Lakes Region Fall Family Fun

Lakes Region Fall Family Fun 

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper 

If you are yearning to get out and enjoy the late-summer/early fall days ahead in the Lakes Region, there are many area events sure to please. 

One of the old-time vehicles in the Sandwich Fair parade. (Courtesy photo)

The 42nd New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival is among the largest Scottish cultural festivals in the northeast and is dedicated to the furtherance of the music, dance, athletics and customs of the Scottish people and to the continuance of the Gaelic culture. This year’s event offers great music with a variety of performers throughout the weekend. There is always the traditional bagpipe but many other acts as well. Events include highland dancing, fiddle, harp (clarsach), sheep dogs, and heavy Scottish athletics. There will be many clans and societies in attendance, and the event offers a chance to learn all about Scottish life and history. With multiple venues, Scottish and Celtic performers entertain with traditional and modern music. Plan to attend for three days of music, food and competitions. The event takes place at Loon Mt. Resort in Lincoln from September 21 to 23. Visit www.nhscot.org for information. 

Picturesque Newfound Lake in the Bristol area is home to the Annual NH Marathon & 10K & Kids Events on Saturday, September 29 at 9 am. The course, including the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K Road Race and Kids Marathon takes place in the Newfound Lake area, with beautiful scenery. Call 604-744-3335 to register. The weekend is full of activities, including the Marathon Pasta Dinner on September 28 from 5 to 7:30 pm at the Union Lodge, 61 Pleasant Street in Bristol. (The Masons host the dinner and it is a great event: crocks pots full of many varieties of homemade sauces for runners and guests to choose from top off pasta, and there is dessert to end the tasty meal.) The cost is $10 per person. Contact race@nhmarathon.com. For complete race/event information, visit www.nhmarathon.com. 

The Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth is a great place to bring the entire family, and the site is at its best in the summer and fall. On Saturday, September 22, the Museum will present the 14th Annual Harvest Festival. Join the staff at the farm for tractor-pulled wagon rides, seasonal foods, harvesting and gardening demos, farm stand veggies, historic crafts, agricultural exhibits, lunch and goodies for sale and farm games and live folk music.  

A fun Hearthside Dinner will take place on Saturday, October 20 from 4 to 8 pm. Museum interpreters will be dressed in period clothing to help create a look back at cooking long ago. Guests assist in cooking the meal. After the meal is prepared, participants gather for a feast. Call the museum at 603-323-7591 for registration information on all Remick Museum events or visit www.remickmuseum.org. 

 The New Hampshire Farm Museum, located on Route 175 in Milton, has events slated for families during the fall. If you love pie, don’t miss a fun - and tasty - event: The Great NH Farm Pie Festival on September 16 from noon to 4 pm. Taste all sorts of pies from New Hampshire’s best bakers and bakeries. Enjoy pie making demonstrations, farm tours and guided tours of the historic Jones farmhouse. 

On September 29 and October 27, the Milton Market will be offered from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm with local handmade goods at the Farm Museum. 

Preserving the Harvest will take place at the Farm Museum on October 13 from 10 am to 3 pm. Enjoy many end-of-season fun events and learn how harvesting was done long ago. 

On November 21, Over the River and Through the Woods celebrates Thanksgiving from 10 am to 3 pm. The season ends at the NH Farm Museum on December 15 with Christmas Through the Ages from 10 am to 3 pm. Call 603-652-7840 for NH Farm Museum information or visit www.farmmuseum.org. 

Prescott Farm on White Oaks Road in Laconia has great hiking trails and wonderful programs for kids, as well as adults. There is also a new outdoor playground in the woods. One event not to miss is the 9th Annual Harvest Festival & Second Annual Raise Heck Tug O’War on Saturday, September 15 from 10 am to 3 pm. Enjoy horse drawn hayrides, face painting, oxen, a petting farm, food, music, games, crafts, workshop demonstrations, and a hay jump.  

There are many more events at Prescott Farm, such as the Big Backyard Series with weekly workshops in specific areas of interest, such as spiders, bats, fall foliage walks and more. The Farmhouse Kitchen Series focuses on all sorts of healthy cooking. To learn more, visit www.prescottfarm.org. Prescott Farm is located at 928 White Oaks Road in Laconia. Call 603-366-5695.  

Elsewhere in the Lakes Region, Canterbury Shaker Village pays homage to the past with present-day fun activities. The Canterbury Artisan Festival will be held on September 15 from 10 am to 5 pm with fine arts and crafts, special foods, a farmer’s market, historic arts demonstrations, music and agricultural demonstrations. 

Also scheduled at Shaker Village is a Vintage Car Show on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 am to 1 pm (rain date is Oct. 14); Spirit Encounters Tours on October 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 6:30 and 7 pm; a Harvest Music Festival on October 20 from 4 to 8 pm; and Christmas with the Canterbury Shakers Tours on December 6, 7, 9 13 and 14 at 6:30 and 7 pm. Christmas at Canterbury takes place on December 8 and 15 from 3 to 8 pm. Workshops are also scheduled in a variety of topics. Call 603-783-9512 or visit www.shakers.org for information. 

There are many events taking place at historic and beautiful Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough right through the Christmas season. Brewing in NH: An Informal History of Beer will take place on Wednesday, September 12 from 7 to 8:30 pm and is a free program. Open Air Landscape Art takes place September 7 and October 12 and you don’t need to be a professional artist to participate! Just sign up to join local artists MaryAnn Stockman, and be there from 10 am to noon. You will paint with MaryAnn at some great chosen outdoor locations. If you like Halloween, don’t miss the Pumpkin Walk at the Castle on October 12 at 5:30 pm. This great event will offer a Halloween-themed walk on the trail around Shannon Pond. The event is free of charge.  

What could be more magical than Christmas…at a castle? Castle in the Clouds will offer Christmas at the Castle this year on November 16 to 18 and November 23 to 25. Tour the Arts & Crafts mansion, Lucknow, elegantly dressed in holiday decorations. Local businesses and designers showcase their design aesthetic by adopting a room in the mansion and decorating it to the nines. There are plenty of activities for families to enjoy, including a craft table for children and a visit with Santa Claus. 

During the Christmas at the Castle event, the popular Artisan Fair will be held in the Winnipesaukee Room at the Carriage House. Warm up with some hot cocoa and tasty cookies as your browse the local wares and get a jump on your holiday shopping.  

The restaurant in the Carriage House will be open in the fall, during the Christmas event, and also during the winter (on select dates). And speaking of winter/colder weather, enjoy a free Winter Solstice Hike on December 21 from 5 to 7 pm at Shannon Pond. Call 603-476-5900 or visit www.castleintheclouds.org. for further information. 

The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness is open until late fall with many fun family programs. You can get up close to animals and take workshops at the Science Center; it is a great place to visit in the fall months. Call 603-968-7194 or visit www.nhnature.org. 

The beloved NH Pumpkin Festival will take place in Laconia on October 12 from 4 to 8 pm and October 13 from noon to 8 pm with many events planned all over the downtown area. This family-fun fest will feature food and craft vendors on both days, amusement rides, street music, Zombie Walk at 6:30 pm on October 12, a stroll on the streets of pumpkins and more. On October 13, there will be a 5 and 10K run/walk at Opechee Park at 9 am; a pumpkin pancake breakfast at Holy Trinity School, food and craft vendors, live music, horse drawn hayrides, a Great Pumpkin Cook-Off and Riverside Duck Derby and at 5 pm, the great pumpkin lighting begins. Visit www.nhpumpkinfestival.com for information. 

Fall just wouldn't be fall without New Hampshire's great fairs. This year's fairs feature so many things: farm animals, live musical entertainment, amusement rides for all ages, judging of horse pulling, animals and baked goods, to name but a few. 

Rochester Fair, located on Lafayette Street in Rochester, runs from September 6 to 16 this year. This popular fair will have something for everyone; visit www.rochesterfair.com for details. 

Deerfield Fair, while technically not in the Lakes Region, is definitely worth a day trip. This fair, which takes place from September 27 to 30, brings visitors from all over New England who are looking for a taste of New Hampshire’s down-home fair atmosphere. For a complete schedule, visit www.deerfieldfair.com. 

The premier fair for the Lakes Region, the Sandwich Fair, runs from October 6 to 8 in Center Sandwich. With farm animals, baked good, vegetables, demonstration and competition imaginable, as well as music, amusement rides and much more, this fair is a must. Call 603-284-7062 or visit www.thesandwichfair.com. 

Lakes Region Airport

Lakes Region Airport 

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper 

“The local airport, while small…still attracts the air traveler. It is not uncommon on a summer weekend to see 25 or 30 large four-place planes tied down in the parking area.” Airport News, 1958 

After the 1938 Hurricane destroyed a maple syrup operation, Ralph Merwin Horn got permission from his father to replace maple syrup with airplanes. On approximately 100 acres of land at the Wolfeboro Neck property, Horn got to work clearing downed trees and doing the hard work of transforming a hurricane damaged land to an airstrip.  

The above quote was from a 1958 Granite State News comment under “Airport News.” Many people are unaware that an airport was built in Wolfeboro in the late 1930s/1940s. It served the area and saw small planes coming and going, bringing vacationers and others to and from the Lakes Region. 

Not so many years after the hurricane, World War II broke out, and Horn’s flying knowledge was put to use training military personnel to fly planes in Massachusetts. 

Ralph married Eleanor and together they lived in the Wolfeboro area and worked hard to make the airport a going concern. And hard work it was to maintain a small airport that could see private planes arriving at any time of the day or evening; at first, lighting was an issue and smudge pots of fire were lit to illuminate the runway and help pilots land at the airstrip. 

An old advertisement for the airport. (Courtesy Wolfeboro Historical Society)

A circa 1950s Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce pamphlet promoting the business calls The Lakes Region Airport and Seaplane Base, “The Friendly Flight Operation” just three miles from Shopping Center on Wolfeboro Neck. The advertisement states that the airport offered Air Taxi Services (to anywhere); Repair Services; Airplane Rentals and Sales and Aerial Photos and Surveys. 

Because of its proximity to the water, the pamphlet also states that there was a picnic area, boating and bathing, with parties offered by special arrangement.  

Around 1965, the airport was said to have 1,500 ft. of unpaved runway and an adjacent seaplane base, making it a real asset to those who wanted to land via seaplane. According to “History of Wolfeboro 1770-1994” by Q. David Bowers, the Horns seaplane facility was in Winter Harbor, not far from the Lakes Region Airport. It wasn’t unusual to see, in the 1950s, a seaplane in flight. In the summer of 1955 a twin-engine “Catalina” flying boat was utilized by the Navy for seaplane practice. It took off and landed at Winter Harbor during practice, with about eight crewmen aboard. 

In the winter of 1951, just about everyone in Wolfeboro was craning their necks and looking up at the sky as a flock of B-36s with jet escorts were dog-fighting over Winnipesaukee. After the display, they flew off towards Portland, Maine. The reason they were in the air above Wolfeboro? It is said the huge bombers had overflown the town on a direct air route from Texas to Europe! It can be sure the Horns were among those watching the unexpected airshow. 

Business was steady and in 1974/1975, according to “History of Wolfeboro” by Bowers, the airport expanded its main runway. This was likely because more private planes were making use of the space. In addition, a year-round air taxi service by twin-engine plane was to be offered. At that time, Amphibair, Inc. offered Wolfeboro to Boston air taxi service for $26.00 per person if you had a group of five or more passengers. The service was a great idea, but clearly most who used the airport had their own plane, and the air taxi service ceased due to lack of business. 

Aerial view of the airport area. (Courtesy Wolfeboro Historical Society)

The airport sought various methods to cater to the public over the years, such as a July 1983 air show sponsored by the Lion’s Club. The event featured stunt flyer Bob Weymouth, a 10 military jet aircraft, and more. Attendance was good, with about 500 people attending the air show; it also featured an antique 53-note National air calliope mounted on a show trailer! 

Upkeep is always an issue for a small airstrip, but Ralph and Eleanor had some help in 1984 when 20 members of the International Organization of Women Pilots rolled up their sleeves and painted markings on the runway. It was a big help, because at that time a number of aircraft used the airport. 

Even with outside help, Ralph and Eleanor were kept busy for the many years they operated the business. One remembrance on www.winnipesaukee.com recounts that there were often floatplanes at the docks, dozens of aircraft at the tie-downs, three or more aircraft in the hangar for repairs and also some in for routine maintenance, not to mention handling takeoffs and landings both day and night.  

