stonedam island

[coltgov101]

I spent more than forty summers at the lake and never knew about stonedam island. I can say that I rode through Sally's Gut almost every week and never knew that it was a wildlife refuge. When I saw pictures of the stone cabin I was amased. There is no place to tie up. The whole area is rock laden and it always looked so barren I never dreamed anyone would try to tie up there. Iguess I was wrong. If anyone can shed some light on Stonedam Island I would love to hear your input.

[jrc]

There is a dock on the east side of the island, not far from the end of Sally's Gut.

Search on Stonedam there are a few threads like this one:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...light=stonedam

[fatlazyless]

The story I heard was that Stonedam Island was originally part of the mainland until Sally decided to seperate it and dug out her gut. Some type of a family argument or something?

Later on, a bridge was built which crossed the gut but that too came down due to family argument. Too bad?

[VtSteve]

We lived directly across from Stonedam, almost even with the cove where Tom Rice lived. He used to motor out of there in his old Laker. I believe there was a seaplane there many years ago as well.

[trfour]

Here's a view taken on a hazy summer day from the top of Stonedam Island looking southeast.

[JDeere]

........yet another bright comment from FLL

[fatlazyless]

A good take-off spot for exploring Stonedam Island, a 112-acre wildlife preserve, is to park your car at the Cattle Landing (Town of Meredith) parking lot and town dock. From the kayak launch at the Cattle Landing dock, next to the concrete telephone utility shed, it's about a one & 1/2 mile paddle west, along the shoreiine, to Stonedam Island. Many kayakers will appreciate that there's no big open water crossing need be made during the paddle from Cattle Landing to Stonedam Island. After Labor Day there should be plenty of parking, too.

There is no identifying sign at the Cattle Landing dock, and there is also no sign at Stonedam Island but they are both definately there, and available to paddle and hike for no charge or fee.

Happy paddling to Stonedam Island and Sally's Gut!.

[Pineedles]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

A good take-off spot for exploring Stonedam Island is to park your car at the Cattle Landing town parking lot and town dock. From the kayak launch at the Cattle Landing dock, next to the concrete telephone utility shed, it's about a one mile paddle west, along the shoreline, to Stonedam Island. Many kayakers will appreciate that there's no big open water crossing need be made during the paddle from Cattle Landing to Stonedam Iisland. After Labor Day there should be plenty of parking, too.

There is no identifying sign at the Cattle Landing dock, and there is also no sign at Stonedam Island but they are both definately there, and available to paddle and hike for no charge or fee.

Happy paddling to Stonedam Island and Sally's Gut!.

Thank you Walter. Some of us appreciate your humor and helpfulness.

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Thank you Walter. Some of us appreciate your humor and helpfulness.

I totally agree. FLL lightens many things up and provides some very interesting and sometimes useful information. Keep it up FLL!

R2B

[trfour]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

I totally agree. FLL lightens many things up and provides some very interesting and sometimes useful information. Keep it up FLL!

Hey, I agree too the part about FLL!

[bdbd]

by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, purchased by them after a substantial fundraising campaign in the 1980s. It's a beautiful place, open to the public free of charge, dawn to dusk. There's a dock on the northeast side of the island, and trails extending through much of the LRCT land. The southeastern quarter of the island (see Meredith tax maps online), the part now for sale, is owned by the Rice family and not open to the public.
If you enjoy visiting this wonderful place, make a contribution to the LRCT to help support their work. It costs money to maintain a dock and land, as we all know.

[Island Life]

I'm an FLL fan too.

[garysanfran]

YOU are correct. There are two spots on Stonedam with similar views to the one in your photo. I'm sorry, but a closer look shows that your photo was taken near the stone-wall about 150' north, before the No Trespassing Zone. The spot I was thinking of is in private property a bit further on south...Sorry!

And I agree with bdbd, The Lakes Region Conservation Trust is setting aside as much land for the public use as donations can help them purchase. A very worthwhile Cause.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

YOU are correct. There are two spots on Stonedam with similar views to the one in your photo. I'm sorry, but a closer look shows that your photo was taken near the stone-wall about 150' north, before the No Trespassing Zone. The spot I was thinking of is in private property a bit further on south...Sorry!

And I agree with bdbd, The Lakes Region Conservation Trust is setting aside as much land for the public use as donations can help them purchase. A very worthwhile Cause.

