Great Estates of the Lakes Region

Exterior photo of Lucknow, the Moultonborough estate of Thomas Plant. Today the home and grounds are known as Castle in the Clouds. This is how the home appeared in the late 1910s/early 1920s. (Photo by George Perry, courtesy Castle in the Clouds)

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

In the 1800s wealthy people came to New Hampshire to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Many people they realized how beautiful and peaceful the area was, and some took action to make the area their year-round home.

Because some of the people owned summer homes in the Lakes Region, it was easy to move in full time. Most of these homes had fireplaces and central heating in the 1800s to mid 1900s it was easy enough to take up residence on a year round basis.

In the Holderness area, one summer visitor loved the area and decided to stay. Isaac Van Horn made his fortune as a real estate developer and when Van Horn and his wife vacationed in the area in 1904 (Squam Lake), they greatly admired the natural beauty of the lakes and mountains..

Mrs. Van Horn was a pretty debutante and much sought after socially, but she seemed to love the quiet country life. The Van Horn’s built their sprawling home high on a hill with views of the surrounding countryside and of course, the lake. After time spent enjoying their beautiful home, Mrs. Van Horn sadly died early in life. Van Horn eventually married again, but his second wife did not embrace the country life as did her predecessor. The estate was sold and today is a beautiful inn with dining. Many of the special architecture and unique touches remain although the inn has been updated.

In the late 1800s, opportunity for rising in the financial world was there for the taking. Such was one man, Charles Babbitt of Enfield, New Hampshire. He worked in the lumber industry and made a plan to use the river in Franklin to power the town’s many mills. At the time, he was building a large home in Franklin, and locals found it an impressive structure. Babbitt lived in the large home with his wife and family, passing away years later.

Porch area of Lucknow, the Moultonborough estate of Thomas Plant in the late 1910s/early 1920s. The relaxing area undoubtedly had magnificent views. (Photo by George Perry, courtesy Castle in the Clouds)

Castles in the Lakes Region and northern New Hampshire sprang up in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most of these estates mimicked the style of European castles, but the homes were not lacking in modernize amenities and décor. From Lucknow (Castle in the Clouds) in Moultonborough to Kimball Castle in Gilford to the Wentworth Castle in Jackson, the homes were unique.

North country residents General Marshall and Georgia Wentworth ordered a home built for their use in 1891. The estate was designed by William A. Bates, a New York architect using designs from Mrs. Wentworth. The Wentworth’s enjoyed life at their castle, until Marshall died in 1915. Mrs. Wentworth continued to live in the castle home until her death in 1930. Although unoccupied for some time, the once-glorious castle was rescued by Countess Mara de Bninska, a humanitarian and philanthropist. She bought the castle in 1959, modernized the home and repaired it as needed.

Many tourists and Lakes Regioners have heard of or visited Lucknow, today know as Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough. Built around 1913, the home was the brainchild of Thomas Plant. After making his fortune in the shoe industry, Plant wanted to build and live in a unique house that would resemble a castle. The result was a 16-room Arts and Crafts style mansion, nestled in the Ossipee Mountain range with incredible views of Lake Winnipesaukee far below. Plant’s home, where he lived with his wife, Olive, sat high on a mountainside with unsurpassed views of the lake and mountains. It was constructed of cut stone and had every modern-day amenity such as state-of-the-art showers, central vacuuming, a cooled wine cellar, forced hot water heating and more. Today the Lakes Region Conservation Trust owns the property, and it is open for seasonal tours.

No mention of Lakes Region estates would be complete without mention of Kimball Castle in Gilford. Near the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, the home of Benjamin Ames Kimball was constructed atop of hill with wonderful views. Like many other estates, it started as a summer home. Kimball was a railroad baron and had traveled to Europe. It was there he saw castles and determined to build a similar one at his summer home.

Kimball and his family lived the estate, which was constructed largely of granite. The ornate home even had rooms for servants. After Kimball’s death, and that of other family members, a remaining relative spent summers at the estate and left the property to a nonprofit.

