Coffeehouses and Roasters: A Time-Honored Tradition
By Mark Okrant
After nearly fifty-four years of marriage, I can honestly say that my wife and I disagree over very few things. One of those, however, is coffee. While I enjoy an occasional glass of decaffeinated iced coffee, she drinks five cups of the hot stuff every day.
Admittedly, coffee has had a very good run since its origin, believed to be in Ethiopia, prior to the fifteenth century. Throughout much of the coffeehouse’s early history, its development was focused on the Middle East. Damascus was the home to several of the first coffeehouses. By the fifteenth century, coffeehouses had appeared at Mecca in what today is Saudi Arabia. Early sixteenth-century locations were in Istanbul—at that time the capital of the Ottoman empire—and in Bagdad, in the Fertile Crescent. Coffeehouses became popular meeting places where men gathered to drink coffee, play chess and backgammon, and be entertained. Subsequent coffeehouses were opened in Cairo and Persia.
The earliest European coffeehouses were established during the seventeenth century in Venice, Italy, Vienna, Austria, and London, England By 1675, there were more than 3,000 coffeehouses in England. These were accessible to all men, regardless of social status. Here, ideas of equality and republicanism were spawned. Finally, during the middle of the seventeenth century, coffeehouses were diffused to the Americas.
According to the National Coffee
Association (NCA), 67 percent of adult Americans drink coffee every day, with 36 percent of coffee drinkers consuming three to five cups each day. Meanwhile, according to the NCA, an eye-opening 51 percent of these coffee drinkers purchase theirs from a coffee shop at least one time per week— which brings us to our topic.
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that serves various types of coffee, espresso, latte, americano, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses serve tea, and cold beverages, such as iced coffee or tea, and non-caffeinated drinks. Also, on some menus are pastries, breads, cakes, muffins, and donuts. A number of these establishments are of the single, mom-andpop variety, while others are franchised businesses. Coffeehouses are much more than a place to buy and consume a cup of coffee. Many of the best ones serve as “centers of social interaction,”
wherein writers write, readers read, thinkers think, internet users use the internet, and small groups gather to entertain one another or discuss the hot political topic of the day.
During the early 1950s, coffeehouses served as the home of the Beatnik culture; later, during the 1960s, they were places to listen to some of the best folk music at that time. In 2002, Brownstones Coffee of Amityville, New York opened its first location as a breakfast-oriented coffeehouse. As that model increased in popularity, the trend grew in the form of Starbucks and similar franchises.
The Lakes Region is not unaffected by the quest for a good cup of coffee and some accompanying food. Here is a partial list of some favorites. We offer this sampling—in no particular order—as a starting place, not as a suggestion that you end your personal search here.
Wayfarer Coffee Roaster, 626 Main Street, Laconia. and Lakeport Wayfarer Coffee, 781 Union Avenue, Suite 2, Laconia are owned and operated by former Seattle residents Karen and Reuben Bassett, and their local partner Ben Bullerwell. When the first of these businesses opened in 2015, it was in response to their perceived need to bring quality coffee to the region. Today, they are known for their coffee, sourdough toasts, and fine pastries. This team operates the Wayfarer Marketplace which offers local beer and wines, farm produce, and has a section for local artisans to present their crafts.
Seven Suns Café, 21 Railroad Avenue, Wolfeboro specializes in the delectable combination of good coffee— cappuccino, Americano, tea latte, and Affogato (espresso over ice cream)— as well as a variety of delicious crepes.
Mellow Moose Coffee House, 136 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith offers great coffee, espresso, lattes, chia lattes, teas, and some of the area’s best hot chocolate. It serves made-toorder breakfast sandwiches and a daily quiche, as well as soup, salad, and sandwiches for a light lunch.
Identity Coffee, 312 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith has something extra—excellent views of Lake Winnipesaukee. Coffee and lattes are the specialties of the house. One highlight for those with dietary concerns—they offer gluten-free breads and bakery • Coffee Roasters continued on page 4
LRSO Kicks Off 49th Season with “Romantic Revelations” Concert
The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra (LRSO) is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated first concert of the 2024-2025 season, taking place on November 2, 2024 at Hanaway Theatre, Plymouth State University at 7 pm. As we begin our 49th season, this exquisite evening of music promises an unforgettable experience for music enthusiasts of all ages.
This concert, titled “Romantic Revelations”, features three masterful com-
• Coffee
continued from page 3
items.
Cup and Crumb, 1040 Whittier Hwy, Moultonborough is a coffee shop and bakery combination. Coffee specialties include a range of espressos. Each day, freshly baked pastries, muffins, and breakfast sandwiches are made on site.
Lucas Roasting Company (roasters) 7 King Street, Wolfeboro is a coffee roasting company that regards itself as a community—linking coffee farmers, to roasters, to baristas, to consumers. This establishment services residential consumers as well as businesses of various sizes. Orders are met with quick turn-around, as coffee and espresso will be roasted, delivered, and shipped within a 24-to-48-hour window.
Harmony Coffee House, 21 Central Avenue, Wolfeboro specializes in atmosphere, highlighted by a cozy fireplace. It offers coffee, espresso, latte,
positions – Mendelssohn’s haunting “Hebrides Overture”, Dvorak’s glorious “Cello Concerto in B minor” (1st mvt), and the beautiful but lesser known “Symphony No. 2” by Vasily Kalinnikov.
The featured soloist for Dvorak’s Cello Concerto is outstanding cellist Ian Jang, winner of LRSO’s 2024 concerto competition. Ian’s track record is remarkable, winning accolades in prestigious competitions such as the Tai-
mocha, cappuccino, americano, cortado, hot chocolate, teas, and a variety of cold brews. All-day breakfasts and lunches are served.
Rise and Shine Coffee House, 400 Main Street, Wakefield offers a full range of coffees, as well as teas, hot chocolate, various iced drinks, and five varieties of smoothies. Quick breakfasts and pastries are also available.
The coffeehouse is a time-honored tradition. Like their predecessors, coffeehouses in the Lakes Region have become much more than a place to sample quality coffee products and good food. These are places where young couples meet, businesspersons make significant deals, political ideas are spawned, and a considerable amount of contemplation occurs. If you have not already done so, head right over to a coffeehouse on this list or choose one of your own. You might just meet up with my wife.
P.O. Box 119, Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896 603-569-5257 in NH 1-800-339-5257 FAX 603-569-5258 pressreleases@thelaker.com • lkr@thelaker.com • www.thelaker.com Smiley Publishing Group, LLC dba Panoramic Publishing Group/The Laker
wan International Music Competition and the Charleston International Music Competition. His stunning performances have consistently mesmerized audiences, earning him top honors at the Swiss Concours and the AMIS International School Honors Orchestra Concerto Competition. Ian is also recognized for his innovative blend of music and technology, producing virtual concerts that showcase his multifaceted talents.
Also on the program are Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, a vivid musical depiction of the Scottish coastline’s rugged beauty, crashing waves, and dramatic landscape, and Symphony No. 2 by Vasily Kalinnikov, a hidden gem of Russian Romanticism that combines folk melodies with lush, orchestral splendor, blending lively rhythms and pastoral themes that culminate in a triumphant conclusion.
The concert will take place at the Hanaway Theatre in the Silver Center at Plymouth State University. Tickets are FREE for PSU students, $5 for non-PSU students, and $20-$30 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at www.LRSO.org or the Silver Center box office (603-5352787). We thank our sponsors, Ravena and John McIntyre, and Evelyn and Michael Miller, for their generous support of young musicians with our concerto competition and this November concert.
This November performance is the first in our new season. December’s “Take a Bough!” performances in Laconia and Meredith on December 7
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and 8 feature Alex and Rachel Hunton, husband and wife performers from the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, putting their twist on arrangements of holiday favorites by Amy Grant, Michael Bublé, David Bowie and Bing Crosby, and many more. On March 22, 2025 we present “Vienna to Berlin: A Germanic Journey,” featuring principal violist Sally Wituszynski performing the luscious “Romanze” by Max Bruch. The concert rounds out with Brahms “Hungarian Dances 5 and 6”, Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus Overture”, and the extremely emotional “Symphony No. 2” by Robert Schumann.
Lastly in May 2025 we are incredibly excited to present a huge playlist of radio hits from the 70s, featuring two outstanding vocalists from the Boston area Taylor O’Donnell and Adrian Sicam. Taylor and Adrian will perform amazing custom orchestral renditions by Billy Joel, Elton John, Carole King, The Bee Gees, Abba, Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, Doobie Brothers, and many more. These 2025 concerts on May 10 (Colonial Theatre) and May 11 (Inter-Lakes Auditorium) are not to be missed! Buy your tickets early and join us for all our outstanding concerts this season. Discount tickets are available for Inter-Lakes performances at www.LRSO. org. As a reminder, to purchase tickets, visit www.LRSO.org directly. Dozens of unscrupulous 3rd party ticket websites have emerged that may not be legitimate.
Roasters
All Things Pumpkin: Delicious Fall Recipes to Savor the Season
By Chef Kelly Ross
Hello Local Foodie Friends. Columbus Day and peak foliage are officially in our rearview mirrors, most of the fall traffic has disappeared, which leaves us during the in-between fall and winter seasons. Most of the leaves are on the ground and as beautiful as our trees looked just a heartbeat ago. It’ll still be a good month before the white gold starts to fall. I will admit that my food theme today is a classic love/hate subject, breaking out some pumpkin recipes. Granted, lovers of pumpkin can cook with it year-round, but this is the ultimate time of year to do so. As for me, I’m one of the rarities in that I don’t love pumpkin, but I don’t hate it either so long as the flavor isn’t overly dominating. Let’s start cooking. Let’s start off with some morning pumpkin fun, with a delicious coffee cake. This coffee cake screams the fall season with this combo of pumpkin and much of the usual coffee cake standards, like cinnamon, brown sugar and an outstanding streusel crumb topping, guaranteed to create a bunch of morning smiles to start your day. You can have this prepped in 15 minutes and cooked in 35-40 minutes and will get you 9 servings.
Pumpkin Coffee Cake
For the Streusel Crumb Topping ¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
4 tbsp cold butter
For the Coffee Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin spice, or 1 tsp nutmeg.
½ tsp each of ground cloves and allspice
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup canola or vegetable oil
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup milk
¼ cup maple syrup
For The Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Dash of ground cinnamon, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×9 square baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together until combined well. In a separate medium bowl, mix the pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, maple syrup, and milk together well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined but do not overmix or coffee cake will become denser. Pour the batter into the baking pan and spread evenly in the pan. In a small bowl, mix the dry crumb
topping ingredients together and then add in the cold butter and press with a fork. Press until a crumb consistency is made and all is well combined. Sprinkle the crumb topping over on top of the batter. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Bake for another 5 minutes if the toothpick is mostly wet. Let sit for 20-30 minutes, then combine the glaze ingredients and mix well and drizzle over the cake. If you prefer to make muffins, the mentality is the same except for the cooking time will shrink to more like 17-20 minutes. As awesome as the smell of these will be throughout your house, the party in your mouth will be much more rewarding.
We’re still talking breakfast my friends as the next one today is pumpkin pancakes, which are as light and fluffy a batch of cakes that you could ask for. These pancakes are made from scratch and are very scrumptious and will be huge favorites for you pumpkin-loving crowd. It takes 20 minutes to put together and this will make a dozen pancakes, or more if you make them smaller. This is one of a couple of pumpkin recipes that I love combining softened butter and some honey to lather over the hot pancakes before topping with maple syrup. Trust me, it’s an awesome touch.