Eleanor was an active partner in the business, beside her husband from the early days of the airport. She also was a photographer of some local renown. (Indeed, an internet search under the name Eleanor Horn lists one of her aerial photos that was made into a postcard, showing Wolfeboro from the air and on the back of the card, it is printed that it was published by Gould’s Dime Store, Wolfeboro.)  

When she passed away in the late 1980s, Eleanor was honored in Wolfeboro with a flyover of vintage World War II military aircraft. In 1989, scenic rides for charity in the name of the Eleanor Horn Memorial Flight to Fight Cancer was held. 

Also, on www.winnipesaukee.com, a remembrance was shared from SeaBees, a water aircraft business: “After receiving gasoline from the Horns' dock, we pushed away and started the engine. The engine coughed a few times and then refused to start. The wind had allowed our craft to drift in the direction of deep water, and I had previously loaned my paddle to another pilot! With Eleanor looking on, she seemed to grasp the seriousness of the situation and did what any matronly and grandmotherly person in a print dress would do: She waded into the lake waist-deep and pulled the SeaBee back to the dock!” 

The airport area was busy into the 1990s, and one former customer recalls Saturday hamburger cookouts at the airport, probably gatherings comprised of those who flew private planes in and out of the location.  

Another remembers, “To me the airpark was the heart and soul of the Lakes Region.” What this meant was that, for those who used it, the Lakes Region Airport and the seaplane base offered a way to travel to and from the Wolfeboro vicinity faster than by car.  

All things come to an eventual end, and the airport eventually ceased operation. Ralph Merwin Horn passed away in the 1990s, but he - and the airport - are fondly remembered by many who once took to the skies from the Lakes Region Airport. 

Canning at Remick Farm with Cara Sutherland

Canning at Remick Farm with Cara Sutherland 

By Sarah Wright 

Photos courtesy Remick Museum 

The process of preserving foods in cans or jars, usually sterilized by a heat treatment, began in the late 18th century. In 1795, Napoleon Bonaparte offered a reward for whoever could develop a safe way to preserve food for his army as they traveled. A man named Nicholas Appert took on the challenge, but struggled for 15 years until he came up with a method that involved heat-processing food in glass jars reinforced with wire, and sealing them with wax. By 1810, Englishman Peter Durand had introduced a method for sealing food in tin cans. Later, in 1912, canning really took off in the United States when Thomas Kensett opened the first commercial canning establishment. Of course, no one really knew why canning worked to preserve food until almost a century later, when scientist Louis Pasteur was able to demonstrate how the growth of microorganisms causes food to spoil.  

Canning fruits and vegetables is taught in a workshop at the Remick Museum.

Back then, canning was done in order to survive through wartimes and harsh winters—today, it’s a different story. Cara Sutherland, who teaches canning workshops at the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth, explains that people are becoming more and more concerned about what’s in their food. Just look at any food label at the store and you’ll see a long list of additives and chemical preservatives. Why not can your own foods with simple, natural ingredients?   

“Many people also can their own food to have something unique; a product they can’t find in stores,” says Cara. “Of course, there’s also the satisfaction of making food yourself.”  

This is probably why Cara’s canning workshops at the Remick Museum are so popular. Workshops are held in Remick’s commercial kitchen, and all materials are provided. However, with a class size of just four to eight people, they fill up fast! You’ll definitely want to register in advance for her next workshop scheduled for 1 pm on September 8.  

Cara has been canning for years, and like most canners in New Hampshire, she starts in July when fruits and vegetables ripen. It’s important to preserve any garden surplus before the growing season is over, so it doesn’t go to waste. To keep up with every recipe she likes to make, Cara also freezes some produce in the summertime to can later in the winter. However, like other canners, she does most of her canning from summer through October.  

I asked Cara what kinds of recipes she uses, and there are many. Her favorite is a chipotle raspberry jam, and she also cans a delicious rhubarb chutney that goes great with grilled chicken. She makes a tasty zucchini relish every year, along with a salsa verde that contains tomatillos, hot peppers, and onions. Every Christmas, Cara’s friends and family expect a jar of jam from her, so that is a part of her regular canning schedule as well. In the wintertime, she likes to make marmalades with Meyer lemons and blood oranges. Cara feels it’s important not to waste a bit of food, so she’ll use the lemon rinds to make an Italian liquor called limoncello and squeeze the lemon juice for strawberry lemonade. Any leftover lemon can still be salted and preserved, or steeped with vinegar to be used as a cleaning solution.  

In her workshops at the Remick Museum, Cara sticks with easier recipes like dilly beans, or blueberry and raspberry jam. Something like marinara sauce may sound tempting to make, but Cara says it’s more labor intensive than people realize; she only makes it every other year.  

Cara led a two-day workshop for kids this past July, and they made simple recipes for blueberry jam, along with candy apple jelly made with apple juice and cinnamon red hots, and a chocolate cherry jam.  

If you’re just starting out, there are some canning recipes in the Remick cookbook, and also many recipes online. Cara suggests using a reputable website for recipes, like www.freshpreserving.com/recipes or www.foodinjars.com.  

Although it’s called “canning,” people generally use mason jars, which are typically sold in flats with 12 jars per flat. Canning jar design has come a long way. In 1858, John Mason first invented a glass container with a screw-on thread molded into its top, and a lid with a rubber seal. Wire-clamped jars, such as Lightning and Atlas jars were in use from the late 19th century until 1964, but the modern, two-piece design was developed in 1915, when Alexander Kerr came up with a metal disk with a gasket, held in place by a threaded metal ring.  

No matter what the design, Cara stresses that cleanliness is of the utmost importance when canning, as the heat from processing is necessary to kill germs. There is a botulism risk with home canning, which was definitely more prevalent in our past, but can still happen today. It’s important to follow canning instructions carefully, and there are websites that can help, like https://nchfp.uga.edu/ or you can search up “canning basics” at https://extension.psu.edu/.  

Most canned foods should be good for at least a year to 18 months. Over a longer period of time, the canned food might lose its color or flavor vibrancy. “Another thing people should keep in mind is that vegetables have changed over the years—for instance, the Ph might be different today,” says Cara. “Old family recipes might not work the same way as they once did.”  

Although Cara has been canning for a long time, she’s still interested in learning more about this delicious hobby. “I’m hoping to learn how to use pressure can equipment. It’s safer than it was 40 years ago,” she explains. “I also want to start making my own soups.”  

The beautiful, delicious finished product.

Taking one of Cara’s workshops will definitely get you on the road to safely canning your own produce, which can be a nutritious part of a healthy lifestyle. Call the Remick Museum at 603-323-7591 to register for the next canning workshop on September 8 at 1 pm. There are many other activities and events at the Remick Museum. Check their calendar at www.remickmuseum.org for more details.  

The Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm is located at 58 Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth Village. They are currently open from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday. Whether you are new to canning or just want to learn a few new recipes, Cara would love to meet you at her next workshop!

Gazing Back, Charging Forward

Gazing Back, Charging Forward 

Belknap Mill Fuses History with Contemporary Culture 

By Mark Foynes 

The Belknap Mill in Laconia stands astride the centuries. It has a legacy that stretches back nearly two centuries. It’s a temple of the Granite State’s industrial heritage, a present-day landmark to civic engagement, and a beacon for those seeking to advance culture in the Lakes Region.  

Belknap Mill

While the area is best known for its summer diversions, the Mill develops programs that are enjoyable, thought-provoking, and just plain fun - year-round.  

Tara Shore is the Mill’s operations manager. She described the Mill as one part museum, one part arts and cultural center, and one part town hall where a broad variety of speakers can discuss the critical issues of the day. 

Shore, who has been on the Belknap Mill’s staff for about three years, said her duties entail a little bit of everything, “from soup to nuts” approach. In addition to tending to several day-to-day details, she is also in charge of planning and managing the Mill’s programming. Events at the mill range from the scholarly to the culinary. 

 “It’s the gem of Laconia,” she noted with pride. Shore added that the Mill also provides a platform from which artists, scholars, and others can present their ideas and creations to a diverse public. 

Initially, the Mill, built in 1823 had a singular purpose: it was a center of production. Shore said it’s the oldest unaltered brick textile mill in America. She did somewhat qualify that statement to note that it had wiring, HVAC, and ADA-compliant features added to the interior over the years. 

While somewhat modernized to meet repurposing needs, the building itself is a textbook example of historic preservation. 

“The exterior looks pretty much the way it did 175 years ago,” she explained. She also noted that every modern update takes preserving the original fabric of the building into consideration. 

The outside - and even key elements of the interior - are so intact that the N.H. Preservation Alliance chose the Mill for the location of an important historic preservation conference some years ago. 

Shore explained that the water-powered mill on the Winnipesaukee River originally produced woven textiles but switched to knitted hosiery shortly after opening. 

The game changer for the Belknap Mill was the invention of a knitting machine devised by the Aiken family of Franklin, which would succeed in obtaining a dozen U.S. patents. Shore explained that the original knitting machine models were intended for home use, but that the Aikens always looked for ways to make things bigger and better. 

Boston University professor Richard Candee and architectural historian said of the Aikens, “They were the classic Yankee innovative family.” Candee was instrumental in the preservation of Strawbery Banke and the N.H. Farm Museum, as well as other significant structures. 

(As an aside, the Aikens later also devised a cog-based rail system that would allow a locomotive to ascend Mt. Washington; seeking permission from the legislature, lawmakers thought the notion so preposterous that they laughingly granted them permission to construct a “railway to the moon.” As history shows, the Aikens had the last laugh). 

The Aikens were both inventive and opportunistic. They saw the changes afoot in the Antebellum Period during the early Industrial Revolution. They knew their home-based knitting machine was a success. The ‘killer app’ would be to go to scale and apply it to the water-powered turbine model that shaped industrial centers like Lowell and Manchester. 

The owners of the Belknap Mill saw promise in their vision and switched over production from weaving to knitting several years before the Civil War - a legacy that would persist for perhaps a century. 

“The Mill supported other local industries, too,” Shore explained. She cited the presence of a local firm that manufactured knitting needles, as well as the machines themselves. 

“There were mills and factories everywhere, in Laconia and really anywhere there was water power,” she noted. 

But eventually competition from the South and overseas bit into profits. The 20th century marked the death knell for much of the region’s manufacturing. Although much smaller, the Belknap Mill outlasted the state’s largest textile maker, the Amoskeag Company, which went bust in 1936. The Belknap would persist, however its years were numbered. To be sure, the inevitable is the inevitable, and eventually the Belknap went under. 

With a hulking, prominent, and beautiful building threatened to fall into disrepair, local preservationists - and even statewide leaders - endeavored to find a way to repurpose the defunct factory. 

The first step was to make the case that the building was worth saving. Mind you, this was in the shadow of Urban Renewal: Knock down the old, make way for the new.  

Laconia said, “No.” But what to do with the building? 

Much of the hardware was still in place on the lower levels. There was the notion that they could be used as intact educational exhibits. Nowadays, hundreds of school children learn up close about the Industrial Revolution, and relatives of past employees could see where their parents toiled. There was a will. And so it would be. 

Upper stories boast beautiful hardwood floors and high ceilings - perfect for meetings. So local boosters promoted the central N.H. locale as an ideal gathering place for civic events. Per a 1970s gubernatorial decree, Governor Meldrim Thomson designated the Mill as “The Official Meetinghouse” for the state of N.H. Since then, countless social and policy sessions have been held at the Mill. As an example, NHPR recently did a remote broadcast of its “Exchange” program from the Mill. There was a vision to create a civic space. There was a will. And so it would be. 

Recognizing the Mill’s broader connection to the Laconia community and the Lakes Region community, planners envisioned the space to be used as a way to feature cultural leaders locally and regionally. Concerts. Art shows. Lectures. More. There was a will. And so it would be. 

Not satisfied with its current levels of service to denizens of the Lakes Region, the staff and board of the Mill are constantly pushing the envelope. 

For example, some years back, the Mill organized the “Music on the River” summer series to complement its fare. The concerts provided a literal platform for local performers and provided free entertainment for area residents. Operations manager Shore noted that the concept was recently broadened and re-branded as “Arts in the Park” to include the visual and cinematic arts. She acknowledged funding from the Laconia Putnam Fund, as well as a partnership with the Bank of N.H. Pavilion.  In addition to displays of local visual artists, there were performances by the likes of the Rockin’ Daddios, Carter Mountain Brass, and a children's’ concert by Wayne from Maine. 

