In the early 1800’s John Barnard and his wife Polly settled in the beautiful Pemigewasset Valley at the foothills of the White Mountains. They chose a site of land commanding a glorious view of the Franconia Range in the town of Thornton, on the east side of the Pemigewasset River. This site of land contained about one hundred and fifty acres of land which embraced thick woodlands and verdant fields and pasture. He started working on the house and other buildings which were know as the Barnard Homestead.
Today Eight generations later the Homestead is no longer standing, but the integrity of the generation that built it still stand. Know the Homestead farm has expanded to three hundred acres, although the land is no longer used for raising livestock, some of the same sugar maples that earlier generation tapped are being utilize today for some of the finest maple syrup.
Throughout the property and the adjoining White Mountain National Forest there are still reminders of times gone by, many stone foundations still exist as a reminder of a small community that once life in the valley. Following along Clemet Road passing over Hollow Brook to Long Entry trail to Thornton Gore or continue on to Hacket Brook, this area became know as Knockers Hole to it’s residents.
