10/07/2026
This is a story written by Dan Carpenter for the October 2026 Auburn Village Crier:
Be Alert - Stay Alive!
After the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts in 1620, English immigrants continued to settle up and down the Atlantic coast. A century later, the interior towns of Chester and Londonderry, NH were incorporated. Wells Chase purchased land on Bunker Hill in Chester (Auburn) in 1771. When it came time to put windows in his new home, he went back to Newburyport, MA on horseback and purchased glass. At that time, the road was little more than a path created by animals (deer, bear) trodding along the same routes for thousands of years. Native Americans used these paths to tie their communities and fishing spots together. Eventually, these paths were widened to allow a cart to pass.
By 1800, private roads (turnpikes) were built improving the infrastructure. (Chester Turnpike, Londonderry Turnpike). Stagecoaches traveled between Haverhill, MA and Concord, NH via the Chester Turnpike. During the War of 1812, John Bell, a trader from Chester (and future governor of NH) trafficked goods from Montreal, Canada back to the Boston area. In the winter, the roads were ‘rolled’ to make them passable for sleighs. Another century passed before the automobile impacted roadways. Early cars were summertime play toys for people with money. Once the snow flew, cars were put up on blocks and parked for the winter. Auburn purchased its first snowplow in 1927. Beginning in the 1950’s, dirt roads in town were ‘oiled’( liquid tar embedded with sand created a thin layer of blacktop.) Blacktop we would recognize today was first used by the Town of Auburn in 1983.
In the late 1800’s, a photograph taken from the top of Colman Rd shows the Five Corners. There are fields, houses, barns, and very few trees. Today, there are trees and only aerial photography could duplicate that scene. Eversource has cut trees away from their lines forever. 2026 is the first year that Auburn budgeted money to move the tree canopy back.
As times changed, our roadways adapted to meet new challenges. Today’s cars are traveling roads originally planned for horse and buggy. Over the last 100 years, roads were widened, straightened, and the road surface greatly improved. At the same time, the population increased 6 times. There are many more vehicles on the road today traveling faster than ever.
Suggestions for Protecting Drivers, Pedestrians, and Bicyclists:
1. Walk with your head on a swivel. Head up. Electric vehicles too quiet to depend on hearing alone. 2. Walk toward traffic. Get over for oncoming traffic. 3. Stay off your phone. 4. Change sides of the road to avoid oncoming traffic. 5. Stick to the inside of a curve.(Centrifugal force will carry vehicle outward. Danger increases as the angle of the curve increases.) 6. Wear protective clothing. Safety vest. Blaze Orange. It’s hard to see in the shadows.
7. Carry a flashlight. The light is for the driver. 8. Try not to walk during commuter hours. 9. If drivers move over at the last second, they probably aren’t seeing you in a timely manner. 10. If the sight lines are good, drive on the center line. Leave room for deer, turkeys, walkers.
Walkers - avoid the highest traveled roads: 1. Rt 121, especially Manchester Rd (Crooked Road). 2. Wilson’s Crossing Rd. 3. Hooksett Rd. 4. Londonderry Turnpike is wider but traffic is faster.
Better pedestrian routes: 1. Residential subdivision roads were designed for 35 MPH traffic. Good sight lines. 2. Rockingham Rail Trail (The old B&M rail bed). 3. Manchester Water Works Trails. There are over 50 and they are all named and numbered. (In case of emergency, make a note of the trail number.)
Problem Spots: 1. Lover’s Lane crossing Rt 121 at Longmeadow Church. Poor sight lines, especially toward Chester. 2. St Peter’s Church and Longmeadow Church when they are having events.
3. Hooksett Rd coming into the Village by Auburn Village School. Speed. 4. Wilson Crossing- Pingree Hill Rd, Spofford Rd. It’s a 4-way stop, but too many don’t. 5. Hooksett Rd- Depot Rd. Do not stop on Hooksett Rd to make a left turn onto Depot Rd. From Depot Rd, NEVER make a left turn going to the Village.
Enjoy your walk…. Get a little exercise…. And get home safely.
