Steamboats

The Best Little Steamin’ Event on Winnipesaukee!

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper The Lee’s Mill Steamboat Meet founder and organizer, David Thompson, recalls the early steamboat meet “back in 1972” that came about after some guys that liked antique boats got talking about having a get-together. It was planned for some boat lovers to meet up and show off their boats and maybe have a picnic or cookout.

That was 49 years ago, and while the world has changed, the charming little steamboats beloved by many haven’t changed that much. In the past, steamboat enthusiasts from all over the world attended the popular event at the Lee’s location in Moultonboro. Although the recent pandemic made things a bit uncertain everywhere, the Steamboat Meet is a great event, and David is hopeful the attendance of those with steamboats will be good this year. The meet will be held September 10 to 19.

As the calendar turns to September, thoughts turn to fall activities, such as apple festivals, fairs and pumpkin carving. And if you live in the Lakes Region or are interested in old steamboats, you are in for a treat at the unique event when steamboat lovers bring their boats to Winnipesaukee for the chance to share stories, get suggestions on repairing an engine, and to show off their steamboats and generally have a grand old time.

According to the event founder/ organizer, if you are into steamboats, attending the Lee’s Mill Meet is a bit of a rite of passage. David laughs as he says, “If you haven’t been to the event, you need to attend because everyone does at one time or another.”

David started the event all those years ago to share the hobby of steam boating with other owners of the unique boats and to provide a great spectator event for the public. The event is quite casual, and David says there are no set hours, although the boats are there usually by about 9 am.

Steamboat owners love to show off their steamboats and hang out with other boat owners and also answer questions that spectators may have.

Leading up to the event, David fi elds inquiries from steamboat collectors, enthusiasts and from people who don’t know much about steamboats but want to fi nd out more. “We have been getting a lot of calls and inquiries from potential guests, and many are telling him they are considering getting a steamboat” which delights him.

As president of the Lee’s Mill Steamboat Association, he coordinates steamboat participants and catering and a lot more as he and his helpers prepare for the annual steamboat event.

David is a lifelong expert when it comes to anything steam operated and he has passed his love on to his sons Dave Jr., Blair and Brian. His daughter, Kelly, contributes by running the cook nook at the event. The nook will have burgers, hotdogs, other foods and Kelly’s homemade apple pie. The nook will also have t-shirts with the steamboat meet emblem, among other items.

Steam boating just seems to come naturally to David and his sons (Dave Jr., Blair and Brian). David grew up spending a lot of time at Goodhue Hawkins Navy Yard in Wolfeboro where his father and grandfather worked on the lake running and fi xing commercial steamboats.

“My grandfather had steamboats in the early 1900s and my Dad followed. In the 1930s, the last of the steamboats were dying off. After that, they went to gas powered. Then, during World War II with the gasoline shortage, steamboats were a good way to get around,” David says.

David learned at a young age how to work on the little steam-powered vessels. Over the years, he has owned many steamboats and he loves to talk about the old-fashioned vessels.

Historically, the Lee’s Mill meet started casually and to a large extent, the event has continued to have a laidback, come-as-you-are atmosphere. “I started the meet in the early 1970s after we were down at the Weirs for a boat show.” David and fellow steamboat owners/friends discussed the growing interest in antique boats and steamboats. The group talked about having a cookout. A few steam boater owners showed up and it just grew from there.

Those who come to show off their steamboats, to share stories and ask questions about problems they may be having with their steamboat are all welcome, although you must contact David ahead of time at 603-476-2224

• Steamboat

continued on page 4

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to let him know you will be bringing a steamboat to the event.

He also stresses that if you are planning to attend by boat, there is no docking for non-steamboats, so you are better off coming by car.

David says it takes a lot of wood to fi re the steamboats at the meet, but it is just one of the many things that it takes to run the meet. Luckily, David’s family is involved in the popular Lee’s Mill event and are a great help.

Son Brian seems to have inherited his father’s love for “tinkering.” Brian, with the help of a friend, built a beautiful steam-fi red truck that took over a year to build. It is a model of a 1908 English steam powered truck and quite a conversation piece.

Just being at the meet and seeing the incredibly beautiful little steamboats is a treat in itself. (Be prepared to watch the steamboats taking it slow – they typically travel about four to six miles per hour.)

“The boat owners are all very friendly and they love to answer questions,” says David.

Although the atmosphere of the meet is casual and there is no spectator admission fee, donations are always welcome.

