History of Lake Shore Park

[SteveA]

Hello folks,

I'm a brand new member. These forums are wonderful. I have been reading the posts from McDude and Rattlesnake Girl, and I'm in awe of the knowledge they, and many others, have of the Lakes Region.

I'm one of the orginal members at Lake Shore Park (LSP), and have been collecting old postcards, photos, and maps for several years. I've begun to compile a "history" of LSP.

Several of you have posted pictures and postcards.. some of which I do not have. If it's OK with you guys, I'd like to send an email to several folks that have posted pictures and postcards to get permission to use them in my project. I will, of course, give full credit.

I'm also looking for any information anyone may have about the Lakeshore Inn that once was at LSP. I believe it burned down in the early 1900's. Any LSP information would be wonderful also.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Pepper]

Steve, my MIL spent every summer at LSP as a child. Her parents started out with a tent platform, and eventually built a small cabin there. She's 87 now, with a memory like a steel trap. Her very fondest memories are of her childhood and teen years at LSP, and she's got lots of great stories and information.

I'll pick her brain and get some info off to you as soon as I'm able. I may even be able to find some old photographs in the albums!

GravyBoat - fear not ... I won't pull out any photos of the shenanigans that went on up the road a piece! That is, unless our cousin from Texas doesn't get busy and start posting here!

[SteveA]

Wow!

Thank You.... all help appreciated! I started in LSP in 1973... It's a wonderful place.. and my plan is to try to preserve some of it's history for my kids and future generations..

I'd love to include anything you can send...

Steve

[mcdude]

Steve:
The best source (of course!) is this website. Here's some info on Lakeshore Park from the Lakeshore RR thread.
(See the thread for "super-sized versions of the text)


Not to sound like a broken record, but, the best source for any Gilford historical information is Adair Mulligan's book, "The Gunstock Parish: A History of Gilford, NH. Pages 205-207 are devoted to Lakeshore Park with references found on five other pages. Photos are found of the Lakeshore Inn and the Pavilion.

Her opening words about the park goes something like this...

"The Lakeshore Inn and the Park on Belknap Pt. Road were perhaps the most extensive summer development on Gilford's Winnipesaukee shore at the turn of the nineteenth century. the property was originally known as Carr's Point after Richard Carr's early farmstead, which itself was frequented by travellers from Meredith Bridge bound for Alton or the seacoast. The Lakeshore RR under the urging of its' president, purchased the property, intending to create the most popular resort on the southern shore of the lake. The company envisioned a resort for primarily railroad employees, with an inn, pavilion, picnic area, tent platforms and a railroad station.........The Maid of the Isles stopped there twice a day and the Lady of the Lake four times a day.................."

[upthesaukee]

About ten years ago it was still there and still named the "Wee Hoose". That was my first trip up to Lake Winnipesaukee back in 1946 or 1947. The Wee Hoose belonged to Jim and Millie Foster, Scottish immigrants from Andover MA, who also started with a tent platform I believe in the 1920's and then grew into a "cottage". Uncle Jim and Aunt Millie were my mom's aunt and uncle, therefore my great-aunt and great-uncle, and of course "Wee Hoose" is the Scottish dialect for wee house, small house, and small it was.

I have little recollection of the stays there, except that Uncle Jim would sleep on an "L" shaped porch in the warm weather, and my Dad & I would join him when we came up. There was a "cooler" that was built into the floor right next to Uncle Jim's cot, and there was always some ice and an eyeopener in the cooler. And an eyeopener it was...Uncle Jim would reach down into that cooler and get an eyeopener for himself and wake up my dad and get him one too. Me....I had to go inside and get milk out of the icebox (truly an ice box, not a refrigerator.).

I can barely remember the beach, and swimming, but do remember walking around the park and it seemed like everyone knew everyone else.

I know there were dances at the Pavillion on Saturday nights, with kid's dances early, and then the kids would get put to bed, and the adults would take over. Teams of parents would go around and check on the kids to make sure they were alright. (used to do the same thing in our old neighborhood in Reading MA...adults at neighborhood cookouts in the summer and sledding on the hill on our street in the winter time). Of course, if parents did that sort of thing now, it would be called neglect and the kids would be taken away !

Uncle Jim and Aunt Millie are long gone, as are all the rest of the family, so that's about it for info from this end. This is where my user name comes from, because as a toddler, I couldn't say "Winnipesaukee", so I would simply say "Up the Saukee", and that phrase stuck.

[Just Sold]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

This is where my user name comes from, because as a toddler, I couldn't say "Winnipesaukee", so I would simply say "Up the Saukee", and that phrase stuck.

Thanks for the history from your experiences at LSP and how your user name came to be. Good thing your pronunciation has improved.

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by Just Sold

.. Good thing your pronunciation has improved.

Who say's it has?

[upthesaukee]

Go ahead, ya live by the sword and ya die by the sword .

My pronunciation ain't never been no better and it ain't gettin' no worser, so if I ain't misunderstood none, then it ain't never gonna matter none! Right???? (Yikes, I think I contracted a Yogi Berra virus )

[SteveA]

McDude, Upthesaukke,

Thanks for the response's

If either of you ever want to get into LSP for "memories" or pictures... let me know.. I'd love to show you folks around..

the old railroad station is now a 4 unit "motel" that we let out to members families... and I would love to go see if Upthesaukke's old place is sill there.

The pavillion still looks exacly like the old postcard mcdude posted.. and we still have dances every saturday night...

SteveA

[MWSP]

While doing research for our pageant last year, I ran across a story about a bathing beauty pageant that used to be held there. The winner was called Miss Lake Shore Park. I'm sorry but I cannot recall where I ran across this article.

[SteveA]

MWSP,

I've been a member at LSP for thirty years... they started the contest back in the mid 60's...

