20 things you may not know about Lake Winnipesaukee's Mailboat

diz · 07-23-2016, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefootbay

Thanks for the refresher Mcdude. Is the great escape still on the lake ? Haven't seen it for a few years.

It's at Irwin Marine. Here's a photo I took a few weeks ago.

barefootbay · 07-23-2016, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diz

It's at Irwin Marine. Here's a photo I took a few weeks ago.

Nice ! Thanks

camp guy · 07-24-2016, 08:34 PM

The Great Escape was at the Wolfeboro Town docks a couple of weeks ago. This beautifully restored, classic cruiser, lends grace and charm to any location it visits. It is always nice to her at dockside.

Barney Bear · 07-24-2016, 09:25 PM

This beautiful boat, Great Escape, is a frequent visitor at the Annual Boat Show in Meredith, usually held on the last Saturday in July.

Descant · 07-28-2016, 11:32 AM

So, Marshal Foch, Dolphin, Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam II and Sophie C all followed basically the same route and were designated post offices. I recall that Ed Lavallee had a 36' steel cabin cruiser in between the Uncle Sams that he ran for a couple of years to keep the USPS franchise active until the PT boat was activated. Can't remember the name.

I believe the Tonimar delivered mail but was not a "post office". Same applies to the Gray Ghost, run by Sandy MacKenzie to deliver mail, operating out of Wolfeboro. It looks to me like Robert & Arthur, and Columbia preceded the Tonimar on the Wolfeboro mail delivery route. I also saw reference to a "Blue Ghost". Hard to tell if that was a separate boat the preceded the Gray Ghost or just a name misrecollection from the author of a blog post.

In the early days and on into the 1950's islanders did not all have their own power boats. They relied on the mail boats and taxi boats to bring some freight, mail and passengers. Of course, they rowed or sailed, but power boats really made island living possible for many more people.

Bear Guy · 07-28-2016, 12:41 PM

Barney Bear · 07-28-2016, 05:05 PM

Sure must be a real ghost - as she seems to be hiding now!!! 👻

Orion · 07-29-2016, 08:21 AM

So the Doris E. was never used to deliver mail?

Phantom · 07-29-2016, 08:50 AM

correct !

.

07-24-2016, 08:34 PM	#3
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,195 Thanks: 303 Thanked 529 Times in 296 Posts	Great Escape The Great Escape was at the Wolfeboro Town docks a couple of weeks ago. This beautifully restored, classic cruiser, lends grace and charm to any location it visits. It is always nice to her at dockside.

07-24-2016, 09:25 PM	#4
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 496 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Real Classy Lady This beautiful boat, Great Escape, is a frequent visitor at the Annual Boat Show in Meredith, usually held on the last Saturday in July.

07-28-2016, 11:32 AM	#5
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,447 Thanks: 1,373 Thanked 1,649 Times in 1,077 Posts	How many ? So, Marshal Foch, Dolphin, Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam II and Sophie C all followed basically the same route and were designated post offices. I recall that Ed Lavallee had a 36' steel cabin cruiser in between the Uncle Sams that he ran for a couple of years to keep the USPS franchise active until the PT boat was activated. Can't remember the name. I believe the Tonimar delivered mail but was not a "post office". Same applies to the Gray Ghost, run by Sandy MacKenzie to deliver mail, operating out of Wolfeboro. It looks to me like Robert & Arthur, and Columbia preceded the Tonimar on the Wolfeboro mail delivery route. I also saw reference to a "Blue Ghost". Hard to tell if that was a separate boat the preceded the Gray Ghost or just a name misrecollection from the author of a blog post. In the early days and on into the 1950's islanders did not all have their own power boats. They relied on the mail boats and taxi boats to bring some freight, mail and passengers. Of course, they rowed or sailed, but power boats really made island living possible for many more people.

07-28-2016, 12:41 PM	#6
Bear Guy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: FL, Bear Is. Posts: 185 Thanks: 47 Thanked 70 Times in 41 Posts	Blue Ghost

07-28-2016, 05:05 PM	#7
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 496 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Blue Ghost Sure must be a real ghost - as she seems to be hiding now!!! 👻

07-29-2016, 08:21 AM	#8
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: MA Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	Doris E. So the Doris E. was never used to deliver mail?

07-29-2016, 08:50 AM	#9
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	correct ! . __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*