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mcdude · 03-06-2005, 04:53 PM

From "Winnipiseogee Heritage II" - Published by the History of Alton Class - Alton High School - March 1980.
THE BANDSTAND ON LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AT ALTON BAY AND THE ALTON BAY RACING ASSOCIATION
Interview with Mrs. Aida Downing conducted by Mrs. Johnston.

"In the mid 1920s, a group of men from Alton Bay formed a racing association with the idea of racing speedboats and other boats on Lake Winnipesaukee on Alton Bay. Members of the Association were; Lester Downing, Edward Downing, Harry Jones, Martin Lynch, Ralph Stevens and Stephen Lynch.

In 1928, the association decided that a bandstand should be built in the bay. The bandstand would be used for two purposes; band concerts and a judging stand for races. The bandstand was built over a large ledge about halfway between the old railway station and Victoria Pier. during the Winter months when the ice was frozen, a crib was built, filled with rocks and a foundation built over this. The bandstand was completed later.

Mr. Olie Barnes of Alton was asked to construct the bandstand with the help of the racing committee and a crew of volunteers. The stand was completed and used in 1928 for band concerts and boat races.

The following is from the 1928 Alton Town Report:
Report of the Alton Bay Racing Association
Cash Received:
Donations by subscriptions....................$915.75
Amount received from Whist parties........$134.51
Received from Town of Alton.................$500.00
Deficit........................................... .... $78.54
TOTAL............................................. .$1628.80

Cash paid out:
Frank I. Hayes, 8 Band Concerts...............$660.00
Advertising Mass. Gold Cup Regatta............$30.00
Prizes for Speedboat Races.......................$45.50
Bandstand Construction............................$893.30
TOTAL............................................. ......$1628.80

Labor and materials and the use of teams and trucks were donated by the citizens to the extent of $679.80 making the total cost of the bandstand $1,573.10, which is the property of the Town of Alton.

From an Oak Birch Inn Brochure. This photo taken at Victoria Pier in Alton Bay with the Mount Washington dock in the left background.

BOAT RIDES

Interview with Aida Downing and Richard Downing by Kathy Jones and Mrs. Johnston

For many years, Alton Bay was the center for speed boat rides, its' only competition was a 26 foot Chris Craft, the "Miss Winnipesaukee, out of the Weirs.

The first speed boats to carry passengers out of Alton Bay began operating around 1930. They are as follows;
1.- "Yankee Flyer" - Carl Cram, 1930, 30 foot Dodge, 350 H.P.
2.- "Minute Man" - Dr. Webster, 1932, 26 foot Hackercraft, 175 H.P.
3.- "Legionaire" and "Legionaire Special" = Fred and Lester Downing (Bay Boat Company) 1934, 28 foot Garwood, 150 H.P. and 26 foot Chris Craft, 225 H.P.

Mr. Cram eventually purchased the "Minute Man" around 1938 and remained in business for several years. His boats operated from a dock which was located at the site of the present motel by Woody's Store (Now Gillan's Marine?) The last spped boat to operate from this dock was "The Miss Alton Bay" during the 1950s.

Across the bridge, at Downing's Landing, the Legionaires were operated by Fred and Lester Downing.

Downing's Dock

During the 1930s and 40s few people owned their own boats and these thrilling boat rides provided much enjoyment for city tourists. The usual ride gave the passenger a view of Alton Bay's shore line as far as Little Mark Island all for 35 cents. Later, the price for a 20-30 minute ride increased to 50 cents and 75 cents. A trip around the lake might run for about nine or ten dollars.

In October of 1940, the fastest 'passenger boat' in the world arrived at Alton Bay from the Corby Estate at Bald Peak Colony Club in Moultonboro. Known as the "Jay-E III", it was renamed the "Legionaire 70". It was owned and operated by Mr. Lester Downing from 1940-1947 when he sold it to Mr. Al Ouellette of Sandy Point Beach.

