Winnipesaukee Forum - Diamond Island / Ames Farm

We were visiting Ames Farm last week when we had the good fortune of meeting a woman that happened to be an Ames. She was so pleased to see all the children enjoying the lake and the property that she enjoyed her childhood. She shared some of the history of the property from the time Governor Wentworth deeded the land to her family to the story of how one of the Ames children in the late 1800s contracted Tuberculosis and spent the summer in a tent on the hill. Many Friends and family came up from the Boston Area to visit the child and that event started Ames Farm Inn.

She also pointed out how the raised piece of land near the shore was actually the old railroad bed and the small cabin across the street was in fact the original train station.

The most fascinating story was the one about the short pier that still stands on the property. That pier was used as a port for a boat that traveled to a hotel on Diamond Island, the Diamond Island House. For many years this hotel was a favorite spot on the lake however it got the reputation of being a place of sin (gambling, drinking and other things…). The Diamond Island house was moved one winter to the Weirs and actually became part of the Weirs Hotel.

Does anybody have any more info on this?