Over 100 years ago, this area was a dense, virgin forest. In 1892, J.E. Henry acquired approximately 100,000 acres of that virgin forest to expand his lumber operations. He began with a sawmill. By 1902, Henry and his sons had built a pulp and paper mill and later a bleach plant, expanding an already profitable operation. For the next few years, a flurry of lumbering and pulp activity spurred the growth of the area—clothes pins, heel stock for shoes, hardwood flooring, and paper plates were made during those years.

In 1903, Lincoln experienced a building boom; Henry built the Lincoln House (a hotel) where the fire station now stands; St. Joseph’s Church was erected, as was the town’s only Protestant church (now the site of the Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society). There was a school, a store, houses, shops, and the mill—the hub of the town’s activity. Tragically in 1907, fire nearly wiped out the entire town (fire-fighting equipment was brought in from Manchester by train in an unbelievable time of 55 minutes!). Henry’s paper mill suffered a similar loss only two years later.

In 1917, Henry sold his entire operation to Parker Young Company that ran the mill until 1946 when it was sold to Marcalus Manufacturing Company. It was at that time that 66,000 acres north and west of Lincoln and 23,000 acres of timberland in Waterville was sold to the U.S. Forest Service. Franconia Paper Corporation took control of the mill in 1950 and upgraded the quality of paper being produced at a rate of 150 tons a day. Some of the nation’s finest quality envelopes, bond paper, and offset duplicator paper were produced by the 500 people employed at that time. Sadly, the Franconia Paper Corporation went bankrupt in 1971. Though several companies tried to continue papermaking operations after that time, there were too many problems in meeting the new river classification standards. In 1980, the doors were closed and all assets were sold at auction. The machines are quiet now; a theatre exists where industry once flourished. But the histories of Lincoln, of this building, and now the arts, are forever entwined.

When Lincoln celebrated its bi-centennial in 1964, the mill was in its modern heyday. The residents of this bustling White Mountain town believed it was an atmosphere in which the arts could flourish. Spearheaded by Rachel Adams, wife of former New Hampshire governor Sherman Adams, the Lincoln Opera House premiered its first season of summer stock on July 4th of that bicentennial year in the former high school building. They did not produce opera; the name was because they expected to produce 19th century melodrama—originally performed in theatres then called "opera houses." Lincoln and its visitors enjoyed six seasons of theatre until 1969 when the Lincoln Opera House was forced to close due to rising production costs and other economic conditions. But the dream of theatre did not end for Lincoln.

In 1986, a group of Lincoln business owners, with the help of Van McLeod, formed the NCCA as a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the visual and performing arts. Mr. McLeod remained as our Producing Director during the formative years until he was appointed Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the State of New Hampshire. The first year, a summer children's theatre was presented under a tent in cooperation with the Lincoln Arts Council. The following year, Machine Room #1 of the former paper mill was transformed into the Papermill Theatre. A very artistically successful Mainstage season including Carnival, Harvey, Deathtrap and Cabaret kicked off what would prove to be the beginning of a quickly growing, high quality, professional theatre. The Children’s Theatre also continued with another successful year.

It is quite fitting that the NCCA began life in this former paper mill—the very site that gave birth to the town itself. It is also fitting that the cast and crew are housed and rehearse in the former Lincoln Opera House. And, as the NCCA looks forward toward a bright future, its sights are once again set where it all began—the mill.

Some believe that dreams are best nourished where dreams once flourished. And indeed, dreams are the stuff of which theatre is made. It is that dream, that magical quality, that draws us to the theatre. And, it is also what makes this place—the former paper mill—so special. Once filled with the whirring of machinery, these walls now resound with the joyous noise that is theatre. But most importantly, this place has always been—and will continue to be—a place where the people of the North Country dream.

Thanks to the Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society for their assistance with this article