Vibe-Winter-2425 - Flipbook - Page 10
LOCAL BOOK REVIEW
By Laura Cummings
Take a Trip Through the Ears
It is always a celebration when there is a new book to add to
the Mt. Washington Valley library, and the publication of Mt.
Washington Valley Through the Ears 1976-2005 is doubly sweet
in that it brings something old and loved back to life again.
Throughout its original 30 years under the leadership of
co-founder Steve Eastman, the Mountain Ear newspaper was
renowned for providing something for everybody. Described as
One could sit down and read Through
the Ears in one sitting, and that would
work. But through their careful curation
and editing, and through the wonderful
original work, Cummings and Eastman
have given the readers a chance to enjoy
multiple little time capsules into the
Valley’s history.
“the tourist paper for locals,” the weekly routinely ran stories
about the history of the area, including portraits of the many
people whose lives—big or small—influenced the Valley in
some way. Of course, the paper also covered the many goings
on in town, as well as the unique businesses and locations that
make this area special.
Being presented with this overwhelming amount of material
might have been enough to scare anyone away, but former Ear
writer Karen Cummings and Sarah Eastman, wife of the late
Steve Eastman, were up to the task. They read and sorted and
ranked and debated
and sorted again to put
together a thoughtful,
entertaining, enlightening, and enjoyable
compilation of the best
of the history, people,
places, and fun in the
Mt. Washington Valley.
Laid out in six broad
chapters, the book
can be seen as a walk
down memory lane for
locals or a wonderful
introduction for people
newer to the area. In
amongst the more
expected stories are
some hidden gems, like
the story on “Rolling
the Roads”, originally
Karen Cummings and Sarah Eastman
published in 1984. In
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it, Gene Littlefield of West Fryeburg, born in 1899 (!) explains
what rolling the roads entailed. He makes it sound rather
miserable actually, but the reader can’t help but romanticize it a
bit, and the accompanying picture looks wonderful.
It’s impossible to list all the stories included in this book,
but each one is worthy of a pause to either enjoy the memories
or learn more. One could sit down and read Through the Ears
in one sitting, and that would work. But through their careful
curation and editing, and through the wonderful original work,
Cummings and Eastman have given the readers a chance to
enjoy multiple little time capsules into the Valley’s history. Open
the book and step right in!
Located in North Conway Village just south of the park,
White Birch Books is an independent bookstore serving the
Mt. Washington Valley for more than 30 years. Open daily,
the store is friendly, roomy, and welcoming. Everything in
the store—and more—is also available online.
Visit them at www.whitebirchbooks.com.
MWVvibe.com
