I was told that the Lowell Mass mills bought the water rights around Winnipesaukee so that they can build a dam to make sure they have adequate water. They had to pay for hundreds of acres that they have flooded after the dam was built. This was in the 1800's. I think I heard this when I went on the mill tour in Lowell when I was a kid. Maybe we can ask Bruce Hearld of the Weirs Times to do an article on the dam. Anyone out there can clarify this info?