Smelt Fishing "Shanty Towns" on Winnipesaukee

[riverat]

Growing up in the Lakes Region I have many memories of seeing and visiting Shanty Towns on the ice with dozens and dozens of shanty's and a very unique enviroment of laid back living. Some of these groups had their own Mayor of sorts, complete with a town hall. I have been searching for any photographs or postcard depicting this era on the lake but have not been able to find any. I particually remember one on Paugus Bay. Anyone have any photos, McDude maybe?

[mcdude]

From what I've seen (in books....I'm not really that old....really!) it appears that Wolfeboro had the biggest and most well-organized ice fishing village complete with mayor, police and post office. This photo from "Remember When" edited by Kathy O'Meara was taken in the 1930s.

Other activities, besides fishing, included ice boat racing


and "ice buggy" racing

[RLW]

Thanks mcdude, it's nice to see you pull up the pictures for all to see.

[mcdude]

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[SIKSUKR]

I had never heard about Fisherville before. As always, McDude has all the history in his hands. Really cool. Thanks McD.

[steadyon]

those are really fun!
I have been icefishing here all my life and I did not know about fisherville.
thanks for sharing that!

[TOAD]

Great information and pictures! Thanks.

[riverat]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, McDude! you the man, I knew you would find someting in your vast collection of Winnipedia files. I do remember hearing stories of fisherville in Wolfeboro and love looking at these photos. Thanks again!

[mcdude]

Ice boat and Ice Buggy Races

Sled Dog Races

[riverat]

Great stuff McDude! Have a friend who was born and raised in Wolfeboro from the 40's thru 60's cannot wait to show him this stuff. Thanks

[SIKSUKR]

I was waiting for the picture of Jimmy Stewart running down main street! Awsome as always McD.

[Merrymeeting]

McDude, as others have said, thanks!

What I like to see is how little, relatively speaking, things have changed in many of the pictures. The Christmas photo of downtown Wolfeboro in the 50's could have been taken last month after a snowfall, and you wouldn't see much difference.

[KBoater]

I believe that Fishville may still exist. At least some of it. Anyone Know?

Great pictures.

Are there any pictures of the International Ice wind sailing race? I think it was in the recent past.(1980's-1990's) There must have been 300-500 people and animals on the ice off Wolfeboro doing everything including wind sailing(not ice boaating). I remenber that the Finns won just about every race.

[riverat]

From what I have been told, on the far end of Clark's Plaza out in the back is the last "City Hall" Shanty from Fisherville on a trailer. Have not seen it myself, but from a reliable source.

[tis]

A few years ago Carl Shannon et al brought fisherville back complete with town hall. If I recall right, Carl had town hall. I really don't think any of the fishhouses from the old fisherville are still around.

[riverat]

Was going by Clarks Plaza today and look what I found!

[mcdude]

riverat:
That is so cool that you found City Hall! I must have seen it out of the corner of my eye on my way down to the liquor store....but never made the connection!

[riverat]

Yes it was cool, in the old photo the boy to the far right is a friend of mine's father Warren Smith. Keeps getting cooler

[TOAD]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I was waiting for the picture of Jimmy Stewart running down main street! .

And I thought I heard a bell ring looking at those pictures!

Although new to the forum I am quickly coming to the conclusion that historical facts and pictures and obtained by the ever informed Mcdude!

[mcdude]

If anyone is interested in Kathy O'Meara's book, from which the photos above were scanned, it is currently available ON E-BAY

[KBoater]

The Granite State News has an interesting article today on Fishville history. I
m not sure if everyone can read this.

http://www.newhampshirelakesandmount...2010.02.04.pdf

[mcdude]

Thanks FLboater!

