of this country.” General Admission $8 The amount of energy Thad Thorne has put into the Mount Washington Valley over the past 50-plus years surely Children 6 and under crowns him a surrogate native, if not a treasured citizen, though he might not FREE agree. “I’m not interested in having people think I’m a big deal, because I’m not,” Thad says emphatically. Then he chuck- The Show features Club les. “I don’t amount to a row of beans.” ▲ Skaters and guests in group left: Thad Thorne busy at work at his saw and solo performances. mill. below: View of Thad Thorne’s saw mill. (Sarah Earle/Mountain Ear Photos) Proceeds benefit the MWV Skating Club For more Information visit: www.mwvsc.org On the Cover Inside Index Arts & Entertainment..............Page B1 Angels & Elves is hard at work Fair Trade gift shop Nancy Marquis of Angels & Elves is Take a walk with Kim Tufts through Calendar...................................Page B4 smiling broadly, thanks to the armful of her Fair Trade gift shop, “Gifts of Entertainment..........................Page B7 teddy bears she’s hugging, which will Life,” at 2730 Main Street in North On the Rockpile.....................Page B11 soon be on their way to Valley children Conway, and you’ll get a story. Or mul- who otherwise might not enjoy a tiple stories, to be exact, because Kim On the Slopes.........................Page B10 603-383-4186 Christmas full of gifts and cheer. Find knows where every hand-made craft — Nooks & Crannies.................Page B14 Rt. 16, Glen, NH 03838 out how you can get involved with this from Rwandan woven baskets to Nepali Real Estate .............................Page A18 www.storylandnh.com group of local elves and angels. Page A6 Yak bone sculptures — comes from. (Linda Tucker/Montain Ear Photo) Page A8. Sports....................................Pages B12 Page A2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, November 27, 2008 Ear Marks Pat Patterson awarded People’s Choice Award at MWVAA Art Show. The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association awarded Pat Patterson of Conway the People’s Choice Award for his pen and ink illustration of the country barn at his residence by the Saco on East Side Road. The award was voted on by attendees at the Arts Association Fall Show at the Salyards Art Center. Originally from Alabama, Patterson recently moved to the Valley and shows his work at the White Mountain Artisans Gallery in North Conway. Patterson’s work has been featured in national publications such as the New Yorker and Sports Illustrated. Now retired, he concentrates his illustrations on historic sites and homes, landscapes and animals. Pictured are Sharon Soule, association secretary and the award recipient with the winning illustration. (Courtesy Photo) Ear travels to the Great Wall. Dick and Sue Vitale of North Conway and their Mountain Ear recently visited the Great Wall of China on a Viking Cruise Tour. (Courtesy Photo) To Celebrate the Holiday Season, our Christmas and New Year's issues will be out early! The Christmas issue will be on the stands 24 December and the New Year's issue will be out 31 December! As a result for the Christmas Issue: Real Estate and Classified Space Reservations are due by 3pm on 12/18. Copy is due by 4pm on 12/19 All other Ad Space Reservations and Copy are due by 4pm on 12/19 For the New Year's Issue: Real Estate and Classified Space Reservations are due by 3pm on 12/26. Copy is due by Noon on 12/29 All other Ad Space Reservations are due by 4pm on 12/26. Copy is due by Noon on 12/29 The Mountain Ear, Thursday, November 27, 2008 - Page A3 Comments & Opinions Established 1976 PUBLISHER Richard Piatt FOUNDING EDITORS R. Stephen Eastman Jane Golden Reilly MANAGING EDITOR Nina Perry COPY WRITING/ PROOFREADING Nina Perry Kristina Whitten CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ann Bennett • Pru Smith Steven D. Smith Peter Minnich Steve Caming Linda Tucker Karen Stancik Sarah Earle CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Steven D. Smith Joshua Spaulding Karen Stancik Linda Tucker • Sarah Earle Steven Caming A Victorian Christmas at the Remick Museum will be held Sunday, Dec. 7. The hearthside table in the Museum's ADVERTISING SALES main building will have a sampling of holiday cakes for Victorian Christmas 2008. See page B8 for teh full story. Shannon Houde (Courtesy Photo) SALES ASSISTANT Elizabeth Carleton Thanks to many who made Granite State College’s fall classes such a hit To the Editor, Elaine Millen, Linda Sorensen, Ralph ed the acknowledgement of their efforts COMPUTER GRAPHICS, On behalf of Granite State College, I DeRosa, Chris Smullen, J.P. Goodwin, by their business. Attendees commented DESIGN & COMPOSITION would like to thank the many communi- Richard Mullen, Charlie Toor, Ray on the number of new class offerings for Amanda Dunleavy ty volunteers who enhanced our pro- O’Brien, Ed Stevens, Julia King, Ann the winter term and were surprised by gramming this fall.