A Brief History of Stratford, NH
Stratford, incorporated in 1773, was originally called Woodbury. The town has a long history of ingenuity and creativity - nature lovers, loggers, hunters, storytellers, artists, and teachers have proudly and devotedly called it home, even in hard times. Known for its natural beauty and wild back country - mountains rich in local lore, wildlife, wandering brooks, wild flowers - the town has retained a sense of timelessness. Through the years, Stratford has quietly and stubbornly retained its scenic beauty, quaint charm, quiet pace, and dedication to individuality.
A farming and logging community until the late 1800s, small family farms dotted fields and hillsides and farmers made their living from sheep, cows, goats, and other animals, as well as vegetables raised for market. Remnants of old farmhouse and barn cellar holes remain.
Equally important were mills on small brooks, notorious for live bottoms and rolling rocks. Stave, shingle, saw, and grist mills employed residents then. Brooks and the Connecticut River served as a means to get products to market, as did the railroad.
The influence of the town's economic history can be seen on today's landscape, land use, and land ownership patterns. Like much of the North Country, most of Stratford was owned by paper companies. Today's forests represent regeneration following years of logging. The many small ponds dotting the landscape were once used to hold surplus water, which when released, contributed to the great log drives where pulp logs were conveyed via the Connecticut River to mills in Groveton. Logging roads and camps on paper company land opened the door for four-season forest recreation. Sale of large tracts of paper company land enabled public aquisition of lands for limited public recreation and conservation. Nash Stream Forest, the largest of these acquisitions, lies in Stratford, Odell, Stark, and Columbia.
The railroad is also a key piece of the town's heritage. Besides the Connecticut River, rail was the principal means of transporting wood products. In addition to transporting goods, the railroad conveyed passengers to and from Stratford and served as a vital communications link as it transported mail and housed the telegraph station.
A farming and logging community until the late 1800s, small family farms dotted fields and hillsides and farmers made their living from sheep, cows, goats, and other animals, as well as vegetables raised for market. Remnants of old farmhouse and barn cellar holes remain.
Equally important were mills on small brooks, notorious for live bottoms and rolling rocks. Stave, shingle, saw, and grist mills employed residents then. Brooks and the Connecticut River served as a means to get products to market, as did the railroad.
The influence of the town's economic history can be seen on today's landscape, land use, and land ownership patterns. Like much of the North Country, most of Stratford was owned by paper companies. Today's forests represent regeneration following years of logging. The many small ponds dotting the landscape were once used to hold surplus water, which when released, contributed to the great log drives where pulp logs were conveyed via the Connecticut River to mills in Groveton. Logging roads and camps on paper company land opened the door for four-season forest recreation. Sale of large tracts of paper company land enabled public aquisition of lands for limited public recreation and conservation. Nash Stream Forest, the largest of these acquisitions, lies in Stratford, Odell, Stark, and Columbia.
The railroad is also a key piece of the town's heritage. Besides the Connecticut River, rail was the principal means of transporting wood products. In addition to transporting goods, the railroad conveyed passengers to and from Stratford and served as a vital communications link as it transported mail and housed the telegraph station.