Oldest cottage on the Lake

[Redwing]

Marvelous thread, and I hope there will be more postings!

Although we have only been at the lake since 1952, the main section of our cottage dates to the 1870s.

Shortly after my parents purchased our lake property, our 1870s garage in Connecticut was to be destroyed in order to make way for an addition to our home. Not ones to waste anything, my parents (both “children” of the depression) hired a carpenter who took the garage down, piece- by- labeled piece, which he then transported to our newly purchased lake property in Moultonborough. The entire cost for such was a whopping $66.00 (including break-down and delivery)! The same carpenter then proceeded to re-assemble the labeled garage pieces at our lake property, and voila – the 1870s “garage” became our new “cottage”, with a large picture window replacing the area that had previously been a garage door.

We have since added-on rooms to our cottage over the years, but the main cottage (garage) remains intact and is as solid as a rock.

[Sunset Bob]

Originally Posted by Redwing

Marvelous thread, and I hope there will be more postings!

Although we have only been at the lake since 1952, the main section of our cottage dates to the 1870s.

Shortly after my parents purchased our lake property, our 1870s garage in Connecticut was to be destroyed in order to make way for an addition to our home. Not ones to waste anything, my parents (both “children” of the depression) hired a carpenter who took the garage down, piece- by- labeled piece, which he then transported to our newly purchased lake property in Moultonborough. The entire cost for such was a whopping $66.00 (including break-down and delivery)! The same carpenter then proceeded to re-assemble the labeled garage pieces at our lake property, and voila – the 1870s “garage” became our new “cottage”, with a large picture window replacing the area that had previously been a garage door.

We have since added-on rooms to our cottage over the years, but the main cottage (garage) remains intact and is as solid as a rock.

My father also built our camp with used lumber.I n 1936 he bought the piece of lakefront for 150 dollars (I have the original deed)
So for 150 dollars and some used lumber I have my little piece of heaven.
And if my mother hadn't met my father while he was building the camp (she borrowed his canoe) I wouldn't be here.

[Grady223]

I understand from a friend whose family was the first to settle on Kenniston Island, that they did so in the 1880's. They were railroad employees and commuted to the island from Wolfeboro by rowboat. They rowed out all materials to build the cottages (still there) - imagine the effort? Once built, they would leave their families out on the island while they went to work for the week - no electricity, no boat, stuck until the hubby rowed out Friday night. Real pioneers - or nuts!

I would think that those are among the oldest island residences still in existence.

[Pineedles]

This is what I love to read about! Stories of what happened in the past with the settlement of this area! Thank you Grady223.

Come on people, think. You must have stories of how you came to this place and settled into your cottage on the lake. All stories accepted from teh early 1600's to the 2008's.

[WinnDixie]

This is a little aside from the main jist here, but I have always enjoyed looking at your avatar. I've never had a cottage on the lake, but it reminds me of what we'd see "back when"...and I am certainly from "back when"!! It has that old charm. It's nice you've respected this, and kept it that way. I'm just wondering if you would be able to post a few bigger pictures of it, so we could get a better look.

[Lakewinn1]

I love the older "cottages"... they have character.... The new 'trophy' homes are no match on the character scale!

[jerseyonbear]

Several years ago while hiking the shore line on bear had the opportunity to speak with home owners who were building a major addition onto an existing shack (for lack of a better word) that they said was an old railroad shack brought over on the ice many years ago and still had the old initials and dates carved in the wood. They were saving these old parts and using them in the new structure. This was located on the north island and on the east side between nickomas girls camp and the last bend before the post office.Maybe someone from the island can offer more info very old and interesting.

[Steveo]

My camp probably is not the oldest but I thought I'd share the story of its history:

20 years ago we bought our camp on the lake. It was a shack but had lots of history. The story is the "shack" was originally the boathouse for the house that was there at the time. It was originally a drive-in boathouse, probably built in the late 19th century. No way to know the age but all timber used were true dimensions - 2X4's were actually 2 inches by 4 inches. In the early 20th century the boathouse was moved on top of a crib dock. In the 50's the main house on the property burned down. The property was left as is for 15 - 20 years. Eventually the town got after the owner and stated that unless something was built on the property soon it would viewed as an unbuildable lot (only 1/4 acre) and nothing would be able to be built. So the next winter the owner moved the boathouse over the ice and placed it on cinder blocks on the property (as a result we got a great crib dock that I was able to restore). He installed a outhouse and it stayed that way until we bought it.

