Travel and Tourism Plan

Town of Troy, New Hampshire

Adopted by the Troy Planning Board
January 19, 2000


This document was prepared by the Southwest Region Planning Commission as a follow-on to the Troy Economic Development Plan.

This Plan was largely researched and created by an intern from the University of New Hampshire working for some months at SWRPC.

A Marketing Plan for implementation of findings and recommendations was also developed as part of this effort. It includes a prototype brochure which could be printed and distributed as part of the town's effort to promote tourism. A hard copy of this Marketing Plan and brochure is available for review at the Troy Town Hall.


CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. INVENTORY OF EXISTING ATTRACTIONS IN TROY

III. INVENTORY OF EXISTING FACILITIES IN TROY

IV. INVENTORY OF LOCAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

V. RELEVANT REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS & FACILITIES

VI. FINDINGS



I. INTRODUCTION

Troy is a small town (population approximately 2,200) in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire, located at the foot of Mount Monadnock (with a 3,125-foot peak), which is the second most climbed mountain in the world. Troy has a long history as a typical New England mill town - one of the few that remains architecturally intact. Troy was first settled in 1764, and incorporated in 1815.

Following the development of the Cheshire railroad line in 1848, which runs the length of the Town, Troy became a popular destination for people who wanted to hike the mountain. The Kimball Hotel, situated right across the street from the railroad depot, accommodated many of these early tourists, perhaps even Henry David Thoreau.

Today, neither the railroad nor the hotel exists, but the mountain continues to attract tourists, as do the many other natural and historic features in Troy and the surrounding region.

The purpose of this plan is twofold: (1) to identify those features that exist in and around Troy today to serve tourists; and (2) to identify potential attractions or facilities that would encourage visitors to come to Troy. The development of this plan is a follow-up to the Economic Development Plan adopted by the Planning Board as part of the Troy Master Plan in September of 1998.

One of the recommendations of the Economic Development Plan was to encourage and facilitate tourism - recognizing that Troy had much to offer in this area, and that tourism development could be of great financial benefit to the Town.

This plan inventories and describes the significant natural features that are seen to be pertinent to tourist activities, as well as the historic and cultural features of the Town. In addition, effort has also been made to identify local businesses that are either currently or potentially tourist-related.



II. INVENTORY OF EXISTING ATTRACTIONS IN TROY

Natural Features

Village Pond

Village Pond is located at the southern end of the Troy Common. The pond was created by a dam built and owned by Troy Mills to provide waterpower to the mill. The dam can be seen under the bridge on Route 12 at the south end of the Common.


Sand Dam

Sand Dam is upstream from the Village Pond. Its impoundment creates another waterbody that is used by the Town for recreation.


Gap Mountain

Gap Mountain comprises about 1100 acres; its three peaks are an extension of the same rock that forms Mount Monadnock. Its name derives from a gap that separates the southern and middle peaks. Gap Mountain has several thousand visitors per year. It is a fairly easy climb and has a great view of Mount Monadnock. Trails leading to the mountain can be found at the end of Quarry Road, Gap Mountain Road, and the road opposite Perkins Pond.


Cheese Cut

A 30-ft. cliff table is located just over the town line in Swanzey. It allows one who is standing on the cliff and looking down to see what looks like a wedge of cheese cut into the rock, hence the name. There is a spectacular view of the cliff while standing on the ground below and looking up. This is a walking activity. While walking to the Cheese Cut, one will pass an abandoned farm/homestead.


Seven Falls

Located near the Cheese Cut, this is a small area where there are seven little waterfalls. This area, like the Cheese Cut, is not accessible by vehicle.


Colburn Falls

In 1803 this was the location of a sawmill and gristmill. It is located beside a road that leads to trails to Gap Mountain or the town of Fitzwilliam. The trail may be hiked during all seasons and skied in the winter months. There is a 30-foot waterfall and beautiful stonework found near the old gristmill.


