"Captain Leander Lavallee had prospered in the business
of steamboating and, feeling that he had earned the right
to retire and enjoy his remaining years in more leisurely
activities, he sold Mt. Washington in 1932 to Sidney Baker,
a young businessman of Lakeport. Captain Baker operated
the big steamer with a moderate degree of success during
these early depression years and added some features that
increased her attractiveness as an excursion steamer.
However, retirement did not satisfy Captain Leander, and
with improved health he was unable to resist the lure
of steamboating. In 1935, he purchased Mt. Washington
from Captain Baker and resumed operation of the grand
old boat. It is worth mentioning that under the management
of Captain Baker the pitch of the paddleboards was altered
slightly which increased her speed to approximately 17
miles per hour.
"For five more years the splendid sidewheeler continued
her seemingly endless journeying around the big lake,
pleasing old friends and adding new admirers with the
rhythmic chunk-chunking of her paddlewheels, and the deep-throated
roar of her whistle. After the 1937 season, she was hauled
out at Centre Harbor and replanked. When she returned
to The Weirs in May of 1938, she received a magnificent
wel-
come.
"It had become a custom during the last part of
this period to run what was called a Foliage Excursion.
This was done on Columbus Day, 1939, and it turned out
to have some historical sig- nificance in the record of
Mt. Washington. It was her last voyage, her 'swan-song.'
"During the final part of the career of the big
steamboat, Mt. Washington, two young men worked on her
during their college vacation. They liked steamboating
so well that they decided to become steamboat owners.
They informed their father, Michael Carroll, who was postmaster
of Laconia, and together they made an offer to Captain
Leander Lavallee to purchase Mt. Washington. A down payment
was made with provisions that certain conditions concerning
repair and maintenance be met and that title of ownership
would be transferred in April, 1940, when a second payment
would be made. This, of course, never transpired, and
Captain Leander Lavallee was still owner of his big boat
when she was destroyed.
"The details of this final episode in the career
of Mt. Washington must be a part of this story and are
here recorded as told by Captain Edward Lavallee, son
of her last commander.
"The big boat was customarily moored in The Weirs
Channel, near Endicott Rock, during the winter months,
where the running water prevented formation of heavy
ice.
