TheLaker_Aug_28_23

The New Colonial Theatre Echoes Its Past

By Thomas P. Caldwell

Those interested in music, plays, and comedy now have a chance to experience those things and more in what the former Laconia Democrat described as “one of the handsomest playhouses to be found in New England and far ahead of anything which the average city of Laconia can boast.”

That description of the Colonial Theatre by the local weekly newspaper in 1915 applies again since the theater’s rebirth in 2021. After its conversion into a movie theater and subsequent closure years ago, a broad effort has returned the Colonial to its original elegance and its role in bringing a range of talent to the local stage.

The refurbishment of the Colonial, which began in March 2016, sought to restore, as much as possible, its appearance at its opening in 1914. The original owner, Benjamin Piscopo, came from Venice, Italy, and he hired George I. Griffin to design the elaborately detailed interior with an elegance befitting his home city. The 1,400-seat theater featured a fire curtain with an idealized depiction of Venice as seen from the water.

The theater offered a variety of stage productions, photoplays, and Vaudeville acts, including a Boston English Opera Company production of “Il Trovatore” in 1915.

The venue became known as Waldron’s Colonial Theatre after engaging Charles H. Waldron’s Amusement Company in September 1916. The

company brought in “first-class attractions” including Vaudeville and silent film star Willie Collier Jr.

With motion pictures leading to the decline of Vaudeville in the late 1920s and 1930s, the Colonial Theatre put more and more emphasis on the showing of films. After the success of local Gilmanton author Grace Metallious’ Peyton Place, and the movie based on the book, the Colonial screened the world premier of its sequel, “Return to Peyton Place” starring Carol Lynley and Jeff Chandler, in 1961. Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” was shown in 1968.

Multiplex cinemas became the rage in the 1980s, and the owners in 1983 divided the auditorium into five sec-

tions— the balcony and orchestra sections providing four screens and the stage a fifth screen. An additional business operating out of the building sold pizza.

The Colonial closed in August 2002 and it lay vacant for the next 14 years.

Meanwhile, a group that included members of the Belknap County Economic Development Council and Laconia Mayor Ed Engler began looking for a way to purchase and refurbish the theater. In 2015, the city and the BCEDC agreed to a $15 million plan to purchase restore, and reopen the Colonial by also creating retail space and 14 apartments in the building. A limited liability corporation, 609 Main Street, LLC, formed to conduct a cap-

ital campaign to assist with the cost. Restoration work began in 2016.

In removing the movie screens and partitions, workers found that much of the original architecture, as well as the fire screen with its depiction of Venice, had been preserved behind the dividing walls. Much of the electrical infrastructure had decayed, and bringing the building up to current life-safety codes was a major challenge.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services assisted in identifying potential environmental problems and provided a Brownfields grant for technical assistance in addressing the concerns.

According to the state, the restoration effort is one of the largest historic preservation projects in Granite State History. New plaster moulding was built on-site to replace sections that were damaged or removed when the auditorium was split up. A new marquee was built, and EverGreene Architectural Arts restored the gilded plaster ornaments, frescoes, and other elaborate decorations with their classical motif on the coffered ceiling and walls of the Colonial.

As the work progressed and the auditorium restoration was completed, the Laconia City Council named it the Edward J. Engler Auditorium, for the mayor “whose patience and resolve turned the dream of restoring the Colonial Theatre into reality”. The new • Theatre

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It’s Time to Be a Hero

By Alexander Dunford

Pet parents mark the kitchen calendar for the New Hampshire Humane Society’s annual Be a Hero 5K, on September 23rd, at Castle in The Clouds, Moultonborough. Be a Hero

5K welcomes both two and four-legged runners to trek a beautifully mapped course combining trail, road, and off road, followed by a post-run celebrationin the field by Shannon Pond. The family fun, pet friendly event begins at 8:30 am, registration begins one hour prior.

The New Hampshire Humane Society’s inspiring mission to serve the Lake Region’s many different pet needs hosts their seventh Be a Hero 5K, in partnership with Eastern Propane. 2023, marks the second year in a row the event takes place at Castle in The Clouds. The Humane Society aims to build on last year’s success with an impressive 150 runners who participated, by letting the public know all pets are free, and everyone who registers before August, 23rd, receives a an event t-shirt. And, parents make sure to pack the kids, because every kid who chooses to run receives a medal. Adults are certain to enjoy a spirit of friendly competition too; the top three placed male and female contestants will earn a prize.

In 2022, the Be a Hero 5K brought in roughly $7,000 dollars between participants and those, who, unable to attend, donated financial support for

the important work being done. The New Hampshire Humane Society uses the proceeds, donations, and public exposure earned to perform life-saving work; the Humane Society helps to, but not limited to, reunite lost pets with their families, helps solve abuse and neglect cases, and helps transport animals from areas of the country still utilizing euthanasia, in order to find these animals loving families and caring homes. The Laker interviewed Nathan McSchinsky, a New Hampshire Humane Society board member and marketing specialist for Eastern Propane, but perhaps more importantly a devoted pet owner. Mr. McShinsky quoted, “The Be a Hero 5K not only raises money, but also heightens awareness of this mission.” The Laker

learned the Humane Society averages between 800 and 1,000 adoptions annually, in addition to services offered such as surgeries, pet clinics, trainings, etcetera. Mr. McShinsky passionately added, “The organization wants to be a support mechanism for the entire pet parent experience.”

Here are some of the year-to-date, [as of July 20, 2023] stats regarding the hard work put in by the Humane Society and its members (source —New Hampshire Humane Society):

450 adoptions to loving homes

47 lost pets reunited with their families

389 pets served by low-cost or no-

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Colonial Theatre has 761 seats and, for better accessibility, there is an elevator and upgraded stairways. The renovations also included modern technology.

The Colonial Theatre officially reopened in August 2021. Spectacle Live, an event and venue management firm that specializes in working with performing arts centers in the Northeast, handles the facility management, booking, marketing, ticketing, food and beverage services, and production. Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, named for the Belknap Mill’s electric powerhouse that once provided electricity for the Lake City, is a professionally managed community theater group that is the resident theater company at both the Belknap Mill and the Colonial Theatre. Between the two entities, they have a solid schedule of programs for

cost spay/neuter programs

364 animals saved from euthanasia facilities

9 animals rescued from abuse and cruelty situations

10,500 pounds of pet food provided to NH families experiencing hardship

50 dedicated and talented NH Humane Volunteers and Fosters

2700 Volunteer Hours

The Be a Hero 5K certainly is a cause everyone can get behind because the story regarding New Hampshire Humane Society’s efforts is one of selflessness and determination to help the region’s pet families. Being a hero has never been easier, or more rewarding, when all anyone needs is an open heart, a passion for four-legged friends, and a good pair of running shoes. Participants aren’t just helping a great cause; they are taking part in a larger community passionate about animal welfare. So, join ranks with the Humane Society and run the gorgeous course mapped out at Castle in The Clouds on September, 23rd, at 8:30 am and be a hero.

The New Hampshire Humane Society wishes to extend their gratitude to their partners within the community: LaValley/ Middleton Building Supply, Coca-Cola Northeast, Grappone, Northeast Delta Dental, Newfound Pet Store, Laconia Daily Sun, The Laker, Hannaford Super Markets, and 101.5 Lakes FM.

the Colonial.

Upcoming acts at the Colonial Theatre are:

Mother of Comedy Show, Sept. 23, 8 p.m.

Tusk, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.

The Sixties Show, Oct. 14, 8 p.m.

Captains Courageous: The Musical, Oct. 20-21, 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 22, 2 p.m.

Amy Grant, Oct. 28, 8 p.m.

Safe Haven Ballet presents The Nutcracker, Nov. 25, 4:30 p.m., and Nov. 26, 1 p.m.

Safe Haven Ballet presents The Grinch, Nov. 26, 6 p.m.

Postmodern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.

Brad Upton, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.

A Christmas Carol: The Musical Ghost Story, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 16, 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 17, 2 p.m.

CABIN RUSTICS

• Theatre

Carolyn Ramsay Band Closes Out Summer Concert Series

A local favorite will take to the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand on Saturday, Sept. 2, as the Carolyn Ramsay Band closes out the Friends of the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand’s summer concert series.

The Carolyn Ramsay Band is a collaboration of musical talent brought to life by Carolyn Ramsay. After knowing one another for years, the group formally formed the band in 2012, which has its roots in rock and folk music running through the soulful stylings of the songs they cover with their own brush.

Carolyn Ramsay grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar and singing in middle school and hasn’t stopped since. Her rhythm guitar and finger picking add to the band’s sound and she has also developed a vocal style all her own that blends well with her daughter’s higher voice.

Jessica Ramsay has been inspired since early childhood, with classic country, blues, folk, pop, R and B and rock music all having influence over her vocal style. She brings an energy that will inspire the audience’s dancing boots and melt your rock and roll heart.

Chuck Farrell is the band’s lead guitar player and brings a smooth guitar style to the band. He comes to the group with 20 years of experience in many diverse styles of music, with roots in rock, R and B and folk.

Tim Archibald plays bass in the band. As a rock bassist from Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Boston in 1976 and attended Berklee for four years, playing with many greats in the local scene. Form-

ing his own band, Urge, he played for three years with Fly By Night as a jazz migrant worker touring the south and east with Groove Holmes, Dobie Gray, Dizzy Gillespie and others. Played with John Butcher in 1984 on Capitol records, New Man, signed to Epic records in 1985 and quickly joined RTZ with the late, great Brad Delp, Brian Maes and David Stefanelli. Six more years with Peter Wolf from the J. Geils

Band. He is a current member of the Who tribute band, 5:15 as well as The Engine Room and American Vinyl All Star band.

The band’s drummer is Mike Chatigny, who also comes to the band with a wide range of playing experience and styles under his belt. He has played with many bands touring up and down the east coast and has recorded hundreds of hours in studios across the northeast.

The Carolyn Ramsay Band will take to the bandstand on Saturday, Sept. 2, for a 7 p.m. concert in Cate Park. The Friends of the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand concert series is presented free of charge each Saturday night in the bandstand in Cate Park, with each concert lasting two hours with a short intermission. At intermission, there will be a pass-the-bucket offering collected to help support the free concert series.

In the event of bad weather, check the Friends of the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand Facebook page and signs will also be posted at the entrance to the park.

Craft Fair at Gunstock Mountain Resort

Come and celebrate the holiday weekend at the Labor Day Weekend Gunstock Craft Fair at Gunstock Mountain Resort, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, NH, on September 2-3Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm both days. There will be over 100 fabulous arts & crafts exhibitors with a wide range of arts & crafts plus music on both days with North River. Some of the exhibits will include cedar wood furniture, leather jewelry & leather pocketbooks, wildlife photography, handsome soy candles, Lake Winnipesaukee aerial photography, handpainted metal/wood/slates/skis, resin art pictures, handcrafted wooden spoons,

various jewelry styles, gourmet vinegars & oils, gourmet honey, beautiful Raku pottery, handsome macrame chairs, American wooden flags, laser engraved wood & glassware, dog & cat toys/treats/apparel, CBD products, charcuterie boards, bath & body products, Lake Winnipesaukee signs, kettle corn, & lots more!!! Free Admission!!! Friendly, leashed pets welcome. Food. Rain or Shine Under Canopies!!! Adventure Park will be open with many amazing activities! For more info about the craft fair, call Joyce (603) 387-1510.

Presented by joycescraftshows.com

New Book Celebrates Nation’s 250th Birthday

They call it a semiquincentennial, but that’s just a complicated term for a 250th birthday. In three years, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth on the Fourth of July. Marking that milestone is a new book published by the Meredith Historical Society.

“These Sons of Liberty: Meredith in the American Revolution” by Rudy VanVeghten is now available for sale at the society’s Main Street Museum. He will be on hand at the society’s annual Open House on Tuesday, September 5, to sign copies of the book.

“Books looking at the Revolutionary War from a national perspective fail to tell the story of our local participants,” says VanVeghten in the book’s introduction. “Conversely, references to our local participants fail to look at the broader picture of the war as a whole. And neither shows how New Hampshire’s response was unique and differed from other states. My approach was to intermix local, state and national perspectives in hopes that the shared context provides an extra degree of illumination that is missing if separated. The whole, I hope, is greater than the sum of the parts.”

