By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT-The Sullivan County Commissioner’s Office unveiled a new dedication on June 20, 2022. The plaque, dedicated to Arthur “Archie” Mountain, now hangs in the newly built Sullivan House in Claremont,New Hampshire.
The Sullivan House is a newly restored transitional housing facility in Claremont. It aims to help fill a critical gap for individuals in substance abuse recovery by providing safe, clean, and affordable housing.
The 19 Sullivan Street location has a long history though. It is the site of the birthplace of Constance Feinmore Woolson, a 19th century author, whose grandfather made the first successful cookstove in America in 1818. It is also a former location of The Daily Eagle, now the Eagle Times, and the place Mountain began his career as a reporter in 1958.
“In 1958, Archie Mountain began his journalism career working for the Daily Eagle Newspaper in this very building. His articles and photos have been prominently featured in local news publications for over 60 years. Archie is Sullivan County’s storyteller and his work has connected multiple generations. From weekday events, to Friday night races at Claremont Speedway, and high school football games on Saturday afternoon, Archie has been there to bring those stories home to all of us. May Archie’s enduring work ethic and love for our community be an inspiration to all,” reads the plaque dedicated to Mountain in the Mountain View Conference room.
According to Sullivan County Manager Derek Ferland, dedicating a space to someone in this manner isn’t a typical tradition for the offices. Mountain had become a regular fixture at County meetings as a reporter for various publications, and was very well known to the Commissioner’s Office.
The decision to dedicate the room came after Mountain had informed the commissioners that he had in his possession old photographs and drawings of the 19 Sullivan Street location from his time working at the Daily Eagle. Mountain later attended another meeting and provided the old photographs and donated them to the county, if they could find a use for them in the updated building. The commissioner’s office decided the photographs and drawings would not only make a wonderful addition to the building, which are now hanging in the Sullivan House, but also that Mountain should have a piece of the building and its history dedicated to him.
“We thought those pieces from Archie would be an awesome thing to have on display. Naming the room was something we had discussed previously but we don’t usually dedicate them to anyone. After [he] had donated that stuff though, and his dedication to the community through his journalism, we knew we wanted to give back to him somehow,” said Ferland of the dedication.
Mountain has spent much of his life in the Newport and Claremont area. Born in Maine, he moved to Newport as a child. He graduated from Newport’s Towle High School in 1955. While a senior at Towle, Mountain was the editor of the school newspaper. He took a job as a reporter for the Daily Eagle in 1958, covering Bellows Falls, Windsor, and Newport. He is well known for covering local sports, starting the News Leader and being a dedicated local journalist for six decades. Mountain was awarded best writer/columnist at the Eagle Times in 2014.
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