Pumpkin Pancakes
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup light brown sugar
4 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
2 cup milk, whole or 2%
1 cup canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
2 eggs
¼ cup vegetable oil, plus more for the griddle/pan
2 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat a griddle to medium heat. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves and set it aside. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin, egg, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and whisk gently until completely combined. Set aside for 5 minutes. Once the griddle comes to temperature, drizzle with vegetable oil and wipe off excess with a paper towel. Ladle ⅓ of a cup of the batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the edges are set and the bubbles around the edges are open and • ‘Cue the Grill continued on page 6
set. Flip and cook on the second side for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings, such as butter, maple syrup, honey, whipped cream, or even fresh fruit and berries. This will become a hit with everybody.
Today’s next pumpkin recipe is one of those things that works at breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on your menu. I actually serve these quite often for my annual Thanksgiving Day feast, but truly, these bad boys are one of my favorite “poppable” foods ever, although I don’t think that’s a real word, but in my culinary thinking, I enjoy popping these into my mouth as much as kids think the same with M&M’s. We are talking pumpkin buttermilk
biscuits, and these are very addicting. These biscuits are made from scratch with just a few simple ingredients. This soft and fluffy biscuit recipe made with buttermilk and pumpkin is perfect for this time of year. You can have these prepped and cooked in less than a half hour and this will get you at least a dozen biscuits. Oh, and by the way, remember what I said about the honey butter in the last recipe? Even better for this one!!
Pumpkin Buttermilk Biscuits
2 cups flour
4 tbsp sugar, divided
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ cup butter cold
⅔ cup canned pumpkin
½ cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift together flour, 2 tbsp of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs or grate the butter first and mix into the other ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together pumpkin and buttermilk. Add to flour mixture and stir just until combined. Knead gently a few times. Roll out dough to ½ inch thickness and cut using a biscuit or cookie cutter. Place biscuits on a lightly greased cookie sheet and sprinkle the tops with the remaining sugar. Bake the biscuits for 10 minutes or until light golden brown. The recipe should make 12-18 biscuits, depending on the size you make them.
It’s officially time to bust out some great pumpkin dessert recipes now everyone, so get ready for some fun treats. First off, let’s make some cupcakes for the kids, and ok, for some of you cupcake loving adults as well. These cupcakes have the feel of a pumpkin pie although I usually top these with either cream cheese frosting, homemade whipped cream or thawed frozen whipped topping and sprinkled with cinnamon just before serving them. The kids will seriously love ‘em. These go together quickly, and the cooking time is 20 minutes and gets you a dozen cupcakes
Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
1 can of pumpkin puree, 15 oz
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
¾ cup evaporated milk
2/3 cup flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
2 tsp pumpkin spice
¼ tsp salt
Cream cheese frosting, frozen whipped topping, thawed, or homemade whipped cream
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 12-cup cupcake pan. In a bowl stir together flour, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Mix the pumpkin puree with sugar, eggs,
vanilla and evaporated milk. Add dry ingredients to the mixture and mix until it’s evenly combined. Fill each cupcake hole with 1/3 of a cup of the mixture, then bake for 20 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 20 minutes then remove them from the pan and let them cool completely. Top the cupcakes with your desired frosting, then dust with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on top before serving. Speaking of “poppable” fun, this is another great example.
Two recipes left my friends. Let’s talk pumpkin cobbler next. Cobblers are always a hit with everyone, and this one is darn good. This pumpkin cobbler is a delicious way to switch things up this fall. Made with cheap and easy-to-find ingredients, you’ll want to make this dessert all autumn long, not to mention it makes a great addition to any Thanksgiving table. Although from scratch, I do have a minor ”cheat” ingredient in this that is a perfect addition. The cobbler topping is a yellow Jiffy cake mix which works great. This is simple and delicious and should always be topped with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. From start to finish, plan on an hour and it will serve 8.
Pumpkin Cobbler
½ cup white sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 can pumpkin puree, 15 oz ¾ cup evaporated milk
1 tsp orange extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp salt
1 package yellow cake mix, 9 oz, such as Jiffy Golden Yellow cake mix ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Combine sugar and eggs in a bowl and whisk until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin puree,
Photo by Terry Noack
Sharon Jones Brings Blues, Jazz, and R&B to Hermit Woods for an Unforgettable Night
Join us October 24, for an evening of multi-genre brilliance with Sharon Jones, the veteran blues and jazz vocalist from Portsmouth, NH, as she takes the stage at Hermit Woods. Known for her dynamic performances and powerful voice, Sharon will captivate you with a blend of jazz, rock, and R&B, showcasing her talent and passion for music.
Sharon Jones is a celebrated performer throughout New England, with a reputation for engaging audiences and delivering unforgettable performances. Her shows are known for their
high-energy, riff-driven sound that blends classic jazz, blues, and contemporary influences, leaving audiences clamoring for more. Sharon’s charisma and expressive style create an intimate connection with the crowd, making each performance a unique experience. Hermit Woods is proud to present this intimate listening room experience, offering music lovers an up-close and personal encounter with extraordinary artists. We ask that guests enjoy the music in silence, allowing everyone to fully immerse themselves in the performance.
Event Details: Complimentary Wine Tasting: 5:30 pm – 6 pm. Doors Open & Dinner Served: 6:00 pm. The show Begins at 7 pm (Drinks & Dessert served during the show). Arrive early to enjoy a complimentary wine tasting starting at 5:30 pm, followed by a delicious dinner served until 7 pm when the show begins. After the performance, guests will have the chance to meet Sharon Jones and explore any music or merchandise offerings. Purchase your tickets for an evening of remarkable music, fine dining, and great
company. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Sharon Jones live in the warm and inviting ambiance of Hermit Woods.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit our website: hermitwoods.com/music. About Hermit Woods: Hermit Woods brings exceptional artists from New England and beyond to Meredith, NH, providing a cozy venue for music lovers to enjoy unforgettable performances in an intimate setting. Contact: Hermit Woods Winery & Sweet Mercy’s Kitchen.