Quarry Pond Area

Troy has always been known for its granite. It was used in building because it had good color and could withstand all types of exposure. Granite was taken from Troy Quarry until the granite was under water and no longer accessible. There is a deep granite quarry located just to the east of the Town's recycling center, and a small natural pond further east.


Historic/Cultural Features

Historic Mill Village

The central part of Troy exemplifies a typical "New England Mill Town." While the village area of Troy contains a number of historically significant and intact public buildings and private residences, it was the presence of Troy Mills that gave Troy its identity as a "mill town." The mill continues to operate today, but the life of the Village is no longer centered on the mill, nor does the mill provide most of the workers in town with jobs. One factor that contributes to the integrity of the village is that - partially due to depressed economic conditions over the years - there has been very little physical change in the layout of the village or to the structures; this has kept the "mill village" relatively intact. The Troy Heritage Commission is currently researching the procedures for designating the Town Common area and mill yard as an historic district. A brochure for a walking tour of the village area, designed by the Heritage Commission, leads the tourist to 20 historic sites around the Common and surrounding area.


Troy Mills

Troy Mills began operations in 1851 as a textile mill where, among other items, the first fitted horse blankets were manufactured. Now well over 150 years old, the mill continues to operate, changing product as necessary to maintain a viable role in industry. Today the mill employs 57 people and produces linings and industrial felts and fabrics for denim jackets, filters, car fabrics and office paneling fabrics.


Historical Society Museum

Located on the second floor of the Kimball Hall, this is where much of Troy's history is catalogued and displayed. The Museum is open to the public and also by appointment.


Military Road

This road served as the primary corridor for soldiers during the French and Indian War. Its approximate location is identified on the accompanying map. An examination of topographical maps and historical data suggest that this was the first area to be settled simply because it was easier from a land management perspective than other parts of town. Therefore, when the threat of war was over, this is where the earliest farms in Troy were established.


Cheshire Railroad Depot and Freight Sheds

These historical buildings preserve the functional architecture of the past and provide insight into past travel experiences and the role-played by the railroad in commerce. Troy was a key link in the transportation system of southwestern New Hampshire. The Town currently owns this property and plans to develop the site as a community center, visitor center and museum. Since the property is several acres in size and abuts the Village Pond, there are several options for its use. Some initial thoughts include developing recreational opportunities for the Pond (such as boating), and moving Kimball Hall from its present location to this property.


Gay Kimball Library

While the building housing the Gay Kimball Library has only been in existence since 1953, Troy has had active and determined supporters of a public library, dating back to 1820, when permission to incorporate a library was granted by the state. Today, the library is a bright and spacious facility, having been recently expanded. It is wonderful resource, with a fine collection of books on the history of Troy and the region.


Old Schoolhouses

Research of Troy's history reveals the existence of ten different schoolhouses located around Town. The accompanying map identifies the locations of some of these, based on historical maps and anecdotal evidence. Some of these buildings still stand today.

House of Phineas Farrar - In the early days of settlement, schools were run in private homes and lasted only a few weeks in duration. For this school, James Brewer, an educated early Troy settler, was said to have been the teacher.

The First Schoolhouse - Actually built by the Town of Fitzwilliam in 1790. Located in the north squadron of town, it was a small house with a hipped roof. The chimney and fireplace were built of stone, and a large stone hearth formed a portion of the flooring. In 1800 by town vote this squadron was divided. The schoolhouse remained unused until 1806 when it was sold to David White who attached it to his house.

Southwest District School - Built in 1794 for those who lived on or near West Hill. The school was very small - only 18 feet square. The walls of the room were wainscoted with rough pine boards, no ceiling, and the timbers in the upper part were left bare. There were two long benches on one side of the room for the students to sit on.

South District School - Built in March of 1796 after $46.66 was raised for construction. The design was very similar to Southwest District. This house was used as a school until 1806 when it was sold because the south district united with the north part of Fitzwilliam. The house was sold and used as a dwelling.