Liberally illustrated with portraits, photographs and maps, the book cov-

ers the period from the end of the French and Indian War to the years following the British capitulation at Yorktown and the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Among the chapters are those discussing Meredith’s participation in battles including Bunker Hill and Bennington, as well as our town’s presence at Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Valley Forge and West Point, as well as explaining how the Chemung section of Meredith derived its name.

Also at the September 5 open house, the Meredith Historical Society will serve complimentary hot dogs and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, available from 5-7 p.m. while supplies last. Members of the board of directors will be on hand to show guests around the museum, which this summer includes exhibits of the popular local band Annie and the Orphans and early 20th-century entrepreneur Charles Roberts.

Since 1950, the Meredith Historical Society has endeavored to preserve, develop and promote the knowledge and awareness of the town’s rich history through educational programs, museum resources, original historical research and publications, and an expanding library of digital and traditional resources.

Late-summer Events at the Slim Baker Conservation Area

August. The month the back-toschool blues begin to take hold – but they don’t have to! The Slim Baker Conservation Area in Bristol, NH has several exciting late-summer events lined up to keep the kids engaged in outdoor learning as summer begins to wind down. Each event is free & open to the public.

Over the past two years, the Slim Baker Foundation for Outdoor Education, Inc. has been working with envi-

ronmental experts to create a new outdoor experience. Along the Stephens and Greenan Trails at the Slim Baker Area, 15 stations take an in-depth look at the ecology, hydrology, and geology of the Slim Baker Area. This self-guided experience, which takes about an hour in total, will leave you with a deeper understanding of - and appreciation for - the natural world around you. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the fascinating information you will find!

603-569-3128 ALTON 603-875-3128

603-253-9360

Hodgepodge Batch of Sandwiches

By Kelly Ross

Hello all. I hope today finds all of you well as August comes to a close. Bummer as it is, reality is what it is as well. I do adore the fall season, but I’m not quite ready for it this year since our summer was very odd this year, although September is usually a tremendous month overall, especially for us locals as the traffic mellows out for a while until leaf peeper season jumps upon us. Until that crazy traffic is upon us again though, let’s enjoy the quiet time while we can.

Today’s foodie theme is one of some great sandwiches that are not of the usual nature. This hodgepodge batch of sandwiches is a fun potpourri of delicious fun. I am self admittedly a sandwich junkie. I am obviously a fan of basically anything food-related, but sandwiches have a fond place in my heart. I have zero problem saying that for most of my life, sandwiches have been a huge “go to”. Much of it must be from living most of my life in the restaurant biz and when I finally got a few minutes to kick back on a break and grab something to eat, time was of the essence. I have a couple of scrumptious vegetarian sandwiches as well as a few for the carnivores. If you look up carnivore in the dictionary, you’ll find my ugly mug, but I love the veggie sandwiches as much as those with the meat. Let’s start with the vegetarian options if that’s ok with all of you.

I love mushrooms of all kinds. I know almost everyone has heard of a pulled pork or chicken or beef sandwich, so why not bring some shrooms into that equation? Granted, mushrooms don’t take nearly as long to cook as the proteins do to get to the point of

pulled consistency, and this only takes 40-45 minutes to make as opposed to the usual hours to slow cook the meats per se. This recipe calls for using maitake shrooms, but in all honesty, you can mix things up if you prefer, even a blend of 2-3 varieties. This will get you 4 sammiches of fun. The blend of ingredients to this one is outstanding including a quick homemade BBQ sauce. On a side note, when selecting maitake or any mushrooms, look for tender, pliable, and damp but not slimy feeling ones. Skip any that are dry, tough, or brittle.

Barbecue Pulled Mushroom

Sandwiches

2 cups finely shredded green or red cabbage, or a combo

1 large carrot, peeled and julienned, ¾ cup

¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves and thin stems, chopped

2 tbsp mayo

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Kosher salt and fresh grind black pepper

1 ½ lbs maitake mushrooms, 10 cups, tough stems trimmed but cores left intact

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

BBQ sauce, recipe below

4 brioche buns

For The Two Minute BBQ Sauce, which makes 1 quart

1 ½ cups brown sugar

1 ½ cups ketchup

½ cup red wine vinegar

½ cup water

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 ½ tbsp dry mustard

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp salt

1 ½ tsp black pepper

2 dashes hot pepper sauce

In a blender, combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Blend until smooth and set aside. Preheat grill to medium-high, scrub the grates, then lightly brush with vegetable oil, or give it a spray with pan release spray. In a medium bowl, toss cabbage with carrot, cilantro, mayo, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss mushrooms with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning a few times, until mushrooms are browned and charred in spots, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl. Using two forks, shred into bite-size pieces. Toss mushrooms with as much of the barbecue sauce as you want. Toast cut sides of buns on grill, about 1 minute. Spoon mushroom mixture and slaw on bottoms of buns, add tops, and serve immediately.

Let’s give eggplant a moment to shine. I do know many who aren’t a huge fan of eggplant, but I am most definitely not one of them. I find eggplant to be one of a small bunch of foods that in my opinion doesn’t have a ton of flavor, but it takes on much of the flavors involved. I will admit when it comes to eggplant, most automatically think of eggplant parmesan, and this one is no different, but not in the usual and traditional way. No breading and frying as this one is done of the barbie as was the mushroom recipe. This healthier eggplant parmesan sandwich uses tender, smoky grilled eggplant instead of fried, so it has a fraction of the fat and calories. To make these sandwiches a cinch to prepare, make sure to have all your ingredients ready before you head out to the grill. Plan on 45 minutes for this one as well and it again feeds 4.

Grilled Eggplant

Parmesan Sandwich

1 large eggplant, 1¼-1½ lbs, cut into 12 rounds, ¼ inch thick

Canola or olive oil cooking spray

¼ tsp salt

3 tbsp finely shredded fresh parmesan, or Asiago cheese

½ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

4 small pieces focaccia bread, or rustic Italian bread

2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

5 oz baby spinach

1 cup crushed tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted

3 tbsp chopped fresh basil, divided Preheat grill to medium-high. Place eggplant rounds on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Coat both sides lightly with cooking spray. Combine parmesan and mozzarella in a small bowl. Brush both sides of focaccia, or whatever your bread choice is, with oil. Place spinach in a large microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and punch several holes in the wrap. Microwave on high until wilted, 2-3 minutes. Combine tomatoes and 2 tbsp basil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until bubbling, about 2 minutes. Place all your ingredients on the baking sheet with the eggplant and take it to the grill. Grill the eggplant slices until brown and soft on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side. Grill the bread until toasted, about 1 minute per side. Return the eggplant and bread to the baking sheet. Reduce grill heat to medium-low. Place 1 eggplant round on top of each slice of bread. Layer 1 tbsp tomatoes, 1 tbsp wilted spinach and 1 tbsp cheese on each slice of eggplant. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, sauce, spinach and cheese. Sprinkle each stack with some of the remaining basil. Place the baking sheet on the grill, close the lid and grill until the eggplant stack is hot and the cheese is melted. A rimmed baking sheet is great for everything from roasting to catching accidental drips and spills. It’s a perfect recipe.

So, we focused on some awesome healthy options, so now let’s move onto awesome and maybe not so much on the healthier side, but we all need

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to splurge and live it up now and then. This one is like a muffuletta sandwich, which if you don’t know, is more of a giant sub of sorts which is wrapped in plastic wrap once made and refrigerated for hours before unwrapping and slicing. I usually make this on a 2-footlong baguette, it takes all of 15 minutes to make and once made and wrapped in plastic and refrigerated, it should sit for at least 12 hours. I always make this the day before I plan on serving it. This will feed 4-6.

The Ultimate Salami Sandwich

1 baguette, 24 inches long, split in half lengthwise

½ cup pesto or chimichurri, whether homemade or store-bought

½- ¾ cup roasted red pepper strips well drained

¾ lb thinly sliced assorted salamis

8 slices provolone cheese

2 cups arugula or baby spinach

1-2 tsp lemon vinaigrette or Italian dressing

8 leaves fresh basil

Use your fingers to pull out some of the inside of the bread on the top half. This will give more room for the fillings, so the sandwich is not difficult to eat. Divide the pesto or chimichurri between the two halves of bread and spread it as evenly as you can. Arrange half of the salami along the entire length of the bottom half of the bread, then top with the basil leaves before arranging the slices of provolone cheese over the salami. The cheese should hold the salami and basil leaves in place. Lay the roasted red pepper strips along the

entire length of the top piece of bread and top with the other half of the salami. In a mixing bowl, toss together the arugula or baby spinach with the vinaigrette. Add this to the top half of the bread. Holding the cheese against the bread, carefully flip the bottom half of the bread onto the top half of the bread. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight before slicing and serving. These sandwiches are good for up to 5 days after being made if they are kept tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. You can serve this sandwich as early as 3 hours after it is made and refrigerated, but I think it benefits from at least 12-24 hours in the refrigerator.

I would feel wrong without sharing a burger recipe, especially considering the time of year, but not the usual burger. I think almost everyone would agree that a burger is so much better off the grill, but this one isn’t as some days require you to cook inside. So, this one obviously won’t give you the char flavor, and if you are someone who wants their burger medium-rare, that isn’t going to happen either. Smash burgers have been a cool thing for a couple of decades, although you don’t see an abundance of them on restau-

rant menus, mainly because they are more of a labor-intensive kind of thing in a busy kitchen. Most commercial kitchens are tight for space and tossing a burger on the grill is much simpler as well as more idiot-proof. At home, however, these go together fast. These are delicious as they are smashed with onions that caramelize right into the burger. This can be done in a half hour

and feeds 4.

Smashed Onion Burgers

1 ½ lbs ground beef, ideally something at 80/20 or better

1 tsp kosher salt

½ - ¾ tsp fresh cracked black pepper

½ tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder

1 large, sweet onion, thinly sliced

4 tbsp butter, divided

4-8 slices of your favorite cheese

4 quality burger rolls

Condiments of choice

Lettuce and tomato as wanted

Season the meat with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic and mix to combine. Divide the ground beef evenly into eight 3 oz portions and form into

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Grab breakfast or lunch at The Farmer’s Kitchen. We use only the freshest ingredients for our homemade creations. Come by today to try our:

100% Colombian Coffeefreshly ground from whole beans

Farm fresh eggs | Specialty Omelets

Eggs Benedict - topped with homemade hollandaise, made fresh to order Buttermilk Pancakes | French Toastserved on thick Texas toast Sandwiches & Burgers | Don't forget to check out our daily breakfast & lunch specials!

balls. Keep the meat chilled in the refrigerator until you’re ready to smash the burgers. Peel and slice the onion very thin. A mandolin works great if preferred. Heat your griddle or a cast iron skillet over the stove to medium-high. Add 1 tbsp of butter to the hot skillet. Place two balls of beef on the hot griddle or skillet. Quickly pile on a handful of sliced onions on top of each burger. Smash them using a burger press or a flat spatula. Flatten the patty as thin as you can while pressing the onions into the meat. Cook for about 3-4 minutes then flip both patties with a metal spatula. Make sure to scrape up the golden crusty layer that has formed on the burger underneath. Allow the burgers to cook an additional 2-3 minutes then place a slice of cheese on top of one of the patties. Butter both sides of each bun. Toast the

inside of each bun on a griddle or skillet for about 20 seconds or until golden brown. Assemble the hamburger by putting 2 patties stacked on the bottom roll with condiments of choice and any

veggies you may want to add the top bun on and serve. Repeat this process for the rest of the burgers. If you can’t cook them all at once, which is a good possibility, maybe turn your oven on to keep the earlier batches warm while the others cook.

Lastly today, this one is more of a sandwich bake kind of thing that has a combo of 3 meats and a couple of cheeses, plus the crust used is storebought crescent roll tube. Who doesn’t like crescent rolls, so as a crust, this is scrumptious. This includes deli turkey, ham, and salami with sliced Swiss and cheddar and is more of a fork and knife kind of thing. Only a small amount of ingredients and this goes together in 10 minutes to prep, takes 40 minutes or so to cook and will feed 4-6. When you bring this dish out for lunch, everyone

will be asking for seconds. This is a great dish to swap out certain meats or cheeses, and feel free to add onions or sliced jalapenos or anything else that sounds great.

