Downings landing

[Florida Guy]

Hi I was wondering if anyone knows what happened to Downings landing. Is there a gas dock, launch. bait shop. canvas shop, like there was 4 years ago?

We ran the bait & canvas shop, great bis, good spot for that type of opperation.:cool:

[Mee-n-Mac]

Hi I was wondering if anyone knows what happened to Downings landing. Is there a gas dock, launch. bait shop. canvas shop, like there was 4 years ago?

We ran the bait & canvas shop, great bis, good spot for that type of opperation.:cool:

The gas dock is no longer pumping gas and the lot has been turned into a pay for launch and storage type of business. Village Canvas is gone as is the bait shop. There is, or was I think, an insurance business there, which I thought was kinda odd. I bet theres a photo somewhere in the PhotoPost section that shows the new Downings.

[Ropetow]

There is a real estate office there (Can't recall the name) and maybe a photographer also. Were it not for the rain I'd have been in the area today and tomorrow and would have more info....

[RLW]

The gas dock is no longer pumping gas and the lot has been turned into a pay for launch and storage type of business. Village Canvas is gone as is the bait shop. There is, or was I think, an insurance business there, which I thought was kinda odd. I bet theres a photo somewhere in the PhotoPost section that shows the new Downings.

Just a slight correction. The canvas shop was Bayview Canvas owned and run by John and Mike McManus who now have a BOOMING business in Florida under the same name. Right Mike?:)

[nj2nh]

I have vivid memories of there being a tiny little sandwich shop in that little building near the now defunct Downing's Boat Gas. Must have been in the late-60's or early 1970's. The pay lot has been there for a few years now.

I also remember the summer when the entire lake was a no wake zone. Downing's pier was under water. If you bothered to take out your boat and went down there for gas, the people working there were walking on water. They put a marker on the door to the tiny building for the high water mark. Last time we went there, it was still there, about two feet up the door!

One more memory - The marina (the name totally escapes me) across from the old Downings, used to sell gas for cars under the portico that is still there. And, they used to have a display in the window with large dolls that would change with the holiday.

Ah, the good old days. Miss them - a lot.

nj2nh

[Chubbs]

Parker Marine is across from Downings Landing.

[gtxrider]

Parker used to be Downings... I think it still says that on the roof of the boat barn. Sold Lymans, Starcraft, Evinrude...and rented boats as well. Yes there was a gas pump there as well...

[RLW]

Parker Marine is across from Downing's Landing.

This quote is correct. Downing's is on the public beach side of the bridge and Parkers is on the Merrymeeting river side and to my knowledge has always been that way at least for the 50 so years that I have been there. Downing's is the location that boat gas and Parkers had the car pumps right on Rt. 11 as one would have to watch ones self when refueling your vehicle that you didn't get hit.:)

[LakeSnake]

Yes - Parkers was Downings way back when. The initials J x D ( the middle initial escapes me) are carved into the wood trim over the side entrance to the old boathouse - just across from where the gas pumps once stood. Wish the trim on my place lasted that long.....

[Senter Cove Guy]

I think it was Ed Downing who sold my father our first Evinrude outboard engine back in the mid-1950's. Ed was an elderly gentleman back then. Is it he that Downing's was named after?

[Florida Guy]

I think it was Ed Downing who sold my father our first Evinrude outboard engine back in the mid-1950's. Ed was an elderly gentleman back then. Is it he that Downing's was named after?

if the gas dock is closed, what are john and nancy downing doing for fun these days?
:laugh: It was always supper busy on the weekends and it was all they could do to park trailers and pump gas.
bait shop and canvas customers comming in. Those were the days.

[mcdude]

I also remember the summer when the entire lake was a no wake zone. Downing's pier was under water. ..... the people working there were walking on water.

And, they used to have a display in the window with large dolls that would change with the holiday.
nj2nh

There's still quite a Christmas display each year in that window!

These are some photos I took of Downing's Dock during the flood of May 2006.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/519/medium/downingsgasdock.jpg
Employee "walking on water" !
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/519/medium/walkingonwater.jpg

[Waterbaby]

I have vivid memories of there being a tiny little sandwich shop in that little building near the now defunct Downing's Boat Gas. Must have been in the late-60's or early 1970's. The pay lot has been there for a few years now.

