History of Welch Island?

[carguy]

This thread hasn't been visited in a few years. I recently found the following information on the Internet in regards to Welch Island.

http://www.bluewaterrealtygroup.net/...Winnipesaukee/

As a teenager spending Summers in the 50's and 60's at Lake Shore Park in Gilford, we use to have an "Iron Man" test, which was to swim to Welch Island and back to LSP. Of course we were accompanied by a boat.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by carguy

This thread hasn't been visited in a few years. I recently found the following information on the Internet in regards to Welch Island.

http://www.bluewaterrealtygroup.net/...Winnipesaukee/

As a teenager spending Summers in the 50's and 60's at Lake Shore Park in Gilford, we use to have an "Iron Man" test, which was to swim to Welch Island and back to LSP. Of course we were accompanied by a boat.

The stone wall mentioned is on our lot. I don't see how corn could have been very productive, the soil is so poor.

BTW, there is open water today between LSP and Welch but it a bit cold for swimming. In the Ice-In thread, so called, there is a story about ice fishermen who almost swam bringing a bob house in.

[Smith Point]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

The stone wall mentioned is on our lot. I don't see how corn could have been very productive, the soil is so poor.

BTW, there is open water today between LSP and Welch but it a bit cold for swimming. In the Ice-In thread, so called, there is a story about ice fishermen who almost swam bringing a bob house in.

The stone wall mentioned is interesting to me! Because I have 8mm movie (digitaly converted) of it being built! Over the summer last year we celebrated our 100th year at our camp on smith point and some old movies of Welch Island and smith point showed up! Very cool, the movies show how the built the breakwater on Welch, with an old coal cart on railroad tracks, and to move the huge boulders they used a tree the size of a telephone pole on a pivot point to place the boulders into place.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Smith Point

The stone wall mentioned is interesting to me! Because I have 8mm movie (digitaly converted) of it being built! Over the summer last year we celebrated our 100th year at our camp on smith point and some old movies of Welch Island and smith point showed up! Very cool, the movies show how the built the breakwater on Welch, with an old coal cart on railroad tracks, and to move the huge boulders they used a tree the size of a telephone pole on a pivot point to place the boulders into place.

SP,
After sending you a PM expressing interest in the old 8mm movie, I went back and read the article reference in post # 10. I believe that the stone wall on our property on the west side of Welch was part of the sheep pasture. If so, it was probably built in the 1800s long before 8mm film existed. I am not aware of any other stone wall on Welch unless one is on the former Luce property, now owned by Muskat.

SC

[Slickcraft]

You can search deeds online at:
http://www.nhdeeds.com/belknap/BeHome.html

Select county records and then accept disclaimer at bottom of page. You need Java operating to then see a search window open. You can only search by grantee and grantor back to 1950. However you can start with a current Muskat deed such as book 1972 page 789 (1972/789 in my notation) and note the references to prior deeds by book and page.

As there are multiple parcels there are several paths back. Take the 681/10 reference which leads to 250/231 which has reference to land formally of Lucy W. Luce. 250/231 also has hand drawn plans on following pages that show the abutting Luce estate.

I’m sure that you can find other paths back that may be of interest.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

SP,
After sending you a PM expressing interest in the old 8mm movie, I went back and read the article reference in post # 10. I believe that the stone wall on our property on the west side of Welch was part of the sheep pasture. If so, it was probably built in the 1800s long before 8mm film existed. I am not aware of any other stone wall on Welch unless one is on the former Luce property, now owned by Muskat.

SC

I've long been under the impression that the stone wall was used as a barrier to assist in gathering the sheep to get them lined up for loading onto a barge for the return trip to the mainland.
That would make sense to me as one of the closest mainland/island crossings to the beach at what is now Broadview Condominiums. Wasn't Chanticleer Restaurant/Inn predecessor to Broadview, originally a farm? (Wasn't everything once a farm?)

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Descant

I've long been under the impression that the stone wall was used as a barrier to assist in gathering the sheep to get them lined up for loading onto a barge for the return trip to the mainland.
That would make sense to me as one of the closest mainland/island crossings to the beach at what is now Broadview Condominiums. Wasn't Chanticleer Restaurant/Inn predecessor to Broadview, originally a farm? (Wasn't everything once a farm?)

That is also our understanding of the function of the wall, to help funnel the sheep onto the barge. The shape of the wall leads to a narrow loading spot with obvious man made intent. The daughter of the prior land owner who sub-divided the land into the current lots, is certain of the sheep barge loading function. We have discounted the story about separating the sheep from a corn garden, the very poor soil there just barely supports scrub blueberry bushes.

[NYCtoLSP]

Originally Posted by carguy

This thread hasn't been visited in a few years. I recently found the following information on the Internet in regards to Welch Island.

http://www.bluewaterrealtygroup.net/...Winnipesaukee/

As a teenager spending Summers in the 50's and 60's at Lake Shore Park in Gilford, we use to have an "Iron Man" test, which was to swim to Welch Island and back to LSP. Of course we were accompanied by a boat.

A group of us have been swimming out to welch island in the recent years from the shores of LSP. Usually the week or two after timberman. But we just do one way, accompanied by boats and jet skis. It takes about an hour and is really fun. I can't imagine doing it back and forth!