🔴 The Old Man of the Mountain was adopted as New Hampshire's state symbol in 1945

🔴 It collapsed on May 3, 2003, due to cracks and fissures that developed over time

🔴 2,996 died when the World Trade Center towers collapsed on September 11, 2001


A Rockingham County Republican is taking heat for comparing the collapse of New Hampshire's iconic Old Man of the Mountain to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001.

During a hearing about a bill that would designate May 3 as "Old Man of the Mountain Day," the day the rock formation collapsed in 2003, Rep. Tim Cahill, R-Rockingham District 4, made the comparison to groans from his colleagues.

"The Old Man falling was akin to the twin towers for many of the Granite State and around the world. I was in DC on September 11th. I was also in DC on May 3rd. Soon after that I made up my mind I wanted to come home to New Hampshire. And today I am standing in these honored chambers for all of you, standing for the people," Cahill said.

2,996 died when the World Trade Center towers collapsed. 42 had connections to New Hampshire including Tom McGuinness of Portsmouth, the co-pilot American flight #11 that flew into the north tower.

No one died as a result of Old Man of the Mountain collapse.

Area where the Old Man of the Mountain was before 2003 collapse
Area where the Old Man of the Mountain was before 2003 collapse (Eric Pyra)
loading...

"Appalling" Comment

Fellow Rockingham County representative Robin Vogt of Rockingham called his comment "absolutely appalling" in a tweet.

The bill passed the House on Wednesday and moves onto the Senate.

The stone formation was named the official state symbol in 1945.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH

NH & ME Home to Eight Historic Hotels of America, Says National Trust for Historic Preservation

More From Seacoast Current