Italian Layer Bake

1 tube of refrigerated crescent rolls, 8 oz

½ lb deli turkey, 8 slices or so

½ lb deli ham, 8 slices or so

½ lb deli hard salami, 12 slices or so

1/3 lb sliced Swiss cheese

1/3 lb sliced sharp cheddar

1 jar roasted peppers, 12 oz, drained 4 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unroll crescent roll dough without separating triangles. Separate dough into 2 squares along the center cut line. Place 1 square of dough into an 8-inch square baking dish. Using your fingertips, press dough to fit bottom of dish.

Layer with half the turkey, ham, salami, Swiss and cheddar cheeses, and roasted peppers. Pour half the beaten eggs over the peppers and repeat the layers with remaining meats, cheeses, and peppers. Place the remaining square of dough over peppers. Pour the rest of the beaten eggs over the dough and cover lightly with foil. Bake 20 minutes, remove foil, and bake an additional 20-22 minutes, or until golden and heated through. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then cut and serve.

Keep your taste buds smiling and if you care to touch base with any questions or feedback, please reach out at fenwaysox10@gmail.com

Labor Day Weekend Celebration at Castle in the Clouds

Castle in the Clouds is excited to announce a captivating Labor Day Weekend celebration, paying homage to the rich history of labor and the stories that have shaped this iconic estate. From August 29th through September 4th, visitors are invited to partake in a series of engaging programs and events that shed light on the lives of those who built and maintained Lucknow Mansion.

Kicking off the weekend’s festivities on Tuesday, August 29th, join Castle in the Clouds Curator Robin Sherman for a special presentation The Shoes That Built the Castle at the Moultonborough Public Library. Following the presentation, an exhibit about labor’s role in history will be available for viewing at the Moultonborough Public Library during regular library hours throughout

Labor Day weekend and for a limited time this fall.

“As we commemorate Labor Day Weekend at Castle in the Clouds, we are reminded of the countless individuals whose labor and dedication have contributed to the beauty and grandeur of this estate,” says Charles Clark, Executive Director of Castle in the Clouds. “This weekend is a tribute to their legacy and an opportunity to delve into the stories that often go untold.”

On Friday, September 1st, the Castle Close-Up Tour: The Servant Experience offers a unique lens through which visitors can explore Lucknow Mansion. Venture beyond the grandeur of the main rooms to uncover the intimate living quarters and workspaces of the estate staff. This one-hour guided tour provides insights into the servant expe-

rience, offering a deeper understanding of their contributions to the mansion’s operation. The tour is a glimpse into the history and daily lives of those who served within the mansion’s walls.

On Labor Day, September 4th, Castle in the Clouds welcomes families to a day of celebration in the picturesque fields of the estate. The Labor Day Family Picnic & Mini Parade brings a touch of nostalgia to the holiday, reminiscent of the traditions that have been cherished for generations. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic lunches or enjoy delectable offerings from Café in the Clouds. Festivities include lawn games, craft activities, and a unique opportunity to craft musical instruments from recycled materials. The highlight of the day will be a mini-parade around the field at 1:45

pm, where homemade instruments will take center stage.

Delving deeper into the history of Labor, Robert Perreault’s enlightening presentation on September 4th at 5:00 pm sheds light on the lives of textile workers from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Through captivating storytelling, Perreault explores how individuals from various backgrounds transitioned from agrarian to industrial societies, delving into the effects on families, cultures, work dynamics, and worker relationships. This presentation is made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities: Humanities to Go program.

For more information about Castle in the Clouds, please visit castleintheclouds.org.

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, August 24 – September 2

Get your deerstalker cap on — the play’s afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo) transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure. Sherlock Holmes is on the case.

The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one.

To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the

Whole House Water Treatment Systems

truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.

Directed by Blair Hundertmark, and sponsored by Foxfire Property Management, Inc. This production features Bill Mootos, Ryan Halsaver, Gil Brady, Buddy Haardt and Rachel Alexa Norman.

“Baskerville has everything The Barnstormers audience loves- mystery, comedy, and madcap character changes! Combine that with the incredible creative team and a cast of actors, this show is not to be missed!” - Sarah

Rozene, Artistic Director

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is presented at the Barnstormers Theatre, on 104 Main Street in scenic Tamworth, NH. Tickets are $20-$39.50. Discounted same-day tickets for Carroll County residents, and budget-friendly Family Packages available. Intermission refreshments sponsored by Whippletree Winery and Tuckerman Brewing Co. For more information and tickets, visit barnstormerstheatre.org or call 603-323-8500

We can no longer take the safety of our water for granted. When you turn on your faucet, bathe your child, water your lawn, or flush your toilet, you want to know that your water is safe and clean. We will test and explain your water chemistry in a way that is easy to understand and then recommend the most efficient, effective and economical water treatment solution, custom fit to your needs.

SYSTEMS TO REMOVE:

Mary Pickford’s ‘My Best Girl’ with Live Music at Flying Monkey

She was known as ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ but often played assertive take-charge characters that made her a role model to movie goers around the world. She was Mary Pickford, who ruled the entertainment industry as the Queen of Hollywood during the silent era. See for yourself with a screening of ‘My Best Girl’ (1927), one of Pickford’s landmark feature films, on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, N.H. The screening will feature live music for the movie by silent film accompanist Jeff Rapsis. General admission is $10 per person.

The show is the latest in the Flying Monkey’s silent film series, which gives audiences the opportunity to experience early cinema as it was intended: on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience.

Set in a big city department store, ‘My Best Girl’ explores what happens when romance blossoms between a humble clerk and the wealthy store owner’s son. The result is a sparkling “rich man, poor girl” romantic comedy from 1927 starring Pickford alongside leading man Charles ‘Buddy Rogers,’ who would later become Pickford’s real-life husband.

An industry pioneer who became Hollywood’s first movie star, Pickford enjoyed a cult-like popularity throughout the silent era that made her a national icon and an international celebrity. Pickford also possessed a business savvy that gave her nearly total control of her creative output, with her own production

company and a partnership in a major film distribution company, all before she was 30 years old.

Dubbed “America’s Sweetheart” early in her screen career, the nickname was misleading, as Pickford’s popularity was rooted in her portrayal of assertive women often forced to battle for justice in a male-dominated world.

After starring in hundreds of short dramas from 1910 to 1915, Pickford’s popularity led to starring roles in feature films starting in the mid-1910s.

In 1919, she joined industry icons D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in creating the United Artists studio. In 1920, she married Fairbanks, with the pair reigning as Hollywood’s royal couple for the remainder of the silent era. In the 1920s, Pickford reduced her output to one picture per year. ‘My Best Girl’ was her last silent feature before the industry switched to talking pictures. Pickford made several successful talking pictures, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for the

film ‘Coquette’ in 1929. Pickford, however, chose to retire in 1933. She lived in semi-seclusion until her death in 1979.

Accompanist Jeff Rapsis will improvise an original musical score for ‘The General’ live as the movie is shown, as was done during the silent film era.

“When the score gets made up on the spot, it creates a special energy that’s an important part of the silent film experience,” said Rapsis, who uses a digital

synthesizer to recreate the texture of a full orchestra for the accompaniment.

With the Flying Monkey’s screening of ‘My Best Girl,’ audiences will get a chance to experience silent film as it was meant to be seen—in a high-quality print, on a large screen, with live music, and with an audience.

“All those elements are important parts of the silent film experience,” Rapsis said. “Recreate those conditions, and the classics of early Hollywood leap back to life in ways that can still move audiences today.”

‘My Best Girl’ (1927) starring Mary Pickford and Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers will be shown with live music on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, N.H.

General admission tickets are $10 at door or in advance by calling the box office at (603) 536-2551 or online at www.flyingmonkeynh.com

NH Lak

Through Sept. 2, Tiny Treasures, Great Joys, exhibit at Sandwich Historical Society, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday - Saturday, Wentworth Exhibit Room and Elisha Marston House Museum, Sandwich Historical Society, 4 Maple St., Center Sandwich, 603-284-6269, www.sandwichhistorical.org.

Through Sept. 3, Baskerville A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Barnstormers, summer theatre, 104 Main St., Tamworth, 603-323-8500, www.barnstormerstheatre.org

Through Sept. 9, Snoopy and the Red Baron, Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, Through Sept. 10, Lakes Region Art Assoc. Gallery 83rd Annual Exhibit, Lakes Region Art Gallery, 120 Laconia Rd., Tanger Outlet, Suite 300, Tilton, 603-998-0029, open Thurs. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Aug. 29, Four Shillings Short, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Celtic, folk & world music, Boscawen Public Library, 116 North Main St., Boscawen, 603-753-8576.

Aug. 29, The Shoes That Built the Castle, talk by Castle in the Clouds curator Robin Sherman about Thomas Plant the millionaire that built the Castle, held at Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, info: 603-476-8895.

Aug. 29, The Story Behind Beantown Girls, 7 - 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, info/tickets: 603-569-1212.

Aug. 29-Sept. 4, Labor Day Weekend Celebration, programs, tours and more, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mountain Rd., Rt. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

Aug. 30, My Best Girl, 6:30 p.m., silent movie, Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets: 603-536-2551, www. flyingmonkeynh.com.

Aug. 30, Yoga on the Lawns of Lucknow, 6 - 7 p.m., Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations required: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-4765900.

Aug. 31, An Evening with Author Charles Doane, 6 - 7 p.m., Laconia Public Library, 695 Main St., Laconia, 603-524-4775, www.laconialibrary.org. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813.

Aug. 31, Don Bartenstein, 5 p.m., Marceau Park, downtown Franklin, bring lawn chair for seating, rain cancels concert, 603-934-3900.

Aug. 31, Land, People & Property, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mt. Rd., Moultonborough, pre-register: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

Aug. 31-Sept. 9, Sweeney Todd, Lake Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, tickets/show times: 603-279-0333, www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org

Sept. 1, Castle Close-Up Tour: The Servant Experience, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations required: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-476-5900.

Sept. 1, First Friday Artist’s Reception, 5 - 7 p.m., meet featured artists Robin Cornwell and Stephanie Kenney, ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, 603-323 8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

Sept. 1, Friday Night Market at Hobbs Tap Room, 5 – 8 p.m., farm produce, rotating food trucks, live music, weekly pop-up events, 765 NH Rt. 16, Ossipee, www.hobbsbeer.com. Weekly through Labor Day.

Sept. 1, Music in the Park, open mic concerts, sign up: 5:30 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m., free, Hesky Park, Rte. 3, Meredith, all musicians welcome, bring chairs, picnics, snacks, 603-533-5490, kitty@metrocast.net

Sept. 1 & 2, Lucknow Garden Tour, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, registration: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-476-5900.

Sept. 1 – 30, A Time to Reflect, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., free, exhibit, by League juried artisans, League of New Hampshire Craftsmen/Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 DW Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920, www.meredith.nhcrafts.org

Sept. 1 – 30, Hooked Rug Exhibit, originally designed and created traditional hooked rugs by fiber artist Kathi Hopper, free admission, Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813.

Sept. 2, Carolyn Ramsay Band Outdoor Concert, 7 - 9 p.m., free, Cate Park, Wolfeboro, 603-569-2200.

Sept. 2, Food For All Farm to Bowl Fundraiser, by Mt. Washington Valley Eaters and Growers, 9 a.m. – noon, Tamworth Farmers Market, outside Unitarian Universalist, Tamworth, www.mwveg.com

Sept. 2, Hikers Club: Faraway Mountain, 9 - 11 a.m., free, Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations required: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-476-5900.

Sept. 2, Homegrown Wellness, Elderberry Syrup for Winter Health, 10 a.m. - noon, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org.

your guide to what’s happening in NH’s Lakes Region...

What’s UP

Sept. 2, The Brit Pack Band, 8 p.m., Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 603-519-7506, www.lakeportopera.com

Sept. 2, The Executioner’s Sons, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Advice To The Players, Sandwich, info/show location: www.advicetotheplayers.org, 603-996-3912.

Sept. 2-3, Gunstock Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair, 10 a.m., Gunstock Mt. Resort, Rte. 11A/Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, www.joycescraftshows.com.

Sept. 3, Alana MacDonald, 7 p.m., Feel the Barn Concert Series, 1118 Page Hill Rd., Chocorua, 603-323-6169, www.thefarmstand.net.

Sept. 4, Putting Human Face on the Textile Industry, Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations required: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-4765900.

