I
think it's important for the people of Alstead to understand that there's a
world of people out there thinking of them and praying for them, who are rooting
for them and staying abreast of what needs to be done and who are looking for
ways to help. These are emails I've received from just some of the people who
can't be in Alstead but wish they could be. I've taken the liberty to remove
personal information, but have left the essential message which is.... WE CARE.
Starting
with the most recent, and going all the way back to October 9th...
***
"I
was looking through your flood photos... Every time I look at these, I can’t
believe it all over again!"
***
"It is so hard to look
at the places where we all grew up and enjoyed so much gone. I still have crying
days and it sometimes seems that it will never end. The town, state and others
have done a terrific job with the clean up and the town will survive as the rest
of us will. Time heal all and Gods love helps pull us through."
***
"I spoke with [a
friend] yesterday and she is hoping to be part of the buyout. She said they have
estimated how much to get the home back to where it was and it would be better
for them to do the buyout if that works out. She told me her mother in law
said their home was condemened and they have gone down state for the winter
months. She said at this age in their life they are not sure what they will do.
It was a beautiful place for sure. My heart just breaks for these people. I have
been just reading the papers from the October time period and it is just too
much to absorb. Horrible. The tears just start and I have to stop. Sooooooooo
much that the public just doesn't know and never will!!"
***
"...My brother
e-mailed me your web page the other day and I just cryed all over again. When
this all happened we were so determined to find Tim and Sally that things around
us were put on the backburner, after a while you begin to turn numb and can't
believe what people are telling you. After the hope and dreams of finding them
alive grew dim all we prayed for was someone would find them before winter set
in. I guess the good lord heard our prayers. They are finally at rest. There are
still so many people we want to thank for their support and prayers in the
search and rescue of our loved ones. I have lived in Claremont for 3 years, and
I still think of Alstead as my home for 42 years. It will never be as we
remembered it as kids growing up, but know one can take the pictures and
memories out of out hearts and minds."
***
"Only now, three
months after our disaster have I viewed your entire site. It is absolutely
amazing and so appreciated... The aerial shots were great. Thank you for putting
this site together."
***
"My Mom and I rode out
the flood upstairs in our dear old house. We are so fortunate to be alive, as I
know you have seen the pictures and heard the stories. Mom said the house would
protect us, and it did its best....... thankfully we got a call from her brother
in the early morning hours, which got me out of bed, there are pictures of that
out there also, it came down on the kitchen..... I have been back numerous times
to Alstead, to see my Mom. It will be our 40th reunion in 2006 from Vilas High
School.. We were the LAST class out, 1966, a fact I am oh so proud of. As I am
being from Alstead. The gracious spirit of the people of Alstead and New
Hampshire amazes me, yet I knew it was there.
You are doing a kind, compassionate service by your website
and I thank you. Many call Alstead home and we are all praying for it to
survive, rebuild and remain.....forever. You may knock us down, but we will get
back up..we have our memories, and our roots are there, and I know they are as
strong as ever.......like our family home was when it needed to be."
***
"Hello Heidi: I live
in Murfreesboro, TN. I lived in Alstead about 36 years ago. We lived in
apartments in a house at the top end of Milet Green. Another one of my sisters
who lives now in Illinois told me about the flooding up there and that she had
seen Alstead on the national news. The only person I still have contact with up
there is Julie Cannon Goss who lives in Charlestown now. I emailed her and she
emailed me back telling me at the time about Tim and Sally (Walker) Canfield
being missing. I since found news that their bodies were recovered. I do
remember the Walkers as well as the Cannons and the Wards who lived across the
street from me. Then tonight when looking for further news up there I came
across your web page. The damage by the water is just incredible."
***
"All though I do not
know you in person, I feel I do! All of your coverage about Alstead has been
fantastic, and I have enjoyed your light-hearted narratives that are put in
"here and there". They have made reading your messages fun in the
middle of the terrible tragedy. I also grew up in Alstead, and my hometown
disaster has made me very sad. You have kept me updated daily, and for that I am
very grateful to you... THANKS! My brother was in your mom's class in school,
and I was two years behind them. Please keep up your frequent entries - they are
a comfort for me to read here in Ga. My husband and I are flying up this
week-end and plan to go to Alstead - my heart just wants to see for itself!
Thanks again for keeping all of us informed!"
