HE MAKES MEN NO MORE

Old Man of the Mountain profile falls overnight (David Tirrell-Wysocki, 5/3/03, Associated Press)

The Old Man of the Mountain, a stern granite profile that symbolized the state's independence and stubbornness, is gone, likely the victim of the same natural forces that created it thousands of years ago.

A state park trails crew reported at about 7:30 Saturday that the 40-foot tall face was gone from Profile Mountain. [...]

For almost a century, the state had used cables and epoxy to try to keep the face from collapsing from erosion and the natural freeze-and-thaw cycle.

Those who did the work warned that a collapse was inevitable, but few thought they would live to see it.

The profile was obscured by clouds on Thursday and Friday, so it is uncertain when it fell.

The Old Man appears on the New Hampshire quarter, on state road signs and on countless souvenirs and tourist brochures. Since the early 1800s, millions of tourists have traveled through Franconia Notch to view it.

The profile was about 1,200 feet above Interstate 93, about 65 miles north of Concord. [...]

Daniel Webster, a 19th century New Hampshire statesman, once wrote, referring to the Old Man, "In the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men." [...]

Amy Bahr, president of the Franconia Heritage Museum, said she has long been aware that the natural profile could slide.

"I knew it would go sometime, I just didn't think it would happen in my lifetime," Bahr said.

Paul Hayward's family has operated an inn in nearby Sugar Hill since 1780. He said he was devastated by the loss.

"I'm glad my grandmother didn't live to see this," Hayward said.

We'll let the Wife sum this one up: "Maybe George W. Bush really is the Anti-Christ and the world is going to Hell." Posted by Orrin Judd at May 3, 2003 3:08 PM