Sept. 5, Main Street Museum Open House and Tours, 5 - 7 p.m., Meredith Historical Society, 45 Main St., Meredith, 603-279-1190.

Sept. 7, Guided Exploration with NLRA Watershed Stewards, Newfound watershed info/exploration, Newfound Lake Assoc., Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, www.newfoundlake.org, 603-744-8689.

Sept. 7, Land, People & Property, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Old Mt. Rd., Moultonborough, pre-register: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

Sept. 8, Full Moon Fever: One Night of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-3351992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com.

Sept. 8, Guided Hikes: Oak Ridge, 10 a.m. - noon, Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations required: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-476-5900.

Sept. 8, Lucknow Garden Tour, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-476-5900.

Sept. 8, Phil Vassar Concert, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets: 603-536-2551, www.flyingmonkeynh.com.

Sept. 8, Rockin’ Daddios Sock Hop & Classic Car Show, 6 - 8 p.m., free, Belknap Mill, held in Rotary Park (next to the Mill), bring lawn chair or blanket for seating, Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813.

Sept. 9, Foraging – Wild Mushroom Walk, Beginner, 10 a.m. - noon, with NH Mushroom Co., Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org.

Sept. 9, Hikers Club: Bald Knob via Cutoff, 9 a.m. - noon, free, Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, reservations required: www.castleintheclouds.org, 603-476-5900.

Sept. 9, Learn to Tape a Shaker Chair, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., with instructor Dick Bennett, pre-register: 603-783-9511, Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury, www.shakers.org

Sept. 9, Son of a Gun: Guns & Roses Tribute, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse. com.

ONGOING

Adult Oil Painting, Mondays, 9 a.m. - noon, no experience necessary, drop-in group, Ossipee Town Hall, Ossipee, Pat Jones: pjonesossipee3@gmail.com.

Advice To The Players, the works of Shakespeare via performances, camps and more, Sandwich, info: www.advicetotheplayers.org

ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts/CCAC, art, shows, workshops and events, open year-round with seasonal hours, 603-323-8041, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, www.chocoruaartworks.com

Barnstead Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., food, crafts, music, 1 West Parade Rd., Barnstead, www.barnsteadfarmersmarket.com.

Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.

Bristol Farmers Market, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturdays, Millstream Park, Rte. 3A, Bristol, 603-273-1058.

Canterbury Community Farmers Market, 4 - 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays, next to Elkins Library, Canterbury, baked goods, produce, crafts, live music, www. canterburyfarmersmarket.com.

Canterbury Shaker Village, tours, programs, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603783-9511, www.shakers.org

Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods, nature trails open for hiking, 740 Mt. Israel Rd., Center Sandwich, 603-284-6428, www.chapmansanctuaryvisnywoods.com.

Chocorua Lake Basin View Lot, mountain views, benches for seating, free, www.chocorualake.org.

Homegrown Pottery By Local Farmer

A collection of work by Jennie Blair Thur August 31 Stop in

see these graceful forms in rich and earthy glazes.

Clark Museum Complex, 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, historic Clark home, schoolhouse, fire station and barn, through Sept. 1, Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., 603-569-4997, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org

Country Village Quilt Guild, meets first and third Wednesday of each month, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., Public Safety Building (back entrance to Police and Fire Dept.), Rte. 25, Moultonborough, countryvillagequilters@yahoo.com

Cruise with a Naturalist, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3 p.m., learn about history of Squam Lake, see wildlife, get info from naturalist, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, tickets/info: www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194. (Through Oct. 5)

Dam Brewhouse, monthly events, 1323 NH Rte. 175, Campton, 603-726-4500, www.dambrewhouse.com.

Discover Squam Cruises, daily at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. (on Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday also at 3 p.m.), cruise to look for and learn about loons, tickets/info: www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194. (Through Oct. 13)

Drawing with Tom Hitchcock, 10 a.m. - noon, class open to all aspiring artists, age 12 and up, pre-register: 603-496-6768, Lakes Region Art Assoc. Gallery, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, 120 Laconia Rd., Tilton.

Farmington Farmers’ Market, Saturdays through October, 8:30 a.m. - noon, behind TD Bank North, corner of Central & Main St., fresh local foods, 603859-2551, barrons@worldpath.net

Franklin Community Farmers’ Market, 3 - 6 p.m., Thursdays through September 4, Central St., Franklin; produce, food, crafts, live music, 603-934-3229, www.franklinnh.org/parks-recreation/pages/franklin-farmers-market Freedom Gallery, artwork/exhibits by area artists, 8 Elm St., Freedom, 610762-2493.

Freedom Village Store, variety of goods from artisan items to baked goods and more, 11 Elm St., Freedom, call for info/hours: 603-539-3077, www.freedomvillagestore.org.

Friday Night Market, 5 - 8 p.m., farm goods, crafts, rotating food trucks, live music, brews, and more, Hobbs Tap Room, 765 Rt. 16, Ossipee, every Friday until Labor Day weekend, hobbsmarket@gmail.com.

Garden Tour, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Fridays, also first & third Saturdays monthly through Oct. 7, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough; registration: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org

Gilmanton Farmers’ Market, Sundays, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., vegetables, flowers, plants, crafts, baked goods, live music and more, 1385 NH Rte. 140, on lawn of Gilmanton Year Round Library, Gilmanton Iron Works, www.gilmantonfarmersmarket.com

Hiker’s Club, meets Saturday morning throughout the season, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

In the Round, Sundays, 8:45 a.m., thought-provoking topics related to tolerance, Benz Center, Sandwich, 284-7211.

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, meets second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Congregational Church, 115 Main St., Wolfeboro. A second group meets first and third Tuesday of each month at Community Center, 22 Lehner St., Wolfeboro, www.llqg.net

Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, youth and adult sailing lessons, sailing competitions, Gilford, www.lwsa.org, 603-589-1177.

Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org

Land, People & Property, Thursdays until Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m. - noon, walk around Castle in the Clouds grounds, learn about history of the property with guide, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, registration: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

Laverack Nature Trail at Hawkins Brook, nature trail on boardwalk, free, trail starts to the left of Meredith Village Savings Bank, Rte. 25, Meredith, 603279-9015.

League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, handmade crafts and art for sale, workshops, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920. Libby Museum, of Natural History, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday, noon - 4 p.m., closed Mondays, 755 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1035.

Live Music, Gilmanton Farmers’ Market, Sundays, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 1385 NH Rte. 140, on lawn of Gilmanton Year Round Library, Gilmanton Iron Works, www.gilmantonfarmersmarket.com

Loon Center, walking trails, loon displays/info., 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-476-5666, www.loon.org

Loon Cruise, Mondays & Fridays, 3 p.m., learn about and look for loons on Squam Lake, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, tickets/info: www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.

Market on Main, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., every Wednesday through Oct. 11, produce, artisan goods, food trucks and more, 117 Main St., Alton, www.altonmarketonmain.com

Makers Mill, a variety of workshops, classes in arts and crafts and more, Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org

Model Yachting - Back Bay Skippers, meets every Tuesday & Thursday, May – October, 1 - 4 p.m., model yacht group, spectators welcome, Cotton Valley Rail Trail, Glendon St., Wolfeboro, NH Boat Museum, 603-569-4554.

Molly the Trolley, 603-569-1080, tours/rides of Wolfeboro area aboard the fun trolley, info/schedules: www.wolfeborotrolley.com

M/S Mount Washington Cruises, narrated cruises of Lake Winnipesaukee, day & evening cruises, M/S Mount Washington, 211 Lakeside Ave., Weirs Beach, 603-366-BOAT, www.cruisenh.com

Newfound Lake Eco-Tours, informative/scientific tours of Newfound Lake, Newfound Lake Association, www.newfoundlake.org, 603-744-8689. (Through Sept. 9)

New Durham Farmers Market, 1 - 6 p.m., Saturday, Depot Rd. next to Post Office, New Durham, 603-515-1249, www.newdurhamfarmersmarket.com

New England Racing Museum, 922 NH Rte. 106 N., Loudon, www.NEMSMUSEUM.com

NH Boat Museum, boating exhibits, programs, boat building workshops, 399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org

NH Farm Museum, old-time farm events, tours, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-652-7840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org

Outdoor Nature-Based Storytime for Young Children, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603-323-8510, www.tamworthlibrary.org.

Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.

Quilting Group, 1 - 4 p.m., meets every 2 weeks on Thursdays until Sept. 7, Ossipee Public Library, 74 Main St., Ossipee, schedule: 603-539-6390.

Quimby Barn Transportation Museum, Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., through Columbus Day, early transportation wagons, snow roller, fire truck, Concord Coach and more, Maple St., Sandwich, 603-284-6269.

Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, events, tours, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.

Sculpture Walk, tours of outdoor sculptures around downtown/lakeside areas of Meredith, free, Greater Meredith Program, maps: 603-279-9015.

Solar Gazing, noon - 4 p.m., free, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, registration: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org. (Every Mon. through Aug. 28)

Song and Jam Circle, community-created jams and song circle, third Monday of each month, Runnells Hall, 25 Deer Hill Rd., Tamworth, free, bring your favorite instruments, Arts Council of Tamworth, 603-584-2712, www.artstamworth.org

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, exhibits, nature trails, events, cruises, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org

Tamworth Farmer’s Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org

Tamworth History Center, 25 Great Hill Rd., Tamworth, contact for open hours: www.tamworthhistorycenter.org

Tuftonboro Country Bluegrass and Gospel Jam, every Tuesday, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., donation requested, Old White Church, Rte. 109A, Center Tuftonboro, across from Tuftonboro General Store, 603-569-3861.

Turtle Talk, 11 a.m. every Tuesday through end of August, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, info: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org

Up Close to Animals, daily program, meet live animals and learn all about them, at the amphitheater, 10 a.m. - noon and 2 p.m., through Labor Day and on weekends through Columbus Day, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Wakefield/Brookfield Historical Society, meetings second Tuesday of each month until October, most meetings held at Schoolhouse, 2851 Wakefield Rd., with October meeting held at Brookfield Town House, programs on the history of Wakefield/Brookfield, everyone welcome, 603-522-6713.

Wakefield Marketplace, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., produce, fruit, baked goods, flowers, handmade items and more, Rte. 16 north and Wakefield Rd., Wakefield, schedule: www.wakefieldmarketplace.org.

Wolfeboro Farmers’ Market, Thursdays until Oct. 26, noon - 3:30 p.m., local farm-raised meats, vegetables, fresh fish, fruit, eggs, baked goods, flowers, maple syrup, honey, artisanal products, held at The Nick, 10 Trotting Track Rd., Wolfeboro, 603-391-5661, wolfeborofarmersmarket@gmail.com.

Wright Museum of WWII, exhibits and lectures on life on the home front during WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum. org

Chocorua Lake Conservancy Annual Picnic & Parade of Lights

Celebrate the end of summer and the gift of community with a magical lantern parade on Chocorua Lake at dusk.

On Sunday, September 3, at 6 PM, join Chocorua Lake Conservancy for its Annual Picnic in the Grove by Chocorua Lake, followed, at dusk, by the Parade of Lights on the lake. BYO picnic, drinks, chairs, flashlights or headlamps (important!), and whatever else you might need. Then, decorate your canoe or kayak with lanterns, lights or candles to participate in the parade, or watch the beauty unfold from the shore.

The Parade of Lights was started in the 1960s by painter and landscape designer Sam’l Newsom, a longtime Chocorua resident, and his friends. Newsom, who designed landscapes as

disparate as the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and the Remick Park in Tamworth, was inspired by aspects of the Japanese festival celebrations he witnessed during his time living in Japan. Come see for yourself why this tradition continues so many decades after its inception. Boats will put in from the Grove at the Route 16 end of Chocorua Lake Road.

This event is one in a series of Chocorua Lake Conservancy programs held throughout the year to encourage people of all ages to enjoy Chocorua Lake and the trails and woods that surround it, and to learn more about the natural world we are part of. Visit www.chocorualake.org for information, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Craft Classes Set for September

The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery has a great line up of classes for the month of September.

Saturday, Sept 9th have fun in Patsy Frasier’s Create a Felted Pumpkin class. Let’s face itin the Fall you just can’t have enough pumpkins. In this class, you will make the pumpkin shape and dress it for any season. Tuition is $40, materials fee is $15.00. Come prepared to stab some wool and make a beautiful fall décor piece. Class runs from 10:00 am to 1:00.

