Quote:
Originally Posted by codeman671
I saw an article on facebook last night about commonly asked questions regarding the islands. It stated that back in the 1800's the overall average lake level was much lower and the Witches was actually an island with trees on it. Lake levels rose over time, the soil/sand washed out and now we are left with todays rockpile.
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Loosely summarized from "Three Centuries on Winnipesaukee", One dark night a man was rowing across the lake. At some point, he got disoriented and came to rest in an area where there were just dead trees. He hunkered down in his boat for the night when strong winds came up. Blowing through the trees, the howling made him believe he had been set upon by witches. His head cleared in the morning and that's the story he told when he arrived on shore.
Also in "Three Centuries" it is noted that Paugus Bay was really just a river until the Lakeport dam was raised flooding farmlands. The author claims you could still see a stone wall running from Little Island to the mainland when flying overhead. The dam was raised and the channel was dredged (formerly just rapids) making Paugus Bay navigable waters. Little Island used to have a two story house with a boathouse underneath, a dock and a stone jetty. Last time I went by years ago the house was mostly gone and ice movement had leveled most of the island.