Livermore, New Hampshire stands as a silent sentinel to a bygone era in New Hampshire’s history. This ghost town, once alive with the sounds of daily life and commerce, now offers a contemplative space for visitors to connect with the past and reflect on the impermanence of human establishments.
County: Grafton
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 44° 4′ 28 N, 71° 22′ 38 W
Elevation: Not available
Time Zone: Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Established: 1876
Disestablished: 1951
Comments: Livermore is an unincorporated civil township and ghost town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. Historical accounts reveal that it was briefly inhabited as a logging town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The site of the former village is about 16 miles (26 km) west of North Conway, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from US Route 302 (the Crawford Notch Highway) via the U.S. Forest Service Sawyer River Road.
Remains: Not available
Current Status: Modern maps show the location is the logging operation was established by Daniel Saunders Jr. and Charles W. Saunders, members of the Saunders family. The town was named for Samuel Livermore, a former United States senator who was the grandfather of Daniel Saunders’ wife. The population was reported as 0 at the 2010 census.
Remarks: Archaeological studies of Livermore have yielded valuable artifacts that help tell the story of early life in New Hampshire. These findings contribute to our understanding of settlement patterns and daily life during this formative period.
Livermore: The Lost Logging Town of New Hampshire’s White Mountains
Deep in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest lies Livermore, one of the state’s most fascinating ghost towns. Once a thriving logging community with bustling mills, a school, and even a mansion, Livermore now exists only as scattered ruins reclaimed by the forest—a haunting reminder of the boom-and-bust cycle that characterized many of New England’s industrial settlements. The story of Livermore offers a compelling glimpse into New Hampshire’s logging history, the harsh realities of life in a company town, and the inevitable forces that led to its abandonment.
Origins and Establishment
The town of Livermore was established in 1876 as a logging settlement in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The enterprise was founded by Daniel Saunders Jr. and Charles W. Saunders, members of a prominent Boston legal family who saw opportunity in the dense forests of the White Mountains. The town was named after Samuel Livermore, a former United States senator who had served New Hampshire from 1793 to 1801 and who happened to be the grandfather of Daniel Saunders’ wife—creating a lasting connection between the Saunders family and their New Hampshire venture.
The location chosen for the settlement was strategic: nestled in a valley along the Sawyer River, approximately 16 miles west of North Conway and about 1.5 miles from what would later become U.S. Route 302 (the Crawford Notch Highway). This remote setting provided access to vast timber resources while the river offered both power for the mills and a means of transporting logs.
In 1875, before the town was officially incorporated, the Saunders family established the Grafton County Lumber Company and incorporated the Sawyer River Railroad to support their logging operation. The railroad’s construction began in 1877, creating a vital transportation link that would allow the company to move timber from the remote forests to markets beyond.
The initial development of Livermore faced early challenges. The first mill constructed in 1876 burned down later that same year—an ominous beginning for a town whose fate would be repeatedly shaped by fire and flood. Nevertheless, the Saunders family persevered, rebuilding and expanding their operation over the following years.
Life in a Logging Town
At its peak, Livermore was home to between 150 and 200 permanent residents, with additional seasonal workers swelling the population during active logging periods. The town developed all the hallmarks of a proper community, despite its remote location and industrial purpose. A post office was established in 1881, providing a crucial link to the outside world. By 1885, town records indicate that Livermore had established a school serving 28 students, demonstrating the presence of families and a commitment to education even in this isolated logging settlement.
The physical layout of Livermore reflected its function as a company town. At its center stood the mill—the economic heart of the community. Surrounding this industrial core were various company buildings, worker housing, a company store, and community facilities. The most impressive structure was undoubtedly the Saunders mansion, a grand residence that stood in stark contrast to the modest homes of the workers and symbolized the wealth generated by the logging operation.
Daily life in Livermore revolved around the rhythms of the logging industry. Work in the forests was seasonal, with most cutting done during the winter months when snow made it easier to drag logs to collection points. The spring thaw would bring the dramatic spectacle of river drives, as logs were floated downstream to the mill. Year-round work was available in the mill itself, processing the timber into lumber for shipment via the railroad.