It's not a "real" pagent type event... no talent or bathing suit. It's alot of fun for the young ladies... there are 2 divisions.. Miss and Jr. Miss. They get a chance to walk the runway.. and the hall is always full.

Really just a fun thing.

Thanks for the post!

[MWSP]

Originally Posted by SteveA

MWSP,

I've been a member at LSP for thirty years... they started the contest back in the mid 60's...

That is interesting. I believe the story I saw was much older since the history I was working on at that time was the 1930's through the mid 1950's.

[SteveA]

Well that may be correct.... I've been there since 73.... I'll ask some of the "old timers" at LSP
Thx SteveA

[mcdude]

[carguy]

Originally Posted by mcdude

My familie's camp was located about 50' to the right of where the man is standing by the tree. My dad bought it from Harold Holmes in 1943 for $50. It was a tent platform with walls at that time. I was a couple of months old when he bought the camp.

[SteveA]

WOW!

I'm a newbie to... welcome

Carguy.... boy do I want to talk to you... I'd love to see any old pics you have of LSP...

mcdude is incredible... he has more local info to the "west side" of the big lake...

Be sure you look up his other posts on the Lake Shore railroad...

upthesaukie is another great reference for LSP... ask him about the Wee House!

Thanks for posting...

Contact me if you ever want to come into LSP to revisit old memories..


Thx SteveA

[xredvette]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

About ten years ago it was still there and still named the "Wee Hoose". That was my first trip up to Lake Winnipesaukee back in 1946 or 1947. The Wee Hoose belonged to Jim and Millie Foster, Scottish immigrants from Andover MA, who also started with a tent platform I believe in the 1920's and then grew into a "cottage". Uncle Jim and Aunt Millie were my mom's aunt and uncle, therefore my great-aunt and great-uncle, and of course "Wee Hoose" is the Scottish dialect for wee house, small house, and small it was.

The Wee Hoose is still there and has been in my family for some time. My Grandfather, also a Scottish immigrant, owned it for many years and then my Dad purchased it from them about 30 years ago. Sad to say my Dad just passed away this past December and left the Wee Hoose to myself and 4 siblings. I'm the Voting Member and the holder of the deed.

I have so many fond memories of LSP and the Wee Hoose. Spending summers running on the dirt roads barefoot. Good friends, great times! Over the years my dad and I upgraded the ole Wee Hoose, insulating, adding on as the bylaws would allow, completely redoing the interior, adding indoor plumbing and a shower!!! It turned into a year round home for my dad although my family still refers to it as "the camp". My dad loved the Wee Hoose and treasured his time there. When he got older and could not stay by himself during the winter months he couldn't wait to get back to LSP and his Wee Hoose.

We are in the process of having a head stone made for him and the family is unanimous in having an image of the Wee Hoose with mountains and lake behind sandblasted into the stone. He loved that place so much it is a fitting tribute to what he would have wanted to be remembered for.

Thanks for letting me share....

Jim

[nj2nh]

[/QUOTE]

Hey, my father knows Anne Carr! He worked at Union Hospital until his retirement in the late 1980's. I am sorry, but that is totally weird. I don't know what made me look!

Love this forum and the history section in particular!!!!!!

nj2nh

[mcdude]

I'm posting this brochure in the Lakeshore Park thread since the Fairview appears to be adjacent to it and overlooking what is now Ellacoya beach. (it appears that the cabins are very close to the site of the recent allegedly illegal tree cutting at Ellacoya). Directions advise the traveller to take the train to the Lakeshore Park stop. Perhaps SteveA or Carguy or one of our other Lakeshore Park friends can tell us if these cottages are still there?

[carguy]

Hi All,

I am the newest of the newbies in this forum. I have been visiting this web site for many years, and I finally decided to join the forum so I can share my memories of the Lakes region and Lake Shore Park.

My dad purchased a tent platform for $50 at Lake Shore Park (LSP) the year I was born, 1943. Through the years the camp was improved until my family sold it in the early 1960's. The camp was located on the main road between the Pavilion and shoreline just west of "short Beach" in the "big pier area". McDude just posted today a post card of a man standing by a tree with Short Beach in the background. Our camp was situated about 50 feet to the right from where the man is standing. Somewhere in the family archives there is a photo of me at 5 months sitting on a blanket on short beach. In the background you can see the raft with diving tower sitting on the beach. It appears that the raft was not launched that Summer, probably needing repairs. I think the raft with tower was moored just off "short beach" in the Big Pier area.

There is another picture of me sitting in our Amesbury Dory boat with a 7-1/2 HP Scott Atwater outboard motor at Short Beach. My younger brother looks to be about two years old in the photo, so the year must have been 1947.

I have so many memories of me spending my Summers when I was growing up at Lake Shore Park. There were so many kids to hang out with. We had the "Big Pier Crowd' and the "Long Beach Crowd" of kids. We spent a lot of time together on the waterfront making rafts, playing water baseball, playing hide and seek on and under the Big Pier, fishing, tubing, and later when we were teenagers, we spent a lot of time waterskiing.

In an earlier post in this thread SteveA made reference to the Miss Lake Shore Park beauty contest starting in the early 1960's. It actually started earlier than that, in the 1950's. Two winners that I can remember, Donna DeGroot and Peggy Weeks went on to win the Miss Winnipesaukee pageant held at Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens at the Weirs. I think Jerry Donahue's sister won the Miss Winnipesaukee Pageant prior to Donna and Peggy winning it.

We all had a lot of fun at the LSP Pavilion in the evenings. During the week we danced to the music coming from an old Seeburg Juke Box that played 78 RPM vinyl records. Later we went big time when a newer Seeburg holding 100 45 RPM records replaced the old Seeburg 78 RPM machine.

I learned to dance on the Pavilion floor. Saturday Night there was usually a live band for the adults and Johnny Coyle mc'ed the festivities for many years. He eventually became one of the first presidents of the Lake Shore Park Association.