***
"Dear Heidi, thanks so
much for allowing us former Alstead people to view the happenings so well. We
have spent a fair ( maybe unfair ) amount of time looking at the photos you've
posted. Also at the other sites you have provided.
Though we were not there ( except to see relatives and friends ) since our
marriage at the Congregational church 50 yrs ago in June... we seem to have some
sort of grief reaction to the losses others have suffered. For our wedding ,
your grandmother , Irene , made our cake. Lovely .
Best wishes to all in your family and we are grateful"
***
"Dear Heidi, thank you
for your ongoing work in posting all the news and photos about Alstead. It is
just heart-wrenching and scary to see what happened. I understand how come
sometimes it's hard to tell where a picture was taken--with landmarks torn down
and swept away, and the very contours of the land and water changed, what's left
to recognize?
I lived only for a short period in Alstead Center but my mother still had a
house there until the last several years and I visited frequently. Her house was
up off of 12-A, coming downhill from the center towards Alstead, several houses
down on the right from the Cooper Hill Road junction at the top of Cooper Hill.
I live in Nashua and would often opt to come into town via 123, but desisted
after a few years and some struggles with the mud on Cooper Hill. Needless to
say, what a shock! My thoughts and prayers have been with all the people I knew
in Alstead and the area, and will continue to be for some time to come, I
imagine."
***
"Continue the great site, even though it is about that
"racy and fast living" town next to quiet and proper Langdon. My
remembrances of the place are from the Sixties. After that I was just stopping
by on the odd and typical vacation. Most things stayed the same. And as you
note, a few less buildings along the green (never knew it had a name) or the
river. But what better place to spend the summers--especially with cousins who
would drive us younger kids to Vilas Pool or the Dairy Queen in Bellows Falls. I
watched the largest construction project to hit town (Fall Mountain HS--and the
new access road at the Drewsville bridge because the school buses couldn't turn
that sharp), then attended one full year (1969) with the first all-FMHS class
(1970). My younger siblings did grow up in Langdon/Alstead and all graduated
from FMHS. They, of course, got the full-New England experience. On a sad note,
I won't be getting my car inspected at Kmiec's anymore. Even sadder is their
yellow cupola house."
***
"I am so saddened by the devastation in Alstead - it's
just hard to take in that's for sure - I can't believe the garage and house are
both gone. It's awful about the Canfields also - Roger was about a year ahead of
me - kind of a rowdy guy back then but settled down - I just can't imagine not
knowing what happened to one of my children. I am so glad
the old mill is safe - I will have to plan a trip next year when the weather is
good somehow to get up and see how things are progressing. It was good to hear
that FEMA and other emergency services were prepared - I guess everyone learned
a lot of hard lessons from the New Orleans disaster! Take care and let's hope
for no more rain for NE at least for a while."
***
"heidi, you have never
met me. i was over looking at the terrible devastation the the recent flooding
has wrought.let me say that i can't imagine what it must be like to have had
that kind of destruction come through your home town, i was talking to some of
my coworkers and we wanted to help in whatever way we can. i work at the
sullivan county dept of correction in unity. several of my coworkers grew
up in that neck of the woods. i also have many fond childhood memories spent
over there with family and friends growing up. i believe that neighbors
should reach out to help in a time like this. we are not a large
organization but i feel that we should help anyway that we can. we started a
food drive to help out the food shelf at the masonic temple, and we are taking
up a collection. i was trying to find out what organization were taking
donations to see if there was a list of what use various organizations were putting
the funds toward. for example the food shelf is obviously taking money for food,
the conn. river bank has a alstead relief fund that has 100% of the
donation going to flood victims, and the fire station is coordinating to
match up people who have items to be donated with the victims who need gthings
like beds. i only found out all this because i was talking with lots of
different people at the food bank, police department, and 3rd congrgational
church. there does'nt seem to be anyplace where all this information is posted
in one place so that people can choose a specific need to donate their
contributions to. a lot of people that i spoke had specific cause that they
wanted to see their donations go towards.i thought if it was possible maybe your
website could have some sort of all inclusive list of the various organizations
and what the groups were using the funds for for example some people were
interested in specifically donating to help rebuild homes for the most
disadvantaged, also phone numbers and contact persons in case people had
questions for the organization, as well as addresses that people could mail
dontions to and any special notation to put on the checks such as for alstead
refielf in the case of a red cross donation. i have been talking with a lot of
different people both at work, and with friends and acquiantances and many
people here want to help in whatever way we can. "
***
"I would like to thank
you for all your work posting all the information and pictures of the flood in
Alstead. Those poor people who had their homes swept away is terrible. I just
heard that a truck full of supplies from Tennessee just arrived for the homeless
families. I hope these families can rebuilt their homes and put their lives back
together."
