Seeking Historic Images of Abenaki Tower

fmgate · 06-17-2009, 10:40 AM

Can anyone direct me to historic photos of Abenaki Tower, particularly from the time of its construction (1929?) to about 1940? Thanks. I did a quick web search and didn't come up with much.

Rattlesnake Gal · 06-17-2009, 03:48 PM

I think Grant might have something for you. He was working on a website a couple years ago.

According to NH Fire Towers it was privately built in 1929 and then rebuilt 1979.

Built by the Abenaki Tower Association, of Melvin Village, associated with the Wawbeek Hotel and cottages, is was used during World War II for aircraft spotting, and occasionally for fire detection.

Good luck!

RG

Wawbeek · 06-17-2009, 06:09 PM

Check with Norm Farwell. Lives now in Wolfeboro at the Commons. Had his e-mail address but can not find it now. Sorry. He was President of the Tower Association for years. I gave him a picture of the original tower years ago. He was then compiling a history of the Tower.

Grant · 06-18-2009, 08:18 AM

The new tower was dedicated in July 1978, I remember the day well. I have some old shots of the original Tower, and have seen shots of Chet Fernald razing the old one before constructing the new one. I also have an old brochure that Chet compiled and printed in the mid-'70s with a history of the original, including its builder, the cost, and how the land was acquired. I'll dig them up and scan them.

Senter Cove Guy · 12-20-2010, 08:39 PM

I've climbed it twice in the past 6 months after probably going 10 years without climbing it. Wanted to see the ice cover in Melvin Bay so I climbed it yesterday. Ice everywhere but probably thin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant

The new tower was dedicated in July 1978, I remember the day well. I have some old shots of the original Tower, and have seen shots of Chet Fernald razing the old one before constructing the new one. I also have an old brochure that Chet compiled and printed in the mid-'70s with a history of the original, including its builder, the cost, and how the land was acquired. I'll dig them up and scan them.

Grant, do you still have the historical documents you spoke of awhile ago and can you scan/post them?

ApS · 12-22-2010, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Grant, do you still have the historical documents you spoke of awhile ago and can you scan/post them?

My dad, who grew up in Melvin Village—and was a "dead-ringer" for Wawbeek's Chet Fernald—would probably like to see those documents also.

(Me, too).

I couldn't find a location that would reduce the attached (and oversized) 200.7 KB .jpg photo; however, I appear to have successfully attached this "historical" photograph looking out from the tower about 1955:

UPDATE:

The "successfully-attached" photo never appeared, so a friend has reduced it for me:

06-17-2009, 10:40 AM	#1
fmgate Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 43 Thanks: 8 Thanked 10 Times in 4 Posts	Seeking Historic Images of Abenaki Tower Can anyone direct me to historic photos of Abenaki Tower, particularly from the time of its construction (1929?) to about 1940? Thanks. I did a quick web search and didn't come up with much.

06-17-2009, 03:48 PM	#2
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Abenaki Tower History I think Grant might have something for you. He was working on a website a couple years ago. According to NH Fire Towers it was privately built in 1929 and then rebuilt 1979. Built by the Abenaki Tower Association, of Melvin Village, associated with the Wawbeek Hotel and cottages, is was used during World War II for aircraft spotting, and occasionally for fire detection. Good luck! RG

06-17-2009, 06:09 PM	#3
Wawbeek Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Naples & Wawbeek Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Abenaki Tower History Check with Norm Farwell. Lives now in Wolfeboro at the Commons. Had his e-mail address but can not find it now. Sorry. He was President of the Tower Association for years. I gave him a picture of the original tower years ago. He was then compiling a history of the Tower.

06-18-2009, 08:18 AM	#4
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,486 Thanks: 339 Thanked 212 Times in 116 Posts	The new tower was dedicated in July 1978, I remember the day well. I have some old shots of the original Tower, and have seen shots of Chet Fernald razing the old one before constructing the new one. I also have an old brochure that Chet compiled and printed in the mid-'70s with a history of the original, including its builder, the cost, and how the land was acquired. I'll dig them up and scan them. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

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