Who Remembers The Oak Birch Inn?
 

Though I have always lived in the San Fran bay area, I began to spend a few weeks in the summer along the east coast in the 1980's. One year I happened to come upon The Oak Birch Inn at Lake Winnipesaukee. At that time it was managed by a woman named Barbara Junta and her two daughters. The entire experience was so enjoyable I returned for another couple of summers.

A number of years passed, then in 1990 or 1991, I went out again and found the inn had burned down! But I managed to locate Barbara then living in Rochester, NH and we had lunch. Barbara had photos of the inn actually on fire! She said she had been called the night of the fire and had stood there helpless as the fireman were unable to save the landmark inn. That was the last time I ever had contact with her.

As many of you may know, the inn had quite a history beginning in the early 1900's. One of the people I met when I was there was "Ina" --a woman who still worked at the inn then, and, in fact, had worked there as a young girl. She told me many stories of the well-to-do folks who vacationed at the inn through the years.

Recently, I saw the obituary of a woman who may have been Barbara's sister --and quite possibly the real owner of the Inn. I seem to have a memory of her.

Can anyone out there supply me with information about Barbara, her daughters, or perhaps memories of the inn? I still have about 20 color slides I took of the inn when I was there in the early 1980's and I have many fond memories of that historic site.

Feel free to visit my Facebook page.

My best,
Dennis Caracciolo
Danville, CA [/B]

Where on the lake was the Oak Birch Inn?

Alton Bay. Was a great place to go for a movie. Owners were good peeps.

McDude has posted about the Oak Birch Inn , Alton Bay. Plus Many others - do a search for it. I went to a movie at the Inn in the early 60's.

One link: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ighlight=Birch

Would love to see you post the pictures you have in the Photo galley here.

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif DennisC, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. Here are a couple threads to view. The first one is here and the second one is here.:)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

Saw my first movie there with my folks in 1956,and many more in the years to follow.

We went there for dinner quite often before it burned. We could call ahead and they would save a dock space for us. We did also drive. I loved the atmosphere, it was such a great old place and you can imagine what it must have been like in it's day. I wish it was still there.

I think we had a discussion about the Oak Birch before, maybe the link, Just Sold posted. I so wish it was still there and am sorry it was never rebuilt.

Watched many movies there when I was a kid, it was a treat!

I was a bus boy there in 1985. Many a movie was watched there with friends as well.

I remember heading to work that day it burned, in I belive April as I watched from the thin ice on the bay. Rumor had it someone set the fire which was intended for the Alton Bay Inn, not the Oakbirch. Ironic the A-Bay Inn burned not long after.....too bad, the Oakbirch had a ton of history.

Went by there on the way back from the dump, and pointed out the old stairs that use to lead up the Inn. The area is so grown up with young trees you would never know there was such a great place there at one time.

It IS very grown up now. I also heard it was intentionally set-rumors were flying that there were neighbors that didn't like them there. I have no idea if that was true or not. I probably shouldn't even have said it. But guess I did. :)

You know those days when the lake is dead flat, perfect 70 degrease at sunset and you’re the only one on the water. That’s how I remember the Oak Birch Inn. Putting down Alton bay in the Garwood, coasting in for a perfect landing, walking into the bar and ordering a steak and a beer, finishing up just in time to catch the movie. (Good Morning Vietnam) Jumping back in the boat and putting back to the camp. Perfect ending to a perfect day. I wish there was a place like that on the lake today.

Right back at ya tis, I was gonna say the same thing but bit my tongue.
He was an evil hatred man, everytime I worked he would be out near the back door of the kitchen bitching that the exhaust fan was blowing too much smoke towards his house amongst other complaints.......I know it was him....

Oak Birch In Fire Pictures
 

Hope this works http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1666193&type=1
Friend me on facebook http://www.facebook.com/SunsetBob

Video of fire
 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3842596513365

<object width="640" height="424"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/3842596513365"></param><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/3842596513365" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="1" width="640" height="424"></embed></object>

OH, that video makes me sick. That beautiful old building-it is awful to watch!

Is this man still alive ? It has been along time.
I lived across the bay and saw the fire.

