CORNISH, New Hampshire – The perfect time to go to this countryside area is in the early evening hours. The colors of the sky play a variety of notes, subtly shifting towards a magnificent sunset. Before then, the shadows cast by the forest and covered bridges hover in a peaceful essence.
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park sits in Cornish, home also to Salinger in his later years, and the sculptor Augustus’ statues populate the property, which is open to the general public even in the off hours. The poplar-lined row beckon the thoughtful for a contemplative walk.
Nearby is the Covered Bridge that sits between Cornish and Windsor. The neighborhood on the Windsor side is so quiet. It is surprising that we are crossing state lines here. I have seen this bridge many a time associated with Salinger and Cornish-land. It warrants a stop, a perusal of the traversing Connecticut River, and a feel of a New England town, American flags for as far as the eye can see.
Further down the road from the park, the Langford Farm is a quaint, slightly eccentric locale, replete with a path strewn with colorful bird houses and stuffed animals. The forest is lit by resplendent spirits, and you almost lose yourself, immersed in the quiet throes of nature. Only a short drive from Dartmouth College, this amble is a much-needed respite, a reset in energy, visiting this infinite provision.
Cornish Book Recommendations:
The Enchanted, by Elizabeth Coatsworth, 1968.
A tale of a man moving to the mysterious forests of Maine.
Cold as a Dog and Other Stories, by Ruth Moore, 2023.
A series of short stories and poems that capture New England sentimentalities.
postcardsfromanne.com 