I'll Take What's In The Box
Are you familiar with Runnells Bridge in Hollis, N.H.? This bridge spans the Nashua River just over the Hollis town line where Route 111 intersects with Depot Road. There is a beautiful place to fish under and just downstream from that bridge.
I have been out over the past few days taking photographs of our frozen environment. Yesterday I made a trip to the underside of Runnells Bridge to see what the Nashua River had to offer for sights and subjects. It was there, not far from the river's edge, that I found an oddly placed wooden box. Today, I went back for a second look.
Can you help me identify what the box is and perhaps why it is there in the forest along the Nashua River? This box is approximately four feet long and perhaps 18-24 inches wide. It appears sturdy and well-crafted out of quality inch-thick plywood. There is what looks like a partial top or lid placed nearby along a fallen oak. The lid is made from the same material. Between the lid and the box is a shallow hole that fits the box quite precisely as if it was dug for the box or was possibly created by the box being dropped from a considerable height to its current resting spot. From initial inspection, the mystery box only contains leaves, twigs, snow and ice.
Diane Sheehan
12:53 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Geocachers? Don't remove it.
Mark A. Buckawicki
2:43 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Maybe you are right, but, if the cache is now empty, and it looks to be that way, wouldn't the geocachers have cleaned up their cache box and taken it away? I have a couple of friends who do it, but I am only superficially familiar with goecaching.
Angela Rodgers
1:49 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Someone's Leg-lamp box... surprised it doesnt say Fragile!
Carol Robidoux
2:27 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Angela! Hysterical!
Mark A. Buckawicki
2:50 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Hahaha! I had to look up "Leg-Lamp Box" but you are so right!
Mary lou nichols
1:56 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
I am singing the song "the thing" by Phil Harris
Mark A. Buckawicki
2:47 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Oh get out of here with that Boom, Ba-Boom... :-)
J.J.
3:20 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
I bet someone caught an animal or something and brought it out to the woods to set it free
Mark A. Buckawicki
3:27 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
That's has a bit of logical ring to it and could possibly explain why the box is still there.
Diane Sheehan
10:51 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
This is a good idea. And if it was mud season, or a mud day, like one of the melts, it would have sunk down a bit, with the animal weight. The person could have had to rehome something like a opossum or groundhog or dreaded woodchuck.
No Longer interested
10:49 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Was it meant to hold rope and/or safety ring for retrieving people who might need help if they wander on the river ice and fall through, or who might otherwise fall in the river?
Mark A. Buckawicki
11:26 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
You might be onto something here. While the box is not quite big enough for anything human sized, the box's owner may have intended to use the box transport items out onto the river ice. Maybe fishing gear?
William Walsh
10:57 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
"fragile"! must be italian...
Lynn Greenberg
11:16 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Around the box I see human footprints in the snow, however I also see deer tracks to the right and padded tracks of an animal to the left. I am not certain what animal has the padded tracks? The box looks like it was placed in that position and an animal investigated taking the top off. I wouldn't be surprised if you find a bird, rabbits, coons or any other small animal nesting in the box in spring.
Mark A. Buckawicki
11:31 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Very observant. While I am far from a huntsmen or a woodland creature expert, the footprints around the box do appear to be human, canine, and one other type, so good call with the recognition of the deer tracks. The snow was nearly as hard as ice so my booted-foot tracks are nearly invisible.
One Man Wolf Pack
4:27 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Looks like an ice fishing box to me.........have to see the bottom better though if this were the case; I would expect skis or runners and a way to drag it.
Mark A. Buckawicki
5:46 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
This is a definite possibility. The size and quality of construction would suggest that the box be used for something like transporting ice fishing gear. I did not see any runners on the underside of this box, but that does not mean they are not there. I am going to go visit the location again tomorrow and take a closer and more detailed inspection.
I have read about "letterboxing" and was pointed in the direction of this locationally relevant link - http://goo.gl/g3vRh - I emailed the contact for that Runnells Bridge location but have not yet received a response. This is not surprising as the last activity on that page was in September of 2012.