“He was a huge draw,” she recalled. 

The musical component also includes local talent such as Gilford’s Katie Dobbins. 

“She has a real devoted local following, and there was a great turnout,” Shore recalled. 

Also in the past year, the Mill helped organize a city-wide scavenger hunt in collaboration with Celebrate Laconia, and the Library and Historical Society.  

“It’s a fascinating place with a lot of amazing places to visit and see,” Shore explained. 

She noted that the partnership was a way to promote the organizations, but, more importantly, to get folks out to see the special places the city has to offer. 

Shore said there were perhaps 60 locations that scavenger hunters were asked to locate. They included the Colonial Theater, the three Indian statues, and the iconic Weirs Beach sign. So locations included those in the midst of downtown and many other areas in the city. 

Also earlier in the season, the Mill was an integral part of Bike Week. The site was an essential stop for motorcyclists traveling a loop partially designed by Bike Week co-organizer and Mill trustee Jennifer Anderson. 

“We definitely got a lot of traffic as a result of that,” recalled Shore.  

To help connect 2018’s bikers connect with the event’s long heritage in Laconia, there were special displays of historic photos of past Bike Weeks, and the works of several tattoo artists. (In an askew way, the tattoo component makes sense - knitting stockings in the 1860s and tattooing in the 1960s both involved needles and dye). 

Looking ahead, Mill operations manager Shore sees opportunities for continuation, relationship building, and growth. 

In the immediate future, Shore cited the upcoming multicultural celebration over the course of September. She said there will be a parade of flags that will culminate with a stop at the Mill, where there will be a ‘hall of flags’-type display, featuring the many nationalities that shaped the city’s past. Shore said the flags will be enhanced by an exhibition of original paintings and photography that will help present a diverse tapestry of the diverse folks who helped shape Laconia’s unique character. 

Shore said that many European immigrants were destined for the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She also noted the pivotal role played by French-Canadians, who arrived by rail mostly from Quebec. 

 “It’s a way to recognize an ongoing tradition where new people come in and become part of the community,” she explained. 

Shore said that the works of photographer Alan MacRae and painter (and artist-in-residence) Larry Frates will play a key role. Shore said that after the flags are installed, they will be viewable proximate to landscapes and peoplescapes depicting life in lands whence Laconia’s residents travelled. 

“We know our city, but this will give a sense of where our neighbors and their families came from,” Shore said. 

Another initiative of the Mill is “Legacy of the Lakes Region,” which will take a broader geographic scope of the Laconia area. It will also be a multi-media endeavor involving literature, cinema, and other means of expression. 

A highlight of the fall season will be readings from M.J. Pettingill’s famed debut “Etched in Granite.” This will take place in September. 

Shore said that the Mill will screen more films based on local topics, hopefully, in the future. She noted a very successful recent showing of a film based on the very prominent local Bolduc family as a potential model. 

“People really responded because they did so much locally here,” she noted of the Bolducs. 

Shore added, “Things are in the fire and we’ll be starting on 2019 soon.” 

The operations director summarized, “Our ultimate aim is to combine history, civics, arts, culture, and a sense of the importance of this place and our area - and help people appreciate that.” 

Shore acknowledges the Mill’s goals are lofty-sounding. But she acknowledges the Belknap Mill, a non-profit entity, is all about providing a gathering space where people can either exchange ideas or share experiences that bring Granite Staters together. 

An excellent example of how the Mill creates bonds between others is the growth of its popularity as a wedding or reception venue. A trend in the bridal industry is tying the knot in unique locations.  

As with similar institutions, admissions and grants don’t make budgets whole. So organizations like the Belknap Mill Society have taken an entrepreneurial approach to generating income. Revenue vectors for weddings and private functions for venues like the Mill and the Castle in the Clouds are on the upswing. 

 “It’s a wonderful location for a wedding,” Shore noted. Indeed, there’s a certain magical feel that accompanies the first step to forging a future while stepping back into the past. 

The Mill was also essential to Laconia’s adoption of the N.H. Pumpkin festival; this is the event that used to be held in Keene.  

While not a key organizer of the overall event, the Mill is a key participant. There are a number of events that will take place on site this October. 

The most delectable will be the second annual Pumpkin Cook-off. (As an aside, the pumpkin is officially the Granite State’s official State Fruit, per an act of the legislature. Seriously. A group of 4th grade students from down in the Harrisville/Nelson area made this happen about 15 years ago). 

The $5 admission to the cook-off allows attendees to taste some of the most inspired pumpkin-inspired recipes of the city and region. You can enjoy dinner-like-entries (ravioli); and there are the deserts, too. 

 “Last year we had a mousse that was divine, and, believe it or not - even an ice cream that was just delicious,” said Shore. 

On the same day, there will also be a Duck Derby on the river. 

 “It's fun to watch them, but it’s not a super long course, so you don't have to devote a huge chunk of your day to watch,” Shore noted. She added that participants, purchasing a $5 rubber ducky don’t need to be present to win. She directed interested folks to the Belknap Mill website for details. 

The Mill is a deeply integral part of the community locally and among other nonprofits. For example, in the fall, the Mill’s gallery will partner with the American Cancer Society’s Great Strides campaign against breast cancer. The OctoBRA exhibit will feature brassieres that anyone can decorate and donate to be considered for inclusion in the display. The website lists artist-in-residence Larry Frates as the point of contact - 387-3687. The Mill’s website also notes his affiliation with Real Men Wear Pink. 

Looking ahead, Shore said, “Expect a lot as we continue to integrate the Mill’s mission with the needs of the community.” 

Shore said that winter seasonal events, as well as a 2019 calendar, are in the works. 

 “We’re keeping busy, to be sure.” 

For event details - or to get involved as a volunteer in this community-based nonprofit - call 603-524-8813 or visit www.belknapmill.org.

Boating Pleasures…at The NH Boat Museum

Day Tripping 

Boating Pleasures…at The NH Boat Museum 

Story & Photos by Kathi Caldwell-Hopper 

The NH Boat Museum seen from the stage

I love to wander around the Lakes Region on a September day. With the sun shining, and some of summer’s humidity and heat behind us, it is a glorious time of year to get in the car and explore all the area offers. 

It is also a time to stop by some places I just did not manage to visit in the hectic summer months. So it was no surprise to me that my wanderings led me to the doors of the NH Boat Museum. I wanted to see this summer’s exhibit, and I was glad there was still plenty of time before the museum closes after Columbus Day weekend in October. 

I visit the Boat Museum every year, knowing the exhibit will be changed from the previous year and because, while I am not a boat owner, I am a sucker for wooden, antique boats. 

Two beautiful wooden boats on display.

Detail of a wooden boat in the current NH Boat Museum exhibit.

I find this method of boating fascinating: the care taken to make a wooden boat, the beauty of the designs and the history of the era of Lakes Region boating when things were a bit slower. It brings to mind the Gatsby era, toasting with champagne and living the good life when things were well made and enjoyed to the max. 

The NH Boat Museum is located in a former Quonset hut style building (once used by the Allen A Resort for dances, concerts and plays). Today, the half-circular style building is home to the display of all-thing-boating. Each spring through autumn, the museum has a new exhibit, as well as the permanent displays. This year’s exhibit is titled “Rare Boats that Mark Transitions in Our Economy and Culture 1900-1940” and it is a great view of what the title says, showing some beautiful old wooden boats. 

I started my tour with that exhibit; I usually try to read all the signs and information to familiarize myself with what I will be seeing, but the shiny wooden boats were so attractive, I just could  not help but walk right up to them. When you see a well-kept wooden boat from another time, I dare you to not be mesmerized, to not want to get as close to it as possible.  

The first boat, on the left in the big main exhibit area is a Dee Wite all-mahogany pleasure craft. The sleek design and shining wood was the product of Joseph Berry Lodge, who created the Dee Wite company after his job as president of the Dwight Lumber Company and Berry Brothers Varnishes. The boat on display is a Split Cockpit Runabout and is 19 feet long.  

Not far away in the room is information on the Gesswein “Sportabout” a 14-foot Runabout built in 1928. 

I am used to seeing beautiful old boats in the museum, but it was a delight to see a shiny, deep maroon 1950 Ford on display as well. “They sure knew how to make a beautiful car back then,” I said to myself. The car is on display through the generosity of Jack Armstrong, and well worth stopping at the museum to see how cars once looked. A convertible, the car gleams from its front hood to its back, silver shiny bumper.  

One of the toy boats on loan by collector Fred Clausen.

In the past, I have interviewed Lakes Region resident Fred Clausen, who collects vintage toy boats. He has generously loaned some of his amazing collection of little boats to the NH Boat Museum for a display. Fred began collecting toy boats as a way to decorate the office of his family’s lodging property. The property, Proctor’s Lakehouse Cottages in Weirs Beach, displayed the toy boats, which became quite a conversation starter with guests. The collecting bug bit Fred and his toy boat fleet grew and grew. His extensive collection focuses on boats you might see on New Hampshire’s lakes, such as runabouts, outboards and race boats. Titled “Big Dreams, Little Boats,” some of the boats from Fred’s collection are on display and a lot of fun to see. Some of the boats are displayed with their original packaging, such as “Fiesta Queen” which sits atop its red and green original box.  

Large mural of The Swallow boat.

Not far from the toy boat area, I was drawn to a huge photo mural of The Swallow (from the collection of Carol Humphrey-Clouter), with men and women aboard. It is a photo taken long ago, and you can tell because the women have long skirts and the men are dressed a lot more formally (suit jackets and white shirts) than we would see boaters dressed today. Nevertheless, it looks like the people in the photo, aboard The Swallow, are having a grand old time, all smiles and casually posed.  

Historical information by the display tells us Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard, on Wolfeboro Bay, was home to the Swallow from 1898 until the 1960s. It was used as a charter boat and Captain Nat Goodhue once took the Swallow out on a rescue mission in a storm. The mission was successful, but the Swallow was damaged, hauled from the water, but never repaired. Eventually, the boat was burned, but old tales of her heyday and period photos show the fun passengers had on the Swallow once upon a time.  

I enjoyed a display in this area of the museum showing the commercial Winnipesaukee steamboat timeline, and old posters advertising rides on the Lady of the Lake steamboat. A wooden replica of the Lade of the Lake shows us, in great detail on a wooden model, what the steamboat looked like and it must have been a thing of beauty when out on the lake. 

On the former Quonset hut stage, which is reached by walking up a few steps, a replica of an old boat shop shows us a collection the museum acquired in 2001 from a modest, privately owned boat museum in Maine. With over 15 small marine engines, several outboard, many framed advertisements and pictures, there also were over 500 items relating to the repair, building and maintenance of boats. A small portion of the collection is on display, with mechanics’ and woodworkers’ tools from long ago.  

I found a display on the stage relating to the Laconia Car Company to be fascinating. When the old car company liquidated its Boat Department, a bargain was offered: buyers could obtain a 16-ft. Standard SportSter boat, fully equipped, for $200; the regular price having been $369. They could be used with a variety of outboard motors, and the cockpits were comfortable with upholstered cross seats. The steering wheels of the boats was of the motor car type. A real example of a SportSter boat is on display and although showing some of the wear of the years, it is still a thing of great beauty to behold.  

A Johnson outboard motor.

Also on the stage, there is information about motors for many boats, including the Johnson Sea Horse motor, among others. 

It should be noted that the NH Boat Museum is in the midst of a campaign to build a new museum. Landlocked for 20 years, the museum is now poised to construct a new, waterfront home on Wolfeboro’s Back Bay.  

With a new, larger space, the museum will have room to continue and even expand its many programs, from boat building classes to lectures on all-things boating, and of course, display all those wonderful wooden and other boats! 

It is certainly time, with the growth of the NH Boat Museum, for expanded, climate-controlled space. The current space limitations, plus lack of an HVAC system, hinders the efforts to bring even more programs and displays to the area. A new museum building, located on the water, makes sense in many ways and will have a Children’s Lake Discovery Center, an exhibit hall, event space and much-needed collections storage space. 

Like many who visit or reside in the Lakes Region, eventually I find myself at the NH Boat Museum on a sunny September day, or anytime the museum is open. While I love the exhibits and the unique building, I can only imagine how the display of wooden boats and other objects that take us back to the early days of boating on the lake would expand in a new, roomier museum. 

I may not own a boat, but I love this museum that transports me back to the days of Gatsby, of genteel boating and ladies in long skirts and men in straw hats, all enjoying a warm day on the lake. Really, I think to myself at the end of my tour of the exhibits, one needn’t own a boat to relish a step back in time at the NH Boat Museum. 

