Hotel? in Weirs

justcurious · 09-14-2009, 07:24 PM

Was it ever a hotel or restaurant? That large exhaust type fan was installed much later and I can't imagine that a parsonage would have use for one of those.
Thanks so much for the info!
Another "mystery" mostly solved.
You folks sure are quick!

Argie's Wife · 09-15-2009, 12:03 PM

I don't believe it was ever a hotel or restaurant because the deeds always mention it as being a parsonage. Anything is possible, but I'm basing this on my research of plans, deeds, and mortgages I could find online with Belknap County.

The Methodist used to (and still do in some areas) have circuits they travel each year or each summer, as was the case with this group in the Weirs. The parsonage is generally where the "big wigs" would stay. This area is part of the Methodist Circle that McDude refers to in his wonderful thread about the history of Weirs Beach.

There is mention of the large flue you're wondering about in some of the early deeds - as far back as 1947 - but the place is still called a "parsonage". Since the place was probably used the most in the summer and there was no air conditioning, the next best thing would be a vent (flue) from the kitchen. That's not an uncommon feature in many 'institutional' kitchens from that era.

Hope this makes sense.

Boardwalk Bluesboy · 12-11-2009, 11:25 AM

The building was definitely once a hotel or restaurant. It was called Lawrence Manor. Here is an ad from the 1947 Lakes Region Association's Where To guide. Sometime around the 1960's or early 1970's it went out of business. In the late 1970's there was briefly a fancy French restaurant there, but they were unsuccessful. In the late 1980's I remember touring the property when it was for sale, it was huge inside, but in very poor condition, so we didn't buy it. The 1947 advertisement notes that there were 40 acres of "fertile fields land wooded land" but in the late 1980's the property consisted of only about 3 acres. Later our business rented one of the outbuildings for storage for a few years. The current owners have done a nice job of restoration on the outside but I haven't a clue what the inside now looks like.

Argie's Wife · 12-11-2009, 06:37 PM

I wish there was a "thank you" button here - nice post BB. Thanks for shedding more light on the mystery!

SIKSUKR · 12-14-2009, 03:25 PM

+1 on Argies post. I know about the other activities but can somebody tell me what quoits is?

Pineedles · 12-14-2009, 04:13 PM

Quoits are round metal "donuts", same material as horseshoes, and similarly played like horeshoes.

Argie's Wife · 12-14-2009, 11:30 PM

Ms. Sorensen owned the property from 1947-1955. She sold it to Carl Davis and if I'm understanding another warrantee from 1956 correctly that Mr. Davis had sold the property to George and Mary Spanos - the current owners of the Shalimar (Sadly, George passed away a few years ago.) Very nice people.

The property was sold by the Spanos' in 1970 to Clifford Jones, Jr., and it appears he sold it in 1981 to a developer. It changed hands to the current owner in 1998 and is noted to be in "as is" condition. In 1998 it was purchased for far less money than it was purchased for in 1970!

mswlogo · 12-23-2021, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

I wish there was a "thank you" button here - nice post BB. Thanks for shedding more light on the mystery!

Umm, there is a Thanks button. Isn’t that close enough?

Senter Cove Guy · 12-23-2021, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mswlogo

Umm, there is a Thanks button. Isn’t that close enough?

I don't think we had a "Thanks" button in 2009.

nvtngtxpyr · 12-15-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justcurious

Was it ever a hotel or restaurant? That large exhaust type fan was installed much later and I can't imagine that a parsonage would have use for one of those.
Thanks so much for the info!
Another "mystery" mostly solved.
You folks sure are quick!

I believe it was. That looks like the former Manor Restaurant which was part of Brickyard Mountain Inn in the early '70s. Served French cuisine under the renowned chef Elias MacQuaid (ha!).

Argie's Wife · 12-16-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvtngtxpyr

I believe it was. That looks like the former Manor Restaurant which was part of Brickyard Mountain Inn in the early '70s. Served French cuisine under the renowned chef Elias MacQuaid (ha!).

That explains the 'Brickyard' reference I saw in the deeds - but it was never called an inn or manor or anything of the sort...

rughooker · 04-30-2011, 06:40 PM

hello all, I am late to the discussion, discovered it April 2011. Just want to clear something up. The Methodist Parsonage was at 27 Doe Ave, next house down from the old French Manor Restaurant of the 1970's. I lived in the parsonage for 20 years, bought it from the church in 1982. The church fathers wanted to sell it because it was impossible to heat, having no insulation beyond lathe and plaster. I bought the parsonage and had insulation blown in and then was quite cozy. It was a wonderful house to live in. The original maple floors were there in the kitchen and dining room. Fortunately I knew a gentleman who had worked on repairs in the house, in his youth, and he was able to tell me what the rooms looked like and were used for when the pastor and his family lived there. I sold the house in April 2002 and still miss it. Have no idea who owns it now, but it was gutted last year and remodeled, not attractively in my opinion, and went back on the market. btw, the house was built in 1901. Thanks for listening!