Sunday, Sept 10th join Lisa Almeida for a class in Beginning Tapestry Weaving. In this class, you will learn the basics of how to create images with fiber using a simple tapestry loom. You will weave a tiny tapestry from start to finish and learn how to warp your loom to start new projects. If you are interested in learning the foundation skills of tapestry weaving this is the class! BEGINNER CLASS! Tuition is $135.00 materials fee $40.00. Class is from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm

Saturday, Sept 16th Ray Lagasse is back and ready to help you learn the fine art of Basketweaving. In this class, you can choose which basket design you would like to make and create your own functional basket. Class runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will leave class with a finished basket. Tuition is $125.00 to $155.00 depending on design. All materials includ-

ed. Please see our website for design choices. Visit meredithnhcrafts.orgClick on CLASSES, go to Basket Classes to see design choices.

Saturday, Sept. 30 create your own stunning jewelry piece in Joy Raskin’s Bangles & Rings class. In this one-day workshop, you will make bangles, cuffs, and/or rings depending on time. Using wire, basic designs will be soldered together, hammered for texture, and embellished with wire working elements. Cuff bracelets will be made from sheet metal that can be textured and shaped. You will leave with finished bracelets and rings that make great gifts. Instructor will provide brass, bronze, and copper wire, along with sheet metal and a limited amount of silver wire. Tuition is $75.00 with a materials fee of $20 to $40 depending on the amount of materials used. Class is from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

You must pre-register for all classes. Spaces are limited. More information about classes can be found on our website www.meredith.nhcrafts.org. Click on CLASSES.

The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is located at 279 DW Hwy, Meredith. For more information and to register please call 603-279-7920.

The League of NH Craftsmen is committed to the education and support of NH’s fine craft tradition.

Photo: Betsy Whitman Memishian

Last Call! All Aboard!

By Lee Caldwell

Sitting in the domed Hattie Evans dining car, waiting for the Mountaineer Train to leave the Conway Scenic Railroad Station for Crawford Depot, one slips back into the time of grand railway journeys. Gazing out the window at the train yard, the first thing one notices is the assortment of vintage rolling stock (passenger coaches, a giant snowplow, freight cars, locomotives, and cabooses) originating from the B&M (Boston and Maine) Railroad, the Central Maine Railroad, and Amtrak. Two partial pieces in the yard are labeled 7470 Dwight Smith and 501 Maine Central.

After the call of “All Aboard,” a

throng of smiling faces boards the train to take their seats. The train whistle sounds, and the thrum of Engine 216 (a diesel/electric locomotive circa 1950s and former B&M Railroad engine with dynamic braking) becomes louder as the train pulls out of the station. The conductors wear replicas of vintage conductors’ uniforms and punch the tickets to give one the full flavor of old-time train travel.

Founded by Dwight Smith, a former B&M railroad employee, and other investors, the Conway Scenic Railroad opened in 1974 with only 5 miles of trackage initially.

The “mascot” of the Conway Scenic Railroad is Locomotive 7470, weigh-

ing in at 87 tons, a steam engine built in 1921. This is the first locomotive owned by the Conway Scenic Railroad. Coal-fired, it travels to Conway on weekends in summer and early fall. It has been in for repairs/restoration. According to customer service manager Greg Neptune, “It should be up and running soon. That was our mascot that opened up the company in 1974.”

The Victorian-era Conway Scenic Railroad Station, circa 1874, is original and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Nathaniel J. Bradlee, who had spent some time in Russia, its architecture shows a Russian influence. It has two metal-sheathed domed towers (one at either end) and an eight-day E. Howard and Company clock (which still works and needs to be manually wound and oiled). Inside are two grand curving mahogany staircases. The station is painted yellow,

with brown accents and white trim. The roundhouse (a locomotive maintenance shed built around a turntable) is also original and on the National Register of Historic Places. The turntable in the roundhouse is operated by air. Greg states, “It is a great joy for kids because you get to see a 250-ton locomotive (either diesel or steam) and then you get to watch it turn around 180 degrees or 360 degrees, and it sounds like a little steam engine. You open up a valve and it just goes.”

Talking with Greg about why the Mountaineer train ride is special, he volunteers, “Well, it provides that transcontinental train experience which would have occurred in the ’40s and ’50s.” He goes on, “There are domed observation cars from the 1950s. Cars

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with a panoramic view. The roof of the train with a glass bubble.”

He continues, “And what I personally love most about the ride is that, as you go along that line, there’s so much history. I mean, you go through some of those towns, the ghost towns of Livermore and Carrigan, you know these are old towns that nobody would know. And you still see the station signs still up there. We still see the telegraph poles, old, weathered telegraph poles, some of the wire still hanging and still in place and no one’s coming back. Just like time stood still on the mountaintops.

“I mean, you see wildlife throughout all our trips. But it is nice to be in a train, riding along, almost like you are riding the treetops.

“Another thing that makes out here so spectacular is the numerous waterfalls. You get Silver Cascade, Flume Cascade, let alone any of the other waterfalls. So that’s really nice. And, of course, the foliage with spectacular views. If anyone is really looking for a supremely scenic trip in the mountains, high up in elevation, ride along these ridges in the mountains and it’s beautiful. It goes through the mountains that offer the most spectacular views of the valley and over several tall trestles.”

Conductor and fireman on the steam engine 7470, Brandon Proulx, adds, “People from around the world and around the country come here to ride our own little piece of history and sacred beauty that we hold pretty tight. It is a beautiful, scenic ride. Absolutely

gorgeous views when you get up towards Frankenstein.”

Mountaineer and Conway Valley

Train narrator Steve Nickless comments, “My favorite view is the Willey House siding in Crawford Notch. Up in the notch when you get to the siding, you look out and you look ahead and see Mount Willey, Mount Avalon. Mount Webster is across the way. It has turned into one of my favorite spots.

“My favorite piece of equipment is the Gertrude Emma Parlor Car (named after founder Dwight Smith’s wife) It is such an interesting car. You know, they had Italian craftsmen’s handcarved and inlaid wood in there. Seating is wicker chairs that are very comfortable.”

Steve hopes to educate passengers. “How many people do not know what railroads are about? What they do?

How they do it? Their perceptions

are based on things they don’t know about.”

As the train starts its journey to Crawford Depot, smooth-voiced Steve begins his narration of the passing scenery, describing everything from the historic Abenaki summer encampment to the history of logging railroads (there were once 57 independent railroads in New Hampshire), to the history of the Conway Scenic Railroad, to wildlife sightings, scenery, bridges, rivers, old sidings, historical local figures of note, railroad facts, the fact that the word Attitash means blueberry in Abenaki, and long-past local tragedies. We play tag with the Saco River, crossing and recrossing it many times;

• Conway Scenic

continued on page 22

see a deer in the forest; cross irons (bridges) #1, #2, #3, and #4; see an old siding complete with graffitied box cars; pass multiple streams and brooks; see distant waterfalls; look into a forest of hemlock, pine, maple, and birch, with a forest floor carpeted with ferns, moss, and leaves; pass the trail head to Arethusa Falls (the highest falls in New Hampshire); cross the 75-foot-high, 500-foot-long Frankenstein Trestle and the Willey Brook bridges; see incomparable mountain vistas; and glide into the Crawford Depot.

Here, the locomotive is disconnected, goes through a switch, and comes back past the coach cars on a siding, to be reconnected to the opposite end of the train for the trip back through Crawford Notch. Conductor Emil checks the brakes before the downhill trip back to the North Conway station.

Round-trip time for the Mountaineer is about 4 to 5.5 hours and 50 to 60 miles in length. During summer, it runs three days a week. In the fall, it runs daily.

Other excursions include the Conway Valley Train which Steve describes as a “Great one for families. It is old-style railroad. You get the sights, sounds, and smells.” It features vintage passenger cars from the 1920s. At 55 minutes long and 11 miles round-trip,

this one is ideal for young children.

The Sawyer River Excursion passes the Saco, Ellis, and the east branch of the Saco River. According to Greg, “That one is really popular. It is a twohour and ten minute trip, leaving at 12:30 p.m. daily. People like to come out and it’s just a two-hour ride. And get some great view of the rivers. It’s just something nice to do. Families usually do lunch and go out for a couple of hours. Then they want to go back to the river and swim.”

Special/seasonal trains include: Santa’s Express — this hour-long train ride includes train cars appropriately decorated, a treasure hunt, cookies and holiday treats, and a picture with Santa Claus; Pumpkin Patch Express where a free pumpkin is given out; and the FireCracker Express from Conway to North Conway to enjoy the Fourth of July Fireworks without the traffic.

A winter train, called the Snow Train (a name borrowed from the B&M Railroad), runs from January to March (approximately) to the Attitash area. This commuter shuttle runs four to five times a day for skiing.

For more information/schedules/ tickets, call 603-356-5251 or go online.

Staff recommends reservations for fall foliage season, as seats fill quickly — sometimes by the end of July.

Conway Scenic Railroad is located at 38 Norcross Circle, North Conway.

Rockin’ Thru The Ages

Historical Society Plans Cruise Around Meredith Bay

Over a century and a half ago, a steamship named The Dover docked at the head of Meredith Bay. The road leading from Main Street down to the steamboat landing became known as Dover Street, named after the steamer.

The Meredith Moorings Condominiums were originally planned in the 1960s to be nine stories high, but adoption of a town zoning ordinance succeeded in limiting it to three.

Learn about these and other stories of Meredith Bay during the Meredith Historical Society’s second annual boat cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee planned for this September. Two cruises are planned, one on Wednesday, Sept. 6 (rain date Sept. 7), and the other on Tuesday, Sept. 12 (rain date Sept. 14).

The two-hour cruises will depart from the Meredith Bay public docks at 1:00 PM. This year, the cruises will focus on Meredith Bay, the Weirs, Cummings Cove, and Pitchwood and Stonedam Islands. Local historians will

provide a running travelogue along the way. Each cruise will be limited to 40 passengers aboard the good ship Bear, courtesy of Camps Lawrence and Nokomis.

Don’t delay; seats are going fast. To reserve yours, contact the Meredith Historical Society either by email at meredithhistoricalsocietynh@gmail. com or by phone at 603-387-8426. Tickets cost $50 each. Checks may be brought to the museum Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or mailed to the Meredith Historical Society, PO Box 920, Meredith, NH 03253.

Proceeds go toward the society’s mission to preserve, develop and promote the knowledge and awareness of the town’s rich history through educational programs, museum resources, original historical research and publications, and an expanding library of digital and traditional resources.

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AUCTION

Trustee’s Sale at Lake Winnipesaukee

(3) Governor’s Island Waterfront Properties

Gilford, New Hampshire

Live on-site with online bidding available: Saturday, September 23rd at 11:00 a.m. Place pre-bids online starting Wednesday, September 20th

These three properties will be offered individually, in combinations and in the entirety.

Governor’s Island properties have access to the Governor’s Island Club community beach, clubhouse, tennis courts and hiking trails.

PROPERTY A) 19 LOCH LANE is a level, 1.6-acre waterfront property with 498’ of lake frontage, south and southwest facing views, a breakwater and two u-shaped docks. The property is improved with a high quality 5,400 sq.ft. 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom contemporary style home that was built in 2004 with a 3-car attached and 2-car detached garage. Map 217, Block 105. Assessed value $5,122,640.

PROPERTY B) 11 LOCH LANE is a .80-acre undeveloped waterfront property. This slightly sloping lot is mostly grassed with a few mature trees. It has 168’ of lake frontage, southwesterly views and u-shaped dock. Map 217, Block 106. Assessed value: $1,129,890.

PROPERTY C) 10 LOCH LANE is a 1-acre property improved with a 4,118 sq.ft. 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom contemporary style home built in 1995 with a 2-car attached garage. This home enjoys filtered views of the lake. Map 217, Block 099. Assessed value: $1,125,400.

INSPECTION: By appointment only on September 12th, 15th, 16th and 19th and the morning of the auction. Please email: info@paulmcinnis.com to schedule your appointment.

FOR TERMS AND A PROPERTY INFORMATION

PACKAGE GO TO paulmcinnis.com

It’s Fair Time!

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

When the Belknap County 4-H Fair started in 1943, World War II was on the minds of citizens all over the country. In the Lakes Region of NH, as elsewhere, making do, using up and recycling were the norm.

