Names Of Locations Around the Lake

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Do you ever wonder how certain areas around the lake got their names?

Every time we drive past Pumpkin Point in Alton Bay I wonder how this point got it’s name. I suppose when farming started in the area there was a pumpkin patch there and the name just stuck?

Jesus Valley Road, could that have come from the fact that the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center (http://www.abccc.org/default.asp?sub=Welcome) was close by?

Many locations make sense.

Fort Point obviously had a fort.

Governor's Island was the home of a governor.

Can you see Paugus Mountain from Paugus Bay?

Sleeper Island (http://www.sleepersisland.org/history.html)was named for the family who owned it.

Winter Harbor was named such because a loaded boat heading for Moultonborough was forced to seek shelter there and was frozen in for the rest of the winter.

Did someone find treasure on Treasure Island or was it just a better name than Red Head Island?

The name of Alton came from a town in England.

Steamboat Island was so named because the first steamboat on Lake Winnipesaukee, Belknap was wrecked there in 1841 while towing logs to a sawmill.

Did someone make rum on Rum Point?

Is Umbrella Point of Wolfeboro Neck called that because the the curve of the land looks kind of like an umbrella?

Do you suppose they found clay at Clay Point?

Did a jockey one live in Jockey Cove?

I guess this list could go on and on and on... :laugh:

[SIKSUKR]

Were there happy people on Jolly Island?
Lots of wood on Timber?
Nice white trees on Birch?
I know Pine has plenty of pine trees.
Do you think there were black cats on Black Cat?
I wonder if Little Bear only had baby bears.
We know about Cow.
Isn't Sandy kind of rocky?
I think some bum lived on Hermit.
I really doubt there are diamonds on Diamond.
A musician must have lived on Melody.
And on and on we go.:laugh::laugh:

[weim2]

Only the young at heart there.

[Sunset Bob]

And where did Far Ozone Island get it's name?

[SteveA]

Loon Point, Varney Point, Spindal Point...

How many Points? :laugh::laugh:

[SIKSUKR]

Loon Point, Varney Point, Spindal Point...

How many Points? :laugh::laugh:

I think there needs to be a Sharp Point.

[BroadHopper]

Before the dam was built, I was told the Cattle Landing area was shallow enough to herd cattle from the mainland to Bear Island. So how come Bear was not named Cattle??? :confused:

[wifi]

Before the dam was built, I was told the Cattle Landing area was shallow enough to herd cattle from the mainland to Bear Island. So how come Bear was not named Cattle??? :confused:

From folk lore, I hear the bear chased the cattle back to the neck and the people figured, heck, why not build a dam ? :laugh:

[Mee-n-Mac]

You'd have thunk Horse I would be closer to Jockey Cove ...

You'd have thunk Windswept I would be closer to Breezy I ...
Or that either would be near Hurricane I ....

Does Shelter Cove really shield you from Gun I ???
And is my Remington rifle, welcome there, not allowed on Pistol I ???

That given inflation it might be time to rename Penny and Dollar islands ...

Given their relative preponderance about the lake, why do we have 4 Loon Islands (including Little) but only 2 Rock Islands ???
And a gazzilion named points but that leg that juts from Rattlesnake Island is always called "that leg that juts from Rattlesnake Island " ???

Lastly can the lactose intolerant go to Nipple Rock ?

[CrawfordCentury]

Any stories about brave folks going over Wolfeboro Falls in a barrell?

Was the first settler on Mirror Lake Narcissus?

Did Samuel Gompers or Jimmy Hoffa hitch their boats on Union Wharf?

Who was King Cropple and what's his crown doing here? I thought we fought a revolution to be rid of the monarchists?

Was Sleeper's Point so named after a narcoleptic colony that summered on the lake?

Did our forefathers call Lake Wick-wass Lake Wick-is?

At one time was Lake Minnesquam abbutted by a Lake Mickeyswuam?

Have you heard the rumor that they're considering selling the naming rights of Clay Point to Play-dough?

Mount Major was originally called Captain's Hill before it was promoted in rank.

