Downing's Landing 2019
 

Here's the latest on the Downing's Landing boat launch access in Alton Bay. The link is from the NH Fish and Game site.


https://nhfishgame.com/2019/06/27/bo...winnipesaukee/

Dave

Here is the latest on Downing's Landing in Alton Bay. The fall is closed for the season and the property is fenced in. On the gate is the notice of the plans. Unfortunately, work is progressing at the warp speed of a snail with a hangnail. :rolleye1:

Dave

Well that was a short lived public access.

Lets hope it lasts longer when it reopens, NEXT YEAR

I have been told that "Phase Two" will take all of next summer to complete.

I am hoping that I misheard.

So if you do not want to use the ramp next to Shibley's, what are some other near by options? Even if it's a pay to use ramp?

West Alton Marina would probably be closest...

West Alton fee
 

Just an FYI, the sign at West Alton stated $40 for launch, not sure if that includes parking.

Dave

West Alton
 

WAM-40 to launch, 15 to park

Roberts Cove - 20.00 to launch, free parking. A bargain by today's standards.

Just curious as to where everyone who used Downings to launch is launching now?

Must have purely been a contractor schedule thing about the timing but... come on! Mid summer??!!

Went by today and.... yup, crickets. Not a thing happening at that ramp!

For the people that use it, all they have to worry about is that it's done by next spring. I have faith in NH getting it done by then, but, if this was Mass, I wouldn't be so sure... Time will tell.

Everyone will be singing the praises of the new ramp when it’s done. It will be a state if the art NH Fish and Game ramp with 2 holes...no waiting! Now if the bass tournament people would restrain their power loading, it will stay nice for a long time!

Wrong blame
 

Wrong blame. As a resident of Alton Bay, and having spent many hours in and around the ramp areas, it is the family boater who doesn't want to get his truck / SUV wheels wet or dirty, thereby having two thirds of the boat rails out of water and then rev the engine trying to get onto the trailer. These are the same boaters who, after much difficulty backing up, spend twenty minutes or more loading the boat with coolers, water toys, etc..
Many bass fishermen have two to the boat, and often one handles the vehicle, the other the boat, and launch and recover quickly and properly.

The exception to the "good" bass fishermen join a large group of other boaters who have no clue about how to launch and recover their boat quickly and efficiently with no damage to the facility.

For what it's worth, it appears there will be some form of base going further out on the ramp areas that may help alleviate some of the wallowing out of the ramp area that has occurred since F&G took over the ramp from the Downings.

Dave

You are right! Ramps are usually an idiot circus...

To answer Cal Coon, the ramp will be closed most of the boating season next year (phase 2). .. There are also no plans to replace the docks that were alongside the river.

Hard to believe that what is scheduled to be done this month and next could not have been done in Oct and Nov? Just the State not caring or understanding.

out with the old
 

out with the old concrete launch ramp planks. I wanted to show a picture of the work in progress, but no matter what I did, the picture was upside down. Oh well, it's like a bad hair day, especially for the bald guy.:rolleye2:

Dave

Up-side Down?
 

Tried CTL + h ?

Pile driving today. A passing "sidewalk supervisor" said that they unexpectedly encountered the remains of an old RR bed buried in the mud adding to the difficulty.

The RR part sounds strange however in the early history of Alton some large boats were launched in the Bay. Dude?

In the old days, there was a train that went to Alton Bay and some kind of boat picked up passengers and took them to Wolfeboro and I assume other towns on the lake. I know this from old letters that were in my parent's house which was at one time what was called a boarding house. The guests would write to the owners and say they were taking the train to Alton and then a boat to Wolfeboro and the owners could pick them up there. Some guests took the train right to Wolfeboro.

There was a mini-train amusement park ride in Downing's lot at one time. Could that have been it?


Also I seem to recall a large boat (the Winni Belle?) towed up Rt. 11 from the seacoast and launched in this general area. Perhaps they used some kind of RR track/bed to get it into the water?

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/photop...m/IMG_0024.jpg


Launching of the Winni Belle at Alton Bay 1998 or 99 - photo by Sunset BoB


https://www.winnipesaukee.com/photop...m/IMG_0027.jpg


https://www.winnipesaukee.com/photop...nallaboard.jpg

The tracks on Alton Bay were on the west side of the bay.....not near the Downing's side.....and you could indeed take a boat from there to Wolfeboro. (The Tonimar was one) You could take the train to Wolfeboro in later years by going up to Sanbornville and then taking the Wolfeboro spur to Wolfeboro. This spur is now a walking trail called the Cotton Valley Rail Trail which is about 14 miles long.

If they could only recreate what's in this last picture on that same spot. That's awesome!

Interesting. So the tracks were only on the west side (obviously where the train station still is) and none being on the east side? Do you know how they came in Mcdude? Meaning from the train station that exists now, going south, where did they go? Right through where JP China is now? So you are saying the trains existed in Alton Bay before they did in Wolfeboro?

Lots of history in MDudes post, map on #1

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ead.php?t=1405

If you're facing J.P. China you can see where the tracks used to run just to the right. There was a bridge over the tracks at the beginning of Rand Hill Road. There was another bridge right in the middle of beautiful downtown Alton. The line coming up to Alton from Dover, NH was called the Cocheco Railroad, so named because it followed the Cocheco River. Find more info in this thread; https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...hlight=cocheco


https://www.winnipesaukee.com/photop...n_Maine_RR.jpg

On the west side, as mcdude says, going south next to JP China. The tracks then crossed the river over Letter S Road, old bridge abutments are still there. Then across Main St and behind Town Hall and next to the police station where the B&M Railroad Park is now. Then south parallel to Rt 11, much of the old bed is now snowmobile trail.

As far as I know there were no B&M RR tracks on the Downing's Landing side.

In 1871 - 1872 the original Mt Washington was constructed in Alton Bay and launched from there. I don't know where in the Bay it was launched from.

Ok. Interesting. So are you saying the trains that went to Wolfeboro were freight only not passenger? And eventually they did bring passengers?

Taking out the coffer dam.
 

When I came by just before 4pm, they were taking out the dam and stacking it in the parking lot.

Dave

That train service looks attractive even today!

It’s old cribbing from launching the old boats back in the day. The Fish and Game were told that they would most likely encounter this problem, they didn’t listen and carried on with their plan anyway.
I was told that this project will now go all the way through next year and they won’t be done until at least next fall.
Sooo, this means no parking for snowmobile trailers and ice fishermen this winter.

Downing's Landing
 

This whole series of posts, questions and answers, historical in nature, is an example of what Winnipesaukee.com is all about. For the most part, I do think this site stays within its own boundaries, much to the credit and benefit of the members. but, as we all know, there have been "those moments" during which the boundaries get stretched.

Thanks to all for this series of posts. McDude - you are a rock star!