Elkins is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

New London New London may refer to: Places United States *New London, Alabama *New London, Connecticut *New London, Indiana *New London, Iowa *New London, Maryland *New London, Minnesota *New London, Missouri *New London, New Hampshire, a New England town ** ...

, Merrimack County,

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, United States. It is situated at the east end of Pleasant Lake. It is home to a public beach, public boat launch, auto repair garage, post office, church, veterinarian office, and alpaca farm. Also central to the community is the Hall of The American Legions and adjacent bandstand. The village was originally called "Scythe Factory Village" or "Scytheville", because of the presence of a scythe works in the village, using the outflow from Pleasant Lake to power the equipment to manufacture this agricultural implement. The scythe works closed in 1889 and, in 1896, the village was renamed in honor of John P. Elkins, a physician who had served the community from 1875 to 1888.New London Historical Society

Scythe works

The scythe blade manufacturer in the village was founded in 1835 by Richard Messer, Joseph Phillips and Anthony Colby. Still in their twenties, Messer and Phillips had learned the business in

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, while Colby provided the water rights but no capital. All of the necessary iron, steel, and coal had to be hauled by oxen from the nearest railhead at

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. In 1847, the Northern Railroad arrived in Potter Place, shortening the teamsters' trip by . The scythe works operated for over fifty years, employed almost a hundred workers, and shipped products around the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. A dozen 3-ton grindstones and fourteen trip-hammers were powered by water running through a series of three dams and millponds. Among the many other mills sharing this power supply were a saw mill, shingle mill, grist mill, cider mill, hosiery mill, carding mill, and tannery. In 1880, the New London Scythe Co. shipped over 120,000 scythe blades, 12,000 hay knives, and 6,000 axe blades. By October 1888 the grinding and hammering were silenced, as the industry moved closer to raw materials and distribution centers, and as agriculture became more mechanized. Water power no longer offered a competitive advantage. The company's property, plant and equipment, which earlier had been valued at $150,000, was sold at auction for $9,650. Within a year and a half, the village's population dropped from 300 to 75, and the area began a slow transition to other water-related enterprises: tourism and recreation.

References

{{authority control Unincorporated communities in New Hampshire Unincorporated communities in Merrimack County, New Hampshire