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
evaporated milk, orange extract, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt and mix until well combined. Pour pumpkin mixture into the prepared baking dish. Lightly sprinkle cake mix over the pumpkin mixture until completely covered. Slowly drizzle melted butter over cake mix. Bake in the preheated oven until the pumpkin mixture is set and the topping is golden brown, 50-60 minutes.
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Lastly today is my favorite of the day. If you read my articles regularly you know all too well how much of a sucker I am for dessert bars and this one is stellar. These chocolate chip pumpkin bars are soft, moist, and filled with chocolate goodness and truly the perfectly ultimate fall treat. Dessert bars work as a great treat all day long. Again, these can be made in about an hour and will get you 12-15 hunks of goodness depending on how you cut them.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars
1 cup pumpkin puree
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until smooth. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add to the pumpkin mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared dish and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool before cutting into bars. Absolute Yumminess! That’s it for today everyone. I hope you all can adjust to this time of year as we’ve all been down this road before, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it. Keep warm and above all, keep your taste buds happy. Until next time, keep smiling and if you have any questions or feedback regarding today’s batch of recipes, please reach out at fenwaysox10@gmail.com
Martin Cornelissen, Alton’s Graveyard Historian
By Thomas P. Caldwell
In describing the importance of his efforts to document forgotten Alton gravesites, historian Martin Cornelissen points out that many families have no idea where their ancestors are buried. By posting the results of his sometimes tedious research onto registries such as Find A Grave, descendants can learn not only the burial sites but also important genealogical information. Yet his passion for the research goes beyond filling in the missing gravesite information. “One thing leads to another,” Martin said, and he has compiled individual histories of each of Alton’s soldiers and war veterans. He has a thick binder filled with information on Civil War soldiers and has similar folders devoted to the early militia, American Revolution, War of 1812, French and Indian Wars, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, “and all the other veterans that served, but not during wartime.”
Each year, he makes the rounds to place flags on the graves of the town’s deceased veterans — a task that expands as he locates other gravesites that have been lost to history. Martin has found 120 private burial sites in the town, explaining that, prior to there being municipal cemeteries, families created graveyards on their own property. Even though the graveyards usually were listed on property deeds, as the land changed hands, many of those references were not carried forward on subsequent documents. As time took its
toll and the tombstones fell over or got vandalized, many of the old graveyards have been forgotten and overgrown.
As a member of the Alton Historical Society, Martin first got involved with gravesites when a new member mentioned that there was a “cemetery” in their yard. Technically, cemeteries are municipal burial grounds, while graveyards are private burial sites.
“We didn’t have a municipal cemetery to speak of,” Martin said of the early homestead years. “We had sectional
area cemeteries that the locals in that area, like East Alton, South Alton, Alton Mountain, they had kind of their
own little municipal cemeteries for the families that were there; and then you had all the other burial sites that were at the homesteads, because there were no municipals, per se.” Just this year, Martin has found five graveyards that had not been listed anywhere. “That’s the most I ever picked up,” he said, “and I thought I was pretty much done with all of them, but, no, they’re still out there.”
Sometimes, the gravesites were unknown because the family came to Alton, tried to make a living, failed, and moved on. “It’s all hardscrabble,” Martin said. “The only thing we raise up around here are stones, rock. Basically, if they couldn’t make any money, they just moved on, just packed up and left, especially after the Civil War. Some of those guys never came home, not necessarily because they died.”
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Perry Brothers Monuments
His fascination with Civil War soldiers from Alton has led him to acquire some of the artifacts left behind. Nathan Chesley, born May 27, 1822, in Quality Granite & Craftsmanship since 1938
New Durham, and who died in Alton at age 68 on March 10, 1890, served in Company A of New Hampshire’s 12th Regiment, becoming a second lieutenant in the Civil War. “I have his belt buckle; I have his shipping box,” Martin said, describing the box as being decorated with script on the top. “He shipped it to Washington DC, to his captain, Savage, who got killed at Chancellorsville. And I have his coffee cup. I have the stirrups.”
Alton was originally laid out in ranges with lots of about 1,100 acres. “These are all the original proprietors, going back to the British era,” Martin
said, spreading out an old map. He explained that people would pay to get into a drawing for each lot. “They were allowed to draw two lots. So typically, you will find most all these gentlemen have two lots each.”
Through the years, those homesteads would be broken up into smaller lots, with the proprietors burying their families on their property. Some graveyards are well-marked with stone perimeters, while others are simple graves that easily can be overlooked.
Martin uses a combination of town reports that list births and deaths, deeds that indicate the graveyards, and sometimes just word of mouth from relatives who are aware of the gravesites. He has gotten good at spotting a likely graveyard when he has information that one
may lie in a certain area.
Once a graveyard has been discovered, it still can be difficult to identify who was buried there. Some graves are marked only by fieldstones with no identifying information. Some early graves had marble tombstones that have worn away, fallen over, or sunk into the ground.
Speaking of one of the graveyards, Martin said, “I finally hit [a deed] that said that Garland owned it in the 1800s. It’s reserved out as a family cemetery, but I have no names as to who’s in the cemetery. It has a stone wall, and it has at least six individuals. I’ve been up there a couple of times, and mapped it out, plotted it out. There’s at least six people that were in there, [but] all of this is fieldstones, no names.” While they could be Garlands, they also could be females who married into the family or represented another family.
In documenting the gravesites, Martin uses individual sheets for each cemetery that include a hand-drawn map indicating boundaries such as stonewalls. He measures the distances between the gravestones to provide an accurate map, which he shares with the Alton Planning Department. “The other thing, by state law, there’s a 25-foot setback all the way around,” Martin said. “So by mapping it out, getting the dimensions, somebody will call from town hall, and they’ll ask, do I have
any information on the cemetery?” It is illegal for a developer to disturb a grave or move the bodies to another location without the family’s permission. That has led to another task: Locating the family members of the people buried in Alton. That is where the Find a Grave registry comes in handy. Martin will post the information he has and receive a notification if someone who is looking for an ancestor’s grave has more information to add. The service is free, and it allows the registry to increase in detail to serve genealogical research.
