(September 30, 2005 – Weirs, NH) Where did you stay
when vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee as a child? Is it
still in business? What is it called now?
The “Lake Winnipesaukee Hospitality Exhibit,”
presently featured at the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical
Society Museum in the Weirs, depicts the era of the cabin
colonies from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. The
collection is on loan to the museum from Fred Clausen, owner
of Proctor’s Lakehouse Cottages in the Weirs, and
includes memorabilia, promotional flyers, keys, bumper stickers,
menus, brochures and other visitor information literature
on cabins, cottages and motels on the lake.
“I’m happy to loan this collection to the Lake
Winnipesaukee Historical Society. The museum is a perfect
place to share the history with other people interested
in the lake,” stated Clausen. “There is no sense
having all these wonderful historical items and keeping
them hidden.”
Clausen indicates that many of his guests at Proctor’s
Lakehouse Cottages stayed there as children. Now as adults
they return, bringing their own children, so the next generation
can experience the same feelings they had when at the Lake.
Clausen’s Lake Winnipesaukee Hospitality Collection
began about 15 years ago. Ending a career in the insurance
industry, he wanted to go into the hospitality business,
following in his family tradition. His father owned an inn
in New Jersey and was once the general manager of the Balsams
Resort in Dixville Notch. It had been a long time dream
for Clausen to run his own place.
“I bought a group antique shop that had a dealer with
thousands of postcards and all kinds of paper literature
for sale,” said Clausen. “Upon browsing through
them, I realized there was a lot of hospitality history
in these paper items, so I bought quite a bit…even
trying to find some of the actual places in the Lakes Region
to see if they could be for sale!”
The hospitality paper collection grew rapidly and “then
came Ebay” said Clausen, indicating that antique shops
and Ebay are his best sources of items. The collection is
a “work in progress,” and Clausen is interested
in gaining a better understanding of the historical chronology
from the start of cottage colonies in the 1940’s,
to the transition into roadside motels in the 1960’s,
and now the conversion into condominiums.
The public is invited to view the collection that depicts
the Lake’s historical popularity as a visitor destination
and the importance of the hospitality industry to our area.
Lodging establishments are welcome to see if they are represented
and add their own historical memorabilia on loan to expand
the display, as did the Sun Deck Cottages and Lodge on Dockham
Shore, Gilford.
The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society 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. Admission is free. The historical society was
established in 1985 to preserve and promote the history
of Lake Winnipesaukee and vicinity. For further information,
please contact info@lwhs.us,
603-366-5776.
