This wonderful underwater photograph is courtesy of Grant. Thanks Grant!
The Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company built the “Lady of the Lake” at Lakeport on the plot of land formerly occupied by Hezekiah Bickford’s machine shop. The “Lady of the Lake” was the first Winnipesaukee steamboat to exceed one hundred feet in length, measuring one hundred and twenty-five feet from bow to stern with a beam of thirty-five feet. This craft contributed much to the richness of Winnipesaukee’s boating history when she was taken over by the Concord and Montreal railroad, and opened the navigation rivalry between New Hampshire’s two leading railway lines.
The construction of the “Lady of the Lake” along the more conventional lines of side-wheelers marked the end of the scow-shaped steamer on the lake; but, like the horseboat, a few of these old-timers remained in service with their use confined to infrequent passenger excursions and freight trips.
In June of 1849, she began regular trips between Weirs, Center Harbor and Wolfeboro. It is told of the launching of the “Lady” that hundreds gathered from all parts of the state to see the great event. Many expected the craft to topple over as it slid down the ways, for the size of the boat was considered tremendous at that time. It was with mingled fear and hope that the crowd gasped as the “shores” were knocked away from the hull, and the ship slid toward the water. One eye-witness described it as “a graceful glide with not a ripple to mar the occasion.”
Weirs was on the line of the Concord and Montreal railroad whose tycoon, B. A. Kimball, foresaw, with the success of the Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company’s “Lady of the Lake,” huge profits from commercial navigation of Winnipesaukee. Consequently the “Lady” soon passed into the possession of the railroad. With the change of ownership W. A. Sanborn, a former salt-water engineer, became captain of the boat. With a capacity of four hundred passengers this fine steamer held complete sway of Winnipesaukee navigation for one season, until Captain Sanborn became angered at certain acts of the railroad directors at about the time the Cocheco Railroad launched the steamer “Dover” at Alton Bay.
The “Lady of the Lake” and the Dover” had an interesting and sometimes adventurous battle for several years. In 1865 the “Lady,” traveling from Wolfeboro to Weirs, ran on the famous Witch Rocks and was beached on Governor’s Island. No great damage was done and the boat was soon back in service.
The “Lady” was continued in service until September 14, 1893. Then she was anchored off Belknap Point to be used as housing for the 100 Italian stone masons building Kimball’s Castle. When this work was completed, the hull was towed out into the middle of Glendale Bay (Smith’s Cove), holes were bored below the water line and the “Lady” found her last resting place in 45 feet of water at that location.
