(November 18, 2005 – Weirs, NH) The Lake Winnipesaukee
Historical Society invites you to another “Winnipesaukee
Wednesday” at which Rev. Frank E. Greene will speak
about the discovery of the lake in the 1880’s. The
free hour long program will take place on Wednesday afternoon,
November 30, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the LWHS Museum in
the Weirs.
The 1880’s was a time when much of the area’s
farmland had been abandoned and the beauty of Lake Winnipesaukee
was discovered by the wealthy families from the city. Frank
Greene’s family had manufactured the popular Greene’s
Nervura Tonic, a patented medicine of herbs and alcohol,
and was one of these early summer residents. Greene’s
grandfather, Frank E. Greene, built the Windemere estate
on Moultonboro Neck, and his well-known great-uncle, J.
Alonzo Greene built the former New Hotel Weirs and was Mayor
of Laconia in the early 1900’s.
Other well-known families that Greene will speak about
include Thomas Plant who built the Castle in the Clouds,
the Dumaresque family who built Kona Mansion (and also known
for donating the fountain to the town of Center Harbor),
and the families of the Far Echo Colonies.
“These people are worth remembering,” stated
Greene, indicating that his “Uncle Lon” was
“quite a character.” Of his many memories, Greene
shares a story about a time when J.A. would come to Windemere
in a coach with matching chestnut horses. He’d tell
the coachman, “Old Mr. Mallard,” to “get
in the back,” and J.A. would give the kids a good
show driving in fast up to the front of the house.
Frank has always been “a nut about history”
and speaks enthusiastically of the past. Frank observes
that the Civil War made a big difference to people’s
knowledge and perspective, learning about places such as
Indiana and Ohio where loam was deep and you didn’t
have to dig rocks. Abandoned farms were a dime a dozen and
the industrial revolution enabled people to make a lot of
money in manufacturing. The late 1800’s was a time
when the rural farmers of New Hampshire took the advice
of Horace Greeley to “Go West, young man” and
pursued what they saw as an easier and more lucrative life.
“Winnipesaukee Wednesdays” is a new lecture
series sponsored by the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society.
On selected Wednesdays throughout the year, various aspects
of life on the lake from an historical perspective will
be featured. The programs will be scheduled for approximately
one hour in length and are free and open to the public.
The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society was established
in 1985 to preserve and promote the history of Lake Winnipesaukee
and vicinity. The LWHS Museum is open Monday through Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all year and is located directly
on Route 3 in the Weirs, just south of Funspot. If you would
like to share your stories, sign up for free email notification
of these events, or for further information, please contact info@lwhs.us,
603.366.5776.