It seems there is something for everyone at the upcoming steamboat meet. If you love to “tinker with engines” or if you enjoy history and old boats or have a love of photography and are looking for some unique subject matter, the meet has it all. While steam boating is a very specialized hobby, it seems to draw people like a magnet. It has been a part of David’s life since he was a child and he is happy to share his knowledge and love of this piece of boating history with others. Organizing the 49th annual Lee’s Mill Steamboat Meet may indeed be a lot of work, but this time of year excitement runs high in the Thompson household as David answers phone calls and prepares for the event. As the calendar has turned to September, get ready for the unique event that offers something for everyone. And plan to celebrate the 49th anniversary of one of the most unique events held yearly on Lake Winnipesaukee. For information on the September 10 to 19 Annual Lee’s Mill Steamboat Meet, call David Thompson at 603476-2224. Lee’s Mill Road, the site of www.thelaker.com the steamboat meet, is located off Rt. 25 in Moultonborough, NH. Follow Lee’s Mill Road and the Loon Center Your Where-To-Go, What-To-Do Guide for the Lakes Region

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September brings fun classes to the League in Meredith

The League of NH Craftsmen – Meredith Fine Craft Gallery will offer some interesting and creative classes in the upcoming weeks, the fi rst on Sunday, September 19 from 9 am to 4 pm. A Beginner Stained Glass Class with juried artist Susanna Ries will be a high-paced class that will have you cutting, copper foiling, soldering, and framing a stained glass panel in one day.

Choose your own design from patterns supplied by the instructor, or you can use one from another source, so long as it is constructed of 13 glass pieces or less.

You will need to bring cork board at least 12 x 18 in., masking tape, apron, scissors, sturdy rubber gloves (such as dishwashing gloves), safety glasses (if you wear glasses you do not need safety glasses), very casual clothes and covered shoes – no sandals! And of course, a large plastic sealed bag or grocery bag to carry your piece and pattern home, and some Ziploc bags for storing solder, foil, etc. Tuition is $48.00 per student, and there is a $40 materials fee paid to the instructor on the day of class. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Class details and a student materials list will be available online at http://meredith. nhcrafts.org/classes/.

The Meredith Fine Craft Gallery will be offering a Nuno Felted Scarf Class with League-juried fi ber artist, Melinda LaBarge, on Saturday, September 25 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Meredith Community Center. If you have never felted before or if you are looking to take your skills to the next level, this class is for you! Melinda will meet students at their skill level and work with them individually. No felting experience is necessary.

There will be an abundance of materials available to choose from to create your own special scarf, in whatever design and color you wish to make. Additional materials will be available for sale, if you wish to make more than one scarf.

Students are encouraged to bring a lunch or snack to satisfy themselves through the six-hour class. Students should also bring the following materials and tools to class: at least 3 – 4 old large bath towels that can get dirty and soaked with water (the towels are important - please DO NOT FORGET to bring them), plastic garbage bag for wet towels, scissors, pen and paper to take notes, camera (optional) to document process, rubber mat (optional) to stand on, and comfortable shoes.

Please note this class will be held at the Meredith Community Center (Room B) located at 1 Circle Drive in Meredith, NH. Tuition is $70.00 per student with a materials fee of $35.00, paid directly to the instructor. Space is limited and preregistration is required.

To register for the workshops, please call the League of NH Craftsmen – Meredith Fine Craft Gallery at 603-2797920 or stop by the gallery located at 279 Daniel Webster Highway in Meredith, NH.

For more details, visit http://meredith. nhcrafts.org/classes/ and you can also see many beautiful creations on Facebook at

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Fun September at Canterbury Shaker Village

Visitors to the Canterbury Shaker Village regularly delight in the beauty of its surrounding fieldstone walls. The Shakers built even their walls with the high-quality craftsmanship for which they are so famous.

Learn about the Canterbury Shaker’s stone wall building craft and experience making and restoring the walls on site at the Village. Master stone artisan and mason, Kevin Fife, has been engaged by the Village to draw on his decades of knowledge to restore portions of the Village’s iconic walls.

As part of this project, Kevin will lead a hands-on workshop, which will expose participants to the engineering and aesthetics of the Shakers’ skill through the actual rebuilding of a wall section. The two-day workshop, running each day from 9 am to 4 pm, is held on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19.

Kevin began building stone walls in 1981, blending his talent as an artist with the business of landscape construction. While earning his BS at the University of New Hampshire, Kevin studied Environmental Conservation and Art. Kevin’s stone walls have received international recognition, and he has completed restorative work at several historic landmarks in New Hampshire including Canterbury Shaker Village, The Fells/John Hay Estate in Newbury, Prescott Farm in Laconia, and the New

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A Stone Building Workshop, led by Kevin Fife, master stone artisan and mason, invites participants to learn about the Canterbury Shaker’s stone wall building craft.

Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton.

The $250.00 all-inclusive fee also includes materials and delicious lunches each day. Visit www.shakers. org to sign up.

The annual Artisan Market at Canterbury Shaker Village returns this year on Saturday, September 25 from 10 am to 5 pm. This event is a celebration of artisanal, handcrafted work, with live music, and demonstrations.

The Market will feature a wide variety of goods, from woodworking to jewelry, textiles, soaps, and even locally sourced maple syrup. Come admire artisans’ work and find unique gifts or something special for yourself.

This year, Canterbury local Jordan Tirrell Wysocki & Trio will perform at the Artisan Market from noon to 2 pm, bringing fresh energy to traditional Celtic music. There will also be a food truck at the event.

