Last updated: 9/7/2008
503 Endicott Street North
Weirs, NH 03246
PO Box 5386
Weirs, NH 03247
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Ann W. Sprague
phone: 603-366-5950
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The mission of the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society is to promote and preserve the history and legacy of Lake Winnipesaukee and its surrounding communities.
The history of the entire region is tied to Lake Winnipesaukee and the area has significant archeological sites and a rich historical tradition.
Eight New Hampshire communities border the lake, all of which have their own local historical societies. No organization presently exists which looks at the lake as a whole and ties together the interactions, be they commercial or cultural, of the entire region. It is with this unifying purpose, with a focus on the lake itself in mind, that the organization was founded.
The first goal of LWHS has been realized through the creation of a museum housed in a renovated historic building which provides a setting for the public viewing of historical artifacts. The site was purchased in 1999 and much work has been completed to upgrade the property and renovate the buildings.
The Museum opened in June 2004 and a terrific collection of historic photographs, artifacts, memorabilia has been organized as a "tour around the Lake" within the Museum, with each of the towns on the lake represented. LWHS wants to keep the rich history and interesting heritage of the area alive through a variety of changing displays and programs.
The second phase of the Museum renovation project is to construct a 46 x 46 post and beam barn-like addition that will allow LWHS to provide larger exhibits and indoor programs.
The addition will provide space to exhibit more educational displays, antique cars and boats and will allow program development of educational lectures and events. People with special knowledge of important facets of the history of the area will be invited to participate as guest lecturers or as part of oral history projects so that their knowledge may be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Other ideas for upcoming projects include converting a former workshop building into a replica of a rustic summer camp, the kind which played host to generations of young people during the summer months for well over 100 years. Other projects which are in the works include creating a video library of Lakes Region history.
LWHS was formed after Tim Lawton, one of the Society's co-founders, an avid scuba diver,in 1985 recovered from the lake the front davit from the Old Mount Washington Steamboat which burned and sank to the bottom of the lake in 1939. (The davit serves today as the welcome sign for visitors as you enter the Museum.) A place in which to showcase the history of Lake Winnipesaukee and its surrounding communities then became a passion. The group became organized and filed as a 501(c)3 in 1986, an historic collection started, and fund-raising began. In 1999 LWHS purchased a local landmark, a property which was developed in the 1930's as the second "cabin colony" in Laconia. The site serves as an example of the tradition to hospitality that has been a vital part of the area's economy and history since the 1800's. Much work to the infrastructure of the property and renovation to the buildings resulted in the opening of the Museum in June 2004 on a part-time basis. In January 2005 a full-time executive director was hired. The Museum is now open year round, six days a week and the organization is becoming more active.
The second phase of the Museum Renovation Project is to construct a 2,000 sq.ft. barn-like addition for more exhibits and larger displays (such as antique cars or boats), as well as indoor programs and events.
Historic photographs of lake boats, communities and individuals; 1,000 historic and vintage postcards of the lake and surrounding communities; artifacts recovered from the bottom of the lake from well-known 1800's and 1900's vessels; local Native American artifacts; models of famous steamers and boats; historic maps; other interesting memorabilia from 1850's-1950's.
Area history collected over the past 50 years is organized by subject area, such as boats on the lake, captains on the lake, certain families, granges & grange halls,
The museum is set up as a self-guided tour, but personal tours are available during regular open hours or by appointment.
10 member board of directors
Quarterly newsletter to membership.
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