A Weirs Souvenir - 1880s-1940s - Part 3

[mcdude]

ACTIVITIES and DIVERSIONS


CLICK here to SUPER-SIZE this MAP
This is a great map and brochure (above) put out by the Weirs
Beach Chamber of Commerce in 1948. Notice how many of the
locales on the map have been chronicled in postcards. Including
Irwin's Gardens, Lakeside Hotel, Veteran's Grounds,
Methodist Circle, Lakeshore Path, Proctor's Cottages,
Sea Plane Base.....


Since it's 1948 and we have a car let's stay at a Motel....

CLICK HERE for Proctor's


OK...let's get out of the Motel and see the sights!
DANCING & BIG BANDS


"When disaster struck in the form of a fire which leveled the 150-room New Hotel Weirs and the Music Hall on November 7, 1924, Irwin was left without a musical venue. But not for long. Working with Boston architect Arthur Osberg, Irwin devised a plan to build a giant dance hall right over the boat livery, a dance hall that would be grand in scale and would resemble a Miami dance hall, The Pier, that Irwin had seen while taking his band on a swing through Florida." Source: Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society"


"At one time or another just about all of the big bands played at the Gardens, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Harry James and Paul Whiteman. “About the only big names we didn’t get were Louie Armstrong and Guy Lombardo. It was the liveliest spot in the state, along with the Hampton Casino, for many years,” says Jack (Irwin)".

An aerial view of the Winnipesaukee Gardens and vicinity.

"Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens opened on Memorial Day weekend in 1925 and was an instant hit with the music-loving public of the 1920s. Top bands touring the country now had a new, lively place to play in, one with an ideal lakeside setting that was perfect for a summer night. And WKAV was soon conducting live broadcasts from the Gardens, bringing the Big Band sound to listeners all over New Hampshire."

CLICK HERE for more information on Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens.

SPEED BOAT RIDES & RACES

Concerning the speed boat races, "People started arriving at the Weirs before the holiday weekend to enjoy an extended time in the lakes region, many courtesy of the special Boston & Maine RR service. By Saturday afternoon, hotels, camping grounds and boarding houses were all full to capacity with weekenders and other vacationists. Monday, 5 July, started early at the Winnipesaukee Gardens for the thousands of spectators that packed the Weirs. The Infantry band was busy entertaining the crowds that were estimated at over 6,000 strong and the race judges were setting up their official barge. By 10:00, the last of the speed trials were held and all handicaps were set. Spectators arrived by land, and by boat. Every type of craft from canoes to cruisers were milling about the Weirs to witness the afternoon’s racing program."
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Weirs Boat Races.




OBSERVATORY

Now you know how Tower Avenue got its' name!
100 feet high. Perhaps if it were built of granite like
the Bunker Hill Monument it would still be here. Built
in 1881. Burnt in 1885.
WEIRS DRIVE IN

The Weirs Beach Drive-In site can be found HERE.
Note the buidling with the orange roof was a Howard Johnson's
which burned in 1984. For more drive-in photos CLICK HERE

AIRPLANE RIDES


BEAUTY PAGEANTS
"And Irwin was quick to capitalize on the bathing beauty phenomena which had been started by Atlantic City’s Miss America Pageant in 1919, creating the Miss Winnipesaukee Pageant the very same year that the Gardens opened. The pageant is still going strong and has produced more Miss New Hampshire winners than any other pageant in the state."
Source: Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society
SWIMMING


Swimming at the Weirs - 1948



HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES


LAKESHORE PATH
After some of the activities above, or relaxing on a veranda,
or listening to a set by Duke Ellington's orchestra, you might
like to grab your parasol for a leisurely promenade on the
Lakeshore Path which was adjacent to the Methodist Campground.
(see map above)




With inviting porch...postmark 1907
A Lakeshore Path not unlike the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine or
the Cliff Walk in Newport, RI....but would you want all these people
walking through your front yard?

BOOKMARK -Additional photos of the lakeshore path


Shore Path at Weirs - 1906 Library of Congress Photo


Whoops! I think we have strayed off the path. Where are the chaperones?

Postmark 1907

THE END
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OK ...Skippy boy...we're outta here!


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CLICK HERE to return to Part One.
LINKS
Link to MORE WEIRS HISTORY
Link to LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Link to ENDICOTT ROCK
Link to WINNIPESAUKEE GARDENS
Link to Ed Allard's Article MUSIC IN THE NIGHT
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
"New England Resorts and how to Reach Them" - Batchelder - 1875 - pp. 41-44.

Please see response below.....
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Please add your thoughts and comments, memories or photos! This will
be the last web thread for this winter season. Time to get involved
in another favorite hobby of mine called "Cottage Maintenance"
...the water gets turned on at the camp this week-end!