The Gale River flows for its entire length in Grafton County. It rises in the White Mountains in the town of Franconia as two short, northward-flowing streams: its North Branch and its South Branch. The two streams join in Bethlehem, and the Gale River flows thence generally westwardly. Returning to Franconia, the river collects the Ham Branch, its most significant tributary, then passes through Sugar Hill to Lisbon, where it joins the Ammonoosuc River.[2]
The 1816 State map of New Hampshire calls the Gale River the "South Branch of the Ammonoosuck River".[3] It may have received its local name because it flowed through the Gale Farm, as shown in a 1796 map of Franconia.[4] A Henry Gale household was listed in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 Franconia NH Census.
^Philip Carrigain, "New Hampshire by Recent Survey made under the Supreme Authority and Published According to Law by Philip Carrigain, Counselor at Law and Late Secretary of the State”; Carrigain, Philip, 1816.
^Welsh, Sarah (1972). History of Franconia 1792-. Littleton NH: Courier Printing Co. p. Inside cover.
