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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Jan 3, 2015 7:44:36 GMT -7
The last time we were there a Scottish Piper walked around the plce playing music at 6:AM. It was absolutely delightful.
The Balsams in Dixville Notch, where the nation's first presidential primary ballots are traditionally cast, closed in 2010 after nearly 150 years in business. New ownership now envisions renovations and expansion to the hotel, ski resort and golf course.
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Post by karl on Jan 3, 2015 10:23:51 GMT -7
J.J.
What a wonderful holliday resort and so large. You do live in a very special area with the forest so close and mountains begging for exploration.
Thank you for sharing...
Karl
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Post by pieter on Jan 3, 2015 14:17:18 GMT -7
Dear John,
What a heavenly place is that with the wonderful surroundings of trees (woods), gardens, parks, plants and flowers, wonderful mountain landscapes and lakes. Great hospitality, nice service to you snd you wife.
Wonderful relaxed, cosy, warm, friendly, sophisticated, human atmosphere. Not eltist or snobistic like other resorts, but for every American and European who can afford and is willing to go there.
Wonderful hotel architecture, and I bet great restaurants, bars and wellness area's with a nice cuisine, hotelrooms, and terraces to sit outside.
I watched both video's, enjoyed the view, the colors and the feeling of hapiness and freedom it must give and while watching I imagined you and your wife walking through the park like garden, standing at the shore of the lake and sitting inside enjoying breakfest, lunch, dinner and just a fine drink with friendly strangers (fellow guests).
Good for you John, enjoy your stay with your wife. Have a good time over there my friend.
Cheers,
Pieter
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Jan 4, 2015 7:38:19 GMT -7
Pieter and Karl,
The good part was that we knew a large percentage of the employes and management of this place as it is just outside of Colebrook, NH. That is my wife's home town and many of the people were friends and relatives or school mates.
Currently it is closed down and undergoing renovations. As most of the grand old hotels, it had come under some unprofitable times. Now we are hoping it will open again in the near future.
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Post by pieter on Jan 4, 2015 10:33:15 GMT -7
Dear John,
I hope for you and your wife, relatives and friends that the Balsams opens soon again so that you can spend wonderful vacations or weekends there again.
Cheers,
Pieter
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Jan 5, 2015 8:37:19 GMT -7
Dear John, I hope for you and your wife, relatives and friends that the Balsams opens soon again so that you can spend wonderful vacations or weekends there again. Cheers, Pieter From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The BalsamsU.S. National Register of Historic Places  The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville NotchLocation NH 26, Coos County, New Hampshire, 10 mi. E of Colebrook The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel is a grand hotel and ski resort located in Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, United States. The hotel covers 15,000 acres (61 km2) and features 95 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, an alpine ski area with 16 trails, five glade areas and a terrain park. There is also a 9-hole golf course and an 18-hole championship course called "Panorama" which was designed by Donald Ross. The Balsams is currently closed for renovations after being purchased by new owners for $2.3 million in December 2011.[1] In 2014, former American Skiing Company head Les Otten joined the Balsams redevelopment effort. Included in Otten's current plan is a massive expansion of the ski area to around 1,000 acres and the addition of multiple lifts including a year round gondola to the summit and a lift connection across route 26 to the hotel complex. The expanded ski area would be quadruple its current size and be one of the largest ski areas in the northeast. Plans also call for the renovation of the main hotel buildings, the Dix and Hampshire houses, as well as a new hotel wing, and renovations to the golf course clubhouse (See notes on this).
Notes: on the golf course club house or otherwise currently known as the 19th hole. This was related to my wife and I by much more senior ladies of the area with good memories. Back in the days, around 1920's, this hotel was owned by some nefarious organizations known as the mob. The club house was a large square building offering a renowned golf course and views that are spectacular to this day. Inside the bar was situated at one end of the main floor. To the front and sides of the bar were the dining facilities and seating. If you looked up you saw the 2nd floor completely circumventing the building. There was a railing around the whole upstairs and it was open to the downstairs dining room. The rooms were set into the upstairs walls surrounding the railing hallway. Well, in it's flapper hayday, they had swings suspended from the ceiling and many a young lady swung to her fortune on them. The rooms were occupied with ladies of the social services distinction. They, of course, were supported by the mob. Just a passing note on history of the Balsams. |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Jan 5, 2015 10:27:48 GMT -7
A short history of Neil Tillotson and the Tillotson Rubber Factory that employed people at the Balsams location.
Neil Tillotson, patriarch of the Tillotson Healthcare Corp., Bedford, NH, died Oct. 24 at the age of 102. His story is one of a man who liked to turn his avocations into viable businesses, said his son, Tom Tillotson, president and CEO of Tillotson.