Martin noted that many of those gravesites are on private property, so it is illegal for anyone other than family members to visit the graves. As a member of both the New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association and the New Hampshire Cemetery Association, he also has access to their members’ expertise. Martin also relies on the Lakes Region Genealogy Interest Group, based in Wolfeboro, for help in tracing a family’s history. “If I get stuck, they have somebody that can help,” he said. One of the most interesting gravesites Martin mentions is in the old Seavey quarries. The family had holes bored into the sheer walls as repositories for
• Martin continued on page 11
Mon-Sat 10am to 6pm, Sun 10am to 5pm
Mill
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• Martin
continued from page 10
cremains and placed bronze plaques to identify those interred there.
An example of how one thing leads to another is Martin’s search for the gravesite of Charles Langley. “I found a receipt where George Savage, commanding general [of New Hampshire’s 12th Regiment], was paid $4.50 by the town to bury a Charles Langley in the Langley cemetery. Well, I had no record of Charles Langley being buried here.” As he searched through the records, Martin found a reference to Langley being buried in the Roberts cemetery off Chestnut Cove Road, now owned by Camp Brookwoods. He got permission from the camp and the Roberts family to search for Langley’s burial site. “I found other Langleys up there [but] this cemetery was vandalized something awful. … Not one stone standing,” he said. Martin spent two afternoons clearing the whole cemetery, looking for the military stone for Charles Langley. “I did some more
clearing, dragging brush, and I saw a little white spot that looked like marble, and so I cleared that little bit, and, sure enough, it was the top of a stone. So, I started cleaning down one side, and there’s his military stone.”
What happened, he explained, was the stone had been placed right on top of his wooden casket, and as the casket deteriorated, the stone sank. He lifted the stone back out, and now it’s there with a flag. “It’s like he’s guarding the whole area,” Martin said.
Those are just some of the stories Martin can tell about his relentless search for missing graves. “The more you do this, the more you develop insight into where to look,” Martin says. Yet sometimes, the answers remain elusive.
Martin remains puzzled by a small burial ground off Prospect Mountain Road. It has a stone wall around it, but there is no name to the cemetery. “I scratched my head on that one. I still can’t really say for sure who started the cemetery, let alone who’s in it.”
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TO REMOVE:
Yesteryear
Foliage and History Abound in Chocorua
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
“5:35 A.M. - Kept on through North Tamworth, and breakfast by shore of one of the Ossipee Lakes. Chocorua north-northwest. Hear and see loons and see a peetweet’s egg washed up.”
—from Henry David Thoreau’s journal
People have been attracted to Mount Chocorua for hundreds of years, some to capture it in watercolor and paint or in words. Others did not have an artistic calling but came to hike the mountain and experience the view from its jagged peak.
For many years, the beauty of the New Hampshire’s mountains have drawn thousands of visitors each year. Creative people such as writer Henry David Thoreau found the White Mountains very inspiring. Chocorua may have been the first rugged mountain they saw upon entering the area and its oddly shaped, craggy peak always
impressed.
At this time of year, many will be headed to northern New Hampshire to view the breathtaking foliage among the mountains. Many of those, on their way to Mount Washington Valley will be lucky enough to view Chocorua, the mountain with the craggy top that makes it so recognizable. Long before settlers arrived in the area, Native Americans lived near the mountain. Indian trails ran near Chocorua, and one local legend says that in the 1700s, local tribal chief, Chocorua, died atop the mountain’s summit. Some stories say the chief died in a hunting accident; others say he met his fate when attacked by white men. “Incidents in White Mountains History” by Benjamin Glazier Willey relates that Chocorua was an Indian chief who sought peace with the white men who traveled into the area. One white hunter, however, couldn’t resist the heinous idea
of hunting down and killing the great chief. Pursued up the mountain that now bears his name, Chocorua pleaded with the hunter to spare his life, but sadly, the chief fell from the mountaintop. Whatever the real story might be, the mountain from that time was known as Chocorua.
By the 1760s, settlers were moving into the area, and in 1766 a charter was granted for the village of Tamworth, near Mount Chocorua. In the early 1800s, a devastating fire burned about 3,000 acres, including the mountain. The fire swallowed up the trees and the mountaintop of Chocorua was stripped bare by the fire; only the craggy rock on the summit remained. During the first half of the 19th century, Chocorua was largely used for agriculture. Modest sized mills also sprang up around the region.
An early account of the famed mountain appeared in the early 1820s when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called “Jeckoyva.” The poem was about the Chocorua legend of the Indian chief and his death. Soon after, painter Thomas Cole traveled to the territory, which at that time was very rugged terrain, to capture the beauty of the area on canvas. Perhaps he read the poem and wanted to see the wilderness area for himself.
Cole was a member of the Hudson River School (a name for a group of painters in New York State). In the fall of 1828, Cole climbed up Chocorua with another artist. On his first trip up the mountain, the scenery was etched in Cole’s mind, and he returned to this subject matter again and again over the years he painted in the White Mountains.
Soon, other artists followed Cole and climbed Chocorua. They made the mighty mountain the subject of their artistic vision as well. The peak became known far and wide due to its appearance on artists’ canvases in various Boston and New York exhibitions.
By the 1850s, trails were cut up the mountains and local farmers were a stopping point for hikers wishing to take the trail to the top. The practice of renting a room to hikers and visitors to the area began and it was a boost to the local economy.
In the 1870s, private properties
were becoming summer homes for the wealthy. Along with the development came an awareness and strong commitment to preserving the forests and water in the Chocorua area. A Boston financier, Charles Pickering Bowditch, purchased an old farmstead in 1879 and helped the effort for the conservation of most of the lakeshore. Development was done slowly and with thought as outsiders began to purchase and then rehabilitate old farm properties. Eventually, there was the building of architect-designed summer houses.