[Just Sold]

I found this from the Gilford Historical Society about Smith Cove and it included the various names of Varney Point and how they came about.
Thompson –Ames Historical Society
Smith Cove, Gilford on Lake Winnipesaukee
Written by: Don Frost
http://www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org/tahs/weeklies/7_24_08.pdf

[Just Sold]

Some Others on Islands:

Thompson-Ames Historical Society
Title: Gilford’s Birch and Steamboat Islands on Lake Winnipesaukee
Written by: Elizabeth A. Mead

http://www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org/tahs/weeklies/7_17_08.pdf

Thompson-Ames Historical Society
The Development of Gilford’s Welch Island on Lake Winnipesaukee


http://www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org/tahs/new_pdfs/steamer_3_27_08.pdf

There are other articles and information at the www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org (http://www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org) web site.

[mcdude]

Alton Bay was formerly known as Merrymeeting Bay. It is fed by the Merrymeeting River which flows from Merrymeeting Lake.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF MERRYMEETING?

From an article in the Baysider "Local Students Offer Their Take On Alton's History"

Long before European colonists arrived in the area, she said, Native Americans were known to hold powwows at Alton Bay.
Those ‘merry meetings’ were the origin of the name now borne by the

Merrymeeting River, she explained.



Just Sold - Try as I may....I can't figure out how to go from the Thompson-Ames webpage to the links you posted...?

[Just Sold]

McD from the Gilford Historical Society Home Page go to "News Releases" and you will find these articles in there in 2008. A different way of getting the information out but that is where you will find them.

http://www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org/tahs/steamer.htm

[Argie's Wife]

"The area surrounding the southernmost tip of the bay seemed to have been a a favorite meeting place for the tribes of this vicinity. It is well known that the trail beginning in Portsmouth enters Alton behind the Bennett residence, and culminates at the lake. Parts of it along the river may still be followed today. This river is called Merrymeeting because of the very fact that at its mouth the six tribes of Redmen held their annual powwow. These were the Winnebisagua, Quanippi, Cochikek, Masquamanagonek, Penikek, and the Abenakis. A marker at Alton Bay now commemorates the spot where the six tribes of Lakes Region Indians camped and held their annual Pow-Wow."

excerpt from...
The History of Alton New Hampshire
by Barton McLain Griffin


(I didn't know that there were that many tribes in the area until just recently! WOW!)

[BroadHopper]

Anyone know where this marker is?

"A marker at Alton Bay now commemorates the spot where the six tribes of Lakes Region Indians camped and held their annual Pow-Wow."

excerpt from...
The History of Alton New Hampshire
by Barton McLain Griffin

[CrawfordCentury]

Alton was originally a part of the town of New Durham. Called 'New Durham Gore,' it was set off as a seperate town in the late 1700s.

Doesn't seem like a fair arrangement. The new town got the lake, an important bay, and Mount Prospect (I think of it as the mini-Monadnock of the Lakes Region :) ).

[Slickcraft]

I also wondered about the history of this Alton road.

One long cold March town election day while standing outside, I asked a resident of the road (who was elected to the school board that day). To my surprise the road is named after a former owner of the old farm house, 1st place on the left. You can see at the on line registry of deeds, book 472 page 236, that Jesus S. Valle was once the owner and the road was then Valle Road. It later was changed to Valley Road and then to Jesus Valley Road.

[Alton Bay Bob]

I also wondered about the history of this Alton road.

One long cold March town election day while standing outside, I asked a resident of the road (who was elected to the school board that day). To my surprise the road is named after a former owner of the old farm house, 1st place on the left. You can see at the on line registry of deeds, book 472 page 236, that Jesus S. Valle was once the owner and the road was then Valle Road. It later was changed to Valley Road and then to Jesus Valley Road.

I have wondered about the name of that road for almost 20 years. It never ceases to amaze me about the things I learn on this forum. And now it's fast too! Thanks for the info.

[CrawfordCentury]

I also wondered about the history of this Alton road.

