Seeking Historic Images of Abenaki Tower

[fmgate]

Can anyone direct me to historic photos of Abenaki Tower, particularly from the time of its construction (1929?) to about 1940? Thanks. I did a quick web search and didn't come up with much.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

I think Grant (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/member.php?u=43)might have something for you. He was working on a website a couple years ago.

According to NH Fire Towers (http://www.firelookout.org/towers/nh/abenaki.htm)it was privately built in 1929 and then rebuilt 1979.

Built by the Abenaki Tower Association, of Melvin Village, associated with the Wawbeek Hotel and cottages, is was used during World War II for aircraft spotting, and occasionally for fire detection.

Good luck!

RG

[Wawbeek]

Check with Norm Farwell. Lives now in Wolfeboro at the Commons. Had his e-mail address but can not find it now. Sorry. He was President of the Tower Association for years. I gave him a picture of the original tower years ago. He was then compiling a history of the Tower.

[Grant]

The new tower was dedicated in July 1978, I remember the day well. I have some old shots of the original Tower, and have seen shots of Chet Fernald razing the old one before constructing the new one. I also have an old brochure that Chet compiled and printed in the mid-'70s with a history of the original, including its builder, the cost, and how the land was acquired. I'll dig them up and scan them.

[Senter Cove Guy]

I've climbed it twice in the past 6 months after probably going 10 years without climbing it. Wanted to see the ice cover in Melvin Bay so I climbed it yesterday. Ice everywhere but probably thin.

The new tower was dedicated in July 1978, I remember the day well. I have some old shots of the original Tower, and have seen shots of Chet Fernald razing the old one before constructing the new one. I also have an old brochure that Chet compiled and printed in the mid-'70s with a history of the original, including its builder, the cost, and how the land was acquired. I'll dig them up and scan them.

Grant, do you still have the historical documents you spoke of awhile ago and can you scan/post them?

[ApS]

Grant, do you still have the historical documents you spoke of awhile ago and can you scan/post them?
My dad, who grew up in Melvin Village—and was a "dead-ringer" for Wawbeek's Chet Fernald—would probably like to see those documents also. :look:

(Me, too). :)

I couldn't find a location that would reduce the attached (and oversized) 200.7 KB .jpg photo; however, I appear to have successfully attached this "historical" photograph looking out from the tower about 1955:

UPDATE:

The "successfully-attached" photo never appeared, so a friend has reduced it for me: