The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-08
The Weirs.

The dwellers in the hill country" OF New
England have sometimes been arraigned by
pilgrim worshipers at the shine Of lake and
as fools who value nature not a |
straw" There may be an element of truth in |
this arraignment and it may be that these |
hasty judges condemn without full knowledge. |
People born and reared where earth has built |
the great watch-towers of the mountains" possi- |
bly, may lack something of the effusive senti- |
ment OF those to whom lakes and mountains |
are not daily companions. In the gilded hours |
OF summer leisure tourists may fail to compre- |
hend what hard complexities OF the bread and
butter problem are created by the very hills
that elicit their soulful admiration. As mat
ter OF fact the native is far more apt to be en-
dowed with the soul to appreciate the natural
glories amid which he lives than to have in the
swift gleam of sunshine and verdure which
constitutes his summer, the opportunity to
gratify esthetic cravings. The necessity for
improving " each shining hour - rarely RENTS
its pressure and SO it is unquestionably true
that the sightseeing, pleasure-seeking stranger
can tell the stay-at-home native dweller many
strange things about the sights and scenery
which have made these regions famous The
mention of the Weirs doubtless carries with it
to the majority Of readers no suggestion of
natural attractions, near at hand, which have
hardly rival in the world. BY reading or
land or Switzerland is more familiar As the
locality offers to people in this vicinity the
requisites of an inexpensive and refreshing
summer holiday, amid scenes which thousands
OF tourists annually come from distant places.
at great expense, to see and enjoy, it is believed
that some information respecting its attractions
will be acceptable to the readers of THE
WATCHMAN.
HISTORY.
In its general outline Lake Winnipeseogee is
not unlike the hide of huge animal stretched
out to cure, Meredith and Mnultonborough in
lets standing for the parts which once clothed
the rear legs, Center Harbor the tail and Alton
and Marlborough the paws. At the mouth of
Meredith bay, at the southwesterly corner OF
the main lake, 1t pours its waters through a
narrow channel with the waters of other
streams, to form, ultimately, the Merrimack.
Before the days of milldams and factories,
shad ascended the rivers to the lake and depos-
tied their spawn in its quiet recesses When
" the noble red man" hunted on the shores of
Winnipeseogee and fished in its waters, and
the adventurer and sportsman were the only
tourists, the Indian, it is related placed in this
narrow outlet distractions made of willows, re-
sembling and serving the purpose of fish weirs,
by means of which 10" and the pushing
white settlers easily secured heavy catches of
the swarming finny tribes. Weirs and Indians
long ago disappeared, but the name has sur
vived. Still further to utilize the vast supply
duces the volume of its natural discharge, the
bed of the stream where the aboriginal weirs
were laid has been dredged out by the govern
ment. This has been done ostensiby in the
interest of navigation but really, it is believed.
in the interest of the mills of Manchester and
Lowell. Ten years ago the Methodsts were
holding camp meetings Just north of the Weirs
in grove of oaks and pines on the lake shore
and there was rude railway station for the
accommodation of passengers who, at this
point took the boat for other places on the lake.
Levi K. Weeks. then a merchant at Laconia,
conceived the idea of putting up building on
the camp grounds, and providing for the wor-
shippers more elaborate entertainment than
the regulation camp meeting bill, of cold
corned beef and baked beans. This germ of a
hotel had six rooms for dodgers and provided
warm meals for lodgers-out. Mr.. Weeks was
in delicate health and sought remuneration
among the pines of the place. He kept his
hotel open for summer business during the
| season and few years later put up a second
| building. Cottages for the accommodation OF
| the towns attending the camp meeting were
built in the grove in semicircle fronting the
lake. In the amphitheatre thus formed seats
were placed for the accommodation of five
| thousand worshipers, and speakers stand
erected Three years ago Mr.. Geo. w. Weeks
| Joined his brother in making third spacious
and substantial addition to the original build
ings and in putting up a cafe These struct-
ures constitute the Lakeside Hotel which ha:
a lodging capacity of one hundred and fifty
and feeding capacity of three hundred
| There are now seventy-fve cottages in this
| grove. The later erections are tasteful in de.
sign and suggestive of comforts that are luxu
ROSS in comparison with the primitive ways o
| ten years ago Other religious and the TEN
perance societies began to hold "grove meet
| ings" at the Weirs From the devotion of the
site to camp meeting purposes the transition tC
camping for recreation was easy and natural
The place became the objective point of excur
sions and the great stream of summer trave
paid tribute to its attractions In 1873 thu
Winnecoette was built by J. W.. Doolittlt
on an elevation half a mile from the lake anC
| commanding an extensive view of the Winni
peseogee and the country. 1t has recently
been enlarged to twice its original size. Th'
railway has put up new and tasteful station
graded the ground around it and built a con
venient and spacious approach to the dock o
the steamer, Lady of the Lake. In 1879 thu
wooded and rocky ascent opposite the railway
station was converted into a smooth and grass,
terrace and
HOTEL wEIRs
erected there bv W. A. Sanborn, formerly cap
tain of the Lady of the Lake. The hotel i
now the property of his daughter, Mrs. ]. S
Wadleigh, wife of the present commander o
the historic " Lady" The hotel is a spaciou
and attractive structure of the summer resor
style of architecture. Its elevated site com
mands beautiful view Of the lake and tn
mountain ranges. 1t has spacious veranda
and promenades where, sitting, walking o
swinging in hammocks ease and enjoyment
in the presence of delightful prospects, may b
had II the night at the " Weirs" is not file
with music" there il apt to be Emusic in tn
air." till seasonable bed time and there is n
lack of evening amusement and good com
pany. Table, service and sleeping arrange
ments are of the best The convenience an
/ sightliness of the locality with its excellen
} appointments gain for this hotel an easy pref
erence. 1t is a restful place for transient O
for summer boarders d. B Story is tn
manager. The active and efficient man c
affairs is his son, Mr.. F. W. Story, who hos
! pitably welcomes the coming and speeds til
going guest" Near Hotel Wers is
CAMP EvARTs W. FARR,
3 established in 1882 Here the New HampshiT
I veterans Of the war hold their annual reunions
| In the beautiful grove on the gentle ascent
. tasteful and substantial stand has been erecte
+ and above are arranged comfortable permf
! nent seats. Still further up are the headqua
ters buildings and the immense dining pavilion
In front of the handsome edifice at the head {
the camp is the Woodbury. Sanborn memoirs
stone in which have been deeply cut an
gilded the names of the regiments and batter
, les which the Granite State sent to aid in sui
! = DUNG the rebellion The stone is huge fla
boulder surrounded by fence made of mil
tary implements cannon supplying the posi-
, and muskets with bayonets fixed the fence
q q Several fine cottages, farm, boarding house
and stores make up with the buildings an