Born in 1898, Tillotson was raised in the backwoods of Vermont. Before finishing high school, he went to Boston to learn a trade. Things livened up for him when he joined the service and was called to serve under General John Joseph Pershing along the Mexican border in 1914. The Mexican government had been overthrown the year before by a General Huerta, whom the United States refused to recognize. Ultimately, Pershing and his soldiers, including Tillotson, invaded Mexico to seize the bandit Pancho Villa, a mission they accomplished.
Following his Mexican adventures, Tillotson was hired as a research chemist (even though he had no formal training) by Hood Rubber Co., a manufacturer of tires, shoes, inner tubes, etc., based in Watertown, MA. At that time, a revolution in the manufacturing of rubber-based products was occurring. In years past, U.S. manufacturers had used imported dry rubber to make their goods, not the liquid latex that is used today. The reason was that rubber from Asia could not be transported in a liquid state to the United States, because the transportation was so slow. So, manufacturers would dissolve the dry rubber in a solvent when they were ready to use it.
But that was changing during Tillotson's years at Hood, and he was charged with discovering what kinds of products could be made from natural rubber latex.
(One company, Brown Paper Co. in northern New Hampshire, had already begun using latex to make liquid-absorbent paper towels.)
In 1931, Tillotson struck out on his own, starting the Tillotson Rubber Company, also in Watertown. His first product: balloons. Prior to that time, balloons had been made from dry rubber, an expensive, time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly process. Latex speeded up the process, and made softer, easier-to-use balloons. Despite the hardships of the Depression, Tillotson made the company work.
As it had in 1914, war interrupted his work in the 1940s. When World War II broke out, the government redirected all natural rubber to the war effort. Tillotson had to shut down the balloon factory. Working for the War Board, he journeyed to South America to scout out natural rubber latex supplies in South America. While there, he became hooked on the idea of growing rubber in this hemisphere.
After the war, Tillotson jumped back in to manufacturing, and in the early 1950s entered the glove business by founding Best Manufacturing, which produced work gloves coated in latex. At about the same time, he helped start Textile Rubber and Chemical, which produced latex compound to be used by carpet manufacturers. Prior to that time, carpets were woven. Only by using an adhesive, such as latex, could loops of fiber be ''locked'' onto a backing.
Medical Gloves
In the early 1960s, Tillotson was looking for a technology or product to reinvigorate Tillotson Rubber Co. He found it in latex examination gloves. At that point, there were vinyl exam gloves and latex surgeons gloves, but not latex exam gloves. The reason is that they would have been too expensive to make, says Tom Tillotson. But Tillotson developed a very soft, pliable glove, which could fit multiple hand sizes, thus allowing him to avoid the cost of manufacturing gloves in half-size increments (as surgeons gloves were). The company has been making them since 1967.
With the advent of AIDS in the mid-1980s, the company geared up its U.S. production capabilities. But when the market plunged in the late 80s and early 90s, due to the influx of gloves made by offshore producers, Tillotson too found itself making more of its gloves in the Far East. Still, it retains a U.S. manufacturing base. And today, the company makes surgeons gloves in Dixville Notch (though surgeons gloves are a small part of Tillotson's overall product mix).
Other Interests
Tillotson turned other interests of his into profitable companies. In 1954, he bought the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, NH. Built one year after the Civil War ended, the Balsams sits on a 15,000-acre estate, and remains a popular vacation destination today. Dixville Notch became Tillotson's home as well as the location of his company's latex exam glove factory. (The town also has the distinction of being the first in the nation to cast its vote in the presidential primaries. Voters line up at midnight to do so.)
With a passion for sailing, Tillotson joined forces with Everett Pearson, founder of Pearson Yachts, in 1968 to form Tillotson Pearson Inc., manufacturer of yachts and catamarans. Its most popular boats were the so-called J-boats, including the J/24, a popular racing boat. Tillotson sold his interest in the company in 1992, but still makes J-boats under the company name of TPI.
Tillotson worked full-time until he suffered a stroke in June 2001. He is survived by his wife, Louise; two sons; two daughters; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Neil Tillotson, patriarch of the Tillotson Healthcare Corp., Bedford, NH, died Oct. 24 at the age of 102. His story is one of a man who liked to turn his avocations into viable businesses, said his son, Tom Tillotson, president and CEO of Tillotson.
Born in 1898, Tillotson was raised in the backwoods of Vermont. Before finishing high school, he went to Boston to learn a trade. Things livened up for him when he joined the service and was called to serve under General John Joseph Pershing along the Mexican border in 1914. The Mexican government had been overthrown the year before by a General Huerta, whom the United States refused to recognize. Ultimately, Pershing and his soldiers, including Tillotson, invaded Mexico to seize the bandit Pancho Villa, a mission they accomplished.