According to an article in the Reporter newspaper on October 16, 1913, a new inn was opened in the area. With a headline of “Chocorua Inn Brilliantly Entertains Former Guests, Prospective Sportsmen and Ladies,” the story relates that in the autumn months the inn had “still great attractions and possibilities for sportsmen.” With great views from its porch, the Chocorua Inn offered its guests fine cuisine and “all that can be desired” as told in the Reporter
The Chocorua Inn grew in size over the years. As time marched on, other inns were built. Jim Liberty opened a popular lodge in the 1880s. He converted an old logging camp on the trail up Chocorua into the Halfway House. The lodgings were very rough, and a stone foundation was used as a spot to pitch tents. Liberty was supposedly quite a character and known for taking hikers up Chocorua in his bare feet!
Later, Liberty sold the road/path and rights to the Halfway House to David Knowles and Newell Forrest in the late 1800s. They built a three-story stone hotel, also called the Halfway House, and they instituted a toll for those who wanted to pass over their property to hike up the mountain. The sum was high for its day and would equal over $20 by today’s standards.
The owners of Halfway House made improvements to the Chocorua Mountain Road. They blasted rocks and put in stairs on parts of the trail. Perhaps their biggest change to the face of the mountain was building Peak House at the top. There were no trucks and heavy equipment in those days, so workhors-
• Yesteryear
continued on page 18
Flu Vaccines are available at the following convenient times:
October 24 (Thursday)
1pm
October 25 (Friday)
3pm
November 14 (Thursday)
3pm
November 21 (Thursday) Speare Hospital: Front Lobby 7am - 3pm
November 26 (Tuesday)
Hospital: Front Lobby 7am - 3pm
Through Oct. 27, A Year with Frog & Toad, Oct. 19 & 26: 10 a.m. & 3 p.m., Oct. 27: 1 p.m., Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, 603279-0333, www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org
Oct. 22, Education Series: The Great Gatsby, 10:30 a.m., Chubb Theatre, Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh. com, 603-225-1111.
Oct. 22, Kids Create: Paints & Brushes, 5:30 - 7 p.m., for ages 6-11, Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, 603-524-4775.
Oct. 22, Teen Mindfulness, 3 – 4 p.m., learn mindfulness techniques from Karen Deighan of the UNH Cooperative Extension, Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, 603-524-4775.
Oct. 22, That Reminds Me of a Story, 2 – 3 p.m., presentation by Rebecca Rules, author/storyteller, Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, 603-476-8895, pre-register: www.moultonboroughlibrary.org.
Oct. 23, Polliwogs, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603366-5695.
Oct. 23, Silent Film Series “The Lost World, 6:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh.com, 603-536-2551.
Oct. 24, Autumn Watercolor Class, 10 a.m. – noon, free, Center Harbor Library, instructor Ann Xavier, pre-register:chlibrarynh@gmail.com, 603-2536950 by 10/21/24. Contact: Linda Verge, www.centerharborlibrary.org, 35 Plymouth St, Center Harbor,
Oct. 24, Sharon Jones, blues, jazz vocalist, 7 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main Street, Meredith, tickets/info: 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com
Oct. 25, Fused Glass Fancy Fall Landscape with Verne Orlosk, 1 – 3 p.m., sign up by Oct. 21, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.
Oct. 25, Let’s Sing Taylor: A Live Band Experience Celebrating Taylor Swift, 7:30 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
Oct. 25, Mike Farris, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh.com, 603-536-2551.
Oct. 25, Pumpkinfest Fun! Glow Hand and Face Painting, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., decorate your hands and arms, or have a friend paint luminous designs on your face, ages 9-18, Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, 603-5244775.
Oct. 25, Trick-or-Treat, 5:30 - 7 p.m., age 12 & under, trick-or-treat on Tanger Street, 120 Laconia Rd., Tilton, www.tanger.com
Oct. 25 & 26, NH Pumpkin Festival, pumpkin events in downtown Laconia & Weirs Beach, info.: www.nhpumpkinfestival.com
Oct. 26, Eaglemania – the World’s Greatest Tribute Band, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh.com, 603-536-2551.
Oct. 26, Fall Leaf Bowls, 1 – 3 p.m., Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Pre-register: 603-366-5695.
Oct. 26, Fall Tree & Shrub ID, 10 a.m. - noon, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org Pre-register: 603-366-5695.
Oct. 26, Halloween Town, lighted pathways, bouncy house, storytelling, and more, Purity Spring Resort, Eaton Rd. & East Madison Rd., Madison, halloweentownnh.thelaurafoundation.org/, 603-367-4010.
Oct. 26, Laurie Berkner Halloween Concert, 11 a.m. & 3 p.m., Chubb Theatre, Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www. ccanh.com, 603-225-1111.
Oct. 26, Mini Scene in a Globe with Patsy Frasier, 10 a.m. – 2p.m., needle felting class, sign up by Oct. 21, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.
Oct. 26, Murder Mystery Co – Death of a Gangster, 4 & 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh.com, 603-225-1111.
Oct. 26, Pumpkinfest Fun! Pumpkin Suncatchers, 10 – 11 a.m., paint a pumpkin suncatcher to celebrate Pumpkinfest, all ages of youth, Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, 603-524-4775.
What’s UP
Oct. 26, The Cat’s Pajamas Vocal Band, 7:30 p.m., Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium, 1 Laker Lane, Meredith, benefits Circle Program, 603-524-7044, www.tbinh.org.
Oct. 26, Fall Leaf Bowls, 1 – 3 p.m., Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603366-5695.
Oct. 26, Fall Tree & Shrub ID, 10 a.m., - noon, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.
Oct. 27, 10,000 Maniacs, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
Oct. 27, Belknap County Day, Gunstock, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Rt. 11A, Gilford, 603-293-4341, www.gunstock.com.
Oct. 27, Gile Series, KITA Women’s Vocal Ensemble, 2 p.m., Chubb Theatre, Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh. com, 603-225-1111.