The Jones Family owned the Park when I was young. Frank and Doris Jones ran the main part of the Park with the store and Pavilion. Frank's brother, George helped Frank run his end of the Park. Frank Jones' other brother, Harry and his wife, (I think her name was Blanche) ran the eastren end of the Park. Thet had a little restaurant in the old LSP railroad depot which was later turned into a motel in the late 1950's. my parents and older brotherused to take my brother and I to the restaurant for a coke and a hot dog.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I will post many more of my memories of growing up at LSP in the Summer.I have a couple of large reels of color 8mm home movies that my dad took in the late 1940's and early 1950's at LSP.
I should look into getting these movies preserved on to a DVD. The Gilford Historical Society would love to have these, I bet.

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by carguy

In an earlier post in this thread SteveA made reference to the Miss Lake Shore Park beauty contest starting in the early 1960's. It actually started earlier than that, in the 1950's. Two winners that I can remember, Donna DeGroot and Peggy Weeks went on to win the Miss Winnipesaukee pageant held at Irwin's Winnipesaukee Gardens at the Weirs. I think Jerry Donahue's sister won the Miss Winnipesaukee Pageant prior to Donna and Peggy winning it.

CarGuy,

You'll get a kick out of this! History Repeats Itself!

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...-1/citizen0102

[carguy]

Originally Posted by SteveA

CarGuy,

You'll get a kick out of this! History Repeats Itself!

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...-1/citizen0102

SteveA:

Thanks for sharing this news with me and the Forum. I guess good genes must run in the family. Melissa must be Bobby's and Janice's daughter?

[barkerrd]

Nobody has posted on here since july 2007 . Well, I have to thank Carguy , McDude , SteveA and all the others for the great photos . I was at LSP from 1954 to 1972 . Reading the different posts on here reminded me of alot of things that I had forgotten , like the ice truck , the barn for storage across Rt.11 and Ruggs pontoon boat . When I was really little , I remember there was a row of Amesbury skiffs by big pier . I think they were white and each had a number . I really enjoyed this thread ,

[carguy]

Barkerrd:

The Amesbury Skiffs were painted white with green trim along the gunnels. They had about 10 of then parked on the boat slip by the Big Pier. Before that going back into the 1940's and earlier, the row boats were Dory type looking boats, painted yellow with gray trim on the gunnels.

Carguy

[mcdude]

.

.


CLICK HERE to enlarge this postcard

Looks like the dock at Short Beach where the Mt. Washington used to stop at one time. I think only the cement part of this dock remains. Looks like most folks camped at Lakeshore Park in these days. I'm sure SteveA or Carguy can fill us in on the details!

[carguy]

McDude:

The store at LSP used to sell this panorama postcard when I was a kid. The photo pictures the "Big Pier" with Short Beach to the right. I estimate the time frame to be the late 1920's. Our cottage was located up behind the big tan colored tent on the right rear of the photo.

The pier still looks pretty much the same this day. It has been redone a few times since this photo was taken.

This was my favorite swimming spot when I was a kid.

[Lounger]

Originally Posted by barkerrd

Nobody has posted on here since july 2007 . Well, I have to thank Carguy , McDude , SteveA and all the others for the great photos . I was at LSP from 1954 to 1972 . Reading the different posts on here reminded me of alot of things that I had forgotten , like the ice truck , the barn for storage across Rt.11 and Ruggs pontoon boat . When I was really little , I remember there was a row of Amesbury skiffs by big pier . I think they were white and each had a number . I really enjoyed this thread ,

We need to get another string going to talk about the "old days" at Lake Shore Park. Oh, I know, we live in the present - but's it's great to remember!

Q: Our late dads wouldn't have a common first name, would they? Fourth letter "d"?

[mcdude]

I ran across this on Google.....the history of the park from their website.

HISTORY of LAKESHORE PARK


The Gas Dock

[barkerrd]

Originally Posted by Lounger

Q: Our late dads wouldn't have a common first name, would they? Fourth letter "d"?

No , my father's name is Ray and he is not "late " . We had the first camp after crossing the foot bridge heading towards Ellacoya .
In the picture titled "the gas dock" , the little kid in far left is me I think . I used to hang around there so much , they kicked me out .
Anyone have any pictures of the marina directly across from the gas pumps ? I would love to see my Dads Cris-Craft again .

[SteveA]

Nice story from this weeks "Gilford Steamer".
See page 7 of the .PDF attached.

Nice Job by Dianne Mitton of the Thompson Ames Historical Society.
She has written a number of wonderful stories about the history of Gilford.

http://www.gilfordsteamer.com/pdf/GIL.2008.06.05.pdf

[Mr. V]

Here is a link to someone's Lake Shore Park home movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFyE-...eature=related

[SteveA]

That was very good. Hard to figure the date.. but if you noticed it was before the footbridge was built over the marina.

I'll bet Carguy will know when that was filmed. He has some very old footage from the 40's that I hope he'll post here sometime.

PS... Marine Patrol wouldn't be very happy with some of the shots at the very end of the film.

[carguy]

SteveA:

I can remember in the early 1950's some of the remains of the foundation of the Lake Shore Inn were hidden in the tall grass and brush just to the left of the entrance road to LSP, the leg of the road which would be closest to the present day marina.

The Spring House was still standing in the early 1950's and that would have been located about 100 yards into the woods behind where the foundation was for the Lake Shore Inn. In the 1950's everyone in the Park got their fresh drinking water from the artesian well hand pump on the side of the pavilion.

Across the street from the LSP entrance road (Rte 11, now Scenic Dr.) there was a yellow farm house and property that was part of the Lake Shore Park land owned by the Jones Family. A tenant farmer named, Burt Wadleigh, operated the farm. I can remember getting earthworms from his pig pen for fishing bait. Burt was an old character, and I remember that my dad used to walk out and shoot the bull with Burt.

