Dead River (New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dead River |
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Channelized portion of the Dead River near downtown Berlin
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Coos |
| City | Berlin |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Jericho Brook Berlin 1,050 ft (320 m) 44°29′51″N 71°13′15″W / 44.49750°N 71.22083°W |
| River mouth | Androscoggin River Berlin 950 ft (290 m) 44°27′58″N 71°10′57″W / 44.46611°N 71.18250°W |
| Length | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) |
The Dead River is a short river, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. It flows entirely within the city of Berlin, New Hampshire, in the United States. This river is a smaller stream that flows into a bigger one, the Androscoggin River. The Androscoggin then travels through Maine and eventually joins the Kennebec River. The Abenaki people, who lived here long ago, called this river Plumpetoosuc. This name means "shallow, narrow river".
What's in a Name? The Dead River's Story
The name "Dead River" might sound a bit strange! It probably comes from how the river flows. It's very flat and slow, almost like it's "dead" or not moving much, as it goes through the valley.
The earliest known document to mention the Dead River is from 1796. It was a deed of sale from an Abenaki person named Phillip. This document described the river as "Plumpetussuck, or Dead River".
The Abenaki people had their own name for the river: Plumpetoosuc. This name means "shallow, narrow river". Another idea about the Abenaki name comes from Benjamin Williams in 1805. He said the Abenaki called it Paumpalussauke, which meant "place where the god of the waters dwells". Because of this, they would travel through the area but not live there.
A River Through Time: History of the Dead River
Long before Europeans came to North America, the Abenaki people used the Dead River. It was an important path for them to travel between the Androscoggin River valley and the Connecticut River valley.
Later, companies like the Glen Manufacturing Company used the river. They would float logs down the river to get wood to their mills. This process was called a log drive.
In recent years, people in Berlin have become more interested in the river's history. Pamela Laflamme and Pierre Lessard are leading an effort to change the river's name back to its original Abenaki name, Plumpetoosuc. This idea started when Lessard put up a sign with the Abenaki name on his property.
This interest has also led to cleaning up a local park called "Dead River Park". A person named Amy Michaud noticed the park needed care. She started a Facebook group called "Friends of Dead River Park" to help clean it up.
The River's Journey: Where the Dead River Flows
The Dead River starts when Jericho Brook flows into Little People's Pond. Jericho Brook comes from the White Mountain National Forest and Jericho Mountain State Park.
The river then flows southeast through a wide, flat valley. It stays very flat, or "dead", for most of its journey. But when it reaches the center of Berlin, it drops about 40 feet (12 meters) over half a mile (0.8 km) before joining the Androscoggin River.
