The Lakes Region Curling Association is back on the ice!

The Lakes Region Curling Association is back on the ice!

by Lori Tremblay

It’s time to get on the ice (officially called sheets) with the Lakes Region Curling Association. Attracting members from all around Lake Winnipesaukee, the organization has eight weekly curling sessions from mid-January to mid-March. Matches are from 5-7 p.m. Sundays at the Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Arena, 390 Pine Hill Road in Wolfeboro. 

According to Rich Masse, president of the Lakes Region Curling Association (LRCA), after the registration notice for the current season was sent out in late summer, the response was impressive. He said there were more people that wanted to join than they could accommodate. Masse said he was encouraged to see how many people want to learn about or try curling. Currently, there are about 36 curlers, which is more than enough for eight teams. Masse pointed out that this is a recreational league and most new curlers have not curled before.  They are teamed up with more experienced curlers and the emphasis is on having fun and learning the game. Masse said, “A lot of friendships have been made.” 

After the fall 2020 and the winter 2021 seasons of the curling association were canceled due to Covid, it’s picked right back up and it’s going strong, Masse said.  “It’s great to be back on the ice!”

The Lakes Region Curling Association got started a year after the 2014 Olympics. A friend asked Masse to help organize a curling event and Masse agreed.  Five friends got together and none of them had curled before.  They took curling classes at Plymouth State University with David Gyger, currently Ice Arena manager at the university. 

It took the friends a year to plan and raise money for the club.  Used curling stones then were $300 each.  They paid a deposit and bought 64 stones on installments.  Today, they have 80 stones. Curling stones are made of granite and weigh about 42 pounds. According to www.chaskacurlingcenter.com, curling stones come from only two quarries in the world, in Scotland and Wales. The stones are made from three types of quartz-free granite, which have low water absorption. This prevents the action of repeatedly freezing water from eroding the stone. Because the stones are so specialized, they are expensive.

The friends soon felt ready to connect with the community. They sent out an introductory letter about a curling club in 2015 and 50 people showed up. That was more than enough for teams that consist of four players each.  “We were off and running and haven’t looked back,” Masse said.

Out of the original five founding members, two remain.  The club has now evolved into the Lakes Region Curling Association, a 501 C-3 nonprofit organization with nine board members and four officers.

Interest in curling has grown, especially because of the popularity of the sport in the Winter Olympics.  In the 2018 Olympics, Team USA’s men’s squad won a gold medal in curling and is returning to defend their title this year.  The United States has a Men’s, Women’s and Paralympic Wheelchair Team competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. 

According to the World Curling Federation, the sport has a long history, dating back to its origin on Scotland’s icy lochs and ponds in the early 1500s. The first recognized curling clubs were formed in Scotland. The first rules were also drawn up in Scotland. They were formally adopted as the “Rules in Curling” by the Grand Caledonian Curling Club, which was formed in Edinburgh in 1838 and became the sport’s governing body.

During the 19th century the game was exported wherever Scots settled around the world in cold climates, mostly at that time in Canada, United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand.  Curling was first demonstrated at the 1924 Winter Olympics, but it didn’t become an official Olympic sport until 1998.  For a more detailed history of the game, the World Curling Organization gives an interesting account. https://worldcurling.org/about/history/

Curling is sometimes referred to as “chess on ice” because of the strategy involved and “the roaring game” because of the noise the stones make traveling across the ice.  Interestingly, the ice is not completely smooth. There are miniscule water droplets that are placed and frozen to create “pebbled ice” along the length of the sheet to help with the stone’s grip.  Players vigorously sweep the ice in front of the stone’s path with a broom to either change the speed or the direction of the stones. Masse said that the markings for the game are painted on a sheet of ice, then covered over with multiple layers of ice so that the markings don’t scratch off.