Like many isolated communities of its era, Livermore faced significant health challenges. In 1880, a smallpox epidemic struck the town, claiming six lives—a devastating toll for such a small community. The remote location meant limited access to medical care, and the industrial nature of the work carried inherent dangers. Logging and mill work were hazardous occupations, with accidents a constant risk.
Despite these hardships, the community developed social bonds and institutions. The school served as a center for education and community gatherings. Telephone service, established in 1898, further connected the isolated town to the wider world. A topographic map from 1896 shows twelve inhabited buildings, suggesting a small but established settlement with defined streets and infrastructure.
Ownership Changes and Challenges
The history of Livermore was marked by several changes in ownership and management that reflected the volatile nature of the lumber industry. In 1890, town records indicate that mill ownership changed from the Saunders family to George P. James, though this arrangement proved temporary. By 1895, James sold his portion of Livermore back to the Saunders family, specifically to Charles G. Saunders, son of one of the original founders.
A significant political and territorial change occurred in 1901 when over half of Livermore’s land was annexed to the neighboring town of Lincoln by the State Legislature. This annexation was likely related to disputes over timber rights and boundary lines between the Saunders operation in Livermore and competing logging interests in Lincoln, particularly those of James Everell Henry. The resolution redrew the town boundary to follow the natural ridgecrest, with the Lincoln portion defined as the area drained by the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River and the Livermore portion as that drained by other rivers.
The early 20th century brought further changes and challenges. In 1912, C.G. Saunders mortgaged Livermore Mills to Gideon M. Sutherland, suggesting financial pressures on the operation. When C.G. Saunders died in 1918, his three sisters inherited nearly all of his estate, while mill operations passed to Clinton I. Nash, an officer for the Saunders interests.
The following year, 1919, disaster struck when a fire destroyed Livermore Mills. This catastrophe might have spelled the end for many logging towns, but the operation was rebuilt. In 1920, the original locomotive derailed and fell into the Sawyer River, requiring replacement—another setback for the struggling enterprise. By 1922, a new reconstructed mill was completed, and in 1924, a new school was built, employing two teachers for approximately 20 students. These developments suggested a renewed commitment to the town’s future, despite the mounting challenges.
Decline and Abandonment
The beginning of the end for Livermore came in November 1927, when a devastating storm struck the region. The mill was severely damaged, and a large section of the railroad bed was washed away, crippling the town’s transportation infrastructure. This natural disaster dealt a blow from which Livermore would never fully recover.
In 1928, the last mill closed, effectively ending the industrial purpose that had sustained the town for over fifty years. The economic foundation of Livermore had collapsed, and without the mill, there was little reason for people to remain in such a remote location. The following year, Clinton Nash began inquiries with the United States Forest Service about selling the Saunders sisters’ Livermore holdings, signaling an acknowledgment that the logging town had no viable future.
The post office closed in 1931, further isolating the remaining residents. The town’s dissolution continued gradually over the next two decades. In 1937, all but one 12-acre parcel of land was sold to the Forest Service for inclusion in the White Mountain National Forest. The remaining parcel, which included the Saunders mansion, was retained by the Saunders sisters as a link to their family’s legacy in the area.
By 1944, the physical dismantling of Livermore was underway, with a two-story home, a boarding house, and remaining sawmill equipment auctioned off by the Government. Three years later, in 1947, the locomotive—once the lifeline of the logging operation—was sold by the Forest Service. The last two residents left town in 1949, and in 1951, Livermore was officially dissolved by an act of the New Hampshire legislature, formally ending its existence as a municipality.
That same year, the Saunders sisters’ 12-acre holding passed to Clinton Nash, who maintained this last private piece of Livermore until 1963, when he sold it to Robert and Bessie Shackford of Conway. After Nash’s death in 1964, the final chapter of Livermore’s built environment came to a close when Robert Shackford, tired of constant vandalism, burned down the Saunders mansion in 1965. With this act, the last significant structure from Livermore’s heyday was erased from the landscape.
Livermore Today: A Forest Ghost Town
Today, Livermore exists as a true ghost town, its remains slowly being reclaimed by the forest it once harvested. The site is accessible via Sawyer River Road, which parallels its namesake river and actually splits what was once the town in half. Visitors to the area can still discern traces of the former settlement, though they are increasingly obscured by vegetation.