I also remember the summer when the entire lake was a no wake zone. Downing's pier was under water. If you bothered to take out your boat and went down there for gas, the people working there were walking on water. They put a marker on the door to the tiny building for the high water mark. Last time we went there, it was still there, about two feet up the door!

One more memory - The marina (the name totally escapes me) across from the old Downings, used to sell gas for cars under the portico that is still there. And, they used to have a display in the window with large dolls that would change with the holiday.

Ah, the good old days. Miss them - a lot.

nj2nh

There was definitely an eatery of some sort there, I also have VERY vivid memories of it! To me it was a breakfast/lunch place, however, we spent summers living on the boat in "Woofesboro" (as my Daddy used to call it) and would go down to Alton on the boat for breakfast, while they were gassing up the boat -- and that took awhile!

The summer the whole Lake was no-wake was the summer of 1998. Started after seemingly never-ending Spring rains, I remember the year and will never forget it because although the slow, steady cruises around the Lake with Dad were wonderful that was the season we lost him. Lake was no-wake for several weeks, although Hubby and I definitely broke the no-wake rule on one memorable day, in honor of my Dad!

Like you said, the good old days, and I miss them too.

[Waterbaby]

There's still quite a Christmas display each year in that window!

These are some photos I took of Downing's Dock during the flood of May 2006.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/519/medium/downingsgasdock.jpg
Employee "walking on water" !
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/519/medium/walkingonwater.jpg

HOW did you miss hitting anything?!?!?!?! :D:laugh:

[Mee-n-Mac]

So before the floods come again, here it is ...

(real estate, photographer and pay lot/launch ramp)

[LakeSnake]

Ah the flood years - always interesting. Putting rocks on the dock at the camp - to keep it from breaking up. Getting everyone into the front of the bow rider to get the windshield under the bridge going in or out of Parkers. Even the Mount at headway speed.

[John A. Birdsall]

There have been many things at Downing Landing, Gas, Boat rides on the legionairre, little legionare, the bldg did have a small restraunt, and it had a little arcades spot.

During my younger days we got boat gas there, or you could get it at Victoria Peir, or at Davenports (across from Sandy Point) or you could dock in Lune Cove and go across the street and get gas, Now you got Minge Cove or Roberts Cove. Nothing in the Alton Bay area.

Used to go to downings and they would ask with or without oil and the oil was 30 weight.

[mcdude]

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15072/medium/2wlegionnaire.jpg
Sea Plane Base....Snack Shop! 1950
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20scanaltonbayfrombayhill.jpg
,
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20scanallaboard.jpg

[Just Sold]

"LAKESNAKE: The initials J x D ( the middle initial escapes me) are carved into the wood trim over the side entrance to the old boathouse - just across from where the gas pumps once stood. Wish the trim on my place lasted that long..."

I can find no JxD Downing family member with these initials in a search of the deeds for either Downing or Jones. So it may have been a reference to the Downing and Jones families. Maybe someone can provide some info on this.

From the 1957 to 1972 Downing's Boat Service, Inc. was owned by brothers Bob Jones and Downing Jones. They were related to the Downing family that owned the Downing's Landing and a lot of the property around the Bay but as I remember it was not a close family relationship. It was Bob & Downing's Uncle (Lester F. Downing) who owned the landing. Previously the Downing's Boat Service property was owned by Edward F. Downing (1951) and all were heirs of Fred Downing. When Lester F. Downing passed away he left money for the town docks to be rebuilt and improved. There is a marker there.

I remember that Lester Downing had a real estate office, Downing's Real Estate, at the Landing at one point on the end next to the bridge. So with a new real estate office there things have come full circle.

Bob Jones lived in the gray house that overlooks the propety behind the large storage building. He had been a race boat driver in his younger days. Downing Jones lived in the house to the left of Lakeview Road. The one with the 2 car detatched garage. Downing Jones was living in Laconia in 1957.

The Landing is still owned by Downing Brothers, Inc. which is a company owned by Lester F & Aida B Downing's 3 sons.

[upthesaukee]

Jonathon H. Downing...the current owner:).

[tis]

Just sold. It is really tacking my brain, but I once knew a MP who I think was married to a Downing, Nancy? Not the Nancy that was or is married to Jonathan now. He was such a great guy, but I just can't think of his name. I was just a kid on the lake but he was always so nice to us. He was a friend of my family. This lady would probably be in her 70s or so now. I think he was somehow involved with Kingswood. I wish I could remember more about them. Do you have any idea? All these posts bring back memories. I hope it is appropriate to ask this.