Basically, in curling, there are two teams of four players each. The team consists of a lead player, who slides the first two stones; a second, who plays the third and fourth stones; a third, who plays the fifth and sixth stones; and a fourth, who plays the last two stones. The aim of the sport is to slide the stones to proper targets on the ice.  Each team has eight stones (rocks), which are sent on the ice toward a target (house), which looks like a bullseye, 150 feet away. The team closest to the target wins.  This process is repeated six to ten rounds called “ends” until one team wins.  The team captain (the Skip) calls the shots which have the best chance for victory.

  The stones have a predetermined rotation so that they curl, traveling the ice (which is where the name curling comes from).  Skill is involved with the delivery of the stone down an imaginary straight line toward the target (house).  Opposing teams can try to block stones (guard), knock the stones out (takeout) or try to score (draws).  Sportsmanship and good conduct are also an important factor in the game.

Locally, at the Lakes Region Curling Association, emphasis is on friendly competition, sportsmanship and fun. League play is open to men and women aged 14 and over.  The youngest female player on this season’s league is a high school senior who has played for a few years already.  Curling is fun for anyone, regardless of age, gender or athletic ability, according to Nicolien Buholzer’s blog, I tried curling – and now I know why it’s one of the most popular Olympic sports. 

An unpublicized Learn to Curl clinic for new curlers was held in January and about nine people attended. Masse said that the league was already pretty full so they weren’t looking for a lot of new members.  Also, because of Covid concerns, they wanted to be able to space the players and not be too crowded.

 There will be another curling clinic during the Wolfeboro Bay Winter Carnival: “Winter Wonderland” on Sunday, February 13, held at the Pop Whalen Ice & Arts Arena in Wolfeboro.  This is a free, two-hour clinic for six to eight people, with two groups scrimmaging at the end.  For more information, check the Wolfeboro Park and Rec website: www.wolfeboronh.us/parks-recreation.

Masse commented, “Even in a small state like ours, curling has taken off.  Interest really peaks after the Olympics.” New Hampshire has four curling venues: Lakes Region Curling Association, Mount Washington Valley Curling Club, Plymouth State University and the Nashua Curling Club.

 For more information about the LCRA, see www.lakescurlingnh.org.

Sweater Mittens: Recycling for Warmth

Sweater Mittens: Recycling for Warmth

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

The idea of repurposing a sweater for a pair of mittens may seem unusual but take one look at the beautiful handmade mittens from Linda’s Repurposed Sweater Mittens and you will covet the products.

Linda Gadwah of Plymouth, New Hampshire has always been a creative crafter, a certain type of person who sees the possibilities and creativity in everyday things such as a colorful sweater. Linda enjoys making things.

Thus, when her daughter bought a pair of sweater mittens eight years ago, Linda was intrigued. “It was when the mittens had first come into existence,” she recalls. “I loved them, and I was determined to learn to make them.” 

Linda took the mittens apart in order to study how they were made, and although it took some observing, she eventually figured out how they were made from a sweater. With trial and error, Linda began to make sweater mittens.

She stresses that the mittens are ideal for those people who are taking a walk on a cold autumn or winter’s afternoon and are very attracted to the patterns of colorful sweaters.

Having done many sewing projects in the past, figuring out how to make the sweater mittens was a bit easier for Linda. She says the best and longest lasting sweater mittens are made from a highly durable sweater such as one from LL Bean or a handknit sweater. These sweaters are well made and will stand up to being cut and put back together into a mitten. 

“I don’t use sweaters that are too bulky,” Linda says, “because they are hard on my sewing machine. I have always done simple sewing projects in the past, and I liked to crotchet.”

Linda haunts thrift shops to find the right (and most durable) sweaters for her mittens, and she is particular about using wool sweaters. “I try to come home from thrift shops with good, patterned sweaters. I always wash the sweaters first because they shrink a bit. I can get three pairs of mittens from a sweater, and I use the cuffs off the sweater’s sleeves and waistband for pairs of mittens.”

Linda explains that a pattern consists of three pieces and that her finished mittens have a polished, boutique-type look. Her mitten colors match and she adds the embellishment of a button on each pair of mittens, which is her signature visual. “My sweaters mittens don’t unravel, and I want them to last,” she stresses.

