An entertaining tale of New Hampshire’s beloved, (and greatly missed) stony-faced natural wonder. The Old Man of the Mountain narrates the journey as he searches popular retirement spots for just the right place to settle down in his later years.
Curious about where he’s been and where he ended up? Read this amusing take on TOM’s search for a place in the world, and where the journey ultimately takes him.
Characterized as the New Hampshire local that he is, we hope that you’ll enjoy this tale and the whimsical illustrations of the journey, as well as the colorful characters he meets along the way.
Our Story
The concept of The Old Man and his adventures came from a desire to generate a creative project with the collective talents of our staff at Advanced Graphic Communication. Something we could have fun with, shape and grow, as well as bring a little notoriety to our small design studio in rural NH.
This idea was inspired by the sudden disappearance of NH’s legendary Old Man of the Mountain on May 3, 2003, and all the publicity, talk of memorials, and lamenting that his loss generated. We just couldn’t accept that this was the end of the story… preferring to see the lighter side of things! Thus we formulated an idea to bring The Old Man back to life, an idea which grew to include 12 chapters of his adventures as a “retiree”, culminating in a lasting, iconic image—to be ultimately tied to tourism in New Hampshire.
We hope to have captured your interest, and that you’ll enjoy our story of his journey and the outcome. Become a fan, help us spread the word! Many thousands of people near and far have lamented The Old Man’s loss. But not any more, because he’s baaack!
Where to Buy
Retail $9.95
Buy Online at BondCliffBooks.com
Visit any of these locations:
GoLittleton Glad Shop
91 Main St, Littleton NH
Littleton Village Toy & Book Shop
81 Main St, Littleton NH
and His Story
You know me as The Old Man of the Mountain, but my real name is TOM of course. Looking down upon the serene vistas of New Hampshire from my rocky promontory I came to the conclusion, after many years of reflection, that I’d served the state long enough over my career as an iconic state image—a stony visage portraying both fortitude and other-wordly phenomenon. Thoughts of retirement urged action but after so many years in one place, I’d become embedded in the mountain. I’d have to be patient, and I was. It took me several decades to work my way free from the turnbuckles holding me in place. Sure I’d tried to wiggle loose, but my caretakers were determined to keep me safely and permanently attached to my dutiful job: inspiring awe in the multitude of tourists and locals alike who came to admire this old, craggy face.
The vacationers in the valley below unknowingly beckoned me towards my goal to loosen the ties that bound me…sounds of laughter and fun-filled days were impossible to resist and caused a curiosity to explore the world beyond. At last, on May 3, 2003 in the dark of night, I mustered up a mighty shake and the cables let loose. With a rush of crumbling stone breaking the quiet solitude, I suddenly found myself sliding down the mountain in an avalanche of loose dirt and rocks that must have echoed throughout the entire Notch. At the bottom, dust settled into stillness. A quiet breeze rustled the trees, occasionally punctuated with the buzz of a……
