Governors Island German Summer Embassy

Locker · 06-24-2008, 01:44 PM

Does anyone have information on the German Summer embassy that allegedly resided on Governors Island? There are ruins on top of the island.

Tallyho · 06-24-2008, 08:20 PM

The structure is visible in the background of the following pictures from the "Historical Photographs" category.

"Weirs Bay 1929" - posted by Carguy,
"Scenes from the Weirs - 1880" - posted by McDude,
"Steamer Mt. Washington" - posted by Rattlesnake Girl.

It eventually burned, but I don't have any information as to the year.

Rattlesnake Guy · 06-25-2008, 06:18 AM

"Weirs Bay 1929" - posted by Carguy,

"Scenes from the Weirs - 1880" - posted by McDude,

"Steamer Mt. Washington" - posted by Rattlesnake Gal.

Frank · 06-25-2008, 12:42 PM

The mansion on Governor's Island was built in the 1880s by Stilson Hutchins of Washington DC, the founder of the Washington Post. He leased it in the early 1900s to the Germany embassy for use as a summer place. The Hutchkins family sold the mansion in the late 1920s and it burned down in 1934.

- Frank

Rattlesnake Gal · 07-01-2008, 10:40 AM

The mansion was leased out to the German Embassy in 1903 for Ambassador Count Von Sternburg as a summer outpost.
Other political visitors to this impressive mansion were President's Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt.

This photograph is from one of my favorite books on the history of our great lake, The Gunstock Parish by Adair D. Mulligan. I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in Lake Winnipesaukee’s history and life here in the early days to order this incredible piece of literature by visiting the Thompson-Ames Historical Society of Gilford New Hampshire.
A must read bargain at $35.

lakershaker · 07-01-2008, 12:48 PM

Looking at these old pictures, it looks like they had many of the same issues as today - wealthy out of towners sweeping into town, clear-cutting land to the shore, and building a giant place with a golf course lawn! But it is amazing how quickly the land goes back to nature once they are gone.

Locker · 07-09-2008, 02:35 PM

Lakeshaker,
Everyone was an out of towner at one point!
Thank you to those that shared the story of the mansion!

Sue Doe-Nym · 12-19-2020, 02:27 PM

Yes, thank you to all history buffs who contributed. We had no idea that there had been a mansion with so much history...very fascinating!

06-24-2008, 01:44 PM	#1
Locker Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Governors Island German Summer Embassy Does anyone have information on the German Summer embassy that allegedly resided on Governors Island? There are ruins on top of the island.

06-24-2008, 08:20 PM	#2
Tallyho Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 312 Thanks: 439 Thanked 16 Times in 13 Posts	Governors Island German Summer Embassy The structure is visible in the background of the following pictures from the "Historical Photographs" category. "Weirs Bay 1929" - posted by Carguy, "Scenes from the Weirs - 1880" - posted by McDude, "Steamer Mt. Washington" - posted by Rattlesnake Girl. It eventually burned, but I don't have any information as to the year.

06-25-2008, 06:18 AM	#3
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Those pics "Weirs Bay 1929" - posted by Carguy, "Scenes from the Weirs - 1880" - posted by McDude, "Steamer Mt. Washington" - posted by Rattlesnake Gal.

07-01-2008, 10:40 AM	#5
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Governor's Island Mansion The mansion was leased out to the German Embassy in 1903 for Ambassador Count Von Sternburg as a summer outpost. Other political visitors to this impressive mansion were President's Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt. This photograph is from one of my favorite books on the history of our great lake, The Gunstock Parish by Adair D. Mulligan. I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in Lake Winnipesaukee’s history and life here in the early days to order this incredible piece of literature by visiting the Thompson-Ames Historical Society of Gilford New Hampshire. A must read bargain at $35.

07-01-2008, 12:48 PM	#6
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 91 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	McMansion of the day? Looking at these old pictures, it looks like they had many of the same issues as today - wealthy out of towners sweeping into town, clear-cutting land to the shore, and building a giant place with a golf course lawn! But it is amazing how quickly the land goes back to nature once they are gone.

The Following User Says Thank You to Tallyho For This Useful Post:
Top-Water (12-19-2020)

The Following User Says Thank You to Rattlesnake Guy For This Useful Post:
Top-Water (12-19-2020)

06-25-2008, 12:42 PM	#4
Frank Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	The mansion on Governor's Island was built in the 1880s by Stilson Hutchins of Washington DC, the founder of the Washington Post. He leased it in the early 1900s to the Germany embassy for use as a summer place. The Hutchkins family sold the mansion in the late 1920s and it burned down in 1934. - Frank

The Following User Says Thank You to Frank For This Useful Post:
granitebox (12-21-2020)

07-09-2008, 02:35 PM	#7
Locker Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Gov. Is Mansion Lakeshaker, Everyone was an out of towner at one point! Thank you to those that shared the story of the mansion!

12-19-2020, 02:27 PM	#8
Sue Doe-Nym Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,425 Thanks: 743 Thanked 788 Times in 413 Posts	Yes, thank you to all history buffs who contributed. We had no idea that there had been a mansion with so much history...very fascinating!