[Just Sold]

TIS
I do not remember the MP's name. Maybe John A. Birdsall does. He was familar with the MP's that patrolled in Alton Bay. Also one lurker here from Peggy's Cove may know the MP's name - for reasons he and I know very well when we were 12 and 11. ;)

I do remember that one MP kept his MP boat in the Gray Owl boat house on the east side of the bay near the band stand. It was a Century lap strake. about 21'. Could be this is the person you are thinking of. The Gray Owl is still there and has a sign on the water side of 28A.

BTW Alton's Police Chief in the early 60's was a retired drug salesman. Great retirement job. Ah that was back when things were much more simple. Can't remember his name either. CRS you know.

Upthesaukee
You are correct, I missed the 2002 transfer from Downings Brothers to Jonathan and his wife.

[tis]

I don't know about the boat, Just Sold. I just remember him. A name just FINALLY came into my head. Does Dave Johnson sound familiar to you? I think that might have been his name. I hope it is right. I also wish it could jog someone's memory. I would love to know where he is and what he is doing now. Maybe John will remember.

[Altonbayicefishingfool]

I know this post is several years old however I wanted to reply on some of the questions asked here...
The initials "JHD" on the old garage that sits next to main street @ Parker marine stands for Jonathan Herbert Downing, who was my great, great grandfather.
My grandfather, Lester Downing ran and operated what was the bay boat company with his brother Ed. These initials still stand today above the side entry door.
While working at the garage my grandfather Lester would take the school bus around Alton at early morning hours to pick up all the factory workers and bring them to the shoe shops in Farmington, upon his return he would then pick up the school children and bring them to school, then back to the garage in the Bay for a day of work and then repeat in the afternoon.

Down the road Lester and my grandmother Aida B. downing started "Land -ho" at some point in time purchased several speed boats to give rides up the lake forthe cost of .10-.50 per ride. He also purchased the Legonnaire "70" deemed at one point " the fastest public speed boat in the world" one of only two of these boats made, it had a 1000 HP Packard motor capable of reaching speeds in excess of 70 mph.
My mother ( Nancy Bennett Downing) acquired her commercial boaters license at an early age Giving rides in several of the old wooden boats.

My grandparents eventually sold the business ( land -ho)to my three uncles, Richard, Phil, and Jud downing who formed Downing brothers inc. they eventually sold to my cousin and current owner Jonathan H. Downing.

My father David R. Johnston is the marine patrol officer mentioned in a previous post. He worked lake Winni from the early70's to late 1980's. After retirement he moved to Florida and recently passed away this past April. He was also the asst. principal of Kingswood reg. HS

Boy, alot of you have fond memories of my family... Thanks for posting!

[mcdude]

Land Ho............
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/LANDHO.jpg
.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/531/medium/20scanallaboard.jpg

I'm told that the man pictured in the hat was Lester Downing.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=4099&si=train&what=allfields&name=mcdude

[RLW]

http://i44.tinypic.com/1499wms.gif Altonbayicefishingfool, I just noticed that you are fairly new to the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends. Thanks for passing along all that great information and I’m betting there are lots out there enjoyed getting to know this information. Again http://i39.tinypic.com/o9n9f8.gif for everything you passed on.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

[Nancy Merrill]

The JHDowning who started the ball rolling in Alton Bay operated a lumber yard at the site which is now Parker Marine. He also owned and operated the Winnipesaukee House from about 1862 to 1870's. Around 1870 he built the corner store, His son, Fred inherited it in 1912 and operated it until 1928. Around 1916, Lester and Ed Downing convinced Jonathan and Fred that they should sell boats and autos and service them, thus Downing Boat and Auto Service. Ed was into the boat service and Lester the auto. Eventually Lester sold his share to ED and built the Snack Shop, Land Ho across the street, around 1947. In addition to operating the Legionnaire speedboats. the Bay Boat Co. was started by Lester and did not involve ED. Speedboat rides started in the early 30,s. The Real Estate business was started by Philip Downing and later Richard and Judson joined in. For more information on the Downing family, the Library has a DVD of a program Jonathan and I presented for the Alton Historical Society.