That practice certainly fell in line with the Belknap County 4-H Fair, which has a philosophy of families working together for the good of the community; the attitude was one that carried on the farming traditions practiced for hundreds of years on farms all over NH. Looking back in time (this year’s fair took place earlier in August), the event has an interesting place in local history.

Most people had a garden where produce was canned, and jams and jellies filled winter storage shelves. Milk might come from the family cow, along with bacon and other meats from the farm pig. Children were expected to do their part to benefit the good of the family by doing farm chores, helping in the garden and canning vegetables.

While it was hard work, it was a positive part of life reinforced by local 4-H programs and kids loved and attended the club year-round.

For 4-H kids nothing was more re-

warding than exhibiting their work and competing for prizes at the local 4-H Club Fair. In 1943, the Belknap County 4-H Fair had strong local support from many area businesses. The event took place over the span of a few days and included a track and field meet, a three-legged race, a potato race, obstacle courses and novelty races.

A big picnic took place at the 1943 fair followed by a dairy show. Also held were a 4-H leader’s meeting, a picnic supper, games and dances and an old-fashioned square dance.

The festivities continued the next day with Governor Dale presiding over a luncheon, a concert with the Leo Lemere Band, and a speaking program.

A few years later, in 1946, the 4-H Fair was held at the Belknap Recreational Area (today’s Gunstock on Cherry Valley Road in Gilford). The program of 1946 outlined a full two days of events: Exhibit judging, a track meet, dairy and livestock showings, swimming and chair tow rides, a picnic, folk and square dancing, games, speakers and movies.

The prize money in 1946 seems very small by today’s standards, but it was something substantial for young people to work towards in those days. Home

Management first prize money was 50 cents and a prize ribbon; second place was 25 cents, and third place received a ribbon.

The leaders and members of the 4-H set up club exhibits and prize money was a staggering $5 for first place. Other competition categories included clothing, canning, poultry and eggs, turkeys and rabbits; those who entered had to be at least 9 years of age in 1946.

The 1947 fair had many of the same exhibits and events, but a special Quiz Show Program was added. In 1948 one could purchase a ticket for $1.75 to attend the Governor’s Luncheon, quite an important event for everyone at that time.

The categories became more diversified in 1948 when the fair, held at Belknap Recreational Area, included such divisions as making electrical equipment, forestry and maple products, health and safety, home management, beekeeping and crafts.

As time moved onward, the fair became more sophisticated, while still retaining the agricultural/farm flavor that was its hallmark. In 1949 the majority of the events and exhibits took place at the Recreational Area, but a 4-H Parade and Band Concert was held at

Opechee Park in Laconia.

In 1950, the fair was sponsored by the Laconia Council Knights of Columbus and featured a big carnival each evening. A 4-H Tractor Operator’s Contest must have been a thrill to young boys and teens. Competition components included a written test, tractor inspection, starting the engine, warm-up, driving and backing the vehicle up. According to information at www.bcfairnh.org, the fair in 1950 moved to Opechee Park in Laconia.

Other 1950 fun events included a bicycle race for balance, pedaling and braking, signaling, mounting, turning around and emergency turn and stop. By 1952, a circus parade, a track meet, and swimming competitions were added to the agricultural exhibits and contests.

As the years moved on the size of the fair grew and events were spread over Opechee Park and the Memorial Junior High School in Laconia.

A program from 1978 shows the fair moved at some point to the 4-H Center in Belmont. Exhibits and competitions for 4-H members had grown along with the fair. Children could compete in such categories as photography, electricity, entomology, safety and health,

science and gardening, along with the standard dairy and animal exhibits.

Another beloved fair has been around a long time, and we rarely stop to think who started it and when it began. This year, the Sandwich Fair will take place from October 7 to 9, and it has been annual part of autumn in NH, but many people have no idea the origins of the old-time event.

Farming was one of the main ways families made a living in rural Sandwich in the 1800s; the Grange was a gathering place for farming families. According to Sandwich New Hampshire 1763 – 1990 by the Sandwich Historical Society, in October of 1892 the Grange held the Sandwich Fair and not long after, the Sandwich Town and Grange Fair Association was created.

In October of 1886, a newspaper report stated that local farmers were preparing for a “rousing fair” and were ready to sell produce to fair goers. Steer and oxen were to be sold. Fruits, vegetables and flowers were on display and an impressive attendance of about 3,000 people came to the fair, which was a huge number at a time when travel was difficult.

A local report added, “One noticeable feature was the entire absence of all indications of drunkenness, not a person being seen on the streets during the day in a state of intoxication.”

In the fancy goods area, many handmade items were on display, the most popular of which was a velvet crazy quilt. Hand-painted items, quilts and hooked rugs were exhibited by local ladies.

At the 1887 Sandwich Fair, over 10 babies were brought by doting parents

to compete in the Baby Contest. Although the opening of the fair saw rain, it was reported that carriages came into Sandwich village from all directions. Former residents came back from cities such as Boston and Concord to meet up with childhood friends and take in everything the fair had to offer. Livestock was exhibited (over 120 pair of cattle were brought to the fair), and the fancy goods were on view in a village hall. Horse, oxen and other animals were displayed.

In 1888 the ladies outdid themselves with exhibits of handwork, showing everything from knitted goods to quilts to paintings. In the Victorian era, people were fascinated with unusual items that could be displayed in private homes. Antiquities such as 100-plus year-old linen handkerchiefs, an old mortar brought from Scotland at least 100 years before the fair, a Revolutionary War era cannon and bayonets and other unusual items also were displayed.

In 1892, the Sandwich Fair kicked off with a Grand Parade of horses and cattle led by the Carroll Cornet Band. The Baby Show, a popular part of the fair, an exhibit of horses and draft oxen at the Fairgrounds, dinner at the Masonic Hall, a bicycle race, a foot race and a Match Game of Baseball were offered.

In the early years of the Sandwich Fair, the event was held in a local grove with exhibits peppered throughout the town. Food and drink stands were set up along the roads, as was entertainment. The town’s public buildings were utilized for exhibits.

This makeshift arrangement changed in 1937 when the fair moved to the

newly constructed Quimby Field. The site had been swampland but was filled in, graded and made available for the fair.

As the Depression ended, travel and entertainment was on the minds of many. The growing popularity of automobiles meant more people could attend the Sandwich Fair. Land beyond Quimby Field was purchased and graded for parking and the addition of exhibit buildings. The fair continued to grow and by the early 1940s, a stage was built, as well as a poultry hall and other exhibit spaces.

According to the Twenty-First Annual Excursion of the Sandwich Historical Society 1940 the attendance that year was estimated to be the largest at that time. Although the fair was held on October 12, 1940 (a week day), the awkward timing of the one-day fair did not stop people from attending. There were many, many concessions and exhibits. So huge was the crowd that more parking was needed to alleviate the congestion.

Over the years, the popularity of state fairs grew by leaps and bounds and the charming Sandwich Fair was high on the list of NH events that drew large crowds. In 1975 the Sandwich Town and Grange Fair Association became the Sandwich Fair Association.

By 1980 the fair was running one and a half days (open Sunday afternoon and all day Monday). In keeping with the times, in 1988 the Sandwich Fair changed its hours of operation and was open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

In the 1980s, the weather varied each year. In 1986, the fair saw sun, a little rain and clouds. A midway was popular, and stage shows with music kept the crowds entertained.

The next year, 1987, was a different story as far as the weather was concerned. According to historical information on www.thesandwichfair.com, as the fair opened for the three-day stint, it was cold, and snow and sleet soon followed. The fair saw large crowds in 1988 with good weather and such attractions as a group of riders on antique bicycles, five stage shows, cow-pie pitching contests and prize-winning recipes.

The Sandwich Fair has changed and grown over the years since its beginnings, but one thing that remains the same is the focus on farming, farm animals and meeting friends and family in an atmosphere that can be likened to a family reunion. The Sandwich Fair, with its rich history, is an event that will always signal autumn for thousands of people.

Castle In The Clouds: A Stony Jewel

By Lee Caldwell

Built in 1913-1914 by wealthy shoe manufacturer Thomas Plant and his wife, Olive, the Castle in the Clouds mountaintop mansion is a prime example of the arts-and-craft style. The stone mansion called “Lucknow” by the Plants has influences of Scandinavian, Swiss, Norman and Japanese architecture. This stony jewel is sitting in a 5,500-acre setting with amazing views of the Ossipee Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee.

The Plants ran into financial difficulties and, when Thomas Plant died in 1941, Olive was forced into foreclosure. There was then a series of private owners until 1959 when Richard Robie opened the Castle as an attraction for the public.

In 2002, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) obtained the property with the help of 2,000 donors, and after four years of negotiations, the Castle Preservation Society (a non-profit) took over 135 acres and the actual preservation of the interior and exterior of the buildings. The Lakes Region Conservation Trust retained the rest of the acreage and the hiking trails. The two entities work together as partners to help preserve and maintain the property.

Charles “Chuck” Clark, executive director, states that the Castle Preservation Trust (CPS) has invested $5 million into the restoration of the stone castle mansion, the gate houses, and the carriage house, operating a historic museum and offering educational and historical programming with key partners.

Tours of “Lucknow” run Thursdays through Tuesdays, starting at 10 a.m. Some of the furnishings owned by the Plants remain in the castle and have been restored, and an attempt has been made to place them in their original locations by utilizing photos taken

during that period. There is also a separate tour of the castle basement which gives a glimpse into the life of the servants of the time and also showcases the “ultra-modern” appliances that the Plants utilized.

Chuck’s particular favorite spot in the mansion is in the mountain balcony where you get a spectacular view of the Ossipee Mountains.

Noted for its lovely views and its gardens, the Castle is now a popular wedding venue, with 45-50 weddings per season (from May to October), with a

number of wedding packages offered. All packages include the services of a wedding coordinator as well as other amenities.

The Carriage House restaurant serves an American Bistro Menu lunch on Thursdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The menu has soup, sandwiches, and salads, and seating is available on the patio with views of Lake Winnipesaukee. The Carriage House was an actual carriage house for the Plants’ horses, and the original cobbled flooring and wrought iron stall dividers remain.

The LRCT maintains the hiking trails. Hiking trails and parking are free and open to the public. The LRCT has two parking areas: one on Route 171 and one at the end of Ossipee Park Road in the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area. There are approximately 30 miles of hiking trails (remnants of the Plants’ bridle paths) meandering through the seven Ossipee Mountains.

One popular trail is the Brook Walk, a 0.5-mile trail that passes seven waterfalls: Roaring Falls, Twin Falls, Whittier Falls, The Cascades, Emerald Pool Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Falls of

Song. Chuck states that the hike along Oak Ridge Trail, with both “Lucknow” and Lake Winnipesaukee in the background, and the hike to Bald Knob, with its amazing view, are particular favorites with his family.

As executive director, Chuck wants to emphasize some of the additional special programs and events that are held at Castle in the Clouds. Some of them are free; some of them cost a modest fee.

He goes on to list some of the recurring programs: Story Time, Monday mornings, June 26 - August 21; Solar Gazing with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, Monday afternoons, Memorial Day - August; Music Nights, Mondays and Tuesdays, June 5 - September 19; Yoga on the lawn of Lucknow, Wednesday evenings through August 30; Land, People, and Property Tours, Thursday mornings through September; Garden Tours, Friday mornings and the first and third Saturday mornings of each month through October 7; Hikers Club, Saturday mornings throughout the season; guided hikes, August 7 and 22, September 8 and 17, and October 5 and 20; Constellations at the Castle presented with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, July 27 and August 24; and Creative Writing workshops, August 20 and October 8.

Special programs and events include courses in painting; jewelry workshops; humanities programs; a Castle After Hours program; the New Hampshire Humane Society 5K; a Brook Walk Sketch and Hike; Concerts in the Clouds with Great Waters (tickets available from Great Waters); performance by the theatre group Advice to the Players out of Sandwich; and many other events. To get a full listing of programs, visit https://www.castleintheclouds.org/upcoming-events which has more details, registration information, and the most up-to- date programs calendar.

Saturday, September 30, is the date of the Castle Car Show, with more than 400 vehicles expected to participate. Graveyard tours, the Castle After Hours, and a Pumpkin Walk will be held in October. In November, Christmas at the Castle kicks off the holiday season on December 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26.

