Governors Island German Summer Embassy

[Locker]

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

[Tallyho]

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]

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/weirs.jpg
"Weirs Bay 1929" - posted by Carguy,


http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/20scanweirscafe.jpg
"Scenes from the Weirs - 1880" - posted by McDude,



http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/176Steamer_Mt_Washington_at_Warf_-_Weirs_1906.jpg
"Steamer Mt. Washington" - posted by Rattlesnake Gal.

[Frank]

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]

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.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15014/medium/Governors_Island_Mansion.jpg

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 (http://www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org/tahs/gifts.htm).
A must read bargain at $35.

[lakershaker]

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]

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

[Sue Doe-Nym]

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!