(For information on the NH Boat Museum, visit www.nhbm.org, or call 603-569-4554. The museum is located at 399 Center Street in Wolfeboro and is open Memorial Day to Columbus Day from 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Saturday and from noon to 4 pm on Sunday.) 

Motorcycle Excitement as Bike Week 2018 Roars into the Lakes Region

Motorcycle Excitement as Bike Week 2018 Roars into the Lakes Region

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

It’s time for the motorcycles and the fun and the events and food and so much more. These are the many reasons that motorcyclists from all over the United States - and other countries - flock to the Lakes Region each June for Laconia Motorcycle Week. This year the event will be held from June 9 to 17 in the Lakes Region. The week is jam-packed with plenty of events, group rides, and entertainment. Rally Headquarters opens daily at 8 am during the week of the event, and is located on the boardwalk on Lakeside Avenue in Weirs Beach. The following is a listing of just some of the highlights of the event that is fondly known as “Bike Week.”

Throughout the week, at the Weirs Beach area, there will be music at the Marketplace every day from noon to 11 pm; special events and live music will be offered all week at Tower Hill Tavern; the M/S Mount Washington will be dockside all week and on June 11, the Big Boat will have a special Countdown to 100 cruise/tour around the lake departing at 4:30 pm; the FIM North American Vintage Championships will take place on June 9 and 10 at NH Motor Speedway in Loudon (www.nhms.com); a burn-out pit, live music, and promo girls will be at the Smokin’ Tire Saloon from June 9 to 16; special events will be featured at Heritage Harley Davidson; the Winnipesaukee Harley Owners group will have a hospitality tent at Laconia Harley Davidson; the H.O.G. Check-In location will be the Weirs Beach Drive-In entrance with Harley demos and displays all week. 

Events are scheduled at the Paradise Beach Club; live music daily at the Looney Bin Bar & Grill and the Naswa Resort; the Laconia Roadhouse entertainment tent will be open every day from noon to 1 am with live music and contests daily. The Cornerstone Outreach Ministries will have a Safety Stop on Rt. 9 in Antrim daily from 8 am daily, with food. (Call 603-352-2616.) 

Each day also features special events. The week kicks off on Saturday, June 9 with a delicious breakfast at Hart’s Turkey Farm restaurant from 8 to 10:30 am. Also on June 9, riders can support a great cause and participate in the 38th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Northern New England Charity Trial Ride, which starts at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Rt. 106 in Loudon at 8:30 am and finishes at the Speedway the next day at 11:30 pm; bikers will ride approximately 100 miles per day. The 12th Annual Peter Makris Memorial ride runs from 11 am until 1 pm. The ride will feature NH State Police escorting riders around Lake Winnipesaukee, then returning to the Naswa at Weirs Beach for lunch and entertainment all afternoon. The Ride benefits the Laconia Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team, Easter Seals NH Veteran’s Count Program and more. Don’t miss the Big Air Jumps & Stunts Show at the Makris Lobster and Steak House on Sheep Davis Rd. in Loudon from noon to 6 pm.

On Sunday, June 10, take the Gypsy Tour to Bentley’s Saloon in Maine, from 10:30 am to 5 pm. An AMA Gypsy Tour to NHMS for USCRA Vintage Races will leave at 10:30 am and return at 5 pm. Many other events will be taking place at Rally Headquarters and elsewhere; check www.laconiamcweek.com for updates. 

Monday, June 11 offers the Pet Run Ride: Mae-West Memorial Ride for the NH Humane Society leaves Rally Headquarters at 10:30 am, returning at 2 pm. Cruise on the M/S Mount Washington boat from 4:30 until 7 pm. Patrick’s Pub in Gilford is having a Team Trivia night, starting at 7 pm. Enter the Best of the Bikers Pool Tournament at Shooter’s on Route 3 in Belmont beginning at 7 pm.

View some beautiful bikes at the Vintage Motorcycle Show on Tuesday, June 12, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Broken Spoke Saloon in Weirs Beach. The Gypsy Tour for the day is a 70-plus mile Scenic Ride from 10:30 am to 5 pm. An exciting Hill Climb Expo will be held on June 12. It takes place up Tower Street in Weirs Beach at 11 am.

Wednesday, June 13 brings lots of special events! From 10 am to 5 pm, the AMA Sanctioned Hill Climb at Gunstock in Gilford will feature motorcycle fun, live music and much more. The 95th Rally Anniversary Celebration kicks off at 5 pm at the Naswa Resort in Weirs Beach with cake on the beach. A Ladies’ Ride, led by the Winnipesaukee H.O.G. Chapter #2529 Ladies of Harley runs from 9 am to 5 pm. A Covered Bridge Gypsy Tour runs from 10:30 am to 5 pm, and offers riders a look at some of the state’s beautiful covered bridges. Later, plan to take in the Fireworks Show beginning at 10 pm at Weirs Beach.

On Thursday, June 14, riders can take a “Ride to the Sky” on the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The ride meets at Rally Headquarters in Weirs Beach at 7 am; there’s another ride up the Auto Road, starting at 10 am from the Mt. Washington parking lot. The “We Love Laconia Motorcycle Week Ride” takes place from 8 am to 5 pm. The Big Air Jumps & Stunts Show at the Makris Lobster and Steak House will be thrilling the audience starting at noon. There’s also a Custom Bike Show from 11 am to 3 pm at the Historic Train Station in downtown Laconia. The 24th Annual POW/MIA Freedom Ride kicks off at 6 pm at Winnipesaukee Crossing; the event honors POW/MIAs and their families. 

The 95th Annual Loudon Classic Weekend at the NH Motor Speedway begins on Friday, June 15, from 8 am to 5 pm. The Belknap County Nursing Home Welcomes Motorcycle Week from 11 am to 3 pm. Come to the Swap Meet at Opechee Park in Laconia from 8 am to 1 pm, and while you’re there, have your bike blessed by the Christian Motorcyclist Association at 11 am. The Makris Lobster and Steak House again showcases Big Air Jumps & Stunts from noon to 6 pm. 

The 8th Annual “Jesus Ride” begins on Saturday, June 16 at 11 am. Participate in a worthy cause at the Charity Bike Ride and Breakfast to benefit the Lakes Region Children’s Auction at 9 am at Berkshire Hathaway Verani Realty in Belmont.  A ‘Tiny House’ will be on site for tours! 

Bike Week winds down with the Big Air Jumps & Stunts Show at the Makris Lobster & Steak House from noon to 6 pm on Sunday, June 17. And don’t miss events from 8 am to 5 pm at the NH Motor Speedway in Loudon. 

Whether you spend a day or two enjoying all the Bike Week events, ride-ins and excitement, or the whole week, there’s plenty to do at Bike Week 2018. 

For exact locations, dates and times, visit the extensive list at www.laconiamcweek.com or call 603-366-2000.

The Working Man’s Boat Built in Milton

The Working Man’s Boat Built in Milton

By Barbara Neville Wilson

Photos courtesy Eastern Boats

Eastern Boats in Milton, NH has become the “working man’s” boat-builder, offering high fuel efficiency and lightweight durability in all their boats. Customized features make them equally attractive for sport-fisherman as for families or on-water emergency services.

Let’s face it. Some of the reasons we love the Lakes Region are the beauty of the water, the clarity of the lakes, the easy access for us to drop in a boat and enjoy long days and lingering sunsets afloat. For ages, boat makers have been drawn to the region or, sometimes, the region has made boat builders of those who come to the area.

Seaway and Eastern boat models built in Milton offer all composite, semi-customized boats at a fraction of the $300-$350,000 price charged by bigger name boat companies.

Go to the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro and find a handmade dugout canoe discovered sunken in the waters of Rust Pond in the mid-20th century, but left by indigenous people hundreds of years before that. Read the history of Lake Winnipesaukee transportation, and you will find that before the trains came and highways were built, folks traveled to lakeside towns by steamboat, and one of the most long-lived of these steamboats was the Lady of the Lake, launched right from Lake Village (now part of Laconia) in 1849. Register now and you, your child, or your family can spend a couple of weeks this summer building a Bevin’s skiff, canoe, kayak or Optimist sailboat at the New Hampshire Boat Museum on the shores of Lake Wentworth.

But what if you have dreams of bigger boat-building? What if you want to help customize your own 18-, 21-, 27- or 35-foot motorboat? Or you’d like to take up a career in the boat-building field? What’s available for you today?

Here is an armchair tour of the manufacturing plant of Eastern and Seaway Boats, united in one boat works in Milton, NH. It’s a scant 30 minutes from eastern Winnipesaukee, in a town that has three navigable public lakes and ponds. Before you embark, however, be warned: you may discover that this article only whets your appetite. Read this, and you may become hungry for more information; an in-person tour of the factory; a new boat or even a whole new career. 

Founded in 1981, Eastern Boats had a Google-like beginning in the garage of its founder. Entranced by the clean lines and sheer usefulness of Downeaster boats, Eastern’s first model was the Classic, an 18-foot fiberglass workhorse intended for commercial use. 

Bob Boudreau soon joined the crew at Eastern and helped it expand the line into a 22-foot model, available as a center console or lobster cabin, and eventually expanding the model line to include more than 20 models available in a variety of deck configurations. Bob bought the company in 1993 and since then, his adult children, Jake and Ashley, have joined the company, too. Twice, the boat works outgrew its facility and moved, finally finding its 30,000-square foot permanent residence in the Milton Industrial Park, where three separate buildings house fiberglass works, assembly, and rigging.

 Why Milton, New Hampshire? Kevin McCarthy, Eastern’s sales manager counters, “Why not?” The seemingly sleepy town is 30 minutes from New Hampshire’s largest lake and 30 minutes to the sea, a perfect location for buyers who not only want to see how their boats are made but also want to take an Eastern or Seaway boat for a lake—or sea—trial. Being in the Industrial Park affords the company easy accessibility to Route 16, just one of the assets essential to efficient shipping, but also for attracting quality employees. Another is the close proximity of The Milton Children’s Center, also located in the Park.

Eastern’s stable core of boat builders is “the envy of the industry.” Nearly two dozen of its 45 employees have been with the company for more than 20 years each.

Since investing in the mold for the first fiberglass Classic model, Eastern/Seaway has continuously stayed abreast of developments in technology and trends in the industry. While all their hulls attract the eye through classic lines, the newer Easterns have an advantage over the firm’s first models in their lightweight durability and high fuel efficiency. For more than 10 years now, the company has boasted of “all composite construction, knitted fabrics vinylester resins for skin coats, Nida-core for cockpit soles and deck house, precisely-shaped, foam-filled fiberglass stringer grids, and Penske Board transoms” producing low-maintenance, highly durable, fuel-efficient boats for commercial use — perhaps you’ve noticed that the Moultonborough and Tuftonboro fireboats are Easterns — and “gentleman lobstermen,” Kevin says. Basically, the firm is the “workingman’s Downeast builder,” he says. Eastern and Seaway offer solid, semi-customized vessels for a fraction of the $300-350,000 charged by other big-name boat companies.

It’s a busy time of year and all three work buildings are bustling. It’s been a busy few years at the boat works, where they’ve been going “full throttle,” says Kevin, with all three work buildings bustling.  Although some models, like the 22-foot Sisu, can take just a month to complete from start to finish, the front office is taking orders now for boats that will be delivered in the fall. Kevin smiles as he explains that Eastern’s success is good for everyone. “I see it resonate through the whole community.” For example, he notes that several workers are making home improvements and using local craftsmen to do the job. 

Originally founded as a commercial boat builder, Eastern and Seaway Boats now offer the same rugged construction and attention to detail for recreational boaters.

Eastern’s stable core of boat builders is “the envy of the industry,” Kevin tells me. Nearly two dozen of its 45 employees have been with the company for more than 20 years each. Randall works in the lamination shop, where the boat is built from the outside in. First, they lay up the hull, then the line, and finally the deck. Randall has been hand-laying the boats for decades. “It looks effortless,” Kevin says. But “there’s nothing easy about it,” Randall affirms.

In the assembly room, Chris is mid-floor, perched between the Seaway department and brother Will and Tom, who assemble the 24- and 27-footers. Between the two of them, the brothers have more than 40 years of experience, but Chris is the “Sisu Master,” Kevin says, personally responsible for putting together each of the 18 Sisus Eastern has sold this past year. His hands have touched and fit nearly every piece in every boat.