The "Legionaire 70" was 36 feet long by 8 feet, 7 inches. It had a single 1,000 H.P. 12 cylinder V-type Packard engine built by Garwood in 1929. It ran on 75% aviation gas and 25% benzol. The "Legionaire 70" lived up to its' name and truly averaged 70 m.p.h. The gas consumption, when running at wide open throttle, was 100 gallons per hour. Ther was only one other boat exactly like this one, its' twin, which was owned by the King of Siam. (would I make this up?)

As the late 50s and early 60s arrived, more and more people began to purchase their own boats. The days of the speed boat were over and a new era of boating began. The "Legionaires", owned by the Bay Boat Company, were the last survivors and discontinued operation in the early 60s."

BOAT RACES
From "Winnipiseogee Heritage" History of Alton Class - Alton High School - Taken from the "Winnipesaukee Times" by David Shibley.
"Between the year of 1947 and 1951, boat racing was just about the most popular sport in Alton Bay and the Lakes Region. Some of the big names at the time were, Al Ouellette (one of the best drivers and oldest on the circuit, whose homebase was Sandy Point), Ray Ouellette (Sandy Point), William Heidke (Alton Bay), Bob Jones (Alton Bay), Charles Trumble (Alton Bay), Ivers Wetherbee (Alton Bay), David Birdseye (Alton Bay), Bob Colby (Laconia), Frank Redding (Wolfeboro), and Brad Bryant (Weirs). All boats were put into classes; inboard, outboard and special class; then those boats were broken down into A, B, C, D, or E. Boats ranged from a small 50 pound, 7 cubic inch, midget hydroplane to the big 30 cubic inch class "C" hydroplane, weighing 150 pounds and travelling well over 60 m.p.h. on the straight-away.

The length of the race course was three laps. Each lap was 3 miles long. Prizes were trophies. According to the rules, there had to be three boats to constitute a race. When 3 boats started, 2 places would be paid; where more than 4 boats started, 4 places would be paid. Some of the well-known boats at the time were "Miss New Hampshire", "Buckaroo", "Wild Duck", "Zambowango", "Hari Kari", "Tiger Shark" and "Wild Oats"."

ALTON BAY SKI CLUB

Click here to SUPER-SIZE this image (for easier reading)