I Love the Island and your history, as I said. .... And yes, We Will continue to support The Lakes Region in any way that we can!

[JRice]

Hi everyone, I thought that I would throw myself to the lions as it were. I spent many summers on stonedam from the mid 1960s through the '80s. I love the island it is a part of who I am. Sadly what has happened on the lake as of late is disconcerting to say the least. We no longer feel safe on stonedam and we have suffered a great deal of vandalism over the years.

We never had armed guards on Stonedam. Gary may have had the misfortune of running into me at some point. No one else ever patrolled the island. After 1978 only three people had the right to grant permission to vist the private part of the island, which, until 1980, was all of it, they were myself, my sister and my father.

There was one person, whose name I have forgotten who kept insisting that my uncle, Lyman Rice, had given him permission to visit. When asked, Lyman said "Oh, That A****" Lyman, for the record, never had an ownership interest anyway.

I would never have given permission to someone I did not know.

In any event the concept of private property has seemed to have lost its meaning as of late and as we really are not wealthy people it is time to get out with our memories intact. It is my sincere hope that whoever purchases the Rice portion of stonedam will have the time and resources to enjoy the Island as my family has for 70 plus years.

Jonathan Rice

[Pineedles]

No criticism here JRice, you have done what needs to be done, set the record straight. Welcome to the forum! Please continue to protect what is yours and don't let anyone tell you it is not your right to protect your property.

[JRice]

Hi,

Further to the above, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust does in fact own 112 acres of Stonedam Island. The Rice family owns the remaining 28 acres.

Over the years there has been confusion among the general population as to where the property lines are, many not believing that any part of the island remains private. I have personally encountered some particularly belligerent "visitors" who upon being informed that they were trespassing refused to leave.

When the LRCT first took possession of their portion they were awesome neighbors that worked hard to build all the trails that I wish I had built and patrolled regularly. In the last ten years or so their appearance has been spotty at best, making it more difficult for us. I fully support their cause I just wish they could maintain more of presence.

JR

[tis]

It is a shame you had to go through all that. People are belligerent sometimes. They act like they belong on your land and you don't. I just can't understand that kind of thinking. If I even mistakenly went on someone's private property, I would be very apologetic, not give them a hard time. It has happened to us, so I can feel for you. I am sorry you had to sell. We had to sell for the same reason. People would be there when we got there and tell us they had permission from the land owner to be there (not obviously knowing we were the landowners). They also would be using it and when we came not even move, even race us to get there first. They left their trash too.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by JRice

Hi,

Further to the above, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust does in fact own112 acres of Stonedam Island. The Rice family owns the remaining 28 acres.

Over the years there has been confusion among the general population as to where the property lines are, many not believing that any part of the island remains private. I have personally encountered some particularly belligerent "visitors" who upon being informed that they were trespassing refused to leave.

When the LRCT first took possession of their portion they were awesome neighbors that worked hard to build all the trails that I wish I had built and patrolled regularly. In the last ten years or so their appearance has been spotty at best, making it more difficult for us. I fully support their cause I just wish they could maintain more of presence.

JR

Just to let you know. My Daughter and I visited the Island long and before the LRCT got involved and there was signage just off the dock that very clearly stated the rules of the walking trails. We followed them to the letter and had a very enjoyable visit!


Regards



Terry
___________________________

[partsman]

The island is quite remarkable actually. There are several walking trails out there. The dock is not long, but offers dockage for two boats anyway, (one on each side). The water is deep enough for most boats, just go in slowly.

Once on the island, you will find a pile of old ski poles that you can grab one or two of. These will aid your ascent on the trails towards the top of the island. The trails actually only cover about a third of the island. As you hike the island, you will find small signs pointing out the various trees and flowers that can be found on the Island. The descent back to the lake and the dock cam be a little treacherous, so sneakers are a real necessity. Alot of the island is still undeveloped (trailwise) and I believe somewhat privately owned.

My understanding is that the Rice family owns the Island and gave a conservsation easement to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust in the 80's. They still retain ownership but have pput the Island into a state where it can never be developed.

As far as Sally's Gut goes, I believe it was always a channel between the mainland and the Island. I do not believe it was dredged out. As a youngster in the 50's, we used to waterski through here. The old 15' lyman with the 18 hp Evinrude easily towed my brother or I through these narrows.

Probably not a good idea to try today !

[Mr. V]

Yes, you are correct about ownership by the Rice family, at least as of about ten years ago: I assume it is still in their hands.