In the rigging room, Kevin allows the visitor to climb the stairs to view the inside of a 27-foot yacht. This project is Ron’s. A boatbuilder with 35 years of experience, he will spend weeks fitting out this one boat. John, the owner from Green Bay, Wisconsin, was onsite last week reviewing specifications and making modifications alongside the master craftsman. Although Kevin calls the finished product, only a “semi-custom,” John’s “fingerprints will be all over this boat” when it’s complete. 

All totaled, the shop has made 400 of this model over the years, each with unique attributes and finishes. With just a twinge of pride, Kevin says, “You don’t build this boat by hand, hundreds of them, without doing something right.”

Eastern and Seaway Boats are found in showrooms up and down the East Coast and in Seattle, and the firms’ representatives are fixtures at East Coast boat shows, but there’s no need to leave the region to see boats made right here. Visit www.easternboats.com, or contact Kevin for an appointment and tour. 

Every boat is built from the outside in. First workers lay up the hull, then the line, and finally the deck.

If you’d like to learn about employment and apprenticeships, call the main office at 603-473-1002. The primary requirement? “A bounce in your step and a willingness to learn,” Kevin says.

The Thrill of Waterskiing

The Thrill of Waterskiing

By Donna Chick

If you want a challenging sport that works you hard, but at the same time refreshes you, has the thrill of jumping without the hard landing, is fast moving without the steep hills you get with running, and you want to be able to do it locally (in Wolfeboro), you need to contact the Abenaki Water Ski Club. 

Waterskiing

Bill Swaffield and Rebecca (Becky) Bartlett are the “go to persons” for the Abenaki Water Ski Club (the word water is important here or you’ll end on the slopes at Abenaki Ski Area, where you’ll also find avid skier of both water and snow, Becky Bartlett).

The club officially was formed in 1959 as the Wolfeboro Ski Club. The name was changed in 1971 to Abenaki Water Ski Club (Back Bay Water Skiers, Inc.) and since 1981, the club has met at Back Bay by the railroad station in Wolfeboro. The secluded inlet offers a peaceful setting for some exciting water skiing. The club’s membership averages 75 people, all of whom are active. Adults, as well as children, are encouraged to join and most do so as families. The club always welcomes new participants. 

The Abenaki Water Ski Club meets from mid-May through early to mid-October, 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to dusk, with Saturday and Sunday mornings being the busiest days. The club hold various clinics where, at each event, they focus on a different discipline – it could be learning tricks, slalom skiing, or learning how to take the five-foot-high jump they are known for. 

For those with the competitive spirit, Abenaki hosts numerous competitions where skiers from other states, including Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, come to compete. What happens if you do well? You go to regionals where you hope to qualify for nationals!

Recently, I had an opportunity to interview 8-year-old Aaron Bartlett (Becky’s son). I caught up with Aaron at Abenaki Ski Area and was thrilled he came off the ski slopes so we could talk. 

Aaron is an accomplished water skier with the Abenaki Club, and although modest, his achievements are impressive. His first try at water skiing was at age 2, when he stood on his mom’s skis and was pulled behind a speed boat. This would be something like placing your child between your legs on snow skis, but on water. At age 3, Aaron was on his own; he used a “U” shape ski which allowed him to ski independently. 

Becky let Aaron compete when he reached the age of 6, where he made it to Regionals. Unfortunately, he missed out on the Regionals because his mother was dealing with an injury. “Yeah. I couldn’t compete because my mom was hurt,” Aaron recalls. Becky winces at the memory – not of her own pain, but of the opportunity missed by her son. 

At the age of 7, Aaron not only qualified for regionals, but he qualified for nationals in the jumping division. That year, mom Becky chose to keep his qualifying a secret and Aaron didn’t go. “He just wasn’t ready for nationals,” his mother the coach answered matter-of-factly. 

At age 8, Aaron again qualified for nationals, this time held in Texas. He qualified for two divisions; slalom and trick. Again, his coach decided he wasn’t ready. 

That brings us to this year, and this is his year! At the end of last season, 8-year-old Aaron (who turns nine on June 24) qualified for nationals and Becky told her son he is ready and will be going this year.

Why does Aaron enjoy skiing? He says, “Because it’s fun. I like to do tricks. I like to slalom and jump.” Jumping, he says, is not difficult if “you remember knees, trees, and freeze.” Bend your knees, look straight ahead at the trees, and freeze. Remember, he added, “Look down, fall down.” 

This child is an example of what can be achieved if you try, and proof that you don’t have to make it to regionals or nationals to enjoy water skiing—you just have to be out there! 

After a water ski run you’re going to hear the skier exclaim, “I did it!” Water skiing is a sport that requires discipline and practice. There is the thrill of being out on the lake in the early morning hours when the water is like glass, propelling yourself across the wake of the boat. Even for the beginner, the feat to stand on two skis with the water treading behind you is a rush unlike anything else.

In recent years, the fun of water skiing, the appeal of competition, and the calm waters of Back Bay, which offer a near perfect location to train, have sparked new interest in the Abenaki Water Ski Club and their membership has grown substantially. 

The Club is gearing up for its 2018 season. What’s the best way to get involved? Start by contacting Becky Bartlett (Beckybartlett@me.com) for a specific time to meet. You’ll be required to become a member of the USA Water Ski Association and you will need to become a member of the Abenaki Club. 

The club has reasonable individual and family rates. There is also a one-time fee to evaluate the skier’s ability and to offer suggestions to strengthen skills. You’ll be given a list of other families and, if you are not a boat owner, you will have the opportunity to meet up with other members that have a boat and work out arrangements to be pulled. 

If you have a boat, bring it with you. This is an informal group working together for the love of the sport. In the end, the club makes it work for everyone.

Whatever your age or ability, you will find the adrenaline rush from skimming across the water on skis a memory you’ll cherish and want to repeat again and again. For more information, you may also check out Abenaki’s Facebook page.

Paradise on the Water: the Newfound EcoTour

Day Tripping

Paradise on the Water: the Newfound EcoTour

Story & Photos by Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

There was a time when summer just wasn’t summer for me without a canoe ride on Newfound Lake. I grew up in the Bristol, NH area and Newfound Lake was the water body of choice for don’t-go-many-places folks like my family. By my teen years I was busy with a summer job, but my brother and I always took a day to rent a canoe at a local marina and row around Newfound Lake before summer came to a close. The canoe rental was affordable and do-able for two boating limited teens. I recall the hot sun, getting the hang of rowing and being out on the beautiful lake. 

A beachy area on Newfound Lake

Newfound Lake is indeed a gorgeous body of water and I still stop my car at any place I can safely do so and gaze at the water whenever I am in the Bristol area. There is a way to get out on the lake and to learn something about the natural world on the EcoTour, run by the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA).

The EcoTour Pontoon Boat

The boat tour is just what the name says: a chance to get out on Newfound Lake in a boat (in this case, a pontoon boat) and learn about the ecology of the lake. (Newfound is known as among the cleanest lakes in the country.)

 “I love pontoon boats and I will finally get the chance to get back on Newfound Lake!” I thought to myself as I contacted the NLRA to set up a time to go on an EcoTour, with narration by Newfound Audubon Center naturalists.

I spoke with NLRA’s executive director, Boyd Smith, who was happy to talk a bit about the tour, where it launched from and the days it goes out. He told me it is a popular way to see Newfound Lake and participants even get to help take some water samples and learn more about the geography and wildlife in the area. To take a tour, you must make reservations at least 48 hours in advance at www.newfoundlake.org/ecotours and pay by credit card online, or pay in cash or check at the dock before boarding the boat. The boat dock is located at Grey Rocks Conservation Area on North Shore Road in Hebron. (It is very easy to find: take Route 3 north from Bristol toward Plymouth. Turn onto North Shore Road – a left turn – and drive about a mile or so. You will see a large wooden sign on the left for Grey Rocks with a parking lot. Park your car and walk a few steps to the dock where the pontoon boat waits for passengers.)

When I arrived for the tour, I gathered my bag, camera and notebook and walked to the little dock where the EcoTour pontoon boat awaited. There were six people already on the boat and they looked excited to be getting out on the lake. Geoff MacDonald, an Audubon naturalist, also was on board. He would be leading the tour along with our captain, Andy Connelly.

Captain Andy gave a brief safety talk and showed us where life jackets were kept, and he also told us a bit about the pontoon boat, named Madeline. 

He went on to explain that Newfound Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in the world - it is unofficially in the top 10 cleanest. 

Heading out on the EcoTour

Geoffrey jumped in with more information about Newfound’s waters, telling us that Newfound is a watershed with two major rivers – the Cockermouth and Fowler Rivers providing much of the water for the 4,000-acre lake. He went on to say the property (Grey Rocks) where the EcoTour ties up was donated to the NLRA by the McLane family. The NLRA restored much of the property to its natural state and the channel where the EcoTour launches has lots of fish, including perch, trout and small-mouthed bass. You can launch non-motorized, carry-in boats such as kayaks from the boat ramp. For those who love to walk, there is a 1.5-mile trail system with bridges and observation platforms. As would be expected, wildlife viewing on the trail is abundant.

As the boat glided into the waterway, Geoffrey pointed out a mallard nearby and a turtle sunning itself on a rock jutting out of the water among the lily pads. “The Hebron Marsh is an important habitat,” Geoffrey told us. “The water in this area is just two-feet deep and you can see fish quite easily.”

He pointed out the Hebron town beach on the shoreline as we made our way out onto the lake. I found the tour to be a great way to see the area from the vantage point of the water, something I had not done for years. Nearby was Grey Rocks and Geoff and Capt. Andy gave us some interesting history, telling us it was a children’s camp, and donated to NLRA. Not far away we saw the shoreline of Paradise Point, a NH Audubon property.

I was amazed to see how forested and sometimes rocky the shoreline was and how unspoiled it looked even in this day and age of development. Capt. Andy pointed out that the Audubon property offers great walking trials, tall pines and even a nesting bald eagle. My fellow passengers were thrilled to learn that an eagle calls this area home. “Since 2012 the eagles have been here,” added Geoffrey. He stood and spread his arms wide to indicate the wing span of the amazing creatures.

He also mentioned that Audubon’s Paradise Point location (also on West Shore Road in Hebron) is a great place to rent kayaks.

Loon Island

The iconic Loon Island was spotted next and Geoffrey told us it is often seen in photographs of Newfound Lake. We all were surely dreaming of the heaven it would be to spend summers in the little white, well-kept but old-fashioned cottage surrounded by pine trees, the lake lapping at the shoreline. 

Geoffrey told us, “The cottage owners on the island create their own solar power. In Hurricane of 1938, did quite a bit of damage.” One would never know it now when gazing at the tiny island and its one home as we traveled by in our pontoon boat.

We spotted Camp Mowglis, and Capt. Andy mentioned the name was from the Rudyard Kipling book, and used by special permission from Kipling himself. 

Geoffrey told us that the lake is deep and rocky, which is probably why there are only five islands, unlike Winnipesaukee with its many islands. “The underwater topography is quite interesting,” commented Capt. Andy. “There is even a sunken island that is about 39 feet down.”

We soon passed Camp Onaway, and Pasquaney, with the distinction of being the oldest camp in the U.S. Summer campers are often on the lake, and their bright sailboats can be seen on a clear day. 

Geoffrey told us that although we would see some boathouses near cottages, at this time building a boathouse on Newfound is no longer allowed. (The concrete used in boathouse construction impacts the lake water; this attests to the care and awareness people have for taking care of the precious natural world and the lake.)

When I commented that the shoreline looked in its natural state and heavily forested, Geoffrey explained, “The north shore of Newfound Lake is not so developed. Some areas are more populated than others.”

Capt. Andy told us that someplace in the area we were in, the old Stella Marion vessel lay at the bottom of the lake. (A bit of history provided by Geoffrey and Capt. Andy related that the vessel caught fire and sank many years ago.) Steamboats were widely used for carrying mail across the lake and for logging at one time.

Geoffrey pointed out Bear Mountain and told us when the sun hits the mountain at just the right angle, an outline of a bear can be seen on the cliffside! He also mentioned peregrine falcons have been in the area since 2006, producing nine offspring in 10 seasons. 

“NH Audubon has made a great effort to resort the falcons,” Geoffrey said.

Soon we passed Tree Islands, known as the smallest island on Newfound Lake. Indeed, it lives up to its name and looks like a narrow strip of sand with some trees and not much else. It is, however, part of the natural charm of the lake.