***
"I am sorry to hear
that you were personally affected by the flooding in Alstead, my neighbor’s
family is in Marlow and I understand they have had some troubles as well. My
thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the area."
***
"What would I do without all of your wonderful
information! You must be working so hard. I tell you, tho, I check it out daily.
It has given me someway to keep abreast on what's going on up there. I can't
even imagine what it is like in person. Nor do I think I would like to! Thank
you. Please be careful when you are there. It can't be that safe with all of the
"unknowns" still around."
***
"Heidi, yesterday's
note and pictures were wonderful. So uplifting to see all that has been
done and is being worked on! That is so great and as you say- now for
direct help to the people so they can find a bit of comfort and hope for the
days ahead."
***
"Thanks for sharing the photos of the flooding. It is
very upsetting to see all of that devastation. Now I know how the people in New
Orleans must have felt going through all of their turmoil. My dad spoke with Mim
Ward and she said that the photos don't do justice to the actual viewing of the
town. I hope that everyone in your family is safe. Just
wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about everyone in Alstead and
that they have been in my prayers."
***
"Earlier today I had looked at the pictures of the flood
on the Sentinel site, but couldn't figure out where most of them were. Did find
your old house and my old house in some of them. I just finished looking at your
site.......with your descriptions I knew what I was looking at, and the pictures
meant a lot more. It is hard to believe that this has happened to Alstead. Can't
imagine what it must be like. I called your Mom as soon as I heard about it. So
glad they are okay. My computer was down so I didn't know she had already
emailed me to let us know they were okay. Just wanted to let you know that I
appreciate all the work and time you spend keeping your site updated. After all
these years, I still think of Alstead as home, and it is nice to read your site
and always learn some things I didn't know about the town as I was so young when
I left. Enjoy Irene's diary also. Take care and keep up
the good work."
***
"Thank you so very
much for the many pictures and stories on your website and for the updates
each day. I have forwarded it to family and friends in other states and it is wonderful
to have so much of the news and pictures in one location. I have not been
able to get out and see the damages for myself so I look forward to your
updates. Thanks again."
***
"I grew up in Alstead and went to Vilas High School (so
that gives you an idea of where I fit into the age range) :) Thanks so
much for putting the photos up on your site. I am still trying to relate to
places from 30 yr old memories - not an easy task for sure. I was wondering how
the old mill across from Vilas HS fared - is it still standing? It was hard to
believe that the Vilas Pool dam didn't go since there was so much flooding in
the area. I still can't believe the Kmiec's garage - was Stanley still running
it or had it been taken over by someone else?
Thanks again and my heart goes out to you - your house was
beautiful and you must be heartbroken at the least. The house I grew up in
originally was on Upper Main Street - it's gray still I think and on the right
side of the road just across from the Jacobs' house and just beyond the stretch
of huge pines on the left. My folks then built a house on River Road across from
where I think there is a laundromat now - there used to be a car dealership
there years ago. From what my friend tells me the house is not flooded but the
water did come up to the roadway. Just too hard to believe."
***
"Thanks Heidi for the
beautiful picture of Warren Pond.. that really is a very special one, we all
needed that one and perhaps more of that kind. Glad you were able to make the
trip home. Now to get on with that laundry and tasks that fill our lives. Please
keep us posted on positive happenings for those so affected by the storm and
families that now have their loved ones. Hopefully there are lots of good things
forth coming for the people who lost so much."
***
"I just wanted to thank you for providing a real service
to the community. I can't believe the devastation shown in the photos.
I am retired, and have been living in Ocala, Florida for the
last four years. For the first 28 years of my life, my family owned a summer
place at the E. Alstead-Marlow line, at the top of what we called Spruce Knob,
almost a mile north of Forest Road (Route 123). I've
passed through Alstead hundreds of times over the years, usually on the way to
buy groceries in Bellows Falls, but sometime to pick up a few things or get a
haircut (almost literally over the stream) in Alstead. We also used to come down
for the fireworks on the Fourth of July, which was great. We could even see them
from the top of Spruce Knob! I also remember attending a bean supper at the
church.