The dump (landfill) for Lake Shore Park was located a few hundred yards behind this farm house. They had a dump fire there in the late 1950's which started a small forest fire. To the right of the farmhouse heading west down present day Scenic Dr. there was an old barn with a tin roof. This barn was used as storage for furniture that campers moved out of their tent platforms for the Winter months. I can't recall if the barn is still there for I have not been up to the Lakes Region in about five years. I need another nostalgia trip to Lake Shore Park to get the memory lobes in my brain regenerated. It is funny how I can remember this stuff when I cannot remember what I had for dinner last night.

In speaking of the Lake Shore Inn and the Lake Shore Park entrance there used to be a big sign at the entrance to the park. By the style of the artwork depicting a bather diving into the lake on the sign, it must have been erected in the 1920's. The sign had incandescent lights attached to it, but I cannot ever recall seeing it lit at night. The bulbs were usually broken and the lights were in a state of electrical disrepair.

On the northeast corner of the LSP entrance road and then Rte 11 was located the Butternut Lodge and Cabins. This property was eventually bought by George Spanos and Wally Rugg when they purchased the Park. I think they bought the Park in 1959, but I could be corrected on this date.

I delivered ice and picked up trash in the Park for the Ruggs during their first year of ownership. I drove a beatup old 1947 International Pickup truck with the driver's door removed for easier access. In August of 1960 Gerna Magnuson let me start working in the LSP Store, so I was done with the ice and trash removal routine. Now I was able to serve Amand's delicious coffee rolls and other baked goods, drink lots of cold "tonic" from the old spin wheel soda bottle dispenser, and make a $1.00 per hour. Armand LePage was the baker there for many years. During the off season he was the baker at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH.

[SteveA]

copied and pasted with permission from carguy...

Steve:

Our camp was located across the street from Frank Cook's camp on the shoreline side of the road. It was colored white with blue trim for many years. Yes, I know Frank passed away. We all knew him as "Buster" Cook. I hear that Jean Cook passed away before Frank.

Here is one for you. I work at Putnam Ford Mercury in Putnam, CT, www.putnamfordmercury.com, My owner’s name is Richard Place and his sister, Judy, is married to Randy Cook. Small world isn’t it.

Here is a photo of a boat that was in the forum:



I believe that this boat in later days was owned by Frank Cook. It’s name was Old Smoothie. It was a beautiful Lake Boat with a long forward deck. This has to be the boat, for there were not too many of this particular style boat on the Lake. Frank ended up selling the boat to Harrah’s Antique Car Museum in Reno, Nevada. I was able to see the boat on display at Harrah’s in September 1969 when I visited the Museum. There was a small sign on the boat which made reference to the previous owner being Frank Cook from Gilford, NH.

Frank was big into old boats. He had a Miss Winnipesaukee stored for years in his barn on Scenic Dr. I understand that his sons restored it a few years ago. This must be it here:



The only other Miss Winni that I am aware of in existence is one that Jackie Irwin owns. I have a lot to add to the forum about old classic boats. I was a member of the Antique and Classic Boat Society New England Chapter. Here is a photo of my last classic boat that I had on the Lake in the mid 1990’s. I kept it at Fay’s Boat Yard.



The above photo was taken at Wolfeboro in 1995. The boat was in the process of being restored. She was a 1952 42’ Chris-Craft Double Cabin Flying Bridge Cruiser named Grumpy Ol’ Men. I eventually sold the boat in 1999 and the new owner had it moved to Nashville, TN on the Cumberland River.


Lots of good stuff to come later.

Regards,

Bill Clarke

[SteveA]

here are the pictures

[gravy boat]

Sounds like we LSP alumni have much in common!

My mother (who would be 75 this year) spent her childhood summers there and remembers pitching s tent way back when. Her grandparents went there and I believe they were the ones who started the journey north for many of us.

One of my brothers (10 years my senior) told me a story about how he and some of his summer buddies went up to the Pavillion to the old water pump and had a contest -- who could drink the most Dixie Cups of water. He downed 72 -- I believe he won. ;-)

LSP has many memories for me -- we left in the late 60s
/early 70s and I still miss it, even though we are now down the road a piece. (I'm told I said my first word while in a playpen on the beach.) We were a few cabins down from Ellacoya, right on the beach.

What great childhood summers!

Gravy

[carguy]

Gravy Boat:

I remember they had a dixie cup dispenser mounted on the wall of the pavilion front porch near the store entrance. It cost 1 cent for a dixie cup. That artesian well water from the pump was terrific tasting water, long before the days of Poland Springs bottled water.

Just this past week I sent two 6" 8mm movie reels off to get made into DVD's. One of the reels was labled Lake Shore Park 1948, and the other one was LSP 1952. I have not seen them in years. My father was the cinemaphotographer. When I get the DVD's back, I plan on editing them and getting together with SteveA for a showing, possibly at the Park.

Speaking of the pavilion front porch, that is where the phone booth was located. Back in the 1950's, that was the only phone that I can remember being in the Park besides the business phone in Doris Jone's office. Can you imagine getting along all Summer without a phone? especially these days when everyone in the family over 12 years old has a cell phone. Oh, yes those were the simple days.

In 1959 my parents bought the Hamel cabin which was located down near the waterfront in the area of the flagpole. It was one of the first cabins with a built-in toilet. Back in those days everyone "went over the hill" to the "john".

As I am writing this it is a beautiful clear cool Summer morning here in Connecticut. It reminds me of a late Summer Saturday morning at LSP. I can smell Armand LePage's coffee rolls right now. Those were the best tasting coffee rolls.

[mcall9031]

Hi Steve

This is the only picture of the Lake Shore Park Inn I have ever seen.
Built around 1890. Burnt in 1910

Mike C. from Long Beach LSP

[SteveA]

Mike

Thank You.... I hadn't been able to find any pictures.... that is fantastic!