Castle in the Clouds is part of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail and is located on Ossipee Park Road in Moultonborough.

High School Bass Fishing Seminar

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) will hold a High School Bass Fishing Seminar from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 6 at Fish and Game Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. All student athletes, coaches, and athletic directors participating in high school bass fishing tournament activities are encouraged to attend. The event will feature presentations by local bass tournament anglers on topics ranging from fall bass-fishing techniques to tournament

fishing tactics. All students attending will have an opportunity to receive complimentary tackle and baits.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, September 5, to Lisa Collins at lisa.m.collins@ wildlife.nh.gov and include “NHIAA Bass Tournament Seminar” in the subject line and the number of people attending in the email.

“Being able to connect young anglers with tournament bass fishing, conservation, and time outdoors is always a rewarding experience, and I hope that the sport becomes a life-long activity for many of them,” said Kyle Glen-

The Story Behind Beantown Girls

Lecture by author Jane Healey

On Tuesday, August 29th, the Wright Museum will welcome author Jane Healey. This is the twelfth program of the Wright Museum’s 2023 Education Series.

Jane Healy will discuss her historical research that went into the #1 Amazon and Washington Post best-seller Beantown Girls, highlighting the wide and varied role of the Red Cross during WWII

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the program begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29th at the Wright Museum’s DuQuoin Education Center, 77 Center Street in

Wolfeboro. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online at www.wrigthmuseum.org/lecture-series or by calling 603-569-1212.

The region’s leading resource for educators and learners of all ages on World War II, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection that are representative of both the home front and battlefield. For more information about the 2023 Lecture Series, or museum, visit wrightmuseum.org.

cross, who coordinates the NH Fish and Game Department’s Let’s Go Fishing Program (www.fishnh.com/fishing/ lets-go-fishing.html). Glencross serves on the NHIAA Bass Fishing Committee and provides logistical and volunteer support for the event.

Organized high school bass fishing in New Hampshire is a coordinated effort between the NHIAA and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, with support from NH B.A.S.S. Nation. High school bass tournaments include a strong educational component. Teams have adult mentors who

teach them about New Hampshire’s aquatic resources and the responsibility that goes along with being an angler.

NHIAA is a private not-for-profit organization that has served as the leader in high school athletics for its member schools in New Hampshire since 1947. The student bass fishing tournament mirrors the NHIAA goals of adding sports that will have life-long appeal to student athletes and providing more sports that are coed and inclusive to all populations within our schools.

Ossipee Historical Society Presentation

Saturday, September 9, 2 pm, the Ossipee Historical Society presents Janice Petrie-researcher & author of the book Perfection to a Fault, at the Masonic Lodge, Rte. 25E, across from Abbots & Staples Gas Station. Petrie

neatly and meticulously puts the puzzle pieces together of the 1916 Florence Small murder in Ossipee and the sensational trial. Refreshments will be served.

Pick Up Your Copy of

Upcoming Events

The Health Benefits of Being in Nature

Nature enthusiasts are known to say that spending time in the great outdoors has a positive effect on their mental and physical well-being. Such an outlook is more than mere speculation, as it turns out spending time in nature provides a host of health benefits that might sur-

prise even the most devoted outdoors enthusiasts.

Nature and cognitive health

A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias found that engaged persons with dementia in horticultural

therapy-based (HT-based) programming solicited higher rates of participation than traditional activities (TA) programming. In addition, a separate 2013 study in the journal Dementia found that exposure to a therapeutic garden had a positive impact on quality of life for people with dementia. And it’s not just dementia patients who can experience the cognitive benefits of time spent in nature, as the Hagley Museum and Library reports that numerous studies have found exposure to nature improves cognitive function.

Nature and vitamin D

The potential health benefits of vitamin D are increasingly drawing the attention of medical researchers, and for good reason. According to the Harvard Medical School, recent research has suggested that vitamin D may offer added protection against conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, heart attack, stroke, and depression. Exposure to sunshine can help the body generate vitamin D, thus providing further reason to spend time in nature.

Nature and overall well-being

Given the aforementioned health benefits related to spending time in nature, it’s easy for even non-scientists to conclude that being outdoors has a profound impact on overall well-being. But non-scientists can rest assured that recent research has confirmed such conclusions. A 2019 study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that individuals who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature were significantly more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who spent less time outdoors. Though the authors of the study cautioned that the exposure-response relationship was under-researched, and therefore likely needed to be studied more extensively, in the meantime individuals, after a consultation with their physicians and confirmation that it’s safe to get out more often, can aspire to spend at least 120 minutes in nature each week. The results may speak for themselves.

Nature has a lot to offer, and the benefits of spending more time outdoors may be even more significant than people recognize.

Windham ● Warner ● Tilton, NH

How communities benefit when

Ideas about shopping are never set in stone, and the pandemic illustrated just how quickly consumer trends and opinions can change. Many individuals are now reevaluating how they spend their hard-earned money, particularly since inflation has affected just how far a dollar can be stretched. When consumers think about which stores to patronize, locally owned businesses may be the smartest option for a number of reasons — not the least of which is the way such enterprises benefit the communities they call home.

More money kept in the community

Shopping locally means that more money will stay in the community. According to recent research from Civic Economics, local eateries return nearly 79 percent of revenue to the community, compared to just over 30 percent for chain restaurants. Overall, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $73 remains in the community, verus roughly $43 when shopping at a non-locally owned business.

Get a personal touch

Local business owners typically are inclined to go the extra mile for their customers and are personally invested in the services and products they are selling. As a result, shopping locally tends to be a personalized experience. Furthermore, a local business owner may be more amenable to ordering products for specific clientele. Such personalized service is typically not accessible when shopping big box stores or other shops where owners are offsite.

Lines are short

Waiting in long lines for checkout or to pick up merchandise ordered online can drain consumers’ energy and contribute to stress. Local businesses tend to have short lines and small crowds, which can lead to a more pleasant shopping experience.

Generates tax revenue

Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, according to Rubicon, a digital marketplace for waste and recycling businesses. Taxes paid by local small businesses go to support schools, parks, roads, and other programs that benefit the community as well.

Support nonprofits

Local businesses often support good work in the community, such as nonprofit groups. These can include schools and sports teams, among other groups. According to Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma, stud-

shop

ies indicate nonprofits “receive 250 percent more support from small businesses than larger ones.”

Support other local businesses

Local business support other local businesses by buying and selling among each other. A local, independently owned restaurant may

source its ingredients from local farms, which means visitors to such eateries are supporting multiple local businesses each time they dine out.

Small businesses are a boon to the economy, particularly local economies. These enterprises help their communities in a multitude of ways.

Day Tripping

An Idyllic Day for A Trip Up Mount Washington

By Lee Caldwell

A recent trip on the Mount Washington Cog Railway began with an interview with Andy Vilaine, the train master. When asked to describe his job, Vilaine explained that he is the manager that oversees the railroad operations side of things, including supervising a train crew of 30 and planning for the weather, be it wind or snow.

“I keep busy,” he said.

“2023 has been the snowiest June on record, with 8.4 inches, which offers its own weather challenges,” he says. He states he enjoys it when passengers get excited to experience the weather

extremes from the bottom to the top of Mount Washington.

He goes on to state that, today, the Cog Railway operates seven biodiesel engines (starting in 2008) and two of the older steam engines, powered by coal. The steam engines require one ton of coal per trip and that requires both an engineer and a fireman (to shovel the coal) in the engine and a brakeman in the passenger coach. Biodiesel engines require an engineer and a brakeman. The brakeman is a combination conductor and tour guide, narrating the trip’s high points of interest but also keeping a sharp eye out for any trouble

along the tracks.

Andy also comments that, in May 2022, the Cog Railway completed re-railing the track, from the base to the summit, with 100-pound rail, making for a smoother ride. The newer switching passing loops make it possible for more trains to operate at the same time.

Andy states that, this time of year, the biodiesel trains run hourly from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Train rides to the top of Mount Washington are about three hours in duration, round-trip.

This includes about a one-hour stop at the summit of Mount Washington State Park. The steam trains run two to three times a day (typically the first and last trains of the day), with a new, shorter midday (90-minute) steam train going as far as the Waumbek station for those travelers who are looking for a shorter ride. The new midday train includes a lunch and a stop at Waumbek

• Day Tripping

continued on page 31

station to take in the panoramic views. Andy emphasizes that fall is always their busiest time and reservations are recommended. He goes on to mention that hikers may purchase a stand-bye ticket (one-way up or one-way down), as space allows.

Standing on platform A at 8:30 a.m. on a Friday morning, one can see the steam train Ammonosuc getting ready to leave the station. The steam trains run slower, so they have to leave earlier. The engineer and the fireman do their last-minute checks and, before long, a bell starts clanging, a steam whistle starts blowing, black coal smoke emerges from the smokestack, and a giant puff of steam vapor envelopes the bottom half of the engine. Slowly, the train climbs up the interlocking cog-and-rack system and everyone watches until all that is visible is a plume of smoke.

Half an hour later, biodiesel Metallak is loaded and ready to go with engineer Steven and brakeman Corey. Corey gives his safety spiel and states that his job is to monitor the track ahead — as the engineer has limited visibility — and to operate the emergency stop should it become necessary to do so.

Then Corey launches into the history of the Cog Railway where, in the mid1800s, entrepreneur Sylvester Marsh, a New Hampshire native who made his fortune in Chicago, began to suffer from ill-health. Encouraged by his doctor to seek fresh air and exercise, he retired at age 52 and returned to New Hampshire.

He and a friend attempted to climb Mount Washington, when they were hit by a storm and, struggling forward, they took shelter at the Tip Top House. Marsh decided that there must be a safer and more efficient way for travelers to explore the grandeur of the mountain and conceived the idea of a steam train to the top.

First, he had to get a charter from the state to do so. They laughed and said he might as well build a “Railway to the Moon” — but he did get the charter. Delays came in the form of a land dispute in Chicago, where he was represented by lawyer Abraham Lincoln, and by the Civil War. Construction of the railway began in 1866 and was completed in 1869, when the wood-fired steam engine Hero (nicknamed Old Peppersass because of its resemblance to to a pepper sauce bottle) made the three-mile trip up Mount

Washington in five hours.

We pass the Waumbek Station with its water tower and Corey continues with his narrative, pointing out the steepest grade of the track, 37.41%, called Jacob’s Ladder. The buildings we pass are level, but appear slanted because of the steep grade.

As we pass through the climate zones, the fauna changes and a field of lupines changes to pink flowers, then to dwarf evergreens, and finally, when above the tree-line, to alpine flowers and grass. We have reached the rocky alpine tundra. Off in the distance, tiny hikers appear, following rock cairns marking the hiking trails.

Despite its reputation for having the “world’s worst weather,” today is a perfect day, with 100-mile visibility with only a slight haze. It is warm and only a gentle breeze is blowing. From the Sherman Adams Visitor Center

rooftop observation deck, we can see Canada and Maine to the north and east, and off to the west, we can see the mountains of Vermont. Surrounding us is the Presidential Range with one patch of snow that we were told often lasts into July.

Having made it to the top, we buy postcards and stamps for the novelty of mailing them from the tiny post office at the top of Mount Washington, then sit outside to enjoy the view and soak up the fresh air and sunshine, saying to ourselves, “Thank you, Sylvester Marsh.”

The Mount Washington Cog Railway is located on the western face of Mount Washington near Bretton Woods. GPS is not reliable in this area. For more information, call 1-800 922 8825. The entrance to Base Station Road is located on Route 302 in Carroll.

Steps Anyone Can Take to Protect Local Wildlife

The opportunity to experience local wildlife is one of the many alluring features of spending time in the great outdoors. Unfortunately, wildlife is being threatened in many parts of the world as the human population increases and spreads to regions that historically have not been home to large numbers of human beings.

Numerous local, national and international environmental organizations are dedicated to protecting local wildlife. But such organizations can always use a helping hand, and the following are some simple steps anyone can take to protect local wildlife.

• Sign up for local trash pick-ups. The organization Environment America reports that scientists have found fragments of plastic in hundreds of species. For example, researchers found such fragments in 44 percent of all seabird species. Local park and beach cleanups can help reduce that figure and make these beloved spaces look even better. Signing up for park or beach clean-ups also provides a great reason to get outdoors.

