Crawford House photo - Library of CongressThe Friends of Madison Library and the Madison Historical Society invite you to a presentation by Carl Lindblade of the University of New Hampshire, “Marriotts of the Mountains: the Crawford Family of Crawford Notch, New Hampshire’s First Family of Innkeeping,” on Thursday, August 21 at 7 pm in the John F. Chick Room at the Madison Library.

Carl Lindblade is currently a lecturer in the hospitality management department at the University of New Hampshire, and a member of the UNH Speaker’s Bureau.

At the presentation, Lindblade will discuss how the Crawford family moved “south” from Colebrook and Guildhall, Vermont to what is now Bretton Woods, acquiring their first parcel of land for free. From there they expanded their holdings as farmers and hosts. It can be said that the Crawfords were the inventors of modern innkeeping, charging for food, lodging and recreation to supplement farm income. Then in a fire, they lost everything but their mortgage. This is a New Hampshire story of family enterprise, entrepreneurship, success and tragedy.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will follow the presentation, provided by program sponsors the Friends of Madison Library and the Madison Historical Society.

The Crawfords of Crawford Notch