Steve

[carguy]

Mike:

Thanks for posting the picture of the Lake Shore Park Inn. My memory has been rejuvinated for I recall seeing this picture in the past. As I mentioned in an earlier posting, I recollect as a kid seeing the remains of the foundation of that inn just to the left of the Lake Shore Park entrance.

[mcall9031]

Hi

Attached is a picture of the Pavilion pre 1900

Mike

[mcall9031]

Hi again

I think most people have seen this one. If not enjoy.

Mike C

[carguy]

Mike:

I had not seen the two photos of the Pavilion pre-1900. When was the Pavilion built? in the 1890's?. I sure would like to pin it down to a specific year. I spent a lot of time in that building when I was young. I worked in the store, had fun dancing and attending events, and stayed in the building using it as a haven from hurricines and big storms.

[SteveA]

Acording to Adair Mulligan's book, "The Gunstock Parish: A History of Gilford, NH.
Mike is exactly correct. It burned down in 1910.

great pics...

Thanks SteveA

[SteveA]

Sorry to confuse...

Lake Park Inn burned.. Pavillion is still there and looks remarkably like the old photo's... most of the trees in the picture are gone.. but the building really looks pretty much the same

SteveA

[mcall9031]

Hi Carguy

I think the Pavilion was built in 1891

You must remember this one!!

It's long gone. Maybe Steve remembers when it closed up.
I've been here 27 years. It was gone about that time.


Mike C

[carguy]

That picture is circa 1961-1962. It was taken at the marina store and gas dock at Lake Shore Park when the marina was first in operation. My younger brother, Conrad Clarke, and Don Smith were the attendants that ran the store and pumps. It looks like Wally and Phyllis Rugg's pontoon boat behind the Lyman. They had the first pontoon party boat at the Park.

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by mcall9031

Hi Steve

This is the only picture of the Lake Shore Park Inn I have ever seen.
Built around 1890. Burnt in 1910

Mike C. from Long Beach LSP

Available from an antique book website, at a very steep price!($85), an old 1892 Brochure for the Lakeshore Park Inn.

Book Description: Patriot Print, Concord, New Hampshire, 1892. 48mo - over 3" - 4" tall. 6 page booklet; text and illustrations; summer resort on Lake Winnipesaukee; original wrappers; slightly wrinkled; very good condition.

If interested pm me for more information. I can't give out the url of the website or RG will not be happy with me.

[mcdude]

Old Postcard of the Lakeshore Park Pavilion - Site of Forumfest III. If you attended FFIII and saw the fine state of this building today you'd be impressed with the job of preservation done by the folks at Lakeshore Park.



Funny....when I was bidding for this card on e-bay I received this pm in my winni.com mailbox.....

You're killing me! LOL
I'm XXX on e-bay ... I'm also SteveA on the forum!

You outbid me for the LSP Pavillion postcard!

Here ya go Steve!!

[White Rook]

Originally Posted by SteveA

here are the pictures

Hi,

In the upstairs office of Irwin Marine, there's a photo of Jack's brother, Jim Irwin (Lord rest his soul) driving a boat called Miss Winnipesaukee. Also, wasn't Jim Irwin married to a former Miss Winnipesaukee?

As an aside, I had the pleasure to perform marine gear repairs on a lot of antique and classic boats for Irwin Marine. The boat owned by Corning Benton, owner of Eagle Island comes to mind along with a boat owned by Steve Kace of Marine Patrol. I had a 35' Chris Craft there from 1983 to 1990. Ahhhhhh....those were the days!

White Rook

[SteveA]

Big changes at LSP. The old office at the entrance has finally been replaced.

Much of the work on the new building was done by members.. and the "new" office came in under budget!

[seadoochick]

I am new at this. But could not resist getting my two cents in. I too spent many summers at LSP. From the time I was born until we moved down the road to Aqua Vue.

So hi to all cousins on this site!!

Many memories even after we left as my parents would go to LSP every night to play poker with aunts, uncles and grandparents,while my sister and I would go to the pavillion to dance and hang out with our friends.

We lived in the first cabin in the second row on long beach.Next to Ellocoya.
My Dad built that one.

One day we had a snapping turtle in our foot bath by the front door. Was that cousin Bill?

I have a picture some where of Ellie B pushing me in the water in a big wash tub. LSP is where I learned to swim and spent many nights staying with Grandma in the Birches cabin on Long Beach.

My Mom and AUnt once spent hours making a dress for me out of bread wrappers to wear in the costume contest they had every year. I think I won a prize.

Ah, what fun to remember!

Hope all is well on the left coast.

Judy

[Dickie B from HB]

Welcome to this posting fest. This is becoming a real family reunion.

Bill and I were talking last week about the boat your Dad had when you and your family lived at LSP. In the 40's it was one of the few boats that was pulled up on the beach at Long Beach. I think it was the first boat that belonged to anyone in our extended family. That little light row boat, the Feather, was the first boat that allowed any of us kids to get out onto the water.

Speaking of snapping turltes, do you remember that giant snapping turtle (about 12 to 15 inches in diameter) that the men pulled out of the lake in about 48 or 49? I have a picture of it on the beach with a crowd of people standing around. It created quite a stir. After everyone was done taking pictures they put it in the swamp (now the marina).

Best Regards,
Dick B.

[seadoochick]

Hi Dickie B.

I don't remember the snapping turtle, except the one in the foot bath.

I do remember the moose that swam up on the shore and died one year.

He swam to Ellacoya Beach.

Yes, the feather was the only boat on long beach for awhile. Mr. Bailey had the big yacht anchored off shore however.
I think the feather is now at the bottom of the lake to make a home for fish.

Sure is fun to read all the remeberances from everyone. It was a great place for kids to spend the summer. Weren't we lucky!!!!

kudo's to Steve A and all for providing all the post cards and pictures to preserve the wonderful history of LSP.

