Nostalgic Experiences Still To Be Had

[thinkxingu]

Ok, so my son and I bikepacked Martha's Vineyard this past weekend and discovered a CD jukebox in a campground's play room, and he was like the monkeys and the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was very cool to go back in time for a bit.

Added to an ice cream truck visit back home last week, the experience got me thinking about what "nostalgic" experiences remain in the Lakes Region.

The two that immediately come to mind are The Weirs pier and Kellerhaus, which haven't changed much since I was a kid in the 80's when my parents rented on Baker Street.

So, please share any thoughts you have so maybe I can pick some off with my family!

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[ishoot308]

When it comes to the lake and surrounding area three things come directly to mind for me...

#1. Breakfast at Ames Farm

#2. The Arcade at the Weirs

#3. Bike Week

None of these have changed much if any in the past 60 years for me...well maybe bike week tamed down a little!

Dan

[ghfromaltonbay]

The Kellerhaus immediately came to mind for me also. Others are the Yum Yum Shop in Wolfeboro, Moultonborough Country Store and rides on the mail boat. We've spent summers in Alton Bay since 1959. Miss the roller rink at the bay, True's Gifts and the Yield House in Meredith. Miss dinners at the William Tell in West Alton!

[pondguy]

I miss the Popcorn Man at Victoria Pier. Also The Edgewood Resturant on Rt. 28 in Alton in the 60s.

[jbolty]

polar caves

[DesertDweller]

Top floor of the Funspot with all of the older pinball and video games

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

Miss dinners at the William Tell in West Alton!

This is a good one and one I miss as well!! Do you have any idea when they first opened??

Dan

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

The Kellerhaus immediately came to mind for me also. Others are the Yum Yum Shop in Wolfeboro, Moultonborough Country Store and rides on the mail boat. We've spent summers in Alton Bay since 1959. Miss the roller rink at the bay, True's Gifts and the Yield House in Meredith. Miss dinners at the William Tell in West Alton!

The roller rink is a great memory! There was also a small store just below and next to the tracks that had the best crunchy plain donuts.

Oh, and we had to beep before going over that bridge!

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[MeredithMan]

A couple that come to mind:

1) Eating at Hart's. Menu and decor really haven't changed since I first went there with my parents in 1974.

2) Story Land. Not exactly a lakes region attraction, but my parents took me there as a kid; we took our kids there every year when they were young; and in life coming full-circle, they now offer "Story Land for Adults" on select Friday evenings in the summer, (or at least the last two summers)

[Descant]

Many many memories that can't be "legally" duplicated e.g. spending the night on the boat at public docks, Weirs, Wolfeboro, etc. Miss Winnipesaukee is no longer in business, nor the speed bats in Alton Bay, but you can still get an antique speed boat ride on the Millie B (Wolfeboro) and Miss Lauren (Weirs). Friends on the Forum will let you tie up so you can climb Rattlesnake Island. Members can use the LRCT dock; same with Stonedam Island. I learned to ski jump in Paugus Bay. Perhaps the Abenaki Club will set you up in Back Bay? It's still amusing to watch amateurs launch and retrieve their boats. Tourist attractions haven't changed much, Castle in the Clouds, Winnipesaukee RR, ride to the top of Gunstock? Here's one just for Think: We used to get 3-4 boats together and cruise to Hanson Cove after Labor Day, and swim/picnic at the summer camp dock. Lake challenges: Set up your own marathon and ski from say, Eagle Island, around Diamond, around Parker, and return. Wear a blindfold, ride someplace for say, 45 minutes, and see if you know where you are. Or where the nearest ice cream stand is.

[Mr. V]

The Army / Navy surplus store in downtown Laconia.

Penny candy.

Ice cream at Sawyers.

Blue berries on Mt. Major.

[TomC]

A little farther afield, but: Clarks Trading Post...

[RUGMAN]

Now the city wants to change the historic nature at the weirs and allow a casino to operate.a proposed zoning change could allow a casino. what happens to the veteran homes built in 1878. Terrible idea to allow this to happen.

[NHskier]

I remember vacationing at the Weirs for a couple years as a kid, close to 60 years ago. Of course the arcades and pier stand out, but I also recall my father having to pay for us to go onto the beach.

[ghfromaltonbay]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

This is a good one and one I miss as well!! Do you have any idea when they first opened??

Dan

Maybe Gravy Boat will know. She worked there. If I remember correctly, my maternal grandparents tried the place first as my Grandmother came from Switzerland. She passed away in 1985, so it must have been 3 or 4 years prior as she was diagnosed with ALS in1983.

[8gv]

My nostalgia comes from a trip to the lake and Mount Washington when I was a child.

Each summer we went to my dad's place of birth, Lanesville MA and stayed there for two weeks with his sister, aunts and uncles.

My mom protested complaining that we rarely went on "real" vacations.

So it was decided that we would go to a HUGE lake and also go atop a HUGE mountain.

The announcement was a few months before the trip so our parents spent that time getting us excited about the trip.

I had received a gift of a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle depicting a beautiful snow capped mountain reflecting in a placid lake.

That was the image that created an expectation of what the lake and mountain would be like.

When we arrived at our lodgings at the Weirs I was not seeing that picture and was disappointed.

My mom had a tooth issue with terrible pain and there was no solution on the weekend.

When we reached the top of Mount Washington via the Cog Railway fog rolled in.

But I am here now living out my retirement years.