Southeast District School - Built in 1796, this schoolhouse was located near the Daniel Cutting residence later owned by John Lang. The schoolhouse existed until the winter of 1806 when it burned down. A new schoolhouse was built the following spring on the north side of the road near the residence of Henry A. Porter.

District 1 Schoolhouse - This was a very small schoolhouse located next to the Congregational Church. In 1828 the town voted to build a larger building. They raised $500 and built the new District 1 Schoolhouse in 1828. This was used until the next district division in 1838 when it was purchased by shareholders who converted it to a high school called "The Old Academy".

District 3 Schoolhouse - This school burned in 1814. For two years the school was held at the William Barker home. In 1817 the district voted to build a new house.

District 4 Schoolhouse - A log house school until 1823 when a new site was selected for the new schoolhouse. The house was to be near the junction of the two roads between the residences of Peter Starkey and William Bishop. The new schoolhouse was finished in 1824. In 1840 this building was moved near the barn of Albert Pratt and had many repairs. It burned in 1841 and a new one was built the following year.

District 5 Schoolhouse - This building was moved closer to the center of town and repaired in 1823. In 1834 it was expanded and in 1849 it was enlarged and thoroughly repaired.

District 6 Schoolhouse - The citizens in this district raised $100 to build a new schoolhouse. The district was so small that the school was only run a few weeks out of the year. Later the town decided to combine District 6 with District 3 using the District 3 Schoolhouse. District 6 Schoolhouse was then sold to Jonathon Clark who moved the building near other properties he owned.


Historic Cemeteries

Unknown Cemetery - Troy's first cemetery was on private property, probably established around 1772. A child of the family Jonathon Shaw died and was buried near the residence. A few years later others from the neighborhood died and were buried here as well. This became a burial site for the town, though it was never public property. Because monuments were not used during this time period, this cemetery's whereabouts is unknown.

Cemetery at Old Richmond Road - This cemetery was recently found and restored by a Troy Boy Scout. He put four granite posts around the cemetery and chained it to keep it protected. There is only one burial site, as far as can be determined. A trail is maintained that leads to this cemetery, which is located at the end of Old Richmond Road.

Starkey Burial Ground - In 1797 another family-originated burial ground was started in west Troy, the end of the Class V portion of Richmond Road, on land owned by William Starkey. One of his children died and was buried here. Soon after it was used as a common burial ground. Twelve to fifteen people were buried there. Once again no monuments were used and the area is now covered with trees and it is very difficult to find even traces of graves. However, there is a listing of the names of people who were buried there that was prepared by a neighbor at that time (see Stone, M. T. M.D. History of Troy, NH. Press of Sentinel Printing Company. Keene, NH.(162-173)).

Village Cemetery - This cemetery was established in 1785 when William Barker, Troy's first settler, donated the land. This cemetery was enlarged in 1830 and 1863. It is located just off of Route 12 on the north side of the bridge over the railroad bed. This cemetery is very visually appealing, and makes a lovely picnic spot or walking area. Mountain View Cemetery This cemetery was built in 1874 after the realization that Village Cemetery was too small to keep as the only public burying ground. This is currently the largest cemetery in Town. There is a magnificent view of Mount Monadnock and the surrounding countryside. The Heritage Commission has an ongoing project to photograph and inventory the gravesites.


Historic Bridges

Rail Road Bridge - This bridge is located one half mile south of the depot along the old railroad tracks. It is a beautiful double arch bridge made of gray granite.

Route 12 Bridge - This single stone arch bridge was built in 1825. It was built over Mill Pond connecting Troy's Main Street to Route 12. This bridge has been serving the town for 175 years and is a beautiful site when standing on Water Street in Troy, viewing the arch.

Roadway Bridge - This bridge is found in the north end of Troy, towards Keene. It is a bridge over a roadway, located about twenty yards from Route 12.

Cast Iron Bridge - This bridge was built in 1910 on Shaker Brook then moved half a mile in the 1940's to its present site. It is now used as private access to people's homes.



