Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > History
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-06-2010, 07:58 AM   #1
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default Smelt Fishing "Shanty Towns" on Winnipesaukee

Growing up in the Lakes Region I have many memories of seeing and visiting Shanty Towns on the ice with dozens and dozens of shanty's and a very unique enviroment of laid back living. Some of these groups had their own Mayor of sorts, complete with a town hall. I have been searching for any photographs or postcard depicting this era on the lake but have not been able to find any. I particually remember one on Paugus Bay. Anyone have any photos, McDude maybe?
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2010, 09:28 AM   #2
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default Fisherville


From what I've seen (in books....I'm not really that old....really!) it appears that Wolfeboro had the biggest and most well-organized ice fishing village complete with mayor, police and post office. This photo from "Remember When" edited by Kathy O'Meara was taken in the 1930s.

Other activities, besides fishing, included ice boat racing


and "ice buggy" racing
__________________

mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to mcdude For This Useful Post:
natureboy79 (05-22-2011)
Old 01-06-2010, 02:17 PM   #3
RLW
Senior Member
 
RLW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake
Posts: 2,023
Thanks: 563
Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts
Default On the ice activities

Thanks mcdude, it's nice to see you pull up the pictures for all to see.
__________________
There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.
RLW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2010, 06:58 PM   #4
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default


.

.
__________________

mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2010, 11:03 AM   #5
SIKSUKR
Senior Member
 
SIKSUKR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,075
Thanks: 215
Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts
Default

I had never heard about Fisherville before. As always, McDude has all the history in his hands. Really cool. Thanks McD.
__________________
SIKSUKR
SIKSUKR is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 01-07-2010, 03:27 PM   #6
steadyon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Meredith
Posts: 102
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Default

those are really fun!
I have been icefishing here all my life and I did not know about fisherville.
thanks for sharing that!
steadyon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2010, 06:50 AM   #7
TOAD
Senior Member
 
TOAD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Soon to be Moultonboro
Posts: 258
Thanks: 1
Thanked 81 Times in 34 Posts
Default

Great information and pictures! Thanks.
__________________
"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.....Unknown....but attributed to George Washington
TOAD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2010, 07:03 AM   #8
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default

Thank you, thank you, thank you, McDude! you the man, I knew you would find someting in your vast collection of Winnipedia files. I do remember hearing stories of fisherville in Wolfeboro and love looking at these photos. Thanks again!
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2010, 09:07 PM   #9
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default


Ice boat and Ice Buggy Races

Sled Dog Races







__________________


Last edited by mcdude; 01-10-2010 at 08:38 AM.
mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2010, 06:35 PM   #10
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default

Great stuff McDude! Have a friend who was born and raised in Wolfeboro from the 40's thru 60's cannot wait to show him this stuff. Thanks
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2010, 08:51 AM   #11
SIKSUKR
Senior Member
 
SIKSUKR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,075
Thanks: 215
Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts
Default It's a wonderfull life

I was waiting for the picture of Jimmy Stewart running down main street! Awsome as always McD.
__________________
SIKSUKR
SIKSUKR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2010, 10:01 AM   #12
Merrymeeting
Senior Member
 
Merrymeeting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham
Posts: 2,216
Thanks: 299
Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts
Default

McDude, as others have said, thanks!

What I like to see is how little, relatively speaking, things have changed in many of the pictures. The Christmas photo of downtown Wolfeboro in the 50's could have been taken last month after a snowfall, and you wouldn't see much difference.
Merrymeeting is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2010, 12:25 PM   #13
KBoater
Senior Member
 
KBoater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Wolfeboro
Posts: 521
Thanks: 10
Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts
Default Fishville and Wind Sailing

I believe that Fishville may still exist. At least some of it. Anyone Know?

Great pictures.