[garysanfran]

I have lived across from the Thomas P. Rice house on Stonedam Island since 1960. I met him and his wife a few times, and as a 9yr. old boy would marvel at the old Laker that would knife it's way into the cove. The arrival of the seaplane made any day special.

In the 80's the family donated most of the island to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. If I remember correctly, the value was $600,000. They kept the south part of the island, from the cove south, for their own private use.

Most of the island is accessible and hikeable, but the Rice family would like (would HAVE liked) those visitors to stay off the private portion. The intrusion into their privacy, from hikers, and large power boaters docking off their dock (I know boaters rights so keep comments about boaters rights to yourself...Different thread, but this point is pertinant to this post and some of these boaters were hostile to the Rices).

At one point, before the donation, they hired a private armed guard to try to discourage intruders. He stopped me and a friend at gun-point when we landed a row boat on a northeastern beach. I explained that the Rice family has always allowed me to hike on their island and he let me pass. I was 16 yrs. old.

Today the private portion is for sale. $2.75 mm with severe development restrictions. Seems the Rice family no longer wants to deal with the "progression" of Lake Winnepesaukee. I believe they have another property, on the lake also for sale.

My understanding is that there was a bridge across Sally's Gut that connected the mainland with the island and the island was used for heavy logging. There is (or was) the remains of an old road from the bridge location (north-west) to the southern point. (Not all of it hikeable, without trespassing, today.

The photo on this thread (forgot who took it) was taken from "look-out" rock at the to of the island. Last time I checked it is on their private property.

[trfour]

The photo on this thread (forgot who took it) was taken from "look-out" rock at the to of the island. Last time I checked it is on their private property.

It was I who took the photo from a clearly marked walking trail on the northeast part of the Island.
However, I do enjoy your history with.

[ClosetExtrovert]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

I have lived across from the Thomas P. Rice house on Stonedam Island since 1960. I met him and his wife a few times, and as a 9yr. old boy would marvel at the old Laker that would knife it's way into the cove. The arrival of the seaplane made any day special.

In the 80's the family donated most of the island to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. If I remember correctly, the value was $600,000. They kept the south part of the island, from the cove south, for their own private use.

Most of the island is accessible and hikeable, but the Rice family would like (would HAVE liked) those visitors to stay off the private portion. The intrusion into their privacy, from hikers, and large power boaters docking off their dock (I know boaters rights so keep comments about boaters rights to yourself...Different thread, but this point is pertinant to this post and some of these boaters were hostile to the Rices).

At one point, before the donation, they hired a private armed guard to try to discourage intruders. He stopped me and a friend at gun-point when we landed a row boat on a northeastern beach. I explained that the Rice family has always allowed me to hike on their island and he let me pass. I was 16 yrs. old.

Today the private portion is for sale. $2.75 mm with severe development restrictions. Seems the Rice family no longer wants to deal with the "progression" of Lake Winnepesaukee. I believe they have another property, on the lake also for sale.

My understanding is that there was a bridge across Sally's Gut that connected the mainland with the island and the island was used for heavy logging. There is (or was) the remains of an old road from the bridge location (north-west) to the southern point. (Not all of it hikeable, without trespassing, today.

The photo on this thread (forgot who took it) was taken from "look-out" rock at the to of the island. Last time I checked it is on their private property.

Wow..I met the guy with the gun, too. You just reminded me...how weird.

[twins]

I didn't start the topic in this direction, but...

What is it about the siren call of an island?

How many otherwise law-abiding people would consider pulling up their kayaks to Bob Bahre's dock and have a nice picnic lunch on his deck?... Maybe take a nice stroll and peek in Bill Marriott's windows and see how the other half lives?...Use Mitt Romney's outhouse when nature calls (even though the outhouse was decommissioned years ago)?...but somehow all these thing seem okay if someones home happens to be surrounded by water.

Just because you can legally and physically maneuver your boat (kayak, canoe, bassboat) to within 5 feet of an obviously occupied cottage's windows at 7 o'clock in the morning and have a peek, DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD!

[tis]

Well said, twins. There are SOME people though that would do what you said as well.

[6meter]

Interesting reading. Thanks for contributing Jonathan Rice. I have gone through Sallys gut just about every time I've gone out in the boat. I knew that the LRCRT had bought the property and assumed that made it private property still. Never knew anybody could tour the island.