III. INVENTORY OF EXISTING FACILITIES IN TROY

Lodging

The Inn at East Hill Farm

The Inn at East Hill Farm is located at the foot of Mount Monadnock. Nearly 100% of the inn's business is tourist-related. The resort can accommodate up to 150 people at a time. There are many activities on the farm, such as petting barnyard animals, hunting for eggs, horseback riding, swimming, hay rides, fishing, skiing, mountain climbing and more. The Inn also engages its guests in a sort of "treasure hunt" for various features around the Town of Troy. This is very popular among the guests, as it gives them an opportunity to learn their way around Troy and see some of the special features.


Restaurants

Gap Mountain Breads

This beautifully renovated establishment is located directly on the southern end of the Common. Open year round this bakery/restaurant does most of its business from summer to fall. Seating can accommodate about fourteen people. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.


Fat Boys Pizza

Casual dining seats about thirty-two people. Lunch and Dinner are served in the finest pizza restaurant tradition. The clientele is comprised of local businesses, residents, tourists and travelers.


Troy Family Diner

Most of the people who visit the diner are travelers from Massachusetts and other nearby towns. The diner can seat about eighty people and has plenty of parking including bus parking. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Business comes from a combination of tourists, truckers, commuters, and local clientele.


Public Parking

Currently there are no public parking facilities in Troy, although there are plans to establish parking on the Depot property, one block south of the Common. On-street parking can be found around the Common and on some adjoining streets in Troy. Parking is also available on-site of several of the facilities and businesses described in this report.


Public Transportation

At this point in time the only public transportation that serves Troy is the Vermont Transit Bus, which makes two runs daily from Rutland, Vermont to Boston. The bus stop is at the local hardware store. A limited public bus service has been recently established in the City of Keene; whether there are future possibilities that the service might extend to Troy is not known at this time.


Public Restroom Facilities

There are no public restrooms located in Troy at this time. There are seasonal public restrooms at the Sand Dam Recreation Facility. There are also public restrooms at the Troy Town Hall, however the availability of these facilities depends on the business hours of the Town Hall; furthermore, these are not advertised as public restrooms.


Recreational Facilities

Rails to Trails

In 1847 the Cheshire Railroad was built through the center of Troy. The line was used for passenger and freight. The Cheshire line follows Route 12 from Massachusetts to Walpole, through Fitzwilliam, Troy, Swanzey, Keene, and Westmoreland. The Cheshire line has been abandoned since the 1950's, and has been purchased by the State of New Hampshire. Today it is managed by the NH Department of Revenue and Economic Development. This rail line, like so many others in New Hampshire, is now being used as a multi-use recreational trail for horseback riding, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and other forms of recreation.


Memorial Park at Sand Dam

Located on South Street, this recreational park has a basketball court, skateboard park, beach swimming and tennis courts. Troy Mills donated the area to the Town, and today it is Troy's largest recreational facility.


Baseball Fields

Troy has three baseball fields: one at Sand Dam Memorial Park, one at Farrar Field on Marlborough Road, and one at the Troy Elementary School.


Related Retail/Service Opportunities

Village Barn Hardware & General Store - Hardware store and glass studio, on the Common.

Buzz Bowers Sportsmen's Den - Hunting, fishing and archery equipment.

Haircuts, Etc. - At the Village Gathering Mall.

Minute Mart Convenience Store and Gas Station - Located in the Village Gathering Mall just off of Route 12 on the Marlborough Road.

Monadnock Berries - Pick your own blueberries and raspberries with a gorgeous view of Mount Monadnock. Located on West Hill in one of the earliest homes. Open from mid July to mid September.

Stan's Market - Troy's grocery store. Offers great values on surplus and closeout for non-perishable foods.

Surrell Accessories - Cold weather accessories manufactured and sold in Troy. The company offers hats, mittens, ear muffs, etc., made of fink, rabbit, mink and fox. The store is located in the Village Gathering Mall on Marlboro Road and open Thanksgiving Day to Christmas.