Judy

[gravy boat]

Hello, Cousin! Welcome and enjoy!

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by gravy boat

Hello, Cousin! Welcome and enjoy!

I just figured out who Seadoochick is! WELCOME cousin! Now will you please speak to your neice in Texas and tell her if she doesn't get registered and start posting soon, GravyBoat and I are gonna do something desperate!

[Porch Sitter]

Ok…Pepper I’m in!
Add another family member to the forum/reunion!
Hi ya’ll---Seadoochick, Pepper, Gravy, Dickie B, No-Mo-Shun, your Texas connection chiming in!

My LSP memories are limited but I do remember entering a summer costume contest as the “5 Little Indians” and pumping water from the well by the pavilion. However, with all this talk of LSP, I had to confiscate some old photos from my parents, just thought I would share this one, I am guessing 1940’s? Does anyone know who it is? Pepper check with your MIL!

Enjoy!!
Debbie

[Pepper]

It's about time PorchSitter!!!!! You've been lurking for far too long, living at the lake vicariously through all of us here year-round! Very nice to FINALLY have you posting.

Now, with regard to the above photo, I'm going to take a shot in the dark (because my MIL is asleep right now) and guess that the adorable cherub in the photo above is SeadooChick. Am I close?

[John A. Birdsall]

While I don't recall ever staying there, we did visit it quite often as we had neighbors from Reading Mass that used to have a place there and if my memory is right it was late 50's or early 60. Their names were Basners, Lets see fathers name was Fred, Mother was Arlene, and then three boys Fred, John, and Charlie, charlie was the youngest and of the three boys he is the only one alive today. I think Arlene is in a nursing home, and Fred had died.
John Died last year I think.

My impression of LSP was a small city, but a lot of friendly people.

[Dickie B from HB]

Hello Debbie,

That picture was probably taken in the early 40's. If I'm not mistaken it was taken in front of Charly Dick's place which was to the left of the Birches. Bill might know for sure.

If so, then that must be Joe Reagen's dock in the background. If someone has a picture of his old lake boat, I would like to see that again.

For any current residents of LSP, do they still hold the costume contest at the Pavilion? That was always a big deal, with two or three hundred kids dressed in homemade costumes of which many were extremely clever.

Best Regards,
Dick B.

[Porch Sitter]

Hi Dickie B,

I think they do still hold that contest - I beleive that Seadoochick and my mother even judged it last year!!!

[No-Mo-Shun]

Just got back from a trip, so some catching up to do. I don't remember the turtle in the foot bath, but I do like it, so maybe I'm guilty. The photo does look like it is in front of Charlie Dick's place. I wonder if we can come up with the names of all of the cabin owners on Long Beach, starting at Minnehaha Beach. No's 1 & 2 are blank for me, no. 3 was Jane Banks and later Bud Croes. No. 4 was Boerner's, no. 5 --Jed Cleversey, no.6--Blumstedt's, no. 7---Mather's, no.8--Bailey's, no. 9--- Austin's, no. 10--Fred and Florence Croes, no.11-- Charlie Dick, no. 12--Scott's and later Smitty. Second row was Matthews at the fence, Doc and Mickey Smith and Nelson's with Joe Reagan alongside the swamp(marina). What did I miss? There must be plenty.

[gravy boat]

HI All,

I just found one of my Mom's scrapbooks, including Winni Pageant info/photos from 1948 and 1949 (Mom was the runner up in 1948 and 2nd runner up in 1949), and found some nice photos of LSP. There were only tents, so I'm guessing the photos are prior to 1935. I hve a photo of Mom, No-mo-shun and Henry Banks on the LSP beach, summer 1935. One of Gramma Gladys, washing some clothes in the lake; a few of the tent and camping setup.

Hope to find a scanner so I can share some photos!

Gravy

[Pepper]

Gravy - I've got a scanner at work. Come by any time, the laptop's always there with me, and we can scan, save, burn to cd, whatever! While we're at it, I'll print some out for Grandma Adele! It'll make her day!

BTW - PorchSitter isn't answering me ... who's the cherub in the photo above?????

[Porch Sitter]

Hi Pepper!

I don't know who it is ? maybe seadoochick does??
I thought about putting together a DVD/slideshow on Aqua Vue and its beginings after digging through all the old pics, but I am not sure who some of the people are and this was one of them! Thought that would be easier than a scrapbook!
I'll share when done (could be months)

[Pepper]

Oh! Now I get it - so, I'll ask Grandma Adele to check it out next time she's here (where there's internet access) and as soon as I have an answer I'll let you know!

[mcdude]

A few more postcards....



A Library of Congress Photo - early 1900s. View from Kimball's Castle of Rattlesnake Island and Lakeshore Park.




"Hope to have fresh caught salmon that Lee caught for supper tonight. Trailer living isn't too bad.?

[carguy]

Thanks McDude, for posting the postacards. Some clarification on what we are looking at in these photos: The top post card is of Long Beach at Lake Shore Park (LSP). The second one down is a black and wife photo of the Chanticleer Inn next to Belknap Point. In the right hand side background of the photo is Lake Shore Park (Carr's Point) followed by Diamond Island then Rattlesnake Island. The third colored postcard down is of short beach at LSP with the "Big Pier" in the background. This postcard looks to be from the 1920's. The last colored postcard labled Lake Shore Park on Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. is a mistake. The shore line pictures are not of Lake Shore Park.

[mcdude]

Carguy: I received those photos you sent along of the stations on the Lakeshore Railroad. Thanks! Here is the one of the Lakeshore Park Station



and a few more postcards

[dml01532]

New here..not sure if this message is going where i want it to, or going anywhere. I got curious when mr v mentioned the "ufo" message. Someone called mr v, john. I believe I know him from the summer of '68 and that he was from NJ..(Borman?). My parents were members of the LSPA until the summer of '69. The "room" brought back great memories. I see a few families are still members. I remember mentioned names like the Mercandantes and the Degroots...friends of my parents and older brothers. We had Mercandantes old site next to Degroots. Just want to know what the park is like today. I haven't been there since the summer of '70.

