The Goffstown and Manchester Railroad was incorporated in 1847, extending from Goffstown West Village to Manchester. Rail operations continued until 1981.
In October 2008, a groundsbreaking ceremony was held for the Goffstown Rail Trail, a hiking and bicycle trail. I parked at the Hillsborough Courthouse and took a short walk on a very hot day.
Heading East I saw the 710 numbered graves just to the left of the trail. Originally the graves were identified as those of inmates from the nearby Women’s Prison. However the more probable explanation is that they contain the remains of the “poor, the unfortunate, the sick, the insane and the idiotic” who lived the Hillsborough County Farm. This “Poor Farm” was in operation from 1849 till 1867. Each stone has only a number as an epitaph.
Just beyond the cemetery I saw an abandoned dairy barn. It was too dark to see inside this window.
I noticed a nice fragrance in the air as I walked along and I believe it was coming from this unidentified shrub.
I’ve found that most rail trails are not very exciting for hikers. Rail beds were designed for train efficiency not for sightseeing. However this trail has a few surprises. Besides the cemetery of the unknowns, it was a short pass through some rocky walls. I intend to return in Autumn when it is cooler and the foliage is changing.