Thompson' Nursery - Plant and flower nursery. Closed during the winter months.

Troy Arctic Cat - Sales and service of Arctic Cat snowmobiles and ATV's.

Troy Hair Design - Located on Route 12 north.

Village Laundry - Laundromat at the Village Gathering Mall.

SiteLance.com - For all your website needs. Low cost design, hosting, and domain names.



IV. INVENTORY OF LOCAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Troy Crafts Festival

This festival is held every year at the end of July. There are 20-30 vendors who come to the common for the day to display and sell artwork. The idea of this festival initially was for the purpose of seeing old friends and talking about times in Troy, however, it has evolved into a regional attraction, bringing in many out-of-towners. Food and entertainment is featured throughout the day. A future idea for this festival is an old home day.


Historic Walking Tour

This walking tour visits twenty historical sites in the Village area of Troy. A brochure designed and distributed by the Troy Heritage Commission illustrates and describes these sites. The brochure is available from the Heritage Commission, and from the Keene Chamber of Commerce. The full tour takes approximately one hour.


Memorial Day Parade

Every year at the end of May the Town of Troy organizes a Memorial Day celebration to honor those men and women who served this country. The graves of these people are decorated, and there is a parade through the Village.



V. RELEVANT REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS & FACILITIES

Attractions

Pumpkin Festival in Keene

Thousands of jack-o-lanterns light Keene's downtown every October (the highest count to date is over 17,000). There are many activities planned for all ages, a costume parade, trick or treating, food, musicians, magicians, dancers and many other entertainers, fireworks and of course all of the pumpkins. The event is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, and draws approximately 30,000 visitors to Keene, with many of them staying at lodging facilities in and outside of the City.


Artwalk in Keene

Each May for one-week local artists and other artists show, talk about, and sell their artwork. These pieces of artwork are placed in store windows along Keene's Main Street.


Colonial Theater

Keene's oldest theater opened in 1924 has many events planned each year. It is newly remodeled to look more like the Greek-inspired theater it was in the 1920's. Some of the events of the Colonial theater include ballet, theater, concerts, movies and comedy performances by nationally-known entertainers.


Keene State College

KSC offers activities and events for college students, locals and visitors alike each year, such as concerts, plays, dance recitals, movies and many other activities throughout the year. The campus is home to the Thorne-Sagendorf Art Gallery, the Redfern Arts Center, and the Children's Literature Festival Gallery. The men and women's soccer teams also attract many fans each year.


Mount Monadnock

Six major trailheads with parking at each head provide hiking access to the mountain. There are three ways to access the mountain in Troy: Old Toll Road, Metacomet and Marlborough Trail Head. The other three trailheads are: Dublin Trail Head, Gilson Pond and the Main Park Entrance in Jaffrey.

Mount Monadnock has year round hiking and camping. All trails are open during the spring, summer and autumn months. During the winter there are sixteen miles of backcountry skiing and hiking at the park headquarters. This is the only automobile access open, plowed and maintained during the winter months. There are twenty-eight campsites located at the main entrance of Mount Monadnock; 21 of them are family sites and seven are for groups only. Mount Monadnock's busiest season is middle September through middle October with all of the beautiful fall foliage. Monadnock Mountain is also proud to have had Henry David Thoreau as one of its visitors in 1860, although he probably visited the mountain more than once. Thoreau took the train from Concord, Massachusetts to Troy, embarked and immediately began his hike to the mountain. Thoreau hiked the Mount Monadnock and spent five days and nights there taking notes of his stay.


Regional Trail Network

The southwest region of New Hampshire is fortunate in that there are several abandoned railroad lines throughout the region, which are slowly being converted into multi-use recreational trails. There are six lines right now that are either completely or partially purchased for such use. Each line that was purchased was paid for with federal transportation money in order to keep the rail lines protected. Almost since abandonment these railroad lines have been used for horseback riding, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking and ATV's. The NH Department of Transportation purchased the land, and turned over management of the corridors to the Department of Resources and Economic Development. The Friends of Pisgah Park maintain parts of the system within the southwest region.