Among the most visible remnants is a dramatic red brick structure rising into the forest canopy like a massive chimney—the remains of the Livermore powerhouse. Nearby, the maze-like remnants of a cement mill can be found, grey and moss-covered, resembling ancient ruins. Other identifiable features include the foundation of the town store, tall stanchions on both sides of the river, and the large foundation of the Saunders Mansion.
The former village site was benchmarked with an elevation of 1,264 feet (385 m), situated a quarter mile from the eastern boundary adjoining Hart’s Location. The town’s geography is characterized by its location in the White Mountains region of northern New Hampshire, along the eastern border of Grafton County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 63.9 square miles (165.6 km²), of which 63.8 square miles (165.2 km²) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²), or 0.26%, is water. Nearly all of the town’s area (99.7%) is now part of the White Mountain National Forest.
Curiously, despite its ghost town status, Livermore is not entirely uninhabited. The 2020 census reported a population of two residents, and visitors to the site sometimes encounter a modern house amidst the ruins, complete with a maintained lawn and signs of contemporary life—a striking juxtaposition to the surrounding historical remnants.
Historical Significance and Legacy
Livermore represents an important chapter in New Hampshire’s industrial and social history. As a company town built around a single industry, it exemplifies a common pattern in American development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The rise and fall of Livermore mirrors the broader story of resource extraction in New England, where communities flourished as long as natural resources were abundant and profitable, only to decline when those resources were depleted or economic conditions changed.
The town’s history also illuminates the social dynamics of company towns, where a single family or corporation controlled not only employment but housing, commerce, and community institutions. The stark contrast between the grand Saunders mansion and the modest worker housing reflected the economic disparities inherent in such arrangements.
Environmentally, Livermore’s story intersects with the conservation movement and the establishment of the White Mountain National Forest. The intensive logging that sustained the town was part of a pattern of deforestation that eventually prompted conservation efforts. The town’s lands, once valued primarily for timber, are now preserved as part of a national forest valued for recreation, watershed protection, and wildlife habitat—a transformation that reflects changing American attitudes toward natural resources.
For historians and archaeologists, Livermore offers a well-documented case study of a logging town’s lifecycle. The detailed town records, combined with physical remains, provide insights into industrial practices, community development, and the challenges faced by remote settlements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Visiting Livermore
For those interested in exploring this piece of New Hampshire’s past, Livermore is relatively accessible compared to many ghost towns. To reach the site, visitors can take U.S. Route 302 through Crawford Notch and turn onto Sawyer River Road, a Forest Service road that is typically open from late spring through fall but may be closed during winter months.
The road is passable by most vehicles when open, though visitors should be prepared for unpaved conditions. After about two miles on Sawyer River Road, the former town site becomes visible on both sides. Exploring the area requires careful attention, as foundations and other hazards may be hidden by vegetation. Visitors should respect any private property in the area and follow Leave No Trace principles, taking only photographs and leaving ruins undisturbed.
Beyond the immediate town site, more adventurous explorers can follow old logging roads and railroad grades that radiate from Livermore into the surrounding forest. These paths offer glimpses of the extensive infrastructure that once supported the logging operation, though they are increasingly difficult to discern as nature reclaims them.
For those unable to visit in person, various historical societies and museums in the region maintain photographs, documents, and artifacts related to Livermore. These collections help preserve the memory of this vanished community and provide context for understanding its place in New Hampshire’s history.
In the end, Livermore stands as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of human settlements when their economic purpose vanishes. What was once a bustling community with mills, homes, a school, and a mansion has been reduced to scattered ruins in the forest—a ghost town whose story continues to fascinate visitors and historians alike. As the forest gradually reclaims these last vestiges, Livermore’s legacy lives on primarily in historical records, photographs, and the memories of those who keep its story alive.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livermore,_New_Hampshire
https://www.nhmagazine.com/livermore-is-a-strange-name-for-a-ghost-town/
https://www.whitemountainhistory.org/abandoned-towns/livermore
https://www.oddthingsiveseen.com/2015/09/die-and-less-ghost-town-of-livermore.html
https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2017-07-21/you-asked-we-answered-what-happened-to-the-people-in-that-n-h-ghost-town
