History of Paugus Bay

[bresmom82]

Hi everyone, I was just curious if anybody might have any info or phots regarding Paugus Bay. I've searched online some but really can't find much. I have been coming up to the lake for 29 years and have a summer place along Weirs Blvd. Along some of our boat docks I always notice very large stumps from trees on the bottom of the water. I've also heard that Paugus Bay was once all farmland and was manmade. Any info is very helpful !!! Thanks a bunch !!!:patriot:

[Diver1111]

I cropped down from a big 1909 topographic map the Paugus area for you (aka Long Bay years ago).

These USGS topos I have for the whole lake show me things that existed 100+ years ago which helps me research where to dive for artifacts and more because I am not interested in what is there today but what was there a long time ago.

Paugus has alot of history-it's where I found that 40 foot+- steamboat a few years ago. As to farmland I can't say but that's not my understanding. If I recall correctly the bay was formed by glacial movement scraping the daylights out of the land creating what you see today, once it filled with water.

You can click on the document and it will open in MS-Paint; For another view right click on it and select Preview-appears a bit more manageable.

I may have more for you-need to dig into my books.

[brk-lnt]

I seem to recall reading/hearing that Paugus bay used to be lower than Winni, and the Army Core of Engineers dredged out what is now the Weirs Channel, which caused the water level in Paugus to rise (I think it was by like 5 feet).

[Kamper]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paugus_bay

"Paugus Bay is a 1,220-acre (4.9 km2) water body located in Belknap County in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, in the city of Laconia. It is connected by a short channel at the village of Weirs Beach to Lake Winnipesaukee. With the 19th-century construction of a dam in the community of Lakeport (within Laconia), the elevation of Paugus Bay was raised to that of Lake Winnipesaukee, effectively making the smaller water body an arm of the larger one. Water flowing out of Paugus Bay travels down the Winnipesaukee River to the Merrimack River."

I think before the dam went in, it was sometimes referred to as "Lake Paugus."

[bresmom82]

Thanks guys, very interesting. ;) I always wondered what you would find diving the lake. Maybe one day I will look into that. I'd love to see more if you could find any. Take care and have a great weekend!! I'm headed up this afternoon.

[CrownRay]

Isn't it true that there are some submerged railroad cars somewhere along the tracks...by, say, Southdown Shores area???

[BroadHopper]

Take a look at this thread. My Grandfather gave me a copy of the little booklet about the Lakeport cleft. with maps of what the lake looks like then. Where the Laconia airport is and Lily Pond was once part of the lake.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=931&highlight=history+lake+size

Paugus bay had quite the history.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

I seem to recall reading/hearing that Paugus bay used to be lower than Winni, and the Army Core of Engineers dredged out what is now the Weirs Channel, which caused the water level in Paugus to rise (I think it was by like 5 feet).

Actually what you might be thinking about is a time before the Lakeport Dam.

At that time The big lake was about 4-5 feet lower than today.
The water which is the subject of this thread was even lower. The water ran down hill in the Wiers channel. (Artifacts found indicate that the Natives used to catch chad in this spot, where the drive in is now)

When the Dam raised the level, I believe the channel was also dredged to allow traffic to pass.

In an unrelated event that never happened. At one time the Mills in Lowell Mass. were trying to purchase all of the land around the lake in order to raise the Lake an additional 20ish feet. The goal was to greatly enhance the ability to keep the mills turning during the summer. Think it was in the late 1800s. It was obviously unsuccessful. The region would be a far different place if this had happened. I wonder what that map would have looked like?

Last tidbit: The rock with the building around it at the Wiers Channel used to be the northern Massachusetts boarder. No really.

[Grandpa Redneck]

Last tidbit: The rock with the building around it at the Wiers Channel used to be the northern Massachusetts boarder. No really.


Yep, and it seems like it should be again lately.

[NH_boater]

I have seen numerous old maps showing it as Lake Paugus or Paugus Lake. an old post card.....

www.billyspostcards.com/.../A2299_Old_Postcard_Lake_Paugus_New_Hampshire_NH_Vi ew.html

[Bear Island South]

An 1885 map shows it as Long Bay

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16321