Bear Island Hotel?

Descant · 02-15-2021, 11:32 PM

In a recent thread about ice harvesting, it was mentioned that the ice was sold to the Bear Island Hotel. Unfamiliar to me. Can anybody enlighten me? Where on the island? Built? Burned? How big? Pictures? Whatever info? TIA.

fatlazyless · 02-16-2021, 08:43 AM

Could be the Weirs Times had a story about the Bear Island Hotel maybe sometime like 15-20 years ago.

That Bear Island Hotel was a summer and fall favorite party spot that included NH politicians from Concord for drinking, partying, and mess'n around. A welcome go-to spot out on the lake to go have a good time.

Supposedly, the reason why the Meredith Neck Rd is a state owned road and not a town road was because it was a big improvement over what was in use and was driven by Concord politicians look'n for a faster, easier route to get out to the Bear Island Hotel. There's a good sized old stone bridge that crosses a brook between the Lower Meadow and Upper Meadow Farms, still in use, at the start of the Meredith Neck Rd, plus some big hills, and low, wet swamp land and it was the State of NH motivated by the Bear Island Hotel-NH politicians that got it built. What really matters is a good time and the Bear Island Hotel was a happening place and the Concord pols wanted a better, faster way to get there.

longislander · 02-16-2021, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Bear Island was so popular with tourists 160 years ago that as many as 350 would board the 7:45 a.m. Boston, Concord and Montreal train in Concord for the ride to the Weirs. Once there, they boarded the Our Lady of the Lake steamboat and were taken to the island, where they spent the day strolling around, taking advantage of many activities, including a bowling alley set up in a barn.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...969420bf0.html

https://www.winnipesaukeeislandprope...s/bear-island/

Bear Guy · 02-16-2021, 09:51 AM

The Bear Island House Hotel burned in Nov 1934.

This thread notes the foundation location: https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...12&postcount=3

There is a short chapter on the hotel in the book Bear Island Reflections (supposedly $10 at http://www.bearisland.org/).

mcdude · 02-16-2021, 09:52 AM

..............

ApS · 02-16-2021, 10:34 AM

If old farmlands on Wolfeboro Neck is any indication, some evidence remains of those old stone walls. (Surrounding the "Rock Farm").

First-ever photograph taken from a drone?

02-15-2021, 11:32 PM	#1
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,591 Thanks: 1,413 Thanked 1,703 Times in 1,107 Posts	Bear Island Hotel? In a recent thread about ice harvesting, it was mentioned that the ice was sold to the Bear Island Hotel. Unfamiliar to me. Can anybody enlighten me? Where on the island? Built? Burned? How big? Pictures? Whatever info? TIA.

02-16-2021, 08:43 AM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,168 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,102 Times in 811 Posts	Could be the Weirs Times had a story about the Bear Island Hotel maybe sometime like 15-20 years ago. That Bear Island Hotel was a summer and fall favorite party spot that included NH politicians from Concord for drinking, partying, and mess'n around. A welcome go-to spot out on the lake to go have a good time. Supposedly, the reason why the Meredith Neck Rd is a state owned road and not a town road was because it was a big improvement over what was in use and was driven by Concord politicians look'n for a faster, easier route to get out to the Bear Island Hotel. There's a good sized old stone bridge that crosses a brook between the Lower Meadow and Upper Meadow Farms, still in use, at the start of the Meredith Neck Rd, plus some big hills, and low, wet swamp land and it was the State of NH motivated by the Bear Island Hotel-NH politicians that got it built. What really matters is a good time and the Bear Island Hotel was a happening place and the Concord pols wanted a better, faster way to get there. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

02-16-2021, 09:51 AM	#4
Bear Guy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: FL, Bear Is. Posts: 193 Thanks: 52 Thanked 75 Times in 46 Posts	The Bear Island House Hotel burned in Nov 1934. This thread notes the foundation location: https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...12&postcount=3 There is a short chapter on the hotel in the book Bear Island Reflections (supposedly $10 at http://www.bearisland.org/). Last edited by Bear Guy; 02-16-2021 at 10:52 AM. Reason: sale info add

02-16-2021, 09:52 AM	#5
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,343 Thanks: 370 Thanked 1,033 Times in 480 Posts	.............. Attached Images __________________

02-16-2021, 10:34 AM	#6
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 6,028 Thanks: 2,284 Thanked 789 Times in 564 Posts	New Hampshire Rock Farm... If old farmlands on Wolfeboro Neck is any indication, some evidence remains of those old stone walls. (Surrounding the "Rock Farm"). First-ever photograph taken from a drone?

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mcdude For This Useful Post:
Descant (02-17-2021), TheTimeTraveler (02-16-2021)