I miss New Hampshire tremendously, and Alstead and Marlow, in
particular. I used to swim in Vilas Pool and Lake Warren, and later even landed
on the Lake in an amphibian with my daughter. I intend to send a contribution to
the flood relief fund at the Third Cong. Church. I wish you well, and all the
Alstead residents in the path of the flood, also."
***
"Your website has been
so valuable to me this past week. I ck it two or three times a day to see
what new things you have posted. At first I thought it was easier to be so
far away from everything but it surely makes you feel helpless being unable to
do anything much for those that have lost so much. As the week has passed
I thought I'd feel a little better about things but time is playing tricks on me
and today is harder than last Monday when all the pictures starting coming in.
Guess I was just so shocked last week and everything was so unbelievable. It has
been amazing to see how the town has already bounced back with the help of so
many outsiders. My brother was telling me about the road work being done
and you mentioned the bridges too. Amazing what they can do. I
know the town will go on though there are bound to be many major changes.
I don't feel like I'll be in any hurry to 'go home' to see them. Heartsick is a
good word to describe how I feel right now."
***
"Thanks again, Heidi for your website and for all the time it must take to
do it. Feeling great sympathy for those who've lost so much."
***
"Your mom passed your e mail address on and the web site
you have been keeping on what is going on in Alstead. I want to thank you
very much for keeping it updated. I check it every day to see what is new.
I appreciate the news and the way you write! I live in Texas... I have
checked in with my parents multiple times, they are fine. They watched the
water come roaring through town that morning... I wish I could be there to help,
but looks like they are working away at trying to get things to a mobile
situation. Added traffic I am sure would not be helpful. Keep
up the good work."
***
"I follow your site
avidly everyday. My cousin directed me there when we were both searching for
information on the flood. She in California and me in Arizona are thus somewhat
removed from the scene of the action. More poignant for me, though, are the
pictures of old Alstead. While I only spent a few summers in the '60s there, it
was fun to see pictures again of the "strip mall" along the river's
edge by the bridge--haircuts upstairs, grocery store downstairs, soda fountain
at the other end. All burned while I was away at college. Cousins still abound
in the area, and my mother still on Walker Hill in Langdon, but your site gives
the best rundown on the goings on around town."
***
"My sister forwarded
your website which your mom sent her. You will never know how much your work is
appreciated! I live in Colebrook, NH and don't have channel 9 to watch so I had
no idea what a mess there is in Alstead. I for one THANK YOU so very much for
the great job you are doing. May God give you stamina to keep up with your
home, work and working on the site.
I was going to go down yesterday after work but got done delivering mail late
and decided to wait until today. We had rain all night and so I didn't go
- when it got daylight the Conn. River across rte 3 from our home has flooded
the fields.
Mother is busy with the thrift shop which is giving everything away to people
who need it. She slept through the whole flooding as she had been up all
night pumping the basement - went to be at 6:AM and someone from up the hill
behind her woke her up abound 7 to see if she was ok. She had electicity by Thur
and phone by Fri. My daughter went through the back way over the hill by
mom's and brought her to her place for the night and back home in the day as mom
has a generator to keep the freezers for the food shelf running. It is a very
sad time in our old home town."
***
"Just wanted you to
know how much I appreciate being able to look at your webpage. It makes me
cry to see places that I reconize, but don't look the same. I feel
helpless in the respect that I want to be there helping, but I know if I went I
would more than likely be a sightseer. As exhausting as your postings must
be along with just living your life, I appreciate you doing it. Not only
has it provided me with a link, but people I work with are using it to show
families out of state what has happened. One woman's best friends live on
Drewsville Rd. She was most happy to be able to access your webpage.
I don't recall her friend's name, I believe they had something to do with a
poultry farm. Anyway, thanks, this has meant so much to so many of us."
***
"You are posting the
heart and soul of the people of Alstead with your pictures and articles about
them. What a blessing you are. Keep it up girl."
***
"It is so
heartbreaking seeing the devastation in Alstead. I hope you and your family are
all OK. My family is OK, but as you know, many are not."
