Elkins, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elkins, New Hampshire
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Aerial view of Elkins (foreground) and Pleasant Lake
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 Elkins, New Hampshire
Location in New Hampshire
Elkins, New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Merrimack |
| Town | New London |
| Elevation | 810 ft (250 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
03233
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| Area code(s) | 603 |
| GNIS feature ID | 866776 |
Elkins is a small, quiet community in New London, New Hampshire, United States. It is not a separate town but part of the larger town of New London. You can find Elkins right by the eastern side of a beautiful spot called Pleasant Lake. It's a great place with a public beach and a boat launch. There's also a post office, a church, and even an alpaca farm! The Hall of The American Legions and a bandstand are important community spots here.
The village wasn't always called Elkins. It used to be known as "Scythe Factory Village" or "Scytheville." This was because a factory that made scythes was located there. Scythes are tools used for cutting grass or crops. The factory used water power from Pleasant Lake to run its machines. The scythe factory closed in 1889. In 1896, the village was renamed to honor John P. Elkins. He was a doctor who served the community from 1875 to 1888.
Contents
Elkins' Scythe Factory History
How the Scythe Factory Started
The factory that made scythe blades in Elkins began in 1835. Three young men named Richard Messer, Joseph Phillips, and Anthony Colby started it. Messer and Phillips learned how to make scythes in Massachusetts. Colby helped by providing the rights to use the water power.
Getting Materials to the Factory
Getting materials to the factory was a big job. All the iron, steel, and coal needed to be brought by oxen. They hauled these heavy materials from the nearest train station in Concord. In 1847, a new train line, the Northern Railroad, reached Potter Place. This made the trip much shorter, saving about 25 miles for the teams of oxen.
How the Factory Operated
The scythe factory worked for over fifty years. It employed almost a hundred people. The products were shipped all over the United States, Canada, and even parts of Europe. The factory used water power from three dams and ponds. This water turned twelve large grindstones and powered fourteen trip-hammers. Many other mills also used this water power. These included a saw mill, a shingle mill, a grist mill, a cider mill, a hosiery mill, and a tannery.
What the Factory Produced
In 1880, the New London Scythe Co. was very busy. They shipped more than 120,000 scythe blades. They also sent out 12,000 hay knives and 6,000 axe blades.
Why the Factory Closed
By October 1888, the factory's machines fell silent. The industry started moving closer to where raw materials were found. It also moved closer to major distribution centers. Water power was no longer the best advantage for factories. The company's property and equipment, once worth $150,000, were sold for only $9,650.
Within a year and a half, the village's population dropped a lot. It went from 300 people down to just 75. The area then slowly changed. It started focusing on other water-related activities like tourism and recreation.