Are there any pictures of the International Ice wind sailing race? I think it was in the recent past.(1980's-1990's) There must have been 300-500 people and animals on the ice off Wolfeboro doing everything including wind sailing(not ice boaating). I remenber that the Finns won just about every race.
__________________
Home Permanently in NH
KBoater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2010, 07:17 AM   #14
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default

From what I have been told, on the far end of Clark's Plaza out in the back is the last "City Hall" Shanty from Fisherville on a trailer. Have not seen it myself, but from a reliable source.
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2010, 07:20 AM   #15
tis
Senior Member
 
tis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,386
Thanks: 716
Thanked 1,375 Times in 951 Posts
Default

A few years ago Carl Shannon et al brought fisherville back complete with town hall. If I recall right, Carl had town hall. I really don't think any of the fishhouses from the old fisherville are still around.
tis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2010, 07:58 PM   #16
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default

Was going by Clarks Plaza today and look what I found!


__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2010, 09:33 AM   #17
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default History Detectives

riverat:
That is so cool that you found City Hall! I must have seen it out of the corner of my eye on my way down to the liquor store....but never made the connection!
__________________

mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2010, 08:46 PM   #18
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default

Yes it was cool, in the old photo the boy to the far right is a friend of mine's father Warren Smith. Keeps getting cooler
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2010, 06:59 AM   #19
TOAD
Senior Member
 
TOAD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Soon to be Moultonboro
Posts: 258
Thanks: 1
Thanked 81 Times in 34 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SIKSUKR View Post
I was waiting for the picture of Jimmy Stewart running down main street! .


And I thought I heard a bell ring looking at those pictures!

Although new to the forum I am quickly coming to the conclusion that historical facts and pictures and obtained by the ever informed Mcdude!
__________________
"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.....Unknown....but attributed to George Washington
TOAD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2010, 02:06 PM   #20
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default

If anyone is interested in Kathy O'Meara's book, from which the photos above were scanned, it is currently available ON E-BAY

__________________

mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 12:00 PM   #21
KBoater
Senior Member
 
KBoater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Wolfeboro
Posts: 521
Thanks: 10
Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts
Default Fishville history

The Granite State News has an interesting article today on Fishville history. I
m not sure if everyone can read this.

http://www.newhampshirelakesandmount...2010.02.04.pdf
__________________
Home Permanently in NH
KBoater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 12:16 PM   #22
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default

Thanks FLboater!
Quote:

Town Politics in Fisherville
Fisherville was founded in 1888. This “village” within
Wolfeboro was set up each winter on the ice of Wolfeboro
Bay, a few hundred yards off of the town docks. At first it
was accessed by foot or horse-and-wagon. Then came the
motor age, and cars and trucks made it easier to come and
go.
In the course of skimming and reading through back issues
of the “Granite State News” as part of my History of
Wolfeboro research, I encountered many stories of this
ephemeral collection of vehicles and buildings. The high
point in hilarity seems to have been reached in the winters
of 1938-1939 and 1939-1940. In mock seriousness, streets were
laid out and named, “precincts” were established, officials
were elected, and municipal buildings (town hall, courthouse,
jail) were set up.
“Dusty” Rhodes was chosen as mayor in the winter of ’39-
’40 in an election in which both candidates had this identical
platform:
“If elected I will erect a building in which the residents
may store free of charge their fish-holes through the summer
months. This will save a great deal of confusion when
winter comes, as the holes will be ready to use and no ice
cutting will be necessary.”
This paper carried many other farcical accounts, this excerpt
from “news” published on January 5, 1940, being typical:
“Fisherville is rapidly being rehabilitated after the great
flood that dissolved its very foundations in May and continued
until December 29.… Many new buildings have been
erected during the past season. ‘Yankeemont’ Dunham, architect,
builder and janitor of the Court House, has given
other Fisherville builders a high standard of architecture
to follow.… Precinct Two seems at present to be the main
center of Fisherville.The Municipal Jail, in charge of Sheriff
[J. Frank] Goodwin, has been erected close to the Court
House, while ‘The Palace’ has been taken over as City Hall
until a more suitable building is ready. The population of
Precinct Two is at present 12 houses.…”
In the winter of 1940-1 the “official ballot” for mayor included
this pivotal question: “Will Fisherville be wet in July?”
At the bottom of the sheet was the tag line “Vote early
and often!” The winner was Harry Perkins, who bested his
opponent, Ike Allbee (owner of the Sheridan House hotel),
and went on to serve for many years thereafter. There were
135 registered voters who cast 1,156 votes for Perkins and 979
for Allbee.
– Dave Bowers (qdbarchive@metrocast.net)
135 voters cast over 2,000 votes!!...vote early and vote OFTEN!!
__________________

mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 06:11 PM   #23
KBoater
Senior Member
 
