no man`s island - whitemountainbiz.com

NO MAN’S ISLAND
Is it an island? Was it a peninsula attached to Vermont at one time?
I guess that is a question that will remain unanswered, at least by me.
Either way, there it sits! The island has a definite history and an
interesting story which may not have ended. The island continues to
battle ice jams, log jams in earlier years, and annual floods.
Katharine Blaisdell, noted historian and author, has recorded facts
about the island in her book “HAVERHILL New Hampshire in the
Twentieth Century”.
An open sided 30x50 foot dance pavilion was erected on the island
which is located just north of the double decker bridge, which was built
by the railroad in 1853. The building was owned by P. J. Haley and was
built in 1899.
The pavilion was a favored dance hall, picnic area, and rehersal
studio for the local band. It also, by 1901, had started to create a
reputation as being the areas drinkin’ place!
Mr. Haley died in 1910 and remained idle until Henry J. Schaefer
remodeled it and had the grand opening in July of of that same year. The
charges were, 75 cents per couple plus an 8 cent war tax. Extra ladies
were charged 25 cents plus 3 cent war tax. The dances ran every
Wednesday and Saturday nights. The establishment was then known as
Schaefer’s Casino.
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Even a place that provided such wonderful hours of entertainment,
and a few squabbles, must someday come to an end. And such was the
case of No Man’s Island and it’s footbridge.
The foundation for the footbridge, on the Vermont side, is still in
tact. But, the bridge went out when the flood of 1927 made it’s attack!
The island borders two states, three counties, four towns, and
connects two rivers … the Connecticut and Ammonoosuc!
Jim Hobbs
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