Following his Mexican adventures, Tillotson was hired as a research chemist (even though he had no formal training) by Hood Rubber Co., a manufacturer of tires, shoes, inner tubes, etc., based in Watertown, MA. At that time, a revolution in the manufacturing of rubber-based products was occurring. In years past, U.S. manufacturers had used imported dry rubber to make their goods, not the liquid latex that is used today. The reason was that rubber from Asia could not be transported in a liquid state to the United States, because the transportation was so slow. So, manufacturers would dissolve the dry rubber in a solvent when they were ready to use it.
But that was changing during Tillotson's years at Hood, and he was charged with discovering what kinds of products could be made from natural rubber latex.
(One company, Brown Paper Co. in northern New Hampshire, had already begun using latex to make liquid-absorbent paper towels.)
In 1931, Tillotson struck out on his own, starting the Tillotson Rubber Company, also in Watertown. His first product: balloons. Prior to that time, balloons had been made from dry rubber, an expensive, time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly process. Latex speeded up the process, and made softer, easier-to-use balloons. Despite the hardships of the Depression, Tillotson made the company work.
As it had in 1914, war interrupted his work in the 1940s. When World War II broke out, the government redirected all natural rubber to the war effort. Tillotson had to shut down the balloon factory. Working for the War Board, he journeyed to South America to scout out natural rubber latex supplies in South America. While there, he became hooked on the idea of growing rubber in this hemisphere.
After the war, Tillotson jumped back in to manufacturing, and in the early 1950s entered the glove business by founding Best Manufacturing, which produced work gloves coated in latex. At about the same time, he helped start Textile Rubber and Chemical, which produced latex compound to be used by carpet manufacturers. Prior to that time, carpets were woven. Only by using an adhesive, such as latex, could loops of fiber be ''locked'' onto a backing.
Medical Gloves
In the early 1960s, Tillotson was looking for a technology or product to reinvigorate Tillotson Rubber Co. He found it in latex examination gloves. At that point, there were vinyl exam gloves and latex surgeons gloves, but not latex exam gloves. The reason is that they would have been too expensive to make, says Tom Tillotson. But Tillotson developed a very soft, pliable glove, which could fit multiple hand sizes, thus allowing him to avoid the cost of manufacturing gloves in half-size increments (as surgeons gloves were). The company has been making them since 1967.
With the advent of AIDS in the mid-1980s, the company geared up its U.S. production capabilities. But when the market plunged in the late 80s and early 90s, due to the influx of gloves made by offshore producers, Tillotson too found itself making more of its gloves in the Far East. Still, it retains a U.S. manufacturing base. And today, the company makes surgeons gloves in Dixville Notch (though surgeons gloves are a small part of Tillotson's overall product mix).
Other Interests
Tillotson turned other interests of his into profitable companies. In 1954, he bought the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, NH. Built one year after the Civil War ended, the Balsams sits on a 15,000-acre estate, and remains a popular vacation destination today. Dixville Notch became Tillotson's home as well as the location of his company's latex exam glove factory. (The town also has the distinction of being the first in the nation to cast its vote in the presidential primaries. Voters line up at midnight to do so.)
With a passion for sailing, Tillotson joined forces with Everett Pearson, founder of Pearson Yachts, in 1968 to form Tillotson Pearson Inc., manufacturer of yachts and catamarans. Its most popular boats were the so-called J-boats, including the J/24, a popular racing boat. Tillotson sold his interest in the company in 1992, but still makes J-boats under the company name of TPI.
Tillotson worked full-time until he suffered a stroke in June 2001. He is survived by his wife, Louise; two sons; two daughters; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Apr 8, 2015 6:28:13 GMT -7
The last time we were there a Scottish Piper walked around the plce playing music at 6:AM. It was absolutely delightful. The Balsams in Dixville Notch, where the nation's first presidential primary ballots are traditionally cast, closed in 2010 after nearly 150 years in business. New ownership now envisions renovations and expansion to the hotel, ski resort and golf course. |
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Post by karl on Apr 8, 2015 7:19:07 GMT -7
J.J.
What an interesting story of Mr. Tillotson and his Rubber Co. He had the original product production that through the changes in time, become stagnant, he then met the challenge of change, and brought out the new glove product to meet changing needs in the medical profession with the advent of AIDs. A wonderful story that was topped with his combining with Mr. Everett Pearson to branch out into another direction to form the Firm of J. Boats.
A man of his time, this for sure.
Thank you for presenting such a story of success..
Karl
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