One long cold March town election day while standing outside, I asked a resident of the road (who was elected to the school board that day). To my surprise the road is named after a former owner of the old farm house, 1st place on the left. You can see at the on line registry of deeds, book 472 page 236, that Jesus S. Valle was once the owner and the road was then Valle Road. It later was changed to Valley Road and then to Jesus Valley Road.

Is that the one off from Rte 28? Maybe a mile prior to the new high school whilst heading north.

There's a similarly interesting story about Barnstead's Africa Road (located off from the beaten path in the puckabrush). Wish I could recall it to memory.

[Slickcraft]

Is that the one off from Rte 28? Maybe a mile prior to the new high school whilst heading north.

There's a similarly interesting story about Barnstead's Africa Road (located off from the beaten path in the puckabrush). Wish I could recall it to memory.

Jesus Valley Road is off of Rt 11 part way from Alton Bay up to West Alton.

I think that Africa Road is entirely within Alton running from Prospect Mountain Road to Muchado Hill Road, mostly a class VI road, it may extend into Barnstead on some maps. I also heard the story and have now forgotten; it may have also involved a person.

[Weir Lakes]

wrote:

Many locations make sense.

Fort Point obviously had a fort.


As it turns out, there never was a fort at Fort Point :-|

Writing about the Quannippi Trail, Tadeusz Piotrowski wrote ...

"There was an Indian camping ground at Clay Point, near the present Camp Kabeyun .... A half mile south of the camp buildings is the so-called Fort Point. As early as 1722 the Provincial Assembly voted to build a fort on this site and cut a road from Dover to supply it. But the money to do this was never appropriated, and the first road to Alton was not built until the end of the French and Indian Wars ... in 1763." [1]

Gee -- money was never appropriated ... why does that sound familiar ;)

Anyway, I think not ever having a fort at Fort Point makes it even better!

[1] The Indian Heritage of New Hampshire and Northern New England (https://books.google.com/books?id=NYH8tU0IO3gC&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=So-called+Fort+Point+-+the+Provincial+Assembly+voted+in+1722+to+build+fo rt+on+this+site,+and+cut+a+road+from+Dover+to+supp ly+it,+but+the+money+was+never+appropriated&source=bl&ots=jasJtRbHB0&sig=hm1GS90MrDhzlkKecTibXBE_W6o&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibgfCQkKvOAhWH9h4KHSb_BwsQ6AEIHjAA#v=on epage&q&f=false), edited by Tadeusz Piotrowski, 2002. pg 168.

[Woody38]

I am wondering how 'Sally's Gut" was named.

[Weir Lakes]

I am wondering how 'Sally's Gut" was named.

Woody, have a look at this (older) forum thread (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=987) on Sally's Gut.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

As it turns out, there never was a fort at Fort Point :-|

Writing about the Quannippi Trail, Tadeusz Piotrowski wrote ...

"There was an Indian camping ground at Clay Point, near the present Camp Kabeyun .... A half mile south of the camp buildings is the so-called Fort Point. As early as 1722 the Provincial Assembly voted to build a fort on this site and cut a road from Dover to supply it. But the money to do this was never appropriated, and the first road to Alton was not built until the end of the French and Indian Wars ... in 1763." [1]

Gee -- money was never appropriated ... why does that sound familiar ;)

Anyway, I think not ever having a fort at Fort Point makes it even better!

[1] The Indian Heritage of New Hampshire and Northern New England (https://books.google.com/books?id=NYH8tU0IO3gC&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=So-called+Fort+Point+-+the+Provincial+Assembly+voted+in+1722+to+build+fo rt+on+this+site,+and+cut+a+road+from+Dover+to+supp ly+it,+but+the+money+was+never+appropriated&source=bl&ots=jasJtRbHB0&sig=hm1GS90MrDhzlkKecTibXBE_W6o&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibgfCQkKvOAhWH9h4KHSb_BwsQ6AEIHjAA#v=on epage&q&f=false), edited by Tadeusz Piotrowski, 2002. pg 168.

Weir Lakes, thank you for this very informative post! I had always wondered why ruins of a fort was not on any of the maps.