After Linda took apart some sweater mittens and learned how to make them, she had many pairs of mittens but had to ask herself, “Now what?” What could she do with all the sweater mittens that she had made?

Luckily, the public loved Linda’s mittens and clamored to order and purchase them. Linda says she’s made thousands of sweater mittens and she decided to take them to Off the Hanger in Plymouth to see if she could sell them. The reception was great, and this gave her confidence to continue and to also seek out other locations where she could sell her sweater mittens.

The unusual sweater mittens were unique and made from beautiful sweaters and were an eye-catching and immediate hit with customers. As she sought out more locations to sell the mittens, Linda says her confidence only grew. The business is seasonal and in her best winter, Linda sold 40 dozen pair of sweater mittens.

She says as with many things, it has become more difficult to find sweaters in secondhand stores for her mittens, but she enjoys the hunt to find the best sweaters she can possibly locate for the mittens. 

Linda describes the sweater mittens as having two layers: the outer layer is wool taken from a thrift store sweater. The inner layer is fleece. “I buy new fleece,” she explains, “and I have fun picking out just the right button for the mitten’s sleeve. I buy buttons off eBay; I like to buy metal buttons because they look ‘antiquey’.”

The process from start to finish of making a sweater mitten is first going to a thrift shop and finding a sweater in the pattern and color or colors that Linda likes. She always washes the sweater first, so it shrinks a bit. Then she sews the mittens together and finishes them with a metal button.

One of the nice things about Linda’s sweater mittens are the memory mittens she sometimes makes. She had a sweater that once belonged to her mother, and the year before her mom died, Linda made three pairs of mittens for family members from the sweater. The idea caught on and others have asked Linda to make mittens from a beloved family member’s sweater.

The mittens come in one size only and Linda makes them just for women. She admits she could expand her list to include other sizes and men’s mittens as well, but she is comfortable with the work load she already has.

Now retired from a career in insurance, Linda enjoys making the sweater mittens, but wants to have time for other things once springtime arrives. “And it has certainly become challenging finding good wool sweaters; I like to use wool,” she stresses. “LL Bean makes good wool sweaters and I like Nordic patterns, but I can use a variety of colors for the mitten’s lining.”

In the summers, Linda begins to sew mittens for September sales, and on into the late fall and winter. People love the mittens for keeping their hands warm when they take a walk on a cold day.

She says Bernie Sanders iconic political figure with his warm mittens certainly brought back the popularity of mittens and gave things a boost as well!

If the mittens need washing, she says you can simply hand wash them and lay them flat to dry or wash them and put them in the dryer instead. Either way will get the mittens clean.

It takes Linda about an hour to make a pair of sweater mittens, and with the shortage of wool sweaters, she sometimes uses wool jackets to make a pair of mittens. “I just love to find a patterned sweater, and I love to make a sweater into mittens,” she adds.

One event Linda and her family look forward to is the Rumney Old Home Day, where she sells her sweater mittens. She loves to see people’s reactions to the sweater mittens, and it offers her a good location to sell mittens. Because the Old Home Day takes place in August, the upcoming cooler weather is on everyone’s minds, and it offers a great place to sell mittens.

Planning for the future, Linda has started to make sweater pillows. “I made some pillows with sweaters, and I took them to the Country Store at the Tanger Outlet. They loved them!”

With a future goal to make a dozen mittens a week, Linda is always ready for her next big adventure. 

Those who want to purchase Linda’s sweater mittens can find products at Moulton Farm in Meredith; Squam Marketplace in Holderness; Off the Hanger on Main Street in Plymouth; the Common Man in Plymouth and Claremont and the Sugar Shack in Thornton. To contact Linda, email lgadwah@hotmail.com.

