Runaway Pond

On a summer night in 1810, the citizens of Langdon, New Hampshire, witnessed an extraordinary geological event: a massive underground cavern beneath Runaway Pond suddenly collapsed, draining the entire body of water in a matter of hours. Nancy Graff brings this forgotten moment of American history to vivid life, weaving together geological science, local legend, and the human stories of those who experienced this dramatic natural disaster. Through meticulous research and compelling narrative, Graff explores how a single catastrophic event shaped a community and left an indelible mark on the landscape. A fascinating blend of history, nature writing, and regional storytelling that reveals the power of the earth to transform both land and memory.