We passed Mayhew Island and Capt. Andy said it is a camp for inner city boys and that Franklin Roosevelt Jr. was once a camp counselor on Mayhew. 

We passed, in the distance, Cummings Beach and Nuttings Beach, and Geoffrey commented it was a popular area for waterskiing. He also pointed out Cardigan Mountain and the Wellington State Park boat launch and Belle and Cliff Islands.

We stopped at the ledges area, where the water is very deep. On the nearby shore, we gazed up at the rocky ledge area, which gives that part of the lake its name of the ledges. At the spot, Geoffrey and Capt. Andy prepared to do water quality testing. Geoffrey asked for two volunteers and two passengers wanted to help. Not to get too scientific and spoil the fun for those who want to take the tour, suffice to say we used various instruments to test depth and water temperature. Indeed, the water is quite clear as we all suspected. 

Geoffrey told us that scientifically, every spring and fall the lake water “flips” on itself, but I will admit I was a bit out of my personal field of knowledge at that point; he can explain it much better when you take the tour.

We also viewed plankton in a magnifying jar. Geoffrey told us the little creatures are very important to the ecosystem and that the health of Newfound is good, which is great news for everyone. I think the tour’s stop for water testing would be fascinating to any younger passengers as well.

It was a glorious day on Newfound Lake, but all good things must eventually end and we eventually found ourselves back in the Hebron Marsh area. 

My head was full of all I had seen and learned about Newfound Lake and the natural world we so often take for granted. My fellow passengers were very impressed with the tour as well and thanked Geoffrey and Capt. Andy as they exited the pontoon boat. 

Geoffrey and Andy took a few minutes to chat with me and to answer further questions. The EcoTour boat is handicapped accessible and tours last about two hours and run through late August on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10 am to noon and 1 to 3 pm. If the weather forecast is for rain/unsettled weather, the tour will be cancelled. The boat may be chartered for private tours, which include a docent and captain. 

For further information about an EcoTour, call the NLRA at 603-744-8689 or go to www.newfoundlake.org. for boat tours and events, as well as in-depth information about protecting Newfound Lake, one of our most valuable resources.  

For the Love of Kayaking

For the Love of Kayaking

Story by Mark Foynes 

A group of kayakers.

If you don’t own a boat, you can still get out on the water this season. It can be relatively cheap. Slip into a kayak and explore.

 I tend to paddle fast and zip along quickly. There are other times when it’s just nice to coast along and soak up the sun and the scenery. We will soon be in full leaf and the sun is getting higher by the day. My kayak, laid up for the winter - forlorn and neglected by winter ice-ins - will soon get a workout.

 Having grown up in one of two towns in N.H. without a lake or a large pond, the notion that I could toss a kayak in the back of my truck and be at a boating destination in just a couple of minutes was an alien concept. And, truth be told, the idea of putting my body in a kayak was somewhat off-putting until recently.

My father was an avid kayaker. He was an adventurer and white watered every spring. Each spring thaw, when the frigid rapids ran strong and fierce, he’d slip on a skin-tight rubber wet suit and find the fastest, meanest river he could. 

I remember watching him practice the Eskimo roll - a practice where you can recover after capsizing. 

It looked scary and, at an early age, I said, “Nope, not for me.”

And I managed to make it to midlife steadfast in this conviction. If asked just a few short years ago if I’d try it, I would have said, “Hey, I’ve made it this far - I’ll probably never kayak.” 

Beyond the age of 40, not many people take up new things like the piano, a new language, or transcendental meditation. Or some other some such. Like kayaking. But, shoot, it caught up to me.

I never gave much thought to the matter. However, my wife, who was exploring some low-impact exercise options, bought us a kayak. She and the kids used it, going out on the Merrymeeting River and having fun. And that was fine.

Then came a family trip to Danforth Bay in Freedom. My 11-year-old son took the kayak out. Then my 8-year-old daughter paddled about for a bit while I stood on the shore. A grown man who had less time in a kayak than his children.

They just made it look so easy. 

There were no life-defying maneuvers like the Eskimo roll - just steadily paddling in the gentle twilight. Nor were there any whitewater rapids or dangerous currents. Just the placid waters of a lake that glowed invitingly as the sun set.

I’d like to say that hopping into the kayak involved getting over some deep-seated fear. In hindsight, it was more a matter of just overcoming inertia. A wise man once told me that the heaviest weight to overcome was the heft of your rear to get up and go somewhere to do something. Very true. Well, I was already there on the shore - with a kayak waiting for me. I had no excuse.

With a little encouragement from my beloved wife, before I knew it, I’d paddled a quarter mile from the campsite. Later in the week, back in the Lake Winnipesaukee region, I was looking for more opportunities.

One nice thing about boating in a kayak or canoe is that you can access locales that are off limits to larger craft. (Later in this article I list a few such places.) While larger lakes are conducive to motor boats, many of our best-cherished water bodies are the smaller ponds that dot the local landscape. For example, my favorite kayaking locale - Chalk Pond in New Durham - is off-limits to boats with motors over five HP.

Kayaking can be an economical pastime - or if you really want to invest more, there are plenty of opportunities to upgrade equipment.

Fortunately for me, I drive a Silverado with an eight-foot bed. I can just toss my kayak in back and drive a mile or so to one of my favorite ponds. Ditto with my paddle, which fits in nicely alongside. However, if you don’t happen to drive a truck, you’ll likely need a set of roof racks. Not needing a set, I can’t speak from a personal consumer perspective, but a quick Google search displayed a variety priced between about $50 and $250.00.

As for the kayak itself, there are many options for a wide variety of budgets. A quick visit to the website of Parafunalia in Gilford showed a wide variety of models. 

Another option is renting for a day’s outing. This might be a good first step for someone looking to start kayaking without making the full commitment of a purchase. This being the Lakes Region, there are plenty of places like Dive Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro that both rent and sell kayaks.

The last thing you’ll need before paddling off is a life jacket. I have not toppled (yet) in my kayak but have been out with others who have. I consider myself more lucky than skillful in this regard. I therefore vest up in the event my luck runs out.

The benefits of getting out and dipping your paddle into the water are tangible. On a sunny day, you will soak up some good vitamin D - and a cool splash of water is just a fistful away if you get too warm. Kayaking also builds core and upper-body strength - on your own terms. The exertive motion of paddling builds the arms. You can push yourself, or take it slow - either way, it’s all good.

Less tangible are the spiritual benefits. I will not go into detail, but as someone who is passionate about our lake-laden region, it will not take much for you to reckon that being in a self-propelled craft in the middle of one our beloved lakes can bestow upon you a feeling that is difficult to rival.

Kayaking kids

Here are a few of my favorite places: 

Branch River Conservation Area: Wakefield

According to the Moose Mountain Conservation website, which manages the waterway, “The 12-mile long Branch River is a headwater tributary system that receives water from Lovell Lake and streams that flow from the Moose Mountains Reservation. …[The] Branch River continues through Union Meadows, then follows a southeasterly course, and discharges into the Salmon Falls River at Northeast Pond in Milton.” It is a vital part of Moose Mountain’s efforts to “connect conserved lands and create natural corridors for wildlife and recreation.”

Getting there: If you’ve traveled Rte. 16 through Wakefield, you likely know the intersection at the Irving station. Turn onto Rte. 153 toward - a beautiful road that parallels the Spaulding. (And honestly, a more pleasant way to get from the Lakes Region to the Mt. Washington Valley). After a couple of miles, you’ll come to a small bridge where there’s a gravel parking lot. There’s also newly-installed signage identifying the site as one that’s preserved by the Moose Mountains Regional Greenways. The first time I kayaked there, I was amazed at the rich ecosystem that is nestled between Routes 16 and 153.

Merrymeeting River: Alton and New Durham

This meandering waterway connects Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton with Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham. Featuring abundant water life and views of Mount Major, the public can access a launch site on Route 11, just to the north of Johnson’s (restaurant). There is a second launch location, too, situated off the beaten path on Merrymeeting Road. To get there, you’ll need to get off Route 11 and drive through the village of New Durham and turn onto Merrymeeting Rd. at the Bickford’s farm. The boat launch will be on your left a few miles down. There is no signage, but if you get as far as the Fish and Game hatchery, you’ll have gone just a tad too far.

Marchs Pond and Chalk Pond: New Durham

This is my favorite place to paddle. This pair of conjoined ponds is known to very few - located about three-and-a-half miles up Birch Hill Road. Created by a dam erected by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1860’s, these two ponds have since become home to a great blue heron, and is a favorite fishing hole for bass fishers. These two ponds are also key headwaters of the Cocheco River, representing a vital connection between the Lakes Region and the seacoast. To get there, turn off Rte. 11, to go into the village of New Durham. At the four corners where the town hall and general store are located, go straight onto Birch Hill Road. When you approach - after about 3.5 miles - there is a small gravel parking area on the right. But please do note that parking is very limited. It’s also a residential area, so please don’t block driveways.

Melvin Village Marina, Yesterday and Today

Melvin Village Marina, Yesterday and Today

From Old White House With Attached Barn to New Ventures

By Rosalie Triolo

Photos courtesy of Kevin Dubia

Beginnings: Bob Moulton Sr. and his wife, Priscilla, in 1955 purchased the old white house with attached barn next to the Willing Workers Hall on Rt. 109 in Melvin Village. Bob drove a school bus and operated a laundromat located in the building behind the Willing Workers Hall. At that time, a man named Mr. Brigden, needing a place for the summer to park his car and launch his boat, and a place in winter to store his boat, made a deal with Bob Moulton. In the 1960s a channel was dredged into Melvin Bay and the first half of the docks were built. Selling Mercury outboard motors and renting dock spaces, Moulton started the beginnings of a boat business. 

Old Showroom

New and Old Building

In 1971, Bob Moulton sold the business to Ivan and Coleen Phelps, who moved the service department from the barn to the former laundromat. With room for one 17-foot boat, Ivan restored old wooden boats, and in 1976 expanded the number of docks. 

Thinking of making a change and wanting to go into his own business, Tom Young, an engineer with Electric Boat Co. in Groton, Connecticut and his wife, Mary, on a warm weekend in mid-March of 1981, visited Lake Winnipesaukee. An unusually warm winter and early “Ice Out,” meant that boats were tied to docks, and the sun was shining. Tom thought to himself, “This isn’t so bad. Boats are already in the water.” 

And so, on June 15, 1981 Tom and Mary Young and their family moved from Rhode Island to the old white house with attached barn and became the owners of Melvin Village Marina. At the time, there were two employees: Jerry Heald, service manager and mechanic who taught Tom the service and maintenance end of the business, and Dorothy Christenson, office manager, who showed Tom how to run an office. Dorothy said, “He was a fast learner.” 

The following year in mid-March when Tom was looking forward to putting boats in the water, the ice was still thick on the lake and that year “Ice Out” was in late April. 

Tom calls it his “lucky break” when a representative from the Four Winns boat line recommended Melvin Village Marina to Bill Winn Sr. as a Four Winns dealership on Lake Winnipesaukee. 

In 1975, Bill Winn, Sr., and his three sons, Bill, Jr, Charlie and John, acquired the SAF-T-MATE Boat Co., relocating it from Indiana to Cadillac, Michigan, known as Four Winns. A tragic fire occurred in ’78, leaving the factory a rubble of smoking ruins. Molds, parts, and all records were destroyed. Nothing was left, except the tooling plant, which was located elsewhere. Optimistic, Bill Winn Sr. went to the City of Cadillac for help. Four Winns had to borrow back boats, already delivered to dealers, to tool new molds. With support from family, friends and the City of Cadillac, Michigan, the Winn family was able to resume manufacturing a few short months after the fire. In general, the ’80s were profitable and successful for the Winn family. The number of employees grew from 100 to over 1,000 in the span of a decade. 

Melvin Village Marina from above

In the fall of 1982 Melvin Village Marina became a Four Winns dealer. The boat line grew and so did the Marina. Four Winns boats, primarily powered by Volvo Penta stern-drive engines, offer a variety of popular models (runabouts, bow riders and cruisers), and are all well-built, attractively designed and reasonably priced.  Throughout the years Four Winns has had several owners, most recently, Beneteau, a family owned French company.

Reflecting on the past, Tom remarked, “Luck with Four Winns and the success of the marina led to other good opportunities when we became a dealer for Lund, Harris and Robalo.” 