[RLW]

dml01532, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

Happy Thanksgiving and it sounds as if you may of heard of some of the residence up here. You keep looking and asking question and I'm sure you will get answers.

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by dml01532

I got curious when mr v mentioned the "ufo" message. Someone called mr v, john. I believe I know him from the summer of '68 and that he was from NJ..(Borman?).

Yes D.L. (originally from Worcester, IIRC), it's me, John.

I moved to the west coast many years ago, but manage to get back to the lake occasionally to see family and just relax.

My family left the park many years ago; we still have a place near Ames Farm.

I wonder what ever happened to Paul?

Those UFOs were cool (thanks Dickie B from HB for showing me how!); we're lucky we didn't cause a forest fire with the danged things.

[rse2]

I have some aerial photos that I believe were take by Lewis E. Weeks (or Marion C. Weeks (his wife) while Lewis piloted), father of Peggy Weeks.
I don't know when they were taken or if they are specific to Lake Shore Park.

If anyone is interested I'll email a link.

They are too big to simply upload. I did upload one to the "aerial photo" section and that maxed out my allotment. (Fixed the problem see subsequent posts)

PM me.

[webmaster]

Originally Posted by rse2

They are too big to simply upload. I did upload one to the "aerial photo" section and that maxed out my allotment.

You are not maxed out. You only posted one picture. There is plenty of room left.

You can also attach pictures to your post. There is no quota for attached pictures.

[rse2]

Originally Posted by webmaster

You are not maxed out. You only posted one picture. There is plenty of room left.

You can also attach pictures to your post. There is no quota for attached pictures.

OK I'll give that a try.

[gravy boat]

Love these old pics from my great grandparents. Before the cabins....

[Doobs41378]

My grandparents camp is in the area shown in the second to last picture (4 up from the foot bridge). Obviously looks much different now. Was the marina there at this time or was that put in afterwards?

[Dickie B from HB]

Originally Posted by Doobs41378

My grandparents camp is in the area shown in the second to last picture (4 up from the foot bridge). Obviously looks much different now. Was the marina there at this time or was that put in afterwards?

The marina was built by Spanos and Rugg in 1960 shortly after they bought the park from the Jones family. Those pictures were taken in the 30's.

That first picture is of my mother washing clothes on the dock in front of our cabin (them days are long gone LOL. We used to wash in the lake too with a bar of soap). Back then it wasn't much of a cabin. It was a board floor with wood sides that went up about four feet. The rest of it was a tent top that was put up each summer. Jones allowed the campers to store all their equipment for the winter in the barn on the other side of route 11 outside the park.

[Captain Bob]

Thanks to SteveA for starting this string, and all the great input! I've always loved Lake Shore Park history. You know the wooden water tower above the rail bed? I've always wondered whether it was for camp use only (it was lake water pumped up to the tower), or if it served the trains. And here's something not too many people know - not far from the wooden water tower, on top of some boulders at a higher elevation, there are imprints from steel tower leg supports set in concrete on the boulders, if I remember right forming a square like 10' x 10' or so, that I always guessed used to be a steel water tower probably smaller and older than the wooden one that remains! Any info?

[carguy]

Captain Bob:

Yes, I remember a second lake Shore Park Water Tower. It was smaller and painted yellow and green. If you were standing on the steps of the pavilion and looking at the big old gray water tower, the smaller water tower was situated about 75-100 feet to the left towards the LSP entrance road (the hump on the hill).

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Does this shot (a single from a stereo view) look like it was taken from Lake Shore Park?
Thanks!

[carguy]

RG:

That picture was taken at a higher elevation, possibly from lower elevations of Locke's Hill near where the Chanticleer Inn was located. I would say somewhere between Greystone and Chanticleer. If you look at the attached picture in this post, I would guess that the photographer in the picture you posted would have been standing in the area on the right hand side of the attached photo in this posting.

[Captain Bob]

Originally Posted by carguy

Captain Bob:

Yes, I remember a second lake Shore Park Water Tower.

Thank you, carguy! You are the virtual encyclopedia! After 50 years, you're the first person to tell me that my guess was correct! Yes, the spot you mention is where I found the old tower "foot" imprints.

[SteveA]

I've not seen the short beach card before. It looks like at one time there was a "covered bench" on the front right corner of Big Pier..

Thanks for posting it.

SteveA

[SteveA]

This is a great postcard... and Thank You McDude for posting it here!

I've never seen this view... and yes... allot of the folks at LSP are very serious about preserving the History of LSP.

To the Victor go the Spoils

SteveA

[carguy]

McDude:

Nice purchase on the postcard of the pavilion. I have not seen that particular card before.

Steve A:

Take it from an old ebayer (member since 12/97), if you really want something in ebay bad enough, snipe bid it with the MAXIMUM amount that you would be willing to pay for it.

[MWSP]

While looking for more pageant information, I came across this story in the July 10, 1947 edition of The Laconia Evening Citizen:

Sees Flying Discs At Lake Shore Park
Bill Rowlin of Providence, 17-year old youth, who is spending the summer at Lake Shore Park in Gilford reported to the Evening Citizen that he saw three flying discs at about 10:05 this morning over Lake Winnipesaukee going in the direction of Alton. He took pictures he hopes will reveal the presence of three objects about 5,000 feet up.
Earlier in the week Thomas Dale, son of the governor, reported seeing flying discs in about the same location going in the same direction.