Unfortunately

Oak Birch Inn
 

Regarding my post on The Oak Birch Inn which started this discussion...

As I previously stated, when I went back to vacation at the Inn in '90 or '91, I found it had burned down, much to my utter shock. I tracked down the woman who had managed the inn in the 80's with her two daughters, and we had lunch. She kindly offered the little cottage to me that had been next to the inn to stay in the whole time I was there.

With regard to arson being the cause of the fire that destroyed the inn: that was definitely the belief that B. gave to me. As a matter of fact, she pretty much told me who she theorized "had it done." But I don't think arson was ever proved.

My first trip out there was in 1980 and I was really struck by the inn's charm. Although it was old then and in need of repair, the theatre was certainly there and I remember seeing a few good movies in it. B. told me the theatre was built in the 1940's. You could tell the seats were of that style.

As for just where the inn was: at the foot of Alton Bay (and I'm certinly no expert on the area's geography) but that's what I recall.

Now here's an ironic, if not very strange story, attached to the inn being "haunted". I will try to recall the story just as B. told it to me in August, 1980...

The inn was built around, what, 1907? 1917? It went through many owners. One owner was named "Heiner." Heiner and his son managed the inn for years in the 1950's or 1960's, if I remember correctly. One wintry night the inn was empty except for Heiner and his son. Heiner left the inn to go somewhere and was involved in an accident somewhere along a road close to the inn and was killed. For years after people who stayed at the inn claimed they saw a man in a tuxedo standing on the entry stairs or in the inn's hallways. He was allegedly described by people who never knew Heiner as being a perfect match of "Mr. Heiner." Again, I'm being told this in 1980 by B., and after hearing the story, I left to go down to a motel for a drink (think it was called the "Sandpoint" or "Sandy Point"). I sat down at the bar and got talking to the bartender and finally told him what I had just heard. He looked at me strangely and said he was Heiner's son!!

Irony or strangeness. You decide.

By the way, the first night I ever stayed at the inn in Aug., 1980, I had trouble sleeping because of what I thought was furniture or suitcases or something dragging across the floor in the room above me. That next morning I asked B. if she would give me a new room because "the people above me were making too much noise." B. laughed and said, "There IS nobody above you. This place is haunted..."

There was also a chamber maid named "Ina" who still worked there in the 1980's who had spent her entire life working at the Oak Birch Inn. She told me several stories of people who had seen "Mr. Heiner" standing on the stairs.....

Yet none of this detracts, in my mind, from the charm of the Oak Birch Inn and the great times I spent there in the 1980's.

Dennis

Thank YOu.....
 

Thank you very much. It's hard to look at some of these pictures, especially the ones of the stairs that now lead "nowhere." I do have a set of slides I took in 1980 of the inn and environs. Getting them scanned is the problem. I'll see what I can do.

Please "friend" me if you're on facebook. I have two sites, one with my name, and the other one is for my book, "Doorway To Time." Use the title.

Best,
Dennis

Who was the owner then?
 

Who was the owner then?
Right back at ya tis, I was gonna say the same thing but bit my tongue.
He was an evil hatred man, everytime I worked he would be out near the back door of the kitchen bitching that the exhaust fan was blowing too much smoke towards his house amongst other complaints.......I know it was him....[/QUOTE]

I just came by there and there has been quite a bit of brush cut and some medium size saplings removed which all are very clearly freshly removed. Just a little update and the writer has know idea what is going on. :liplick:

oak birch inn
 

thanks Want me to tell barbara junta you said hi.I'm her neice,karen

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif hirschkaren, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. I'm sorry,but I do not know any of the past owners. I believe you are referring to possible one of the thread that I pointed out. Have a great day.:)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

OBI Tavern Poster
 

Thought you might enjoy this poster from the Oak Birch Inn tavern, I quess about the late 1970's. Maybe someone remembers some of these bands.

Oak Birch Inn
 

I used to go there all the time in the 60 & 70.....(with the Penthouse Crew)

Oak Birch Fire;
 

That was a sad day.....

I could feel the heat across he bay at my place