Melvin Village Marina showroom

Lund, an aluminum fishing boat, manufactured in New York Mills, Minnesota was first built in 1948 by G. Howard Lund. Using the industry’s most durable Aluminum 5052H 34, craftsmanship with an extreme attention to detail, superior design, clever engineering and creating a first-rate fishing boat are attributed to Lund’s success. Owned by the Brunswick Corporation, Lund boats come packaged with Mercury engines or if preferred, a Honda engine.

In the 1940’s, two brothers - Ernie and Pete Harris - were looking to expand business. They were inspired by the early pontoon boats built on 55-gallon barrels and drop tanks from airplanes. Founded in 1957, Harris FloteBote Marine’s original FloteBote pontoons were 20-feet in length with steel tubes. Due to their size, most dealers found they would occupy extra space in their already tight showrooms. Building a word-of-mouth reputation by displaying FloteBote in Eastern Indiana and on Michigan lakes, the Harris brothers revitalized their early pontoon boat by installing upholstered pontoon seats and furniture. Depending upon the size, from a simple 16 feet to an impressive 27 feet, Harris boats come outfitted with either a Mercury or Honda 4-stroke engine. The newly added recreational model has an upper deck with slide.  

Popular on Lake Winnipesaukee and prominent on most lakes in the Lakes Region, these luxury boats, ‘floating living rooms’ appeal to all age groups and boats with larger engines. They are perfect for water skiing or tubing. Harris FloteBote has received the J. D. Power and Associates award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Pontoon Boats.” Harris FloteBote is a division of the Brunswick Boat Group manufactured in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Robalo, a center console fiberglass fishing boat partnered with a Yamaha engine manufactured in Nashville, Georgia was founded in 1969. Robalo’s first boat, a 19-foot center console salt-water fishing boat, was advertised as having an “unsinkable” hull. Currently there are 15 different models from 18 to 30 feet to be used in both fresh-water lakes or salt water. In 2001, Marine Products purchased Robalo.

Service / Parts Dept.

Tom considers himself “lucky.” He said, “Of his five children, the last born, Matthew, showed enough interest to take over the business. While in high school, Matt spent summers working as a dock-hand at the marina. Summer vacations from college found Matt in the service department learning the mechanical end and in the office learning the sales end of the business. After graduation from Elmira College, Matt came on board full-time, dividing his time between the service department, the office and sales.”

Due to the Recession of 2007, boat sales declined. Both Tom and Matt, with employee input, looked into the possibilities of a Rental Boat Program starting with three boats. Ten years later, the number of rental boats grew to 22 in service. New boats, primarily Four Winns and Harris, are rented for two summers and then sold. Boats are clean and safe and adequately powered for either cruising or water sports. By using Melvin Village’s online rental program (melvinvillagemarina.com) customers are able to choose, check availability and reserve a boat.

Showroom

Next Generation: By 2008, in semi-retirement, Tom began stepping away as full-time owner/operator of the marina, handing over more of the day-to-day operation to his son, Matt. Before fully retiring, Tom and Matt purchased the house and land across Route 109 from the old white house and barn. On April 4, 2008 the new building completed, employees moved office equipment and boats from one side of the street to the other. The new showroom on the main floor holds, depending upon size, eight to 10 boats, and additional space on the lower level holds 10 to 15 boats. 

By 2014, Matt became full-time owner/operator of the marina, taking full responsibility and moving ahead with bold new ideas and changes. With expansion in mind and business opportunities presenting themselves, Matt purchased property on Route 16 in Ossipee, catering to the Route 16 corridor traffic. Melvin Village Marina, Ossipee provides sales and service to lakes in that area.

Erin Donnelly worked summers through high school and college as a dock hand. After college graduation, Erin became a full-time employee in sales at Melvin Village Marina. Erin is manager of Melvin Village Marina, Ossipee. Two years ago, the first storage building was added to hold pontoon boats. A service shop, added the winter of 2017, is in use. Starting as a marine technician at the Melvin Village Facility, Justin Glidden is service manager of the Ossipee facility with assistant technician, Michael Stacey. 

New Beginnings: The old white house with attached barn had been standing empty for years. Three years ago, Rich and Janya Gladu, owners and operators of Canvas Plus, decided it was time for them to find a new path. That path led them to Melvin Village Marina (MVM) and the beginning of Melvin Village Marina Canvas Company. Located in the old white house with attached barn, Janya Gladu, an expert in fixing, designing and stitching boat canvas and upholstery, uses her talents in running MVM Canvas Shop. Janya and her assistant, Terry Moody, are busy year round and have turned the old white house into a large operation of humming machinery, cutting tables, rolled up paper patterns, materials, and canvases waiting to be sewn. The attached barn is used to hold boats waiting to be fitted with new or restitched canvases. 

After a good deal of thought and hours of discussion, an agreement was reached between Matt Young and former owners, Bob and Melanie Schofield, of Ambrose Cove Marina, located on Route 109 in Moultonborough. In late fall 0f 2017, Matthew and Virginia Young became the new owners. Ambrose Cove Marina will continue to offer boat storage, dock slips, marine gas, as well as valet service. Bob Bowie, valet manager, originally worked at Melvin Village Marina as a technician. He will provide a limited service of dewinterizing in spring/summer and winterizing in fall/winter. Boats needing more extensive work will be diagnosed and serviced at Melvin Village Marina.

Dedicated Employees: Through the years, Melvin Village Marina has increased in size and in the number of employees from two to in excess of 25 during the summer season. Its prosperity and success has been, and still is, due to loyal and dedicated employees: an efficient office staff including Office Manager, Barb Dubia; Office Assistant, Alisha Biehl; and Dock Hand Supervisor, Adie Purvis. A dynamic trio of sales associates includes Kevin Dubia and Matt Galvin (Melvin Village); Erin Donnelly (Melvin Village Ossipee); and a Service Department providing a level of service unmatched in the marine industry by qualified, highly-trained marine technicians Mike Austin, Neil Bayard, Dana Carpenter, and Keith Newbegin. Mat Chamberlain handles inventory, Shane Frost reconditions boats, supervised by Service Manager, Rob Heald, (with 30 plus years of service). Kurt Lehner assists the Service Manager, and is the “go-to” person when a customer and/or another employee has a question. Paul Stacey supervises maintenance of buildings and property, assisted by part-timers Chuck Glidden and Brian (Manny) Dubia. MVM is the only service department in the country to win the Four Winns CSI Award twice, and the only Four Winns service department in New England to win the award. Melvin Village Marina is an authorized service and warranty dealer for Honda, Mercury and Yamaha, a full line dealer for Honda engines and packaged dealer for Mercury and Yamaha engines. 

All starting in an old white house with attached barn. 

https://www.melvinvillagemarina.com

The Heritage of New Hampshire Boating

The Heritage of New Hampshire Boating

By Rosalie Triolo

Photos courtesy Larry Houle

Community Sailing is a fun event

In 1992 a group of boat enthusiasts needing a venue to show their vintage boats decided on a building in Meredith, New Hampshire. Eventually needing more space, the New Hampshire Boat Museum (NHBM) was moved to the former Dexter Shore factory in Weirs Beach. The museum’s current venue, the Allen “A” Resort Quonset hut is located on Route 109 in Wolfeboro. 

“Quonset hut exhibits are only part of the museum. There is so much more,” says John VanLonkhuyzen, a member of the New Hampshire Boat Museum Board of Trustees. “It’s an opportunity for the whole family to experience and engage in active-learning programs, indoor and outdoor activities, fundraising events and just plain fun events.” 

Taking a walk back in time, visitors to the Quonset hut wind their way through exhibits of early 1900s antique wooden boats and turn-of-the-century antique cars, where quality, elegance and pride in craftsmanship are evident. One of only three manufactured, a 1929 Chris Craft Sedan with a hard-top enclosed cockpit, a front runner of the Bimini canvas top with side curtains, was ahead of its time. Nearby, a couple of mannequins dressed in period clothes stand next to a 1922 Maxwell Touring Car with connections to Jack Benny, who in his 1937 radio show, announced he had purchased one of the vehicles. 

While inside the museum’s storage building, dedicated volunteers meet to work on restoration projects. Donated old boats, parts of boats and antique boat accessories are brought back to life. The grooves of an old Chris Craft are painstakingly cleaned, while another volunteer sands an old PennYan. Brass accessories are polished to restore their beauty. These boats and many other restored boats will likely be displayed in the Quonset hut or auctioned at the Annual New England Vintage Boat Auction held on the grounds of the museum.

“New Chapters,” the museum’s main exhibit for the 2018 summer season, spotlight rare boats from some of the most unlikely places and manufacturers: Fay and Bowen, a bike parts manufacturer from Geneva, N.Y., in 1900 developed and built an internal combustible engine to put into boats. “None better built.” Dwight Lumber Co., River Rouge, and Detroit, Michigan crafted wooden boats. By the late 1920’s Dee-Wite, a subsidiary of Dwight Lumber Co., specialized in building smaller boats. Slogan “Dee-Wite Makes Boating a National Pastime.” Joe Berry Lodge, head of Dwight Boat Building, was asked by his friends, the Dodge Brothers, to build a boat for their sister, Delphine, to race in the 1920’s Gold Cup Race “Sister Sin”. In 1928 Mr. Gesswein an insurance executive from Connecticut built a better boat with a split transom to hold light outboard motors which were very popular. 

And here is another “New Chapter”: In a recent press release, The New Hampshire Boat Museum announced its new Executive Director will be Martha Cummings. She is from Bridgton, Maine where she was director of the Rufus Porter Museum. Ms. Cummings says, “It’s a pivotal time for the NHBM as it looks to expand its active-learning programs for all ages while raising funds for a new museum.”

Participants enjoying Lake Discovery Camp

Programs for adults and children are available at the NHBM to instruct students in boating, and the process of boat building. Volunteers work all winter preparing kits for the summer sessions. 

The Youth Boat Building Program takes place the first two weeks in August, with Monday through Friday sessions. A team building experience, boys and girls ages 12 and older are instructed and assisted throughout the project until completion by trained volunteers. Volunteers also guide students in the safe use of hand tools, a limited number of small power tools and personal safety equipment, dust masks, and ear and eye protection. Safety is of the utmost importance. Choices of boats to build vary from a one-person canoe, one-person kayak or a Bevin’s Skiff. Families are later invited to a special launching on Lake Wentworth to celebrate the completion of boats.

Adult/Family Boat Building, a nine-day session in mid-July, has become a generational project with grandparents, parents and children participating. Adults can work individually or as a family team guided by trained volunteers from beginning to completion. The choices are a one-person canoe, a one-person kayak, paddle-board, Bevin’s Skiff or Opti Sailboat. An Optimist Dingy (Opti) is a small, single-handed sailing dingy intended for use by children ages 8 to 15. 

“This program started out with the most popular boat, an Optimist (Opti) Dingy. In the first few years there were five built a year. In recent years the number of Opti built is 20 a year,” explains Joe DiChiaro, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the New Hampshire Boat Museum, and a contributing writer for the NHBM’s Boathouse News. 

Lake Discovery Camp focuses on boats and boating safety. The unique, hands-on day camp experience has two Sessions, on two days each for elementary students in grades K to 2 and 3 to 6. Kids are involved in boating projects. Science, water ecology, aquatic life, conservation, local history, and arts and crafts are important parts of the program. Depending on the age group, interactive field trips to the waterfront include boarding a Marine Patrol Boat with two active officers on board and maybe a ride on the Millie B, a Hacker craft 1920’s era reproduction. This program usually takes place in late July. 

Colorful sails are displayed at the NH Boat Museum’s regatta

Model Yachting is popular and the Back Bay Skippers meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, May through October to sail their radio controlled Soling 1 Meter model yachts and US 12 model yachts. This event takes place on Back Bay on the Bridge Falls Path, and the public is welcome to watch the yachts as they move through the water.

Lake Wentworth Sailing Regatta, sponsored by the NHBM, Lake Wentworth Watershed Association, and the Town of Wolfeboro, takes place in early August. There is racing in four classes: Optis, Sunfish, Catamarans and Mono Hulls. Intermediate and advanced racing courses are available to sailors of all ages. 

The New England Vintage Boat Auction takes place this year on July 14 at 10 am. Antique boats, antique cars, vintage sailboats, fiberglass boats, vintage boating memorabilia, maritime antiques and vintage car memorabilia are auctioned at the New Hampshire Boat Museum. The event has become a popular way to sell a boat or other related item, as well as to obtain a boat or other item. The public may preview auction items on Friday, July 13 from noon to 5 pm, or on July 14 (the morning of the auction) from 8 to 10 am.

