Passings: Old Man of the Mountain

• Old Man of the Mountain, age unknown, on the evening of May 2-3 of natural causes on Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire’s Franconia State Park. The 40’-tall world-famous granite outcropping, long considered a symbol of New Hampshire, succumbed to eons of freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to the outdoors in spite of ongoing treatment with epoxy and stabilizing cables. State-park personnel found the fallen figure, etched on countless souvenirs and New Hampshire’s commemorative U.S.quarter, on the morning of May 3.
A remembrance celebration was held on May 10 at Franconia State Park, and entries for a memorial scrapbook can be sent to oldmanofthemountain@dred.state.nh.us. In lieu of flowers or cards, please send donations for repairing the figure to Old Man of the Mountain Revitalization Fund, c/o Governor’s Office, State House, Concord NH 03301.