Trail Lodging

The Fitzwilliam Inn:
Route 119 Fitzwilliam, NH
(603)585-9000.

Stateline Campground & Variety Store:
Route 12 Fitzwilliam, NH
(603)585-7726.

Laurel Lake Campground:
Laurel Lake Road East Fitzwilliam, NH
(603)585-3304.

Unique Yankee:
354 Upper Troy Road Fitzwilliam, NH
(603)242-6706.

For more lodging information contact the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce at (603)352-1303.



VI. FINDINGS

Troy is in a good position, both geographically as well as culturally, to become a popular tourist destination. Troy's location makes it an ideal stopping-on-the-way spot, or a destination in and of itself. Route 12 is a primary transportation corridor to Massachusetts, bringing travelers through Town; and its proximity to Keene - just 10-15 minutes to the north, makes Troy an easy day trip for visitors to the Keene area.

The information collected for this Plan clearly indicates that the primary attractions of Troy at this time are its natural features, primarily the rail-trail that runs the length of town, connecting to other regional trails and the proximity to Mount Monadnock for hiking. The two principal local attractions identified - the Troy Crafts Festival and the Historic Walking Tour - while attended primarily by locals, are increasingly attracting out-of-towners.

The use of the rail-trail is expected to increase, given the rise in popularity of this type of outdoor recreation activity. And, the Depot property is now town-owned, therefore the potential to develop this site that directly abuts the trail is tremendous.

It is also clear from the information that, while Troy has a number of eating establishments, lodging opportunities are very limited: only the East Hill Farm is available for tourist lodging in Troy. In terms of recreational offerings, again, the opportunities are fairly limited and apply, for the most part, to residents of Troy. This is less true of the retail services in Town, although these businesses do depend on local clientele. In order for Troy to become a destination point for tourists, the Town will need to address certain areas identified as deficient in terms of enhancing tourism, and consider ways in which Troy can be marketed as a tourist destination. These are discussed below in terms of recommendations; should they be embraced, these would become objectives of the Travel and Tourism Plan.


Recommendations

Establish a Tourism Commission

Some entity in Troy needs to be responsible for developing and implementing a plan to facilitate tourism in Troy. This can be accomplished through a Marketing Strategy. The primary task of such a group would be the promotion of Troy as a tourist destination. It is important, in any promotional effort, for there to be a contact entity/telephone number, a role suited to a Tourism Commission. Such a Commission might be a subcommittee of the already standing Industrial Development Authority, or it could be a separate entity established either by the Selectmen or by vote at Town Meeting.


Determine Tourist Potential

One of the first tasks of the Tourism Commission and others is to determine who the audience should be. Will efforts be directed at those people who would be expected to take advantage of the existing facilities, or will attempts be made to develop other activities/events in Town that would attract another type of tourist?


Evaluate and Extend Services

If the Town intends to be a tourist destination even with only the current attractions - certain services need to be in place to meet the needs of visitors, such as: expanded lodging opportunities; provision of public restroom facilities; provision of public parking facilities; retail and service directed at bicycles and snowmobiles; expanded recreational facilities; and increased shopping opportunities in the Village.


Develop Signage Program

Attractive, carved wooden signs at the north and south ends of Route 12 would contribute to Troy's identity. Also, the sign on the common should be raised to facilitate better viewing.


Promote Troy as a Tourist Destination

The primary responsibility of the Tourism Commission would be to promote Troy as a tourist destination. This would be accomplished through a variety of efforts, first and foremost the development of a Marketing Strategy, which would include the design and distribution of various promotional materials, some examples of which are described below. In addition, the Commission needs to develop funding sources for promotional materials and events, etc.


Examples of Promotional Materials