Editing Gilsum, New Hampshire (section)

==History==

The land was originally named "Boyle" after [[Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington|Richard Boyle]], [[Earl of Burlington]], when the land was granted by the [[John Mason (governor)|Masonian Proprietors]] in 1752, but ongoing hostilities during the [[French and Indian War]] prevented settlement. When the grant lapsed, the town was rechartered by Governor [[Benning Wentworth]] on July 13, 1763, as Gilsum, in a portmanteau of the surnames of two proprietors, Samuel Gilbert and his son-in-law, Thomas Sumner. It was first settled in 1764 by Josiah Kilburn from [[Hebron, Connecticut]].<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book  | last = Coolidge  | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield  | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge  | year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n542 502]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.  }}</ref>

The [[Ashuelot River]] provided [[water power]] for [[woolen]] mills. By 1859, when the population was 668, there was also a [[bobbin]] factory, a chair factory, and a [[Tanning (leather)|tannery]]. Gilsum used to be a center for mining [[mica]] and [[feldspar]]. High-quality crystals, especially [[beryl]], [[tourmaline]], and [[quartz]], can also be found.<ref>[http://www.nh.searchroots.com/documents/History_Gilsum_NH.txt History of Gilsum, New Hampshire]</ref> Today, Gilsum is headquarters to the W.S. Badger Company, makers of "[[Liniment|balms]], [[potion]]s and [[natural remedies]]."

The town contains the [[Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge|Stone Arch Bridge]], completed in 1863 with the highest vault (36 feet, 6&nbsp;inches) of any mortarless [[Arch bridge|bridge]] in New Hampshire. In 1989, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places|National Register]].

<gallery>
File:Main Street, Gilsum Village, NH.jpg|Main Street {{circa|1910}}
File:Collins Woolen Mill, Gilsum, NH.jpg|Woolen mill in 1911
File:Polley Bridge, Gilsum, NH.jpg|Polley Bridge in 1907
File:Ashuelot Hotel.jpg|The Ashuelot Hotel {{circa|1896}}
</gallery>