Gilmanton’s Beginnings

Yesteryear

Gilmanton’s Beginnings

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Picture this idyllic New England scene: old, well-kept, whitewashed homes. Stately elm trees bursting with fall foliage or summer’s greenery on streets and scenic backroads. All this and much more describes rural Gilmanton, New Hampshire, a town with a long and fascinating history.

Whether a blessing or a curse, most people know Gilmanton as the setting for Grace Metalious’ widely read novel “Peyton Place”. Tourists find it odd that this tranquil village so steeped in history was said to be the setting that gave Metalious the inspiration for “Peyton Place”, a book which reached best-seller status.

The town that was to become Gilmanton was incorporated in 1727; Colonial Governor John Wentworth signed a charter on May 20.

At that time, the Lakes Region as a whole was unsettled country, full of wild animals, thick forests and sometimes unfriendly (and who can blame them, given the track record of some white settlers to live peacefully with the native people) Native Americans. Still, as with all land in the new country, men were eager to stake a claim and try for a better life.

In the case of Gilmanton, the land was granted as compensation for 24 members of the Gilman family and 153 other men who fought in defense of the Colonies.

The conditions of the charter were that proprietors must build 70 dwelling houses and house a family in each within three years of charter. Also, they must clear three acres of ground for planting; each proprietor must pay his portion of town charges; a meetinghouse must be built for religious worship within four years. The members had to build a house for a minister and another for a school. All these conditions were to be met, if the peace with the Indians lasted the first three years of settlement. 

If any settler defaulted on those conditions, he would lose his share of land. 

As to why the town was named Gilmanton, the name Gilman appears time and time again in early records, and the family, originally from Exeter (indeed, most of the proprietors were from the seacoast area), had fought valiantly during war times.

Because of the fear of Indian attacks, the original conditions were not met, and it wasn’t until 1749 and 1750 that settlers came to town to pick out lots and work the land. Even then, these men did not stay long for many reasons.

Over and over again, through the years to follow, the settling of Gilmanton was a stop and start affair, due largely to the dangers of warring Indian parties. Town meetings for Gilmanton were held in the safety of Exeter, where most proprietors still lived.

If Governor Wentworth had given much thought to the land grants, he would surely have chosen a more populated area to gift land to these proprietors. While they may have fought valiantly in war times, most Exeter residents hailed originally from Massachusetts, or England. Massachusetts was already more populated, with such cities as Boston echoing a taste of the fineries of life in England. The grant of land in Gilmanton may have been very unsuitable for the Exeter men.

In 1730 a committee of proprietors petitioned the Governor to allow a longer time to settle the town. In 1731 Edward Gilman and others traveled to Gilmanton and marked out boundaries.

They didn’t stay long, as the French and Indian wars were about to begin. The Lakes Region, and Gilmanton, was a dangerous place for English settlers to live. The French and Indian war parties used nearby Lake Winnipesaukee as a rendezvous for scouting parties, and any campfire smoke seen at likely settlements was an easy target for attack.

By October 1748, a peace treaty was signed and the French and Indian war parties retreated to Canada. At that time, the Gilmanton proprietors could resume settlement.

Another snag in their plans happened around this time, when the deed of John Tufton Mason of Hampshire County, England (it is said New Hampshire gets its name from Mason’s home county) was brought forth. Mason held huge amounts of land in New England, and mostly in New Hampshire. He had transferred his claim of the Gilmanton area land to friends in Portsmouth. This could be a real problem for everyone, it was felt. Once again, the proprietors refused to till the land and settle in Gilmanton, when the land might not really belong to them.

The dispute was settled in 1752, and all seemed well for settlement of Gilmanton.

Once again, plans were shelved when the old French and Indian wars resumed. The wars were mostly about who owned what land. Unlike the previous war, the English decided to become aggressive to end the fighting. They staged attacks on unsuspecting French forts, and among the soldiers who fought bravely were men from Gilmanton and Exeter.

After the war was finished, life could return to a sense of normalcy.