Town Politics in Fisherville

Fisherville was founded in 1888. This “village” within
Wolfeboro was set up each winter on the ice of Wolfeboro
Bay, a few hundred yards off of the town docks. At first it
was accessed by foot or horse-and-wagon. Then came the
motor age, and cars and trucks made it easier to come and
go.
In the course of skimming and reading through back issues
of the “Granite State News” as part of my History of
Wolfeboro research, I encountered many stories of this
ephemeral collection of vehicles and buildings. The high
point in hilarity seems to have been reached in the winters
of 1938-1939 and 1939-1940. In mock seriousness, streets were
laid out and named, “precincts” were established, officials
were elected, and municipal buildings (town hall, courthouse,
jail) were set up.
“Dusty” Rhodes was chosen as mayor in the winter of ’39-
’40 in an election in which both candidates had this identical
platform:
“If elected I will erect a building in which the residents
may store free of charge their fish-holes through the summer
months. This will save a great deal of confusion when
winter comes, as the holes will be ready to use and no ice
cutting will be necessary.”
This paper carried many other farcical accounts, this excerpt
from “news” published on January 5, 1940, being typical:
“Fisherville is rapidly being rehabilitated after the great
flood that dissolved its very foundations in May and continued
until December 29.… Many new buildings have been
erected during the past season. ‘Yankeemont’ Dunham, architect,
builder and janitor of the Court House, has given
other Fisherville builders a high standard of architecture
to follow.… Precinct Two seems at present to be the main
center of Fisherville.The Municipal Jail, in charge of Sheriff
[J. Frank] Goodwin, has been erected close to the Court
House, while ‘The Palace’ has been taken over as City Hall
until a more suitable building is ready. The population of
Precinct Two is at present 12 houses.…”
In the winter of 1940-1 the “official ballot” for mayor included
this pivotal question: “Will Fisherville be wet in July?”
At the bottom of the sheet was the tag line “Vote early
and often!” The winner was Harry Perkins, who bested his
opponent, Ike Allbee (owner of the Sheridan House hotel),
and went on to serve for many years thereafter. There were
135 registered voters who cast 1,156 votes for Perkins and 979
for Allbee.

– Dave Bowers (qdbarchive@metrocast.net)

135 voters cast over 2,000 votes!!...vote early and vote OFTEN!!

[KBoater]

Wolfeboro could use some of these creative folks to get involved in the current town hall discussion. Maybe their kids are??

Not being there, I ask are there any current "towns" on the ice anywhere this year?

[Dock and Barge]

My (luke freudenberg), me and a few friends have started the process of raising money to rebuild Fisherville. Currently only the townhall survives. For general information Fisherville was recognized as an official town on March 15,1940. I am working on securing the town charter as the state has no records. We are looking for help rebuilding the town. If anyone is interested in helping please email me at lukefreudenberg@hotmail.com. I am hoping to add a few building this year including a city jail, court house, and saloon.

[KBoater]

Way to go. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Jonas Pilot]

Note the wind damage to the roof. It would be a shame to lose this famous shanty.

[riverat]

Originally Posted by Dock and Barge

My (luke freudenberg), me and a few friends have started the process of raising money to rebuild Fisherville. Currently only the townhall survives. For general information Fisherville was recognized as an official town on March 15,1940. I am working on securing the town charter as the state has no records. We are looking for help rebuilding the town. If anyone is interested in helping please email me at lukefreudenberg@hotmail.com. I am hoping to add a few building this year including a city jail, court house, and saloon.

Fantastic! Sent a PM, Thank you on behalf of all nh icefisherman.

[mcdude]

"Remember When" by Kathy O'Meara available on e-bay for 99 cents. How can you go wrong?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Remember-When-Ol...item2563eb3700

[tis]

Originally Posted by mcdude

Ice boat and Ice Buggy Races

Sled Dog Races

I would love to know where that picture of the hockey team was taken. I believe it is at the corner of North Main Street and Keewaydin Road. My father, uncles and friends built a hockey rink themselves and then the town supplied the electricity eventually.

[snowflake]

Those pictures are great! If I'm not mistaken there's a bench dedicated to Mr. Moody. I join the walking trail at Albee Beach and it's along the tracks overlooking Wentworth. I often sit on the bench and imagine harvesting ice for the summer.

[BroadHopper]

My Uncle Roger, who was one of the 'telephone pioneers' mention laying telephone lines out to an ice fishing village and installing phones. I can't recall if it was Wolfeboro or Meredith. Anyone can relate?