Editing Bethlehem, New Hampshire (section)

== History ==
[[Image:Bethlehem nh.jpg|left|thumb|Panoramic Map of Bethlehem in 1883]]

Granted as "Lloyd's Hills" in 1774 by [[Thirteen Colonies|colonial]] Governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]], the town was named for James Lloyd of [[Boston]]. It was the last of the provincial grants in New Hampshire. In the aftermath of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the original grant could not be found. Lack of documentation deterred settlement until 1787, when the first permanent houses were built. Dropping its homage to Lloyd, a [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]], the town was incorporated as "Bethlehem" on December 27, 1799, the name having been selected on [[Christmas]] Day. There were just 33 families, with [[agriculture]] the only industry.

By 1850, the population had grown to 950, and the town contained a [[gristmill]], five large [[sawmill]]s, and two [[starch]] factories. In 1867, the [[railroad]] came to Bethlehem Junction. With it traveled tourists from Boston, [[New York City|New York]] and elsewhere, many to avoid respiratory ailments in the low [[pollen]] count environment of "the highest town in New Hampshire" (as claimed on a present-day sign in the village). Others were attracted by the paintings of the [[White Mountain art]]ists. Conveniently located near [[Mount Washington]] and other attractions of the [[White Mountains (New Hampshire)|White Mountains]], Bethlehem developed into a [[Gilded Age]] resort for the rich and famous.

[[Image:Maplewood Hotel, Maplewood, NH.jpg|thumb|left|The Maplewood Hotel {{circa|1905}}]]
In 1873, at the beginning of a building boom, Governor [[Henry Howard (Rhode Island politician)|Henry Howard]] of [[Rhode Island]] built Howard House. Eventually, over 30 hotels would line Bethlehem's streets. Seven trains arrived daily, some direct from [[Grand Central Terminal]], stopping at Bethlehem's five depots. Patrons included Presidents [[Ulysses S. Grant|Grant]], [[Rutherford B. Hayes|Hayes]], [[Theodore Roosevelt|Roosevelt]], [[William Howard Taft|Taft]] and [[Warren G. Harding|Harding]], as well as author [[Thornton Burgess]] and poet [[Robert Frost]]. Entertainments included strolling Main Street on a two and a half mile raised [[boardwalk (entertainment district)|boardwalk]], [[carriage]] rides in the countryside, [[croquet]] games, or simply lounging about the hotels' sweeping [[piazza]]s.

On the hills and thoroughfares were built large summer "cottages", including that of the [[Frank Winfield Woolworth|Woolworth]] family. Beginning in 1887, an annual Coaching Parade was held, with prizes awarded for lavishly decorated horse-drawn carriages. Ornamentations cost as much as $5,000, prompting visitor [[Phineas T. Barnum]] to proclaim it "the ''Second'' Greatest Show on Earth."

But the rise of the [[automobile]] would bring the decline of grand hotels. Tourists could now explore regions beyond the limits of rail service. Beginning about 1916, [[American Jews|Jewish]] families began arriving in town, often seeking relief from [[hay fever]] symptoms. In fact, an organization named the Hebrew Hay Fever Relief Association, which was organized in the 1920s, existed in Bethlehem for many years.<ref>''The New Hampshire Atlas and Gazetteer''. (1988). Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping Company. See Map 44.</ref><ref name = landfill>[https://whitemtnews.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/the-bethlehem-landfill-controversy/ The Bethlehem Landfill Controversy WhiteMountainNews.com June 20, 2010]</ref> For a town in northern New Hampshire, contemporary Bethlehem has a sizeable Jewish community (and a number of [[synagogue]]s), a legacy of its hay-fever-relief experience.

It was at Bethlehem that the National Hay Fever Relief Association was founded. [[World War II]] gave the hotels a second life, as tourists avoided war-ravaged [[Europe]] and stayed closer to home. By the 1950s, however, hotel attendance had dwindled. Many would close and be demolished. Today, the town is known for its special Christmas postal cancellation stamp. Every year, people from all over the world send [[Christmas card]]s to the Bethlehem [[post office]] to have them postmarked. In 2000, it handled 56,000 Christmas cards.

Bethlehem has experienced a continuing controversy, beginning in the 1980s. Casella Waste Systems of [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland, Vermont]], through its subsidiary North Country Environmental Services, purchased the town dump and created a [[landfill]]. The company has made efforts to expand the landfill. Town residents have tried to terminate the landfill, but Casella has repeatedly challenged the residents in court.<ref name=landfill/>

<gallery>
Image:Railway Station, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|Railway Station {{circa|1905}}
Image:View of Main Street, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|Main Street in 1919
Image:Mount Agassiz, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|[[Mount Agassiz (New Hampshire)|Mount Agassiz]] in 1906
Image:Bethlehem, NH from Mount Agassiz.jpg|Bird's-eye view in 1909
Image:Horse Trolley, Bethlehem, NH.jpg
</gallery>