Progress in settling the new town finally took hold. By the summer of 1761, proprietors had selected, cleared and begun building on their land. Among the first to live year round in Gilmanton were the Mudgett brothers, John and Benjamin. After building houses, they brought their wives to Gilmanton. 

According to “The History of Gilmanton” by Daniel Lancaster, Benjamin Mudgett and his wife Hannah traveled on snowshoes in deep snow and under very cold conditions, to arrive in Gilmanton from Epsom. They arrived at their new home on December 26, 1761, after snowshoeing a remarkable distance from Epsom in a short period of time. Hannah was among the first white female settlers in Gilmanton. Soon John Mudgett arrived with his wife, and a friend, Orlando Weed followed with his wife.

Hannah Mudgett lived in Gilmanton until there were about 5,000 settlers. How different it must have seemed in comparison to her first winter in the wilderness of Gilmanton! She lived her last years with a son in Meredith and died at the remarkable age of 95. Her son Samuel was among the first male children born in the Gilmanton area.

In 1762 more families arrived and by 1767, 45 families lived in Gilmanton. Soon town meetings were held there instead of in Exeter. A physician arrived in the 1760s and a minister also about this time.

The town was growing, and new and interesting people settled and built homes in the town. Years sped by, progress marked many areas of the town.

The town saw settlers and citizens come and go, and with them, their hopes, dreams, and their good and bad deeds.

The town that had struggled so many years to see settlement, was on its way.

Capturing the Essence of Wolfeboro

Capturing the Essence of Wolfeboro 

By Rosalie Triolo

Photos: courtesy of Lana Santoro

In her recent book Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, the oldest summer resort in america, Lana Santoro has captured through the lens of her camera the character and spirit of this small picturesque New England town.  On her first visit to Wolfeboro to meet her future in-laws, Lana was captivated by the friendly welcoming feel of downtown Wolfeboro. Over the years on following visits, she and her husband, Chris, would drive to places outside of town discovering Dimon’s Corner in north Wolfeboro. On the outskirts she photographed old farm houses and stone walls some of which may have been built a century ago. With each return trip Lana’s fascination and love of the area grew, as did the number of photos in her collection. These photos she would use to create a calendar depicting the four seasons of Wolfeboro. Her first Wolfeboro calendar was published in 2007 and the 2022 calendar can be purchased on her website. 

 Lana commented, “A calendar needs scenery, but my photos also tell the story of an entire town. Its warmth and the memorable personalities you come to meet.” A story built from photos of red doors, wreaths and American flags fluttering in the summer breeze on the Fourth of July. A town where the young, the old and tiny children fill the sidewalks of Main Street waiting for a parade to begin. Stories of old buildings with histories going back to the late 1800s which have been renovated and still in use today. 

One of her favorite places to walk is Cate Park. Its waterfront gazebo where in summer bands entertain the community and artists display their work. The statue of grandpa and child in conversation, sharing thoughts and ice cream cones. “For me,” says Lana, “This is a beautiful representation of Wolfeboro. A town friendly and hospitable to all generations. I think of downtown Wolfeboro as its heart, Cate Park as its soul, and as boats approach from the Lake, I think of Dockside Grille as its welcome mat.” 

A photographic journey through Wolfeboro, the book’s cover introduces the reader to a colorful 160-page story. The MS Mount Washington approaching the Town Docks in Wolfeboro Bay passing by the Dockside Grille, and in the background standing taller than other buildings, the Town Hall with its prominent clocktower. 

Within the pages of her book, Lana takes the reader on a stroll down Main Street and the outskirts of Wolfeboro.  

Black’s Paper Store decorated according to the season where customers are welcomed to browse through racks and shelves filled with clothing, cards, gifts, souvenirs and toys. The Saturday after Thanksgiving a parade down Main St., with Santa Claus coming to town, the lighting of the Community Town Christmas Tree which stands in front of Black’s Paper Shop, and Santa’s Hut, across from Hunter’s Market, is opened for boys and girls to visit with Santa and give him their Christmas wish lists. 