Boardwalk Bluesboy · 12-23-2017, 01:04 PM

Here's an old postcard of Lawrence Manor with a nice view of the Lake. I believe the property is currently for sale if anyone is interested.

09-14-2009, 07:24 PM	#1
justcurious Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Was it... Was it ever a hotel or restaurant? That large exhaust type fan was installed much later and I can't imagine that a parsonage would have use for one of those. Thanks so much for the info! Another "mystery" mostly solved. You folks sure are quick!

12-11-2009, 11:25 AM	#3
Boardwalk Bluesboy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 110 Thanks: 0 Thanked 42 Times in 21 Posts	Lawrence Manor The building was definitely once a hotel or restaurant. It was called Lawrence Manor. Here is an ad from the 1947 Lakes Region Association's Where To guide. Sometime around the 1960's or early 1970's it went out of business. In the late 1970's there was briefly a fancy French restaurant there, but they were unsuccessful. In the late 1980's I remember touring the property when it was for sale, it was huge inside, but in very poor condition, so we didn't buy it. The 1947 advertisement notes that there were 40 acres of "fertile fields land wooded land" but in the late 1980's the property consisted of only about 3 acres. Later our business rented one of the outbuildings for storage for a few years. The current owners have done a nice job of restoration on the outside but I haven't a clue what the inside now looks like. Attached Images

12-14-2009, 03:25 PM	#5
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	+1 on Argies post. I know about the other activities but can somebody tell me what quoits is? __________________ SIKSUKR

04-30-2011, 06:40 PM	#12
rughooker Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	the former Methodist Parsonage hello all, I am late to the discussion, discovered it April 2011. Just want to clear something up. The Methodist Parsonage was at 27 Doe Ave, next house down from the old French Manor Restaurant of the 1970's. I lived in the parsonage for 20 years, bought it from the church in 1982. The church fathers wanted to sell it because it was impossible to heat, having no insulation beyond lathe and plaster. I bought the parsonage and had insulation blown in and then was quite cozy. It was a wonderful house to live in. The original maple floors were there in the kitchen and dining room. Fortunately I knew a gentleman who had worked on repairs in the house, in his youth, and he was able to tell me what the rooms looked like and were used for when the pastor and his family lived there. I sold the house in April 2002 and still miss it. Have no idea who owns it now, but it was gutted last year and remodeled, not attractively in my opinion, and went back on the market. btw, the house was built in 1901. Thanks for listening!

12-23-2017, 01:04 PM	#13
Boardwalk Bluesboy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 110 Thanks: 0 Thanked 42 Times in 21 Posts	Old Postcard of Lawrence Manor Here's an old postcard of Lawrence Manor with a nice view of the Lake. I believe the property is currently for sale if anyone is interested. Attached Images __________________ Robert Ames Webmaster WeirsBeach.com

09-15-2009, 12:03 PM	#2
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	I don't believe it was ever a hotel or restaurant because the deeds always mention it as being a parsonage. Anything is possible, but I'm basing this on my research of plans, deeds, and mortgages I could find online with Belknap County. The Methodist used to (and still do in some areas) have circuits they travel each year or each summer, as was the case with this group in the Weirs. The parsonage is generally where the "big wigs" would stay. This area is part of the Methodist Circle that McDude refers to in his wonderful thread about the history of Weirs Beach. There is mention of the large flue you're wondering about in some of the early deeds - as far back as 1947 - but the place is still called a "parsonage". Since the place was probably used the most in the summer and there was no air conditioning, the next best thing would be a vent (flue) from the kitchen. That's not an uncommon feature in many 'institutional' kitchens from that era. Hope this makes sense.

The Following User Says Thank You to Boardwalk Bluesboy For This Useful Post:
mswlogo (12-23-2021)

12-11-2009, 06:37 PM	#4
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	I wish there was a "thank you" button here - nice post BB. Thanks for shedding more light on the mystery!

The Following User Says Thank You to Argie's Wife For This Useful Post:
mswlogo (12-23-2021)

12-14-2009, 04:13 PM	#6
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,548 Thanks: 1,073 Thanked 669 Times in 368 Posts	Quoits are round metal "donuts", same material as horseshoes, and similarly played like horeshoes.

12-14-2009, 11:30 PM	#7
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Ms. Sorensen owned the property from 1947-1955. She sold it to Carl Davis and if I'm understanding another warrantee from 1956 correctly that Mr. Davis had sold the property to George and Mary Spanos - the current owners of the Shalimar (Sadly, George passed away a few years ago.) Very nice people. The property was sold by the Spanos' in 1970 to Clifford Jones, Jr., and it appears he sold it in 1981 to a developer. It changed hands to the current owner in 1998 and is noted to be in "as is" condition. In 1998 it was purchased for far less money than it was purchased for in 1970!