03-06-2005, 04:53 PM	#3
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	The Alton Bay Boat Racing Association From "Winnipiseogee Heritage II" - Published by the History of Alton Class - Alton High School - March 1980. THE BANDSTAND ON LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AT ALTON BAY AND THE ALTON BAY RACING ASSOCIATION Interview with Mrs. Aida Downing conducted by Mrs. Johnston. "In the mid 1920s, a group of men from Alton Bay formed a racing association with the idea of racing speedboats and other boats on Lake Winnipesaukee on Alton Bay. Members of the Association were; Lester Downing, Edward Downing, Harry Jones, Martin Lynch, Ralph Stevens and Stephen Lynch. In 1928, the association decided that a bandstand should be built in the bay. The bandstand would be used for two purposes; band concerts and a judging stand for races. The bandstand was built over a large ledge about halfway between the old railway station and Victoria Pier. during the Winter months when the ice was frozen, a crib was built, filled with rocks and a foundation built over this. The bandstand was completed later. Mr. Olie Barnes of Alton was asked to construct the bandstand with the help of the racing committee and a crew of volunteers. The stand was completed and used in 1928 for band concerts and boat races. The following is from the 1928 Alton Town Report: Report of the Alton Bay Racing Association Cash Received: Donations by subscriptions....................$915.75 Amount received from Whist parties........$134.51 Received from Town of Alton.................$500.00 Deficit........................................... .... $78.54 TOTAL............................................. .$1628.80 Cash paid out: Frank I. Hayes, 8 Band Concerts...............$660.00 Advertising Mass. Gold Cup Regatta............$30.00 Prizes for Speedboat Races.......................$45.50 Bandstand Construction............................$893.30 TOTAL............................................. ......$1628.80 Labor and materials and the use of teams and trucks were donated by the citizens to the extent of $679.80 making the total cost of the bandstand $1,573.10, which is the property of the Town of Alton. From an Oak Birch Inn Brochure. This photo taken at Victoria Pier in Alton Bay with the Mount Washington dock in the left background. BOAT RIDES Interview with Aida Downing and Richard Downing by Kathy Jones and Mrs. Johnston For many years, Alton Bay was the center for speed boat rides, its' only competition was a 26 foot Chris Craft, the "Miss Winnipesaukee, out of the Weirs. The first speed boats to carry passengers out of Alton Bay began operating around 1930. They are as follows; 1.- "Yankee Flyer" - Carl Cram, 1930, 30 foot Dodge, 350 H.P. 2.- "Minute Man" - Dr. Webster, 1932, 26 foot Hackercraft, 175 H.P. 3.- "Legionaire" and "Legionaire Special" = Fred and Lester Downing (Bay Boat Company) 1934, 28 foot Garwood, 150 H.P. and 26 foot Chris Craft, 225 H.P. Mr. Cram eventually purchased the "Minute Man" around 1938 and remained in business for several years. His boats operated from a dock which was located at the site of the present motel by Woody's Store (Now Gillan's Marine?) The last spped boat to operate from this dock was "The Miss Alton Bay" during the 1950s. Across the bridge, at Downing's Landing, the Legionaires were operated by Fred and Lester Downing. Downing's Dock During the 1930s and 40s few people owned their own boats and these thrilling boat rides provided much enjoyment for city tourists. The usual ride gave the passenger a view of Alton Bay's shore line as far as Little Mark Island all for 35 cents. Later, the price for a 20-30 minute ride increased to 50 cents and 75 cents. A trip around the lake might run for about nine or ten dollars. In October of 1940, the fastest 'passenger boat' in the world arrived at Alton Bay from the Corby Estate at Bald Peak Colony Club in Moultonboro. Known as the "Jay-E III", it was renamed the "Legionaire 70". It was owned and operated by Mr. Lester Downing from 1940-1947 when he sold it to Mr. Al Ouellette of Sandy Point Beach. The "Legionaire 70" was 36 feet long by 8 feet, 7 inches. It had a single 1,000 H.P. 12 cylinder V-type Packard engine built by Garwood in 1929. It ran on 75% aviation gas and 25% benzol. The "Legionaire 70" lived up to its' name and truly averaged 70 m.p.h. The gas consumption, when running at wide open throttle, was 100 gallons per hour. Ther was only one other boat exactly like this one, its' twin, which was owned by the King of Siam. (would I make this up?) As the late 50s and early 60s arrived, more and more people began to purchase their own boats. The days of the speed boat were over and a new era of boating began. The "Legionaires", owned by the Bay Boat Company, were the last survivors and discontinued operation in the early 60s." BOAT RACES From "Winnipiseogee Heritage" History of Alton Class - Alton High School - Taken from the "Winnipesaukee Times" by David Shibley. "Between the year of 1947 and 1951, boat racing was just about the most popular sport in Alton Bay and the Lakes Region. Some of the big names at the time were, Al Ouellette (one of the best drivers and oldest on the circuit, whose homebase was Sandy Point), Ray Ouellette (Sandy Point), William Heidke (Alton Bay), Bob Jones (Alton Bay), Charles Trumble (Alton Bay), Ivers Wetherbee (Alton Bay), David Birdseye (Alton Bay), Bob Colby (Laconia), Frank Redding (Wolfeboro), and Brad Bryant (Weirs). All boats were put into classes; inboard, outboard and special class; then those boats were broken down into A, B, C, D, or E. Boats ranged from a small 50 pound, 7 cubic inch, midget hydroplane to the big 30 cubic inch class "C" hydroplane, weighing 150 pounds and travelling well over 60 m.p.h. on the straight-away. The length of the race course was three laps. Each lap was 3 miles long. Prizes were trophies. According to the rules, there had to be three boats to constitute a race. When 3 boats started, 2 places would be paid; where more than 4 boats started, 4 places would be paid. Some of the well-known boats at the time were "Miss New Hampshire", "Buckaroo", "Wild Duck", "Zambowango", "Hari Kari", "Tiger Shark" and "Wild Oats"." ALTON BAY SKI CLUB Click here to SUPER-SIZE this image (for easier reading) Last edited by mcdude; 03-07-2006 at 07:59 PM.

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