Another long-standing tradition, the Yum-Yum bakery shop where for over 50 years customers have enjoyed an assortment of baked cookies, donuts and cakes. Since its opening, the Yum-Yum has changed hands, and over the years improvements have been made to the interior of the shop. The exterior of the bakery has been renovated affording customers additional seating on the spacious patio.

The Durgin Stables complex, built in 1875, houses the Country Booksellers shop. Inside, books for everyone’s preference, and toys for little children line the shelves. Books labeled “Staff Picks” usually help the undecided reader make a choice. 

 Rediscovering one of Wolfeboro’s landmarks built in the late 1800s, the old Town Hall was recently renovated. At one time it housed the Public Library and on the third floor there was a movie theater which no longer exists anywhere in town. The library was then moved to another building on South Main Street, next to the Public Safety Building, and most recently was renovated, updated and modernized.   

On Railroad Avenue, Bailey’s Bubble, a summer tradition, for families with young children, teens and for older generations, bustles with excitement as customers wait in long lines to choose their favorite flavor ice cream for sundaes with toppings, ice cream drinks or ice cream cones.     

Lana describes Wolfeboro as, “A family walkable town.” When her brother and his family visited Wolfeboro, they were impressed by the diversity of recreational activities available to families with children, the variety of restaurants and quaint little shops. 

The Depot Station on Railroad Avenue, which also dates to the late 1800s, is the start of the Cotton Valley Rail Trail. From the old Depot Station to Fernald Crossing Station in Wolfeboro, the trail extends 3.2 miles. The entire trail is 12 miles long extending from Wolfeboro, to Brookfield, and ending at Turntable Park in Wakefield. In spring, summer and fall this picture-perfect trail, some of which meanders alongside Back Bay, is ideal for running, walking and biking. In winter, when covered with snow, it is an excellent place to snowshoe and cross-country ski. 

A short drive from the center of town, The Nick, a 27-acre sports facility, provides baseball and softball fields, a six-lane synthetic track, picnic area, children’s playground and pavilion, an enclosed dog park, and a skateboard area. The Nick is run by the Wolfeboro Area Recreational Association (WARA) a non-profit organization.

A town of 58.5 square miles, Wolfeboro is a popular destination for vacationers. A town where people from big cities and a faster paced life come to enjoy boating, kayaking, canoeing, watersports and fishing on Lake Winnipesaukee, Crescent Lake and Lake Wentworth. It is a town that is steeped in history; a town at ease with itself as captured in photos by Lana Santoro. Its schools are represented: Carpenter School, Brewster Academy, Kingswood High School and Middle School, and Crescent Lake School. The Kingswood Art Center has been recognized for the performances that have taken place there throughout the years. In November tickets were sold out to each of the performances of ABBA’s Mamma Mia. 

The museums throughout the town, such as the Libby Museum, Clark House Museum and New Hampshire Boat Museum, provide learning experiences and as well as the history of Wolfeboro. You can’t miss the Wright Museum on Center Street with an armored tank breaking through its brick façade. A non-profit organization which recognizes and honors the contributions of Americans during the World War II era, the museum provides educational programs and through memorabilia offers a look into life during the 1940’s. 

The Fire Fighter Memorial at Town Hall, and New Hampshire Civil War Monument on the corner of South Main St. and Center St. are tributes to those who have given service to the Town, and country.  

The Wolfeboro Photo Book is a 160-pages journey that Lana has shared with residents and visitors.  It is truly amazing how the young woman, who came to town for a visit, cherishes the character, feels the warmth, and has captured with the lens of her camera the essence of Wolfeboro. 

In this one sentence Lana expresses her feelings, “This is my love letter to the Town of Wolfeboro.”

Lana Santoro, Ph. D is a teacher, an educational consultant, writer and modestly claims she is an “amateur” photographer. 

If you are interested in either her 2022 Calendar, Fine Prints, Photography Gifts or the Wolfeboro Photo Book, all information can be found on www.thewolfeborobook.com.