Wolfeboro Back/Front Bay

[FLboater]

RG,
Here is a question for you and other map lovers. The water under the bridge in Wolfeboro is currently called “Back Bay” yet on several earlier maps including a Geological Survey 1958 the name is Front Bay. It is not named on the 1931 version of the Geological Survey. I noticed Bizer calls it Back Bay. I’m not sure what is on the “green” map. When did it change or was named. I think everyone in Wolfeboro knows it as Back Bay.
Maptech and Topozone call in “Front Bay”

[Rattlesnake Gal]

This is a question I’ve pondered myself. I’m not sure when and if the name was ever officially changed.
The 1968, 1969 Navigation Map has it listed as Front Bay. Many of the older maps don’t list a name at all.
My 2002 huge Duncan Press Map has it listed as Back Bay.
Could this be one of those things like Saunders Bay or Sanders Bay where both are used?
I’ll keep my eyes open for an answer.
PS: I like your new avatar and how you celebrate St. Patty's Day! :D

[FLboater]

I have been pondering this question and seem to remember that I was told that originally there was a Front Bay ( the current bay) and a Back Bay( now filled in where the town fields and the Liquor store are). I’m not sure of this but the next time I talk to my source who grew up next to the bay I will get a better answer. The 2 bays are shown on the 1891 map with back bay a right thumb.

BTW Crooked Pond is now Crescent Lake. There is a Crooked Pond Rd in Wolfeboro.

The 1891 map is great.

[mcdude]

I'm going to make an educated guess that when the rail line was put through in 1871 it separated Back Bay from Front Bay and sometime after that point Front Bay came to be known as Back Bay after the Back Bay was filled in. Makes sense if you've ever walked the bike path / hiking trail that now follows the old railroad bed. Ever noticed the huge curb/speed bump type thing that goes around the DeVilders Market? When the lake is really high it comes up to the parking lot! Apparently they should have put in more fill!

I checked around and found THIS MAP. (http://docs.unh.edu/NH/wolf28sw.jpg) Scroll down and see how the railroad came through and split the bay in two.

[mcdude]

Compare the map above from 1928 with THIS MAP (http://docs.unh.edu/NH/wolf58sw.jpg) from 1958. Note that "Back" bay has disappeared! (PS - click on the icon to enlarge both maps after they download and then scroll down).

Here is an image of Front Bay completely filled with logs and Back Bay not yet filled in. The pink highlight indicates the route of the railroad tracks.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15036/medium/20scanlogsinbackbay.jpg

Clow's Sawmill was located somewhere in the vicinity of 51 Mill Street - the former Love's Quay. They manufactured boxes and oaken handles.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15036/medium/20scanclowsmill.jpg

Another shot of the bay completely filled with logs.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15036/medium/20scanraftinglogs.jpg

Berry's Mill was located up closer to Wolfeboro Falls. Excelsior was made from the waste created from the manufacture of other products. It was used as a shipping material inside boxes. Excelsior, once a common product used to pack fragile items for shipping in wooden boxes, and also used for filling in mattresses, is not seen much today. Excelsior is a shredded wood product made from poplar or other soft woods. It comes from the machines like coarse wool in various sizes. Today, excelsior has largely been replaced by foam and plastic products, but it is still used to make pads for the bottom of cartons in which day old chicks are shipped. After excelsior had been shaved off the remnant sticks of poplar, they were sold to local housewives years ago for kindling wood at $4.00 per dumpcart load. This was sixty years ago when woodstoves were in common use. Two excelsior mills were operated at Wolfeboro Falls. The Hutchins mill started around 1885 - employed 15 men and turned out four or five carloads of baled excelsior a week. The Berry mill came into operation in 1900 and produced several carloads of excelsior per week. Both mills used water power from Smith River. Until 1980 the Berry mill made excelsior pads. The Hutchins mill now produces Damart, the insulating material for under-clothing used by winter sports enthusiasts.


http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15036/medium/20scanberrysmill.jpg

Postcard of a sawmill on the Smith's River which leads from Crescent Lake and Lake Wentworth (formerly called Smith's Pond) to the Front Bay.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15036/medium/20scansawmill.jpg

[FLboater]

Thanks McDude for the photo. It does show that the railroad was the divider between the Front and Bay. When I get to Wolfeboro the end of the month, I will get more information about this.

[camp guy]

To further confuse the issue, many people call the entire area "the river" recognizing that the water from Lake Wentworth and Crescent Lake flows out to Lake Winnipesaukee through this area -- much as a river would do.

[Acres per Second]

"...Ever noticed the huge curb/speed bump type thing that goes around the DeVilders Market? When the lake is really high it comes up to the parking lot...! "
At a merchant there, I confirmed yesterday what I had seen for myself five years ago.

And that is...that the huge curb/speed bump is due to rainwater run-off from the parking lot. They had used sandbags for those occasions six years ago.

The lake does encroach nearby, and could affect the west end of the parking lot, but we're talking a four-foot rise to the stores there. (A lot for Winnipesaukee).

(My spell-check just turned "DeVilders" into "Evildoers" :emb: . It's Devylders)