[BJAM]

This whole Lake Shore Park thread is like listening to my Mother all over again. She grew up at Lake Shore Park, and my Grand father Clinton Flanders was the section foreman from West Alton to Lakeport. My Mother was born in 1914 in a farm house across from th enterance to Ellacoya Park. She has since passed, but I have alot of info that she had. I have to take the time to find it. Thank you so much for this thread.

[Soaringeagle]

Originally Posted by BJAM

This whole Lake Shore Park thread is like listening to my Mother all over again. She grew up at Lake Shore Park, and my Grand father Clinton Flanders was the section foreman from West Alton to Lakeport. My Mother was born in 1914 in a farm house across from th enterance to Ellacoya Park. She has since passed, but I have alot of info that she had. I have to take the time to find it. Thank you so much for this thread.

BJM; HAVE YOU FOUND PICTURES OF LAKESHORE PARK?
any pictures of terrance hill across from samoset?

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by Soaringeagle

BJM; HAVE YOU FOUND PICTURES OF LAKESHORE PARK?
any pictures of terrance hill across from Samoset?

My family had a cottage on Terrace Hill. From the late 50s to 1998 when taxes skyrocketed. Before that the cottage had been in the family since the 1890s.

Before the Laconia bypass, it was quite the trip taking backroads through Laconia and Gilford to get to the 'camp'.

Sorry I don't have pictures of Terrace Hill. Up until the early 70s, it was a seasonal dirt road covered with used crankcase oil to mitigate dust. Almost all the camps were owned by middle class residents, firemen and policemen from Mass, RI and New York. There were two cabin colonies with seasonal rental, one was owned by Ellie Donnelly and the other was by Kitty her sister. Both of Irish origin.

The residents would have neighborhood block parties where the families would get together to socialize and the kids would get to know each other. Gone are the days I cherished on the lake.

[Apples]

Oh my gosh.....the memories from these pictures. LSP was a frequent "hot spot" for class trips from Alton Central School, later the Girl Scouts had camping trips there. A trip down memory lane of a happier time in life. My family had a cottage near LSP and I spent many many hours walking the beach towards LSP, fishing in the brook there.........seems like there were lots of suckers in that brook. Thanks for the memories!!!!

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by Apples

Oh my gosh.....the memories from these pictures. I spent many many hours walking the beach towards LSP, fishing in the brook there.........seems like there were lots of suckers in that brook. Thanks for the memories!!!!

After they built the marina at LSP, we used to catch pickerel in there.

[mcdude]

A newly acquired postcard


another rare photo of the lakeshore park inn

[SteveA]

What a find on that Pic of the Inn. The only one I've ever seen was the one posted by "mcall" earlier in the thread!

I search all the time for all things LSP. Good catch on that one..
and thanks for sharing it.

[ljn]

I am a new member..don't really know how to use this forum, but here goes!

Just visited LSP after 50 years. Spent all my summers there in the 50's. Such great memories.

Does anyone remember...sleeping on the beach, big pier, big rock, the bunnyhop, costume contests, etc.

People...Janice Pinkman, Maureen Ronan, Bobby Blumsted, Johnny Blumsted, Cherry Ellis, Peggy Weeks, Billy DeGroot (my 1st boyfriend) and many others.

Boy...LSP has really changed. do the cabins now have indoor plumbing? Where are the tents?

LJN

[Mr. V]

Remember hiking to the Pavilion every morning and pumping the well to fill your Thermos with drinking water for cabin use?

Remember the Pazoozies?

I shudder to think if the one by the Pavilion leeched into the water table for the pump.

If you look close, you can still see the graffiti carved into the Pavilion, outside the entrance to the hall.

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by ljn

I am a new member..don't really know how to use this forum, but here goes!

Just visited LSP after 50 years. Spent all my summers there in the 50's. Such great memories.

Does anyone remember...sleeping on the beach, big pier, big rock, the bunnyhop, costume contests, etc.

People...Janice Pinkman, Maureen Ronan, Bobby Blumsted, Johnny Blumsted, Cherry Ellis, Peggy Weeks, Billy DeGroot (my 1st boyfriend) and many others.

Boy...LSP has really changed. do the cabins now have indoor plumbing? Where are the tents?

LJN

Nice to see your post. Do you remember the Cook's or Bontorno's? I arrived late to the scene in LSP in 1969.

[BroadHopper]

I use to walk across Camp Samoset on the old railroad bed from Terrace Hill Road in the late '60's, early '70's. There was a teen dance every Friday or Saturday night with live teen bands from Mass. Met my first girl friend at one of the teen dances, Ellen Butman.
My mother use to do our laundry at the landromat that was at the entrance. The family met a few LSP families that way and we were invited to a few socials at the park.
I knew the Cooks as their son Gary was in my class at LHS. I did a lot of waterskiing out front. Some of the boats in the Winnipesaukee Water Ski Racing Association were from LSP.
Does anyone know what happen to Ellen Butman and another women Dawn Daily? Often wonder how they are doing.

[Mr. V]

My inventive engineer-uncle from California showed me as a lad how to make a flying UFO out of dry cleaner bags, cardboard strips and birthday candles.

We lit one off one night at LSP and caught holy heck from the park manager.

For some reason he feared the woods would catch fire.

[SteveA]

Ok... this thread is where it all started for me here on Winnipesaukee.com. 1,000 posts ago. Inspired by RG's and McDudes "History" threads.

So, I decided to come back to this thread for 2 reasons, one to refresh the LSP Thread, but more importantly to say thanks to Don, and all of the great folks I've got to know here on Winni.com.

Too many to mention name by name, but I have to say to Pineneddles, Gravy Boat, Rattlesnake Gal and Guy, Pepper, WinniDixie, McDude, Upthesaukee, Island Girl, Broad Hopper, Bear Islander, Siksukr, Quilt Lady and DRH, AG, Samiam, and yes even FLL, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

You've all made me laugh, and when all is said and done... a good laugh is priceless.

I'm sure I've missed many more.

SteveA