KBoater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Wolfeboro
Posts: 521
Thanks: 10
Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts
Default creative folks

Wolfeboro could use some of these creative folks to get involved in the current town hall discussion. Maybe their kids are??

Not being there, I ask are there any current "towns" on the ice anywhere this year?
__________________
Home Permanently in NH
KBoater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 07:06 PM   #24
Dock and Barge
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 29
Thanks: 1
Thanked 30 Times in 7 Posts
Default Fisherville 2010

My (luke freudenberg), me and a few friends have started the process of raising money to rebuild Fisherville. Currently only the townhall survives. For general information Fisherville was recognized as an official town on March 15,1940. I am working on securing the town charter as the state has no records. We are looking for help rebuilding the town. If anyone is interested in helping please email me at lukefreudenberg@hotmail.com. I am hoping to add a few building this year including a city jail, court house, and saloon.
Dock and Barge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2010, 11:25 PM   #25
KBoater
Senior Member
 
KBoater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Wolfeboro
Posts: 521
Thanks: 10
Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Way to go. Keep us posted on your progress.
__________________
Home Permanently in NH
KBoater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2010, 06:31 AM   #26
Jonas Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365
Posts: 1,686
Thanks: 1,047
Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts
Default

Note the wind damage to the roof. It would be a shame to lose this famous shanty.

Jonas Pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2010, 09:27 AM   #27
riverat
Senior Member
 
riverat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 722
Thanks: 337
Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dock and Barge View Post
My (luke freudenberg), me and a few friends have started the process of raising money to rebuild Fisherville. Currently only the townhall survives. For general information Fisherville was recognized as an official town on March 15,1940. I am working on securing the town charter as the state has no records. We are looking for help rebuilding the town. If anyone is interested in helping please email me at lukefreudenberg@hotmail.com. I am hoping to add a few building this year including a city jail, court house, and saloon.
Fantastic! Sent a PM, Thank you on behalf of all nh icefisherman.
__________________
Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus
riverat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2011, 07:39 AM   #28
mcdude
Senior Member
 
mcdude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME
Posts: 5,359
Thanks: 374
Thanked 1,041 Times in 489 Posts
Default

"Remember When" by Kathy O'Meara available on e-bay for 99 cents. How can you go wrong?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Remember-When-Ol...item2563eb3700
__________________

mcdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2013, 12:48 PM   #29
tis
Senior Member
 
tis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,386
Thanks: 716
Thanked 1,375 Times in 951 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcdude View Post

Ice boat and Ice Buggy Races

Sled Dog Races







I would love to know where that picture of the hockey team was taken. I believe it is at the corner of North Main Street and Keewaydin Road. My father, uncles and friends built a hockey rink themselves and then the town supplied the electricity eventually.
tis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2013, 04:19 PM   #30
snowflake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 157
Thanks: 1
Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts
Default ice harvesting

Those pictures are great! If I'm not mistaken there's a bench dedicated to Mr. Moody. I join the walking trail at Albee Beach and it's along the tracks overlooking Wentworth. I often sit on the bench and imagine harvesting ice for the summer.
snowflake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2013, 02:31 PM   #31
BroadHopper
Senior Member
 
BroadHopper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Laconia NH
Posts: 5,504
Thanks: 3,113
Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts
Default Late Uncle

My Uncle Roger, who was one of the 'telephone pioneers' mention laying telephone lines out to an ice fishing village and installing phones. I can't recall if it was Wolfeboro or Meredith. Anyone can relate?
__________________
Someday may never be an actual day.
BroadHopper is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.34628 seconds