A talk with Brian Fowler and Inez McDermott
The collapse of The Old Man of The Mountain - in Franconia Notch in 2003 - resonated far beyond New Hampshire to make national and international headlines. People mourned as if they had lost a loved one. Although the Old Man has fallen, it remains the official emblem of the State and endures as a symbol of New Hampshire's beauty and of the independent spirit of its residents, past and present. Today we continue to celebrate and explore the history of the Old Man's presence in New Hampshire and the remarkable stories of those who worked to preserve and protect the rocky profile.
This popular slide-illustrated talk describing the Old Man's geologic, human, and cultural history was recently presented in Sugar Hill, NH to an enthusiastic audience. This program has been presented at various venues around the state and stories shared by audience members are always fascinating to hear. If you would like to host a presentation for your group, please contact the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund for details.
Brian Fowler is a semi-retired consulting engineering and structural geologist. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed geologic maps and professional articles with several on the rock mechanics of the Old Man of The Mountain. He is the current President of the Old Man of The Mountain Legacy Fund, Inc., is a Past-President and Life Trustee of the Mount Washington Observatory and is a 50+ year member of both the Appalachian Mountain and America Alpine Clubs.
Inez McDermott is Professor Emerita of arthistory at New England College. She is acurator of art and history exhibitions atvarious museums and galleries throughout New England including, most recently, An Enduring Presence: The Old Man of the Mountain at the Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University (June-September 2023). Professor McDermott has lectured on various art history topics throughout New Hampshire with a special focus on American art. She has served as an arts councilor for the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, as a board member for New Hampshire Humanities, and currently serves as Exhibition Committee chair for the Saint-Gaudens Memorial and as a member of the Interpretation Committee for the New Hampshire Historical Society. She is a founding member of WCA New Hampshire.
At the Sugar Hill presentation, a surprise audience member was in attendance. Roger Marin, who worked with Brian Fowler on the Old Man geotech study took some remarkable photos from underneath the former Profile that was included in Brian's presentation
Brian Fowler and Roger Marin
Photo by Roger Marin
Photo by Roger Marin