***
"Thanks so much for
your many photos... They allow those of us not on cable ..(.mostly in the
"old fogey" category) to see some of the scenes... After hearing about
the flooding, I was able to speak with my cousin's wife. She told me she thought
my aunt was in one of the evacuation sites...
Our hearts are saddened by seeing the destruction of the home town of our school
and growing up years, and of the losses for so many. When we can, we'll make
some donation to the church toward its efforts.
Bill and Linda Seale were very kind to my parents. After my Dad's death in 1997,
Bill would answer Mom's call when her furnace did not respond... and get it
underway again, more than once. Linda was working at Prospect Place in Keene
shortly after Mom's going there to live and was so sweet to Mother... Linda had
also offered her assistance if we needed it during our Hospice experience with
my Dad in his last few weeks at home...
Many of the residents in the town have been part of the good things of our
life and sustainers to us in the more challenging times. Your parents are among
those... The minister Jan Howe, my aunt, our relatives, and many friends.
Our prayers ...."
***
"You don't know me,
and I am not quite clear on what connection there might be that I ended up with
your site address, but I wanted to thank you for all your postings about
Alstead, from commentary and news links to pictures."
***
"Thank you to you and
your family for sharing your personal website that others might see a more
organized collection of pictures of the devastation in Alstead."
***
"We would like to
thank you so much for your web site and the information you have worked so much
to prepare for it. We had your mother's letter forwarded to us by a cousin
of mine that lives in Stuart, FL and knew that we here in Louisiana whould
appreciate it. We just returned here after spending the summer in
Charlestown, in fact we were through Alstead the 17th of September to attend the
roast beef supper at the East Alstead Church. We arrived here about 3
hours ahead of Hurricane Rita on September 24th. We had heard by telephone from
friends in Charlestown of the flooding in Alstead but it was your pictures that
really did it. Our Prayers are with all of you."
***
"My parents, who grew
up in Charlestown, lived in Acworth and went to church in South Acworth in the
winters, were sent an email that had your website enclosed. I spent my early
growing up years in Acworth before we moved to Hudson, and spent many a summer
day in Vilas Pool. You have done a great job on your website of informing
people."
***
"My heart goes out to
you and your community in these very desperate times. Hope all goes as well as
can be and that the worst is over."
***
"I am so sorry to hear
about the news. Let me know when you have a fund set up. We would love to
help."
***
"We just heard about
it last night on the 11:00 news. What a mess. I'm sorry to hear about all of
your old friends... how tragic. Keep us posted."
***
"I am glad to hear you
and your family are ok but I cannot even begin to fathom what those poor people
of NH are going through!! The pictures on your website are devastating -
far worse that what they are showing on tv."
***
"Let me know if
there’s anything we can do to help."
***
"Dear Heidi, Thanks
for the photo's and news. Paul and I went up Monday but because we"re not
residents were not allowed to get into town. The National Guard is stopping
everyone with the exception of the media and residents from going in. Paul was
able to walk from Drewsville down to the damaged bridge where to take a right to
go into Alstead or go straight up to Fall Mountain. Wonder what those kids are
going to do for school for a while."
***
"We had not heard
anything of the flood in Alstead until I read your site last night.
Nothing in our newspaper or on the TV. We tried to call your mom and dad
but could not get through. We will keep trying. Tell them we are
praying for them and their town."
***
"I
usually check your site once or twice a week, just to see what's up with the
Stevens clan . . . you certainly knocked us for a loop this time around! We're
all fat, dumb and happy down here in D.C. with our little 7 1/2 inches of rain
-- nothing compared to up north! I phoned my Dad who had not heard anything,
which makes sense, since he still hasn't been able to get through via telephone.
... This must be SO SAD for you! ... My father couldn't recall
any time in the history of Alstead (and he KNOWS his history!) that anything
like this has ever happened there. I'm sure that by now he is quite
anxious to get up there and see it all for himself, and help where he can.
***
"Do hope all the
people were ok, no one has mentioned otherwise so guess warnings were timely.
What allot of work to get all the damage repaired so people can continue on -
hopefully some massive road construction help will be there shortly as well as
help with homes being repaired / replaced.. so so thankful it seems that no one
was hurt and happened in the morning not at night. Just can't imagine 13"
of rain in one storm, almost as much as we get in a whole year counting snow
melt as well. Keep us posted and thank you for all your work in getting out
info.."
***
