Holderness became a farming and fishing community, except for the "business or flat iron area" located on the Squam River, which has falls that drop about before meeting the Pemigewasset River. With water power to operate mills, the southwestern corner of town developed into an industrial center, to which the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad entered in 1849. But the mill village would be at odds with the agricultural community, especially when denied civic amenities including gaslights and sidewalks. Consequently, in 1868, it was set off as Ashland.
holderness became a farming and fishing community except for the "business or flat iron area" located on the squam river which has falls that drop about before meeting the pemigewasset river with water power to operate mills the southwestern corner of town developed into an industrial center to which the boston concord & montreal railroad entered in 1849 but the mill village would be at odds with the agricultural community especially when denied civic amenities including gaslights and sidewalks consequently in 1868 it was set off as ashland