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carole · 03-08-2005, 09:21 AM

Maybe this doesn’t count because my first memories are from spending the summers on Lake Winnisquam (50’s -60’s). I know we got over to the ‘big lake’ some, but Winnisquam was an acquired love – I say this because as kids we weren’t that happy that we packed up and left our friends at home in Conn. to spent the summer in NH. It didn’t take long before we settled in each year to our summer life connecting again with other friends we’d see again year after year or making new friends from those renting a cottage nearby. One in particular, Ann, had been a favorite for a couple summers (we were probably 6 or 7 yrs. old). We spent our days barefoot, laughing and sharing. I got a puzzle (Snow White) from her as a birthday present one year and kept it for many years but when her family didn’t return the next year I mourned.

We got our groceries by boating across the lake to a store next to the bridge where Rt.3/11 crosses the lake. That’s when you gave the storekeeper the list from your mother and they put it all in boxes for you while I poured over the recent comic book rack. They’d add the total to the tab for my father to pay when he came up for the weekend. We then might boat over to the other side of the bridge and get a hamburg at the ‘Jack-in-the-Box’.

We went in the lake daily rain or shine (mother’s orders) so no need to take a bath! We rarely wore shoes, carted our drinking water up from a spring nearby, learned to waterski, explored the lakeshore and woods nearby and of course complained when we had to leave because summer was ending and school started soon. We also came up for short trips during the fall and winter heating the whole house with a kerosene/wood burning stove in the kitchen. It seemed to take forever to get warm but it made great pancakes.

Unfortunately my father wasn’t good with paying taxes and we lost the cottage when I was about 12. But NH remained in my heart. I returned after getting married and now the ‘big lake’ figured more in the lives of my children.

Many a summer day was spent at Ellacoya State Park. It was so peaceful to watch them enjoy the water and sand. I have a favorite photo of my son (maybe 2 or 3 years old) having gotten wet and then rolling in the sand and chasing his older sisters who just lathered up with suntan oil.

We have boated and canoed on the lake, driven around it on motorcycle, rode the Mt. Washington, took bicycle rides to the beach in Alton and jumped in, and watched the growth around both lakes. (I can’t even recognize our old cottage on Winnisquam.)

Now I spend more time enjoying the lake from the heights from many vantage points and watching the little dots (whether they be sailboats or snowmobilers) move across almost silently as I savor the view.

03-08-2005, 09:21 AM	#71
carole Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lake Winnisquam Maybe this doesn’t count because my first memories are from spending the summers on Lake Winnisquam (50’s -60’s). I know we got over to the ‘big lake’ some, but Winnisquam was an acquired love – I say this because as kids we weren’t that happy that we packed up and left our friends at home in Conn. to spent the summer in NH. It didn’t take long before we settled in each year to our summer life connecting again with other friends we’d see again year after year or making new friends from those renting a cottage nearby. One in particular, Ann, had been a favorite for a couple summers (we were probably 6 or 7 yrs. old). We spent our days barefoot, laughing and sharing. I got a puzzle (Snow White) from her as a birthday present one year and kept it for many years but when her family didn’t return the next year I mourned. We got our groceries by boating across the lake to a store next to the bridge where Rt.3/11 crosses the lake. That’s when you gave the storekeeper the list from your mother and they put it all in boxes for you while I poured over the recent comic book rack. They’d add the total to the tab for my father to pay when he came up for the weekend. We then might boat over to the other side of the bridge and get a hamburg at the ‘Jack-in-the-Box’. We went in the lake daily rain or shine (mother’s orders) so no need to take a bath! We rarely wore shoes, carted our drinking water up from a spring nearby, learned to waterski, explored the lakeshore and woods nearby and of course complained when we had to leave because summer was ending and school started soon. We also came up for short trips during the fall and winter heating the whole house with a kerosene/wood burning stove in the kitchen. It seemed to take forever to get warm but it made great pancakes. Unfortunately my father wasn’t good with paying taxes and we lost the cottage when I was about 12. But NH remained in my heart. I returned after getting married and now the ‘big lake’ figured more in the lives of my children. Many a summer day was spent at Ellacoya State Park. It was so peaceful to watch them enjoy the water and sand. I have a favorite photo of my son (maybe 2 or 3 years old) having gotten wet and then rolling in the sand and chasing his older sisters who just lathered up with suntan oil. We have boated and canoed on the lake, driven around it on motorcycle, rode the Mt. Washington, took bicycle rides to the beach in Alton and jumped in, and watched the growth around both lakes. (I can’t even recognize our old cottage on Winnisquam.) Now I spend more time enjoying the lake from the heights from many vantage points and watching the little dots (whether they be sailboats or snowmobilers) move across almost silently as I savor the view.