Oct. 27, Printing Making Without a Press with Pam Smith, 1 – 3:30 p.m., sign up by Oct. 23, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.
Oct. 29, Coffin Zen Garden, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., create a relaxing Zen Garden with a Halloween twist, geared for ages 9-18, Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, 603-524-4775
Oct. 29-31, Pumpkin Patch Decorating Contest, 2 p.m., Clark Museum Complex, 233 South Main St., Wolfeboro, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org
Oct. 30, Katie Dobbins & Hermit Woods Winery present songwriter Roundup, 7 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main Street, Meredith, tickets/ info: 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com
Oct. 31, Halloween in the Village, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., tricks and treats in Tamworth Village, free community event, Tamworth Outing Club, info@tamworthoutingclub.org.
Oct. 31, Halloween Toga Dance Party, 8 – 10 p.m., Morrisseys’ Porch & Pub, 286 South Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-3662, www.morrisseysporchandpub. com.
Oct. 31, Halloween Trick or Treat, Clark Museum, 233 South Main St., Wolfeboro, www.wolfeborohistoricalsociety.org
Oct. 31, Trick-or-Treat at the Library, 5 – 7 p.m., kids and teens invited to stop by the Children’s Room to show off your costume and get candy and free books, Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, 603-524-4775.
Oct. 31, Trick or Treat in Wolfeboro, 5 – 8 p.m., info.: www.wolfeboro chamber.com.
Nov. 2, Shop Til You Drop Craft Fair Fundraiser, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., presented by Granite State Choral Society, James W. Foley Community Center, 150 Wakefield St., Rochester, crafts, baked goods, drinks, raffle and more, gschoral@gmail.com
Nov. 2, Thurley Mountain Preserve Clean Up (Ossipee), 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Milton, Moose Mountain Regional Greenways, www.mmrgnh.org., 603-4732020.
Nov. 5, Thanksgiving Pie Basket, with Mary Jeanne Luckey, Artworks Gallery, Chocorua, 603-323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.
Nov. 8, Adult Craft Night with Doodlin’ Di, 6 – 8:30 p.m., Ossipee Town Hall, pre-registration/info.: Ossipee Parks and Recreation, Ossipee Parks & Recreation, 603-539-1307.
Nov. 8, Magic Rocks! Starring Illusionist Leon Etienne, 7:30 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www. rochesteroperahouse.com
Nov. 9, Jimmy Dunn, comedian, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com
Nov. 10, Feather Wool Tree with Jean Read workshop, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., sign up by Nov. 4, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920.
Nov. 12, The History of Meredith Bay, 6:30 p.m., speaker John Hopper, Ph.D., author of The History of Bear Island, Community Center, 1 Circle Drive, Meredith, 603-279-1190.
Nov. 12, Make Your Own Watercolor Holiday Cards, 2:30 – 4:30 or 6 – 8 p.m., with instructor Pat Edsall, pre-registration closes the day before the event, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org
served on thick Texas toast Sandwiches & Burgers | Don't forget to check out our daily breakfast & lunch specials!
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: 444
or
Artisan Breads • Pies • Cookies • More! Your favorites upon request by a multiple award winning baker. Our own locally crafted maple syrup. Open 1 day a week ~ Saturday from 9-3 66 Moose Mtn. Road, Brookfield, NH seabrisket.com • 603-832-3090 (no texts)
Nov. 13, An African Safari, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., presentation by June Aprille and Nelson O’Bryan of video clips and still photos of safari to Zambia’s South Luangwa national park, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603323-8510, www.tamworthlibrary.org.
Nov. 15, Dancing Dream: The Tribute to ABBA, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, tickets: 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com
Nov. 15, Kris Allen, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey Movie & Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets/info: www.flyingmonkeynh.com, 603-536-2551.
Nov. 15, Parents Night Out, 4 – 8:30 p.m., Ossipee Town Hall, Bub Avery Memorial Gym, pre-registration required, children in grades 1-6, drop of your kids for night of activities, info.: Ossipee Parks & Recreation, 603-539-1307.
ONGOING
ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts/CCAC, art, workshops and events, open year-round with seasonal hours, 603-323-8041, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, www. chocoruaartworks.com
Bad Mom Night, every Thurs., Trenta, 30 Middleton Rd., Wolfeboro, 603-5151068, www.trentanh.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, Rt. 3, Bristol, bristolopenairmarket@atlanticbb.net.
Canterbury Shaker Village, walking trails, tours, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, restaurant, music, walking trails, tours, events, 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.
Coffee Hour, 10 – 11 a.m., coffee, tea and snacks, Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Rd., Effingham, 603-539-1537, Effingham.lib.nh.us.
Country Village Quilt Guild, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., meets first and third Wednesday of each month, Public Safety Building (back entrance to Police and Fire Dept.), Rte. 25, Moultonborough, countryvillagequilters@gmail.com.
Cruise Night, 5 – 7 p.m., Thursdays, 50/50 raffle, prizes, Tilt’n Diner, 61 Laconia Rd., Tilton, 603-286-2204. (Thursdays until Oct. 26)
Dam Brewhouse, events, 1323 NH Rte. 175, Campton, 603-726-4500, www. dambrewhouse.com.
Exhibit: Lucknow’s Laborers: The People Who Built and Cared for Tom Plant’s Estate, Castle in the Clouds Carriage House (gallery), Rt. 171, 455 Old Mountain Rd., Moultonborough, www.castleintheclouds.org
Family Craft Day, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., first Saturday of each month, free and fun for all ages, Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www. belknapmill.org.
First Friday Receptions, through Dec., 5 - 7 p.m., refreshments, conversation & art, ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts, 603-323-8041, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, www.chocoruaartworks.com
Friday Painters, 12:30 - 3 p.m., meet weekly, Mt. Washington Valley Arts Assoc., Gibson Center, 14 Grove St., N. Conway, ken@gibsoncenter.org.