Interior of Lucknow, circa 1910s/early 1920s when estate owners Thomas and Olive Plant lived and entertained guests from around the country and beyond. Today the home and grounds are known as Castle in the Clouds. This is how the home appeared in the late 1910s/early 1920s. (Photo by George Perry, courtesy Castle in the Clouds)

The Schrafft family were the wealthy owners of a famed candy company. They came to the area, according to “Squam” by Rachel Carley, and built a home in the Squam Lake region.

Robert Herman Otto Schulz (of Boston) and his wife, Louise Schrafft, named their summer home Indian Carry after a supposed Indian trail on the land. The couple’s estate had seven buildings, including the large home as well as a boathouse and bunkhouse.

Most likely Louise Schrafft’s family visited the summer home and fell in love with the area as well. Her brother, William Schrafft, and his wife built nearby and enjoyed a home with breathtaking views. The home was called Chimney Pots and was designed in a chalet style, likely large and well furnished.

Other Schrafft family cottages were Lochland, later to be purchased by television broadcaster William S. Paley (Frank Sinatra and other Rat Packers were said to be among the guests to the home) and the former Sunset House (inn). Benjamin Moore paint chairman Livingston Moore once owned the property as well.

In nearby Tamworth, an old Boston family built a summer cottage in the 1890s. Elliott Channing Clarke began to buy and consolidate small farms, which he built into one large country estate called Great Hill Farm. A successful engineer, Clarke added on to a one-and-a-half story, circa 1790s home. The estate had gaming tables, beautiful furniture, and big-game trophies from his hunting expeditions.

Lucknow, sitting high atop a mountain. It was the Moultonborough estate of Thomas Plant. Today the estate is known as Castle in the Clouds. This is how the home appeared in the late 1910s/early 1920s. (Photo by George Perry, courtesy Castle in the Clouds)

According to “Summer Cottages in the White Mountains – The Architecture of Leisure and Recreation 1870 to 1930” by Bryant F. Tolles, Jr., among the first houses built with the purpose of becoming a summer home in the Squam Lake Region was that of engineer William Norton. The Norton’s loved the Squam area and bought land to build a home. “Squam” by Rachel Carley, relates that it was the custom to build summer homes away from the lakes and ponds in the late 1800s. This was because people thought insects around water bodies carried illness. Thus, the Norton’s built a cottage near the top of Shepard Hill, which gave them great views of the lake and mountains.

Friends of the Norton’s soon followed to the Shepard Hill Area. One visitor, John Nicolay, was private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and later a marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Nicolay family also loved the area. The cottage Nicolay built for his family’s summer use was called Tannenruch. The property remained in the Nicolay family until the death of John’s daughter, artist, and writer Helen Nicolay.

Occasionally, a famous person lived permanently in the Lakes Region after enjoying a summer vacation in the area. Actor Claude Rains was one who had settled in the area; he was well known in the 1930s and 1940s as a character actor in the movies. He was a famous movie star in his time, known for his role as Inspector Renault in the 1942 film classic, “Casablanca”. In his later years, he resided in Sandwich, New Hampshire.

When Rains and his wife sent their daughter to camp in New Hampshire, they were introduced to the Lakes Region, according to written accounts. A family friend who resided in Sandwich each summer invited the Rains family to visit.

The couple relocated to New Hampshire, because it was said Rains missed the country life when he had to be elsewhere. Eventually, Rains approached a local real estate agent about finding a home in the Sandwich area, and the sale of a house took place in the early 1960s.

The Rains family modernized their home somewhat, but every effort was made to maintain the original style. Rains believed in keeping the integrity of historic houses and barns. The kitchen was updated, and he had a small porch enclosed, and an icehouse turned into an art studio. The family took pride in the yard, planting lilacs, magnolias, hydrangeas, and crabapple trees. Claude Rains enjoyed his time in the area and lived happily, passing away in the 1960s.