The 12th Annual Boathouse Tour each summer offers a new venue, on a different area of Lake Winnipesauke to explore. This year’s tour will take place on Thursday, August 9 from 9 am to 4 pm (with a rain date of July 10). The only Boathouse Tour Event of this scale in the country takes place in early August. This is the second year the tour will leave from the Meredith Town Docks. Originally leaving from the Wolfeboro docks, it explored the many historic and newer boathouses in the Wolfeboro area. The venue was moved to Meredith to visit the boathouses in that area. Take a tour on water in a vintage wooden boat or by land in an antique automobile or in your own car.

Checking out the boats before the NH Boat Museum’s Vintage Boat Auction

The 42nd Alton Bay Boat Show will be held on Saturday, August 11 from 9 am to noon. The informal, non-judged vintage boat show will be held at the Alton Bay town docks as part of the Alton Old Home Week. No advance registration necessary. All “woodies” are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are encouraged to vote for the 2018 People’s Choice Awards. 

The Lake Winni Poker Run is held on Saturday, August 25 starting at 9 am. The run offers boaters a fun day on the lake. Whether in a wooden or fiberglass boat, all boats are welcomed. Participants meet at the town docks in Wolfeboro and follow a group to five stops to receive poker chips. Upon returning to Wolfeboro and lunch, the winning poker hands are awarded prizes. 

Whether you’re a mariner or a landlubber, the New Hampshire Boat Museum, The Heritage of New Hampshire Boating, has a variety of activities for everyone. For dates and availabilities of these many programs and events, e-mail museum@nhbm.org or call 603-569-4554. https://www.nhbm.org

Fretful Work

Fretful Work

By Mark Foynes

Between himself and his late father, New Durham’s Jon Mouradian has made and worked on guitars for some of rock ‘n roll’s biggest names. Clients of Mouradian Guitars have included Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, the rock band Yes, and the former musician, J. Geils.

Jon Mouradian is a luthier from New Durham; he recently relocated to the Lakes Region. He built and worked on guitars for the likes of Joe Perry and J. Geils at his shop. The model shown here is called the Flapjack because of its shape. Mouradian joked that he'd just had breakfast when the name occurred to him.

Although Mouradian and his family live in the Lakes Region, he still maintains his Boston-area workshop, which he commutes to every day. He said that he is willing to endure the 80-mile one-way commute, which takes him about an hour and a half.

 “I don’t mind driving at all since I get to live in this beautiful area,” he said, noting that maintaining his workshop in Wilmington, Massachusetts allows him to stay close to his customer base.

“I don’t think Joe Perry would be willing to make the trip for some minor guitar repairs,” he joked.

Mouradian and his family relocated to the Lakes Region about a year and a half ago. Their sprawling circa 1840 home features wall murals in the main entry, which leads upstairs to a ballroom. Locally-known as the Pike House, it’s just down the road from the original New Durham Meetinghouse.

Having previously vacationed in Tuftonboro, Mouradian was already familiar with the area. He said he and his family love the rural character and quality of life in the town.

Mouradian very much sees his guitar-making work as part of a legacy started by his Dad, Jim, who died last year just prior to his 67th birthday.

The elder Mouradian’s career path was somewhat serendipitous. Prior to making guitars, he worked in his family’s rug shop. Being a huge fan of the progressive rock band Yes, he used his free time to custom make them a rug bearing their logo. Mouradian’s Dad somehow got access to the band, and presented the rug to the musicians when they played the Boston Garden in the 1970s. The rockers were so impressed by the intricacy of Mouradian’s work - as well his thoughtfulness - that they struck up a friendship. (They actually displayed the rug at their London headquarters).

The bond between Mouradian’s Dad and Yes’ Chris Squire was particularly strong, since they were both bass players. Some years after they met, in spite of never having made an instrument before, the elder Mouradian made and presented a bass to Squire, which is shown in the video for their 1983 hit “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” The custom instrument’s tonality and unique body design garnered a lot of attention, and Squire was beginning to refer other musicians to Mouradian. And so a business was born.

Jon recalled that his father included him almost from the start. “We never spent a weekend apart.

“For a while we were in a 13-square-foot shop - so we couldn't turn without bumping into each other,” he smilingly recounted.

At first, the younger Mouradian’s tasks included setting tuning pegs and other simple installs or repairs. At this point Jon was still in elementary school.

“Even then I liked to work with my hands,” he recalled.

He added that he also has a penchant for precision, so eventually getting to do work that requires some details to be one-thousandth of an inch was a source of pride and pleasure.

In addition to honing his technical expertise, working in his Dad’s shop also gave Mouradian a chance to meet some of the leading musicians of the day.

One story from Mouradian family lore involves an unkempt guitarist from Seattle who was in town to play a gig. Having busted the neck of his Fender electric during a Boston concert, the disheveled grunge rocker needed help. As a struggling young musician, he explained he didn't have the money to replace the six string. Mouradian's father agreed to make the fix and encouraged the then-anonymous guitarist to take better care of his instruments going forward.

The guitarist was Kurt Cobain, whose visit occurred just months before his band Nirvana hit it big with the 1991 album "Nevermind," which has sold some 9.5 million copies to date.

By this point, Mouradian Guitar Co. moved to a third-floor unit of the Cambridge Music Center on Massachusetts Ave. The business had grown to the point where they could employ a small staff. One of the musicians that Mouradian saw with some frequency was Pat Badger, the bass player from the band Extreme. Through that connection, he came to know each member of the quartet; they wanted to hire him to help stage manage their live shows during an upcoming tour.

Sounded like a dream-come-true, but there was just one problem: Mouradian was 17 and a senior in high school. In this case, however, he was able to have his cake and eat it, too.

Mouradian and his principal were able to work out a plan where he could receive academic credit for hands-on experience he’d be getting on the road. For example, lugging heavy speakers around would cover his gym requirement. Since he’d be doing a lot of the electrical wiring before performances, that would count toward both shop and applied mathematics.

 “It was awesome as a kid to be able to be back stage at these concert venues,” he said, citing the Channel as an example. (Mouradian has kept in touch with Extreme and still occasionally runs their sound system at local shows, such as a recent gig at the Casino Ballroom).

Once back from the tour, Mouradian returned to his Dad’s shop and continued plying the trade and honing his skills. Eventually, his skills were nearly on a par with his Dad’s.

“It’s really rewarding to work on things that allow people to be creative,” Mouradian said.

The first half of 2017 was a period of personal loss for Mouradian. In addition to losing his father that February, a couple months later saw the passing of rock legend, J. Geils, whom he’d gotten to know through the shop.

 “Losing him was a tough one,” he recalled. He said that when the two would go out to lunch, they rarely talked about guitars, but rather their mutual passion for cars.

 “I like the muscle cars and he liked the Italian performance cars, but we still spoke the same language,” he said. (As Mouradian and I chatted in his driveway next to a classic Mustang and a Chevelle, a man pulled up alongside us and asked him if either was for sale. “No, never will be,” was his response.)

Within his massive barn is a 1960 Oldsmobile, which he’s modded with a racing engine. Mouradian said it was his Dad’s before it became his first car. In addition to its having sentimental value, he also races it down at the New England Dragway in Epping.

Being a small custom instrument maker with a remarkable number of high-profile clients, Mouradian says he does little to promote the shop. Most of his business comes from existing customers and referral by word-of-mouth. 

He adds that he enjoys the actual fabrication of guitars and basses but that a vast majority of what the shop does involves repairs and helping with instrument maintenance. Mouradian does have a website and he uses Facebook to keep up with clients. Phone: (781) 756-4877

Although he’s been at this for 35 years, Mouradian said that he will never retire anytime soon - or even at all. “I love what I do and I’m going to do this up until the end.” 

Abenaki Fire Tower Offers an Amazing View

Abenaki Fire Tower Offers an Amazing View

Story & Photos by Sarah Wright

The Abenaki Tower as seen from below

It was a beautiful Saturday morning…the kind of day where it would be a shame to stay inside. I had a couple of errands to do in Wolfeboro on a recent spring day, and of course my sons groaned when I said they’d have to come along. To entice them, I said that we could climb the Abenaki Fire Tower, which was something I had always been meaning to do. Since the afternoon forecast called for rain, we had to see the view before the clouds rolled in. So, we set off on our mini-adventure. 

The Abenaki Fire Tower is located on Route 109 in Tuftonboro. I had passed it a thousand times, always thinking that I’d stop when I had more time. It’s clearly marked, but it’s on a curve, so naturally I drove past it and had to turn back around. There’s a small parking lot by a gate, and that’s the entrance to the trail. Admittedly, this is one of the shortest and easiest trails I’ve ever seen. It’s very wide and well traveled, with a slight incline. After just five minutes, you’ll be at the tower. There’s really no excuse not to go! 

On the day that we went, there were some other visitors, also eager to celebrate the beautiful spring morning by visiting the tower. One of the area’s more unique towers, the Abenaki Tower is completely made of wood and has a peaked roof. I was more concerned with how sturdy it was, and I was happy to see that it was definitely solid and well-built. 

Climbing the tower stairs.

The kids ran up ahead to the top, eager to climb. I actually have a fear of heights, so it was certainly more challenging for me. I took my time, trying not to look down, and stopped at each level to relax and take in the breeze. I was determined, and the reward for making it to the top was well worth it. We had a beautiful view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Range, a perfect photo-op. I know I could never get tired of that view. I was thinking it would be a great place to unwind and read a book, but the kids’ idea of fun was to go back down and then back up again a few more times. They certainly got their exercise! 

Many people think that the Abenaki Fire Tower was once used for fire detection or even for spotting airplanes during World War II, but neither rumor is true. In fact, it all started one summer day in 1923, when Joshua Litchfield, headmaster of the Agassiz School in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, went for a walk with Frank Speare, President of Northeastern University in Boston. They found themselves standing on Edgerly Hill, gazing out over clear pastures at the shimmering waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. The two outdoor enthusiasts came up with the idea of placing a tower in that spot, and organized a group of other interested people, with a man named Chester Campbell elected president. Plans were drawn up in February of 1924, by the newly named Abenaki Tower Association, and the land was purchased from John Edgerly for $800.

The lake view from atop the tower.

Tuftonboro resident, Lewis McIntire, put in a bid of $400 to construct the tower. His bid was the winner, and less than a year later, the tower was complete and dedicated before a crowd of 125 people. It was named the Abenaki Fire Tower, because it was built at the junction of several old Abenaki Indian Trails. In the 15 years following the dedication, the Abenaki Tower Association hired someone to raise and lower a flag each Sunday during the summer season. 

In 1972, amateur historian Ethel Burnett wrote, “In the forty-eight years since Abenaki Tower was built, many hundreds of people have enjoyed the view, and it is the wish of the Association that the Tower will continue to be ‘freely and considerately used.’” However, by that time the original tower was being overtaken by tall trees and visitor numbers were dwindling. Even worse, the tower itself had become dangerous and rickety.

In 1976, demolition of the tower was discussed. Kirk Titus, a resident of Wolfeboro and owner of the Maine Line Tree Service company (now Bartlett Tree Service), was hired to rebuild the tower for $12,000. The town of Tuftonboro contributed $1,500, and the Hurlburt Fund gave $1,000. The rest of the money came from private donors, including funds raised by the “Village Pinups” who made a quilt and raffled it off. Bill Cornell, a local builder, designed the new, taller tower, and construction began in 1977. Chet Fernald, longtime owner of the old Wawbeek Hotel, supervised the project. The four sides and top of the tower were actually cut and assembled on the ground before being hoisted into place by a large crane. The timbers used in the tower were utility poles from power company supply sources. Construction continued until the tower was re-dedicated on July 22, 1978. 

A stone engraved with the date was placed at the foot of the tower’s stairs. For years since then, Kirk would take his grandchildren to the tower at least once a summer, and they were impressed that their grandfather built such a wonderful structure.

The Abenaki Fire Tower has delighted visitors for many years, and will continue to do so for many more to come. It’s a great resource in our area, and everyone should experience the tower at least once. It’s also a great place for locals to take guests who come to visit. I can imagine how beautiful the sunset would look from the top. 

If you’re interested in supporting the upkeep of the Abenaki Tower, you can become an Association member. The annual membership dues cover the ongoing costs of maintenance for the tower. For more information about the Abenaki Tower and Trail Association, write to PO Box 222, Melvin Village, NH 03850.