Guided Group Tour, history and machines of the historic Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, pre-register: jill@belknapmill.org, 603-524-8813, Monday-Friday.
In the Round, 8:45 a.m., Sundays, thought-provoking topics related to tolerance, Benz Center, Sandwich, 603-284-7211.
Indoor Pickleball, 5 p.m., Sandwich Central School gym, Sandwich, every Tues., Wed. & Fri., parksandrec@sandwichnh.org
Kirkwood Gardens, free, open to public year round, Rt. 3, Holderness, tour the gardens, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.
Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., meets second and fourth Wednesday of each month, First Congregational Church, 115 Main St., Wolfeboro. A second group meets Mondays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Community Center, 22 Lehner St., Wolfeboro, www.llqg.net
Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org
What’s UP
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. Loon Center, walking trails, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-4765666, www.loon.org
Makers Mill, a variety of workshops, arts and crafts classes and more, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
Making Strides, 8 – 9 a.m., drop-in walking for groups or singles, Ossipee Town Hall, no pre-registration required, 55 Main St., Center Ossipee, takes place various times: www.ossipee.recdesk.com.
Meredith Public Library Bookstore, run by Friends of the Meredith Library, open weekly: Wed. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., lower level, Meredith Public Library, 91 Main St., Meredith, 603279-4303, www.meredithlibrary.org.
Model Yachting, 1 – 4 p.m., Tues. & Thurs., Back Bay Skippers at Cotton Valley Rail Trail, Bridge Falls Path, Wolfeboro, watch radio controlled model yachts, NH Boat Museum, schedule: www.nhbm.org.
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
New England Racing Museum, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., open Saturdays, 922 NH Rte. 106 N., Loudon, www.NEMSMUSEUM.com
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, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603-3238510, 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 program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.
Quilting Group, 1 - 4 p.m., meets every 2 weeks, Ossipee Public Library, 74 Main St., Ossipee, schedule/info: 603-539-6390
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, events, tours, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.
Roller Skating Night, 5 p.m., Mondays, bring your own skates, for age 18 and up, Ossipee Town Hall, 55 Main St., Ossipee, info/updates: 603-539-1307, www.ossipee.org.
Rug Hookers, 10 a.m. – noon, meets Tuesdays, Tuftonboro Free Library, 221 Middle Rd., Rt. 109A, Tuftonboro, 603-569-4256.
Sculpture Walk, tours of outdoor sculptures around downtown/lakeside areas of Meredith, free, Greater Meredith Program, maps: 603-279-9015.
Song and Jam Circle, 6:30 – 8 p.m., community created jams and song circle, 3rd 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 Lake Cruises, family/educational cruises to look for loons & wildlife, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, www.nhnature.org, 603968-7194.
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, 9 a.m. - noon, Saturdays, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org
Tamworth History Center, 25 Great Hill Rd., Tamworth, info: www.tamworthhistorycenter.org.
Tuftonboro Country Bluegrass and Gospel Jam, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays, donation requested, Old White Church, Rte. 109A, Center Tuftonboro, across from Tuftonboro General Store, 603-569-3861.
Wolfeboro Farmers Market, noon – 3:30 p.m., Thursdays, The Nick, 10 Trotting Track Rd., Wolfeboro, email: wolfeborofarmersmarket@gmail.com, www. wolfeborofarmersmarket.com.
Wolfeboro Table Tennis, meets Wednesdays from 4 – 6 p.m., in basement of All Saints Church, Wolfeboro, all skill levels welcome, $5 admission charge each week, info: 603-520-5651.
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
• Yesteryear continued from page 12
es did the dragging of materials up the
The new Peak House must have been quite a luxury at the time. With areas for dining, a kitchen, lodging rooms and even a sitting room with a piano for entertaining guests, Peak House was unique.
Because the mountain peak (due to the fire years ago), was exposed rock with no tree shelter, Knowles and Newell knew they had to secure their new inn to the mountain. They did so
by using cables, which were attached to the building and to rocks. Lodging at the Peak House at the mountain’s summit was expensive, but many paid to stay there. At that time, the fee was $13 per week, quite a sum in those days. This speaks to the popularity of Mount Chocorua, and the lengths tourists would go in order to lodge on the famed mountain. Alas, in 1915 the Peak House, during high winds, was blown off the mountain. Even though a toll was to be paid to take the road to the top of Chocorua, North Country residents weren’t to be denied their hikes on the beloved
mountain, and they simply blazed other trails. Some of those trails opened up new ways to reach the summit. Winds at mountain summits have always been a way of life for those who choose to rough the elements. A cabin was built on the spot where once the Peak House stood, but its roof was blown away during high winds in 1932. By the early 1900s, logging was underway all over New England, and the White Mountains were seen as a goldmine of timber by logging companies.
A fire decimated the mountainside in 1915, and over 1,000 acres were burned. In the same year, the U.S. Forest Service surveyed Mount Chocorua, and a plan was formed for the government to purchase many forested areas in the Mount Washington Valley. This was happy news for conservationists who had long tried to curb logging and building around the Chocorua area.
Soon to be formed, the White Mountain National Forest offered protection for the majestic mountains of New Hampshire’s North Country.
While hikers and forestry workers were tramping around the mountain, its beauty over the years was not lost on artists and writers. The famous American painter John Marin, in the 1930s made many sketches and paintings of the mountain, and writer e. e. cummings, who had a summer home nearby, also painted Chocorua.
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Over the years the Appalachian Mountain Club cut trails and did upkeep on Chocorua. The U.S. Forest Service erected fire lookout areas atop the mountain, but many stations were blown down in strong winds over the years.
Today Mount Chocorua is well known by hikers, leaf peepers and tourists. It has been immortalized over the last two centuries, always easily recognizable by its craggy, rocky summit. Paintings and poetry and books depict the wild beauty of Chocorua. During fall foliage season, thousands of travelers will pass by the mountain as they drive Route 16, taking in a view as special today as it was for Thoreau and others so long ago.