• Make an effort to cut back on your

energy consumption. This effective approach can benefit local wildlife and animal lovers’ bottom lines. The Animal Welfare Institute notes that many power plants rely on fossil fuels, the extraction of which can be harmful to local habitats. That ultimately and adversely affects local wildlife. Reducing energy consumption can cut back on the need to extract fossil fuels, and it also can lead to lower energy bills for consumers.

• Support eco-friendly legislation. Legislators fighting to protect local wildlife need all the help they can get. Individuals can lend a hand by supporting legislators who are working to maintain local habitats so wildlife can continue to thrive. Share information about political issues related to local wildlife via social media and volunteer to help local politicians and nonprofit organizations spread the word about the importance of protecting the species who call your region home.

• Do not get too close to wildlife. The beauty of wildlife can be hard to resist, but the AWI urges animal lovers to keep their distance from animals they

see in the wild. Do not handle young animals found in the wild, no matter how vulnerable they appear to be, as the AWI notes that it’s not uncommon for mothers to leave their young alone for long periods of time while they for-

age for food. Wildlife faces an uncertain future in many parts of the world. Individuals can do their part to protect wildlife and ensure their long-term survival.

Science Center’s Horizon Award to Eric D’Aleo

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center held its annual meeting for members on Thursday, August 10 in beautiful Kirkwood Gardens. During the meeting, Science Center Executive Director Iain MacLeod honored long-time employee Eric D’Aleo, with the Horizon Award.

The Board of Trustees of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center established the Horizon Award in 1995 as a means to honor exceptional and extended service to the center. Since then volunteers, staff, and trustees have been recognized for their leadership, vision, passion, and commitment to the Science Center and its mission.

Eric D’Aleo has been a Naturalist at the Science Center since January 1994. Over those 29 years, he has enthusiastically shared his knowledge with countless thousands of students and adults.

He is an accomplished photographer and artist. He has designed dozens of interpretive exhibits on the trail, written articles, blogs and podcasts, and written and starred in many hysterical skits on the Halloween Hoot n’ Howl. In 2017 he launched the Hidden Stories project which uses over thirty trail cameras to record the wildlife on our campus. That led to an interactive ex-

hibit, online story maps, and thousands of images and videos. Eric is truly a natural educator who has had a profound impact on the Science Center and multiple generations of visitors and program participants.

In other business during the meeting, Board Chair Sarah Brown thanked outgoing trustee Carl Lehner for his Board service. Sarah introduced trustees nominated to serve another three-year term including Lisa Aulet, Lisa Bennett, and Geoff Stewart. All were unanimously approved. She also introduced new trustees including Tory Amorello, Brent Anderson, and Ann Ehrhart. The new trustees were all approved. Sarah introduced the slate of trustee officers including Sarah Brown, Chair; Justin Van Etten, Vice Chair; Anne R. Lovett, Treasurer; and Lisa Doner, Secretary. The officers were approved.

Executive Director Iain MacLeod reviewed significant events at the Science Center in 2022. He then recognized staff milestones including Lauren Moulis, Animal Care Director for 15 years of service.

Chair Sarah Brown concluded the meeting allowing everyone to take in and explore the beauty of Kirkwood Gardens.

Practice Safe Boating At All Times

Boating is a recreational activity enjoyed by thousands of people. Spring and summer are prime times of year for boating, though people who live in temperate climates may be able to enjoy boating all year long.

Everyone who takes to the water, novices and experienced boaters included, should be familiar with boating safety guidelines. In fact, it is a good idea to take a boating safety course prior to boating for the first time or as a refresher if it has been a while since reviewing the rules of the water.

Boating safety goes beyond learning basic operation and navigation. Safety guidelines also involve getting a vessel safety check. The U.S. Coast

Guard Auxiliary offers complimentary boating examinations. They can verify the presence and condition of safety equipment required by federal and state organizations. Boaters also may be able to conduct virtual vessel exams. This means boat owners can perform a self-inspection of the boats based on digital prompts. People who reside in Canada can contact the Office of Boating Safety to confirm whether vessel checks are required and how to get one. Licensure and registration of boats are part of responsible boat ownership both in the U.S. and Canada.

Along with boating inspections and water rules, some other ways to stay safe involve educating oneself of the larger dangers on the water. These generally involve risky boater behavior, such as failing to wear a life jacket or having an inadequate number of life jackets for passengers. Alcohol use while boating also can be problematic. Being under the influence can adversely affect boaters’ reaction times and decision-making abilities. According to the 2018 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics Report, alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2018, accounting for 100 deaths (19 percent) of total fatalities. Curbing alcohol use while boating can help avoid accidents and deaths.

Excessive speeds also can derail nice days on the water. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says that, although there are no numerical speed limits on the water, excessive speed can cause accidents in crowded areas. Speeding makes it difficult to react to obstacles — including underwater wildlife — and bring the boat to a stop within a safe distance of others.

Boating season is heating up, and that means making safety a big part of operating and enjoying a vessel.

4th Annual Hebron Yard Sale Day

You won’t want to miss the 4th Annual Hebron Yard Sale Day on Saturday, Sept. 2 from 9 to 3. Stop by the Hebron Common outside the Hebron Church at 16 Church Lane for great bargains on used furniture, household items, books, games, puzzles, toys, sporting goods, equipment, tools, accessories, antiques, and much more. Since this year’s fair did not include the white elephant and auction, many of the items that would have been sold at those tents will be available at the yard sale. The church

will also again be featuring the popular $5-a-bag tent. As an additional benefit, there will be other yard sales at various locations throughout town that day.

For more info, please visit hebronchurchfair.org. A list of the locations will be posted on the website the week before the event and will also be available at the church the day of the yard sale. The event is sponsored by the Union Congregational Church of Hebron.

SCAN FOR BOAT RENTALS

SCAN FOR INVENTORY

SCAN FOR BOAT CLUB

Saving Wakefield’s Heritage ’75 Cents and a Fish

Story and photos by Lee Caldwell

During a recent interview with Pam Wiggin, chairman of the Wakefield Heritage Commission, she began with the story of Elizabeth MacRury, a driving force behind preserving Wakefield’s heritage. Pam described Elizabeth (originally a summer resident of Wakefield) as a retired teacher/

and be inspired by a

administrator, a strong-willed woman who loved children, and as the original chairman of the Wakefield Heritage Commission.

Pam emphasized that Elizabeth got out and actually talked to the older residents of Wakefield, writing nine books and compiling the impressive 1,000page tome, Footsteps to the Past - A

2022 Featured Exhibits

May 1 to June 22:

• Saturday Evening Post Covers

1941-1946: The Art of Mead Schaeffer, Norman Rockwell and Friends

July 1 to October 31:

• Let Me Be Myself: The Life

Story of Anne Frank

May 1 through October 31 Monday—Saturday: 10AM–4PM

The Wright Museum is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions and enduring legacy of WWII-era Americans. NH | 603-569-1212 | www.WrightMuseum.org

Hook’

Saturday Evening Post

School bells, large and small.

History of Wakefield 1774 to 1974 the First 200 Years.

The initial local attempt to save the historic village district of Wakefield in 1980 did not pass. An attempt to add the village district of Wakefield Corner to the National Register of Historic Districts, however, was successful.

In 1993, the state passed enabling legislation for the formation of heritage commissions, leading to the formation of the Wakefield Heritage Commission. It is tasked with the his-

• Wakefield continued on page 37

• Wakefield continued from page 36

torical preservation of the town in general, in addition to the oversight of the Historic District of Wakefield Corner. Pam describes these efforts as “history preserved in trust for the community.” She states that the commission advises the planning board and preserves the history of the town, encompassing both built and natural features.

The Wakefield Heritage Commission is appointed by the selectmen/selectwomen for three-year terms to discuss issues and agree by consensus. There are seven commissioners (including one selectman) and five alternates. They are a resource for helping to regulate the building exteriors within the historic district. In 2012, the commission won a New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Award for Advocacy, Planning, and Education.

Seven villages encompass the Town of Wakefield, and the Wakefield Heritage Commission maintains and restores town-owned properties that

to families

include the Heritage Park Railroad Museum in Union, open noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; the East Wakefield School, open Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon; the Spinney Meeting House in South Wakefield; the Heritage Centre in Sanbornville, open Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to

neighbors

noon; and the Union Blacksmith Shop, open periodically. All sites are open seasonally and are free to the public.

Consult the Wakefield Heritage Commission website for more details.

Pam comments, “Maintenance is always an ongoing issue.”

The Heritage Park Railroad Station

(purchased in 2006) and the Freight House (purchased in 2007 and dedicated to Elizabeth MacRury) house a variety of railroad artifacts, many donated by the public. There is a B&M caboose and a massive 1903 plow car, built in British Columbia, Canada, and last seeing service in Maine. The Freight House contains a 1909 railroad scale model recreation of life as it was in 1909.

The last existing B&M railroad water tower was purchased in 2016, and Pam states that it was a “huge endeavor to move it. It had to be taken apart in sections and moved on a flatbed. It took two years to re-erect it.”

Pam smiles as she adds that Phil Twombley, vice-chairman of the commission and a long-time resident, is apt to hang around the railroad station in his conductor’s uniform.

The latest acquisition at the Heritage Park Railroad Station is a Wentworth Cobbler’s Shop, circa 1850. Donated

• Wakefield continued from page 38

B&M Railroad caboose

by the children of Cecil Wentworth, who died at age 103, it is complete and original. Bench, tools, and even scraps of leather remain intact.

The Heritage Centre of Wakefield is located in the Lovell Union Grange building. Downstairs are exhibits ranging from Elizabeth MacRury’s extensive collection of Concord Coach and stagecoach artifacts; early quilts, including a Sanbornville friendship quilt; advertising artifacts from the Garvin Building; a barn loom with mortise and tendon joints donated by master weaver Craig Evans (who periodically does weaving demonstrations); and items from the estate of Marie Louise Marcoux, including a wedding veil and a quilt, which help to illustrate the French Canadian influence in the area. Upstairs is a slice of history frozen in time: The Grange Hall has been preserved exactly as it was left after the last meeting.

The Spinney Meeting House is not currently open to the public. A former

Advent Church of Elder Spinney, it has been restored to pre-electrification and Pam stated that, after restoration, hers was the first wedding there in more

The Union Blacksmith Shop, donated by John and Diane Gray, contains blacksmith artifacts, including an operating forge and bellows. It is open periodically.

The East Wakefield School is a oneroom schoolhouse. Hanging behind the teacher’s desk is a vintage map, and on the teacher’s desk is an apple. An assortment of school desks fills the room, each one topped with an old school book. There are exhibits depicting the 12 former school districts of the Town of Wakefield and the Hazel MacBrien Nursery School (the first co-op nursery school in the state.)

An upcoming exhibit will feature the Dow Academy, founded November 6, 1815. This boy and girl boarding school welcomed all interested in education. Founded by Josiah Dow, born in 1782, the third child in a large family from Wakefield, he left home at

an early age with “75 cents and a fishhook” to seek his fortune and became a prosperous merchant in Salem and New York.

When asked about her personal favorite items in the commission’s collections, Pam reflects and lists a stagecoach horn that was blown as the stagecoach approached Wakefield Corner; a pearl shell railroad conductor’s button; and two B&M railroad platters from the restaurant upstairs in the railroad station in Sanbornville. She comments, “The upstairs dining room served 125 people. They had to be served, eat, and catch the train within 20 minutes. When the railroad station closed, all of the china was taken to the dump.”

Another favorite is the exhibit of railroading artifacts related to the ice industry. Opening Elizabeth’s book of the history of Wakefield, she finds some corresponding photographs with massive stacks of blocks of ice. “They sent 80 train loads of ice a week to Boston and all around the world. There

were 12 ice houses.”

The Heritage Commission also has received grants from the Department of the Interior to commission historical research and archeological field documentation. Started before the Civil War to direct water to the mill towns south of Wakefield, the Newichawannock canal is a case in point. Running through both New Hampshire and Maine, the canal is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wakefield Heritage Commission works with Eagle Scouts on community projects. Pam emphasized that the Heritage Commission needs more volunteers/docents, especially more younger volunteers. She stated that they do provide a training program for docents.

The Wakefield Heritage Commission meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the conference room of the Wakefield Town Hall in Sanbornville. Meetings are televised. The commission has a website at http://www.his-