"Leaving the shelter of the bay we begin a gradual climb up Alton Mountain Road. As the raod becomes steeper the scene opens up displaying a spectacular view of Lake Winnipesaukee below with the hills and mountains beyond. Whether one traveled by horse and carriage, or in more recent times by car, this magnificent scene awaits each visitor to the area.
The forest, once cleared for pasture, has now returned to a younger growth of trees, totally blocking the view from the present Grand View Inn building. There was another building on this site built by Mrs. Marion Johnson's grandfather many years ago. Her grandfather's name was Charles P. Hayes, who came here from England about two hundred years ago. She believes the first Grand View Inn was built in the mid 1800s.
Mrs. Johnson remembers this Inn as she was a waitress there during the summer months when she was in her early teens, approximately 1916-1918. This building was also a well-known boarding house for many years. Mr. Hayes sold it around 1920 and shortly thereafter the structure was totally destroyed in a fire.
A second building was built by Mr. Hayes and his son circa 1920 and the name Grand View Inn continued with the new owner Amanda Willard. Summer visitors came to enjoy the hospitality of Ms. Willard.
Dana and Ann Morse, whose farm is just over the brow of the hill, both remember the present inn when it was a boarding house. Mr. Morse, who was born in 1925, recalls when he was eight or nine years old, a large barn where the garage is now located. Years ago, the owner kept a few cows supplying guests with fresh milk. Guests in those days often came and stayed a month during the hot summer season.
The Morse's related that the "Mountain Road" was straightened out during the time that Dana's father, Albert Dana Morse, was a town selectman from 1929 through 1931. The old mountain road was part of the driveway to the inn. Mrs. Morse told the story of Dana's father traveling to the railroad station at the bay and transporting passengers to the inn by horse and carriage during hot summer months.
The past owners of the property were Paul Boudrow and Steve Lynch. From talking to the Morses it appears the inn closed in the late 1940s. It is now the home of Greg and Katrina Lindland plus a family catering business, called Katrina's Kitchen Gourmet Deli."
From "Winnipiseogee Heritage" - A project of the Alton High School History Class.
· Date: Mon May 9, 2005 · Views: 8784 · Filesize:32.0kb, 1207.5kb · Dimensions: 2112 x 1241 ·
Additional Info
Linked Thumbnail:
Linked Medium: Medium Image: HTML code: Direct link:
Author
Thread
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member
Registered: November 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252
Winnipesaukee Forum
