How can I find out the history of my island?

[eillac@dow]

So many of you have offered such great information and direction on this site. I know one of you can probably help me with this. Our summer home is located on Dow Island. My Uncle bought the island in the 50's and later sold off pieces of it. How can I find out the history of Dow Island prior to my uncle owning it?

Any direction would be appreciated.

Allie

[JMR]

One place to start is to search Belknap Registry of Deeds to trace ownership of the island. It can be done online, but actually going to Laconia allows you to get copies of what you see online.

One hint is when you look at deeds you may see a clause at the bottom of the legal description of the property that says something like "meaning and intending to convey the property purchased from" X on____ date, recorded at Book ____, Page_____." That tells you where to look next.

Good luck

[JMR]

I think you will be in Carroll County. The Registry is in Ossipee off of Rt. 28Sorry

[RPM]

Originally Posted by eillac@dow

So many of you have offered such great information and direction on this site. I know one of you can probably help me with this. Our summer home is located on Dow Island. My Uncle bought the island in the 50's and later sold off pieces of it. How can I find out the history of Dow Island prior to my uncle owning it?

Any direction would be appreciated.

Allie

I can help. I have spent countless hours researching each and every island on the lake. Dow Island,until 1887, was just a hole in the middle of lake Winnipesaukee. All the water would drain out each year after ice out.
During the winter of 1886/87 ,construction crews, chopped, in one big piece,
enough land from what is now the BASIN, and dragged it over the ice,around Worthleberry . It took dozens of men weeks to drop the section of dirt into the hole ,but as history shows they succeeded. The lake has never drained since.Dow was the name of the lead mule dragging the island over the ice, but unfortunatly fell through a ice hole and was never seen again.

[sa meredith]

Originally Posted by RPM

I can help. I have spent countless hours researching each and every island on the lake. Dow Island,until 1887, was just a hole in the middle of lake Winnipesaukee. All the water would drain out each year after ice out.
During the winter of 1886/87 ,construction crews, chopped, in one big piece,
enough land from what is now the BASIN, and dragged it over the ice,around Worthleberry . It took dozens of men weeks to drop the section of dirt into the hole ,but as history shows they succeeded. The lake has never drained since.Dow was the name of the lead mule dragging the island over the ice, but unfortunatly fell through a ice hole and was never seen again.

Wow...poor Dow. Was he wearing a PFD???