Market tickets can be purchased at www.shakers.org or in person at the event. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for Village members, and all youth and young adults under age 25 are free. Please come and enjoy this special gathering of wonderful artisans, explore the Village, and share a special day with family and friends.

In addition to the Artisan Market, the Village will be offering guided tours at 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. The Village Store will also be open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The museum is a member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.

Canterbury Shaker is located at 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury, New Hampshire, just south of Laconia and north of Concord, NH. For more information, visit www.shakers.org. or call 603-783-9511.

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Hawk Watch and Slim Baker Day in Bristol

By Lee Caldwell

On Saturday, September 18 from 10 am to 2 pm, the Slim Baker Foundation for Outdoor Education will host a combination Hawk Watch and Slim Baker Day at Slim Baker Lodge and Little Round Top in Bristol. This outdoor event is free and open to the public. No registration required.

In addition, their annual story walk is now on display. The title of the book is STARS by Mary Lynn Ray. Both the Hawk Watch and the Story Walk events are self-guided opportunities. There will be informational handouts and hawk educational displays along the Worthen trail hike up to the summit of Little Round Top (Inspiration Point).

Slim Baker Day is a tribute to Everett “Slim” Baker, a dedicated and much-loved conservation officer with NH Fish and Game who died at age 43 in 1953. According to the organization’s website: “the Slim Baker Area is a 135-acre tract of conserved land in Bristol that was set up as a memorial to him as he had dreamed of setting up a ‘school for outdoor living’ in the Newfound Lake area. This area is the fulfillment of that dream. For over 6 decades, the foundation has adhered to the two goals of the organization’s original founding document: 1) To provide programs of outdoor recreation, nature study, and practical conservation for residents of the Newfound area and visitors. 2) To perpetuate the memory, ideals and ideas of Everett D. ‘Slim’ Baker, long-time resident and conservation officer of the area, and true lover of nature and mankind.”

“Slim” had a reputation of being friendly and helpful, but strict if necessary. He was beloved in the community, loved hunting and fishing, and believed in the wise use of natural resources. He was tall and lanky, hence the name “Slim” and when he became fatally ill, his friends in the community rallied around to help make his “school for outdoor living” dream come true. A beautiful tract of land was donated by Reba Hipson on Little Round Top, a site was cleared for the construction of a rustic lodge and a trail was cut to the summit.

A retrospective/tribute of the life and legacy of “Slim” Baker will be on

Hawk- credit to Walt Keane, NH Audubon Society; photo provided by Slim Baker Foundation for Outdoor Education.

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display of the porch of the Slim Baker Lodge for all to view.

Little Round Top is the oldest hawk watch site in New Hampshire. It has a panoramic view of the valley that is ideal for viewing the annual fall hawk migration. NH Fish and Game states that the second and third weeks of September are peak hawk watching times as large flocks (or kettles) of broad winged hawks pass over. To conserve energy, they ride the big thermal air currents along ridge lines and river valleys (in this case central New Hampshire’s Pemigewasset River) on their way to Central and South America.

According to the NH Fish and Game website: “hawks, falcons, raptors, and birds of prey are all terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. All have short, strongly hooked beaks and sharp, curved talons (claws.) Body size, wing length and shape vary, as do colors and patterns with different combinations of black, white, rufous, gray, and brown. Many have different color phases with juveniles appearing different from the adults. Females are typically larger than males. All prey on other species ranging from insects to other birds and small to medium size mammals. Some are seasonal visitors or travelers passing through during spring and fall migrations. Some are rare visitors seen every 3-5 years. They range in size from 9-33 inches long and have 20-72 inch wingspans and can be seem throughout the state.”

As many as 15 raptor species pass over New Hampshire during the fall migration (which typically runs from September through November.) Among them are the American kestrel, the Broad Winged hawk, the Cooper’s hawk, the Merlin, the Northern goshawk; the Northern harrier; the Red-shouldered hawk, the Red-tailed hawk, the Sharp-shinned hawk, the Gyrfalcon, the Rough-legged hawk, the Golden eagle, the Bald eagle, the peregrine falcon, and the osprey. Eagles do sometimes migrate, although adults tend to stay near their nesting territory as long as there is available food. The best hawk watch sites are high with an open view to the north/ northwest.

The Slim Baker Foundation encourages all to come on September 18, view the Slim Baker tribute, follow the Story Walk, and to “bring your binoculars, patience, and a sense of adventure while waiting to spot the movement of a hawk along the horizon.”

The Slim Baker lodge area is located in Bristol. From the downtown, take Rt. 3A south for a short distance, bear right onto High Street. At the crest of the hill, turn right onto New Chester Mt Road (at the sign for Slim Baker Lodge) and continue to the parking area. The trail to Inspiration Point for the Hawk Watch has some short, but moderately steep sections.

For additional information see the Slim Baker Foundation website, www. slimbaker.org.

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