When we bought it the town would not let us tear down the structure so we had to work with it. Over the last 20 years we transformed the building while trying to keep the charm of the original boathouse. For example, the overhead timbers that were used to lift the boat for winter storage are still there.

We first made it into a one bedroom but when the kids got sick of sleeping in the same bedroom as Mom and Dad we had to expand. I did all the work myself and loved every moment of it. I would be on business trips on a plane and would be drawing up plans for the camp that I was planning for the upcoming weekend. Then that weekend I would work for a few hours and then take a break to go fishing or swimming with the kids - what a blast. Now that the camp is complete I really miss those days.

I have tried to get the history on the property with some success but it is hard to find anything that far back.

[Argie's Wife]

If you want to research your property deeds you can do it all online:

http://www.nhdeeds.com/belknap/BeDisclaimer.html

1. Click on "Accept Registry Disclaimer"
2. After the window for the database loads, you can enter your search criteria starting for 1955 - Present just by entering the name of the Grantor or Grantee or Plans or a combo of the Grantor/Grantee.
3. For pre-1955, under the heading of "Select Index", click on the drop down menu and select "Old Index Books" and you can go back to about 1841, although many deeds will contain historic information about the property, such as the year a stonewall was built or repairs were made to the house.

The old deeds are a trip to read - and they are handwritten.

Enjoy!

[Just Sold]

This home on Rt. 11D close to Mt. Major was told to me to have been built in the late 1800's. It is the Old Boulder Lodge. It has been restored with some tastefull additions that look as if they were always there. There are 8 guest cottages that have also been restored including one that appeared to be very old and overhangs the lake by the docks and in front of the main house. I would stay in that one anytime.

I researched the deeds and there was reserved a 66' wide strip through the land to the Lake Shore Railroad 12/18/1888 by Eleazer D. Barker. But I have not verified the date of the homes original construction. If somone goes to the Alton Town Hall they can view the tax card and should find the original construction date.

The current owner is recorded as Timothy J. Sullivan, Trustee of the Woodhaven Trust. The actual owner through the trust is a member of the Walgreen family. I had the privilege to visit with Mr Walgreens wife and had a tour of the property in Aug of 2005. They paid 2.5 million for the property.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...uote=1&p=90241

[jmen24]

These are great stories that you all have shared and thank you all for that. It is always nice to see and hear of preservation of family treasures.

[Argie's Wife]

Just Sold: What you are looking for is in Book #6, Page #58 and is dated 1844.

[Just Sold]

Argies Wife:
I was not able to get back to book 6 page 58 in the Belknap County registry of deeds. Close, 1893, but not that far back. Even with that knowledge of the land sale in 1844 does not establish the actual construction of the home. Town records are not perfect either but should be close on the date.

[Argie's Wife]

The old deeds aren't great record for anything - some have too little information and base boundaries on trees or other "re-movable" things - while others have too much information and go into a narrative of the history.

I hope that you can find the latter of the two. I absolutely love that house and would love to hear your findings on it!

[Chickie]

Just Sold,

In order to view Book 6 Page 58 at the Registry of Deeds website, you have to type in Book: 8006 Page: 58. When setting up the website, they devised the plan to use the 800 number in order to differentiate between the old deed books and the special collector's lien books which had the same numbers.

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by Chickie

Just Sold,

In order to view Book 6 Page 58 at the Registry of Deeds website, you have to type in Book: 8006 Page: 58. When setting up the website, they devised the plan to use the 800 number in order to differentiate between the old deed books and the special collector's lien books which had the same numbers.

If I'm reading that deed right, there is mention of a "homestead" where the seller's father "now resides" - which would pre-date that house to 1844!

Oh, and it sold for $38.19!

[Chickie]

Attention: mneck1814

Please check your private messages inbox. Sorry for the delay in responding to your note.
Chickie