I guess a place can overcome first impressions.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

Maybe Gravy Boat will know. She worked there. If I remember correctly, my maternal grandparents tried the place first as my Grandmother came from Switzerland. She passed away in 1985, so it must have been 3 or 4 years prior as she was diagnosed with ALS in1983.

I was going to say around 1980…

Dan

[Senter Cove Guy]

On July 12, 1924, the Abenaki Tower was formally dedicated. It was rebuilt in 1978. Last summer was the tower's 100th birthday. Do it twice, once during the day and again at night. Two different experiences.

[BillTex]

A ride on the Mt Washington.

[BroadHopper]

Great one! I can add jumping off the Weirs Bridge, Marathon water ski racing, various rope swings around the lake, jumping off the roof at Irwin's Pier. The marine patrol boats back in the days were slow! Having them chase you was an adrenaline rush! Don't forget the offshore races and the parties!

Originally Posted by Descant

Many many memories that can't be "legally" duplicated e.g. spending the night on the boat at public docks, Weirs, Wolfeboro, etc. Miss Winnipesaukee is no longer in business, nor the speed bats in Alton Bay, but you can still get an antique speed boat ride on the Millie B (Wolfeboro) and Miss Lauren (Weirs). Friends on the Forum will let you tie up so you can climb Rattlesnake Island. Members can use the LRCT dock; same with Stonedam Island. I learned to ski jump in Paugus Bay. Perhaps the Abenaki Club will set you up in Back Bay? It's still amusing to watch amateurs launch and retrieve their boats. Tourist attractions haven't changed much, Castle in the Clouds, Winnipesaukee RR, ride to the top of Gunstock? Here's one just for Think: We used to get 3-4 boats together and cruise to Hanson Cove after Labor Day, and swim/picnic at the summer camp dock. Lake challenges: Set up your own marathon and ski from say, Eagle Island, around Diamond, around Parker, and return. Wear a blindfold, ride someplace for say, 45 minutes, and see if you know where you are. Or where the nearest ice cream stand is.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Great one! I can add jumping off the Weirs Bridge, Marathon water ski racing, various rope swings around the lake, jumping off the roof at Irwin's Pier. The marine patrol boats back in the days were slow! Having them chase you was an adrenaline rush! Don't forget the offshore races and the parties!

We had two years before the nearest rope swing to us was removed. I don't know that there are any left?

There are still rocks and cliffs, though!

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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

We had two years before the nearest rope swing to us was removed. I don't know that there are any left?

There are still rocks and cliffs, though!

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We had one on Waukewan when I first purchased 10 years ago but the land changed ownership, and the tree was cut down. I'm sure it's a liability today with all the lawyers advertising to sue for everything now.

[SAMIAM]

Miss the club scene from the 70’s and 80’s
The Stonehearth,Depot,Christmas Island,Silver Lining Lounge,Margate,White Hat in Holderness all had live bands….mostly rock,blues and country that kept everybody dancing
Bar scene was exciting back then

[LoveLakeLife]

The manual bowling lanes and Medieval Nights at the Kings Grant Inn.


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[Major]

Sorry Thinkxingu, but none of my nostalgic memories are still around. In no particular order -

1. Daily visits to Prescott's for penny candy and ice cream. Sometimes we'd visit "Paul's" too. (Paul Noyes was the proprietor of Langley Cove.)
2. Watching Bike weekend at Christmas Island where the backup from the Weirs extended.
3. The rope swing on the west side of Meredith Bay.
4. And I'd be remiss not to mention our periodic visits with Radar, who used to travel on his tricycle up and down Weirs Blvd. He was a trip! I wonder if the CIA finally got him!

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Miss the club scene from the 70’s and 80’s
The Stonehearth,Depot,Christmas Island,Silver Lining Lounge,Margate,White Hat in Holderness all had live bands….mostly rock,blues and country that kept everybody dancing
Bar scene was exciting back then

I use to hang with an Antico, his family owned the Margate. We stayed with his grandmother in the house out front and would go to the club there every night even though we were underage. We'd drink all night, and he would just sign the check at the end of the night, the staff hated us.
The Brickyard was another one, that's where I met my wife.

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Senter Cove Guy

On July 12, 1924, the Abenaki Tower was formally dedicated. It was rebuilt in 1978. Last summer was the tower's 100th birthday. Do it twice, once during the day and again at night. Two different experiences.

Man, do I miss the nightly post-dinner walks up the road to catch the sunset from the Tower with the kids. We were blessed to be within walking distance for nearly 70 years. I remember the original tower well, watched the construction of "new" (now getting old" Abenaki Tower II, and was there in July '78 when the new one was dedicated. The 100th anniversary Peter Ferber print hangs right behind me here in the home office.

[pondguy]

Disco dancing at Brickyard those were the days short walk for me I lived and worked at The Village also known as Brickyard Mountain Condominium II back then.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Grant

Man, do I miss the nightly post-dinner walks up the road to catch the sunset from the Tower with the kids. We were blessed to be within walking distance for nearly 70 years. I remember the original tower well, watched the construction of "new" (now getting old" Abenaki Tower II, and was there in July '78 when the new one was dedicated. The 100th anniversary Peter Ferber print hangs right behind me here in the home office.

Was that after eating at a restaurant or at home? If restaurant, what was its name?

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[winni83]

Gone forever:

Franken Sundae, where the Town Docks is now located.

Surf Coaster and the Weirs Beach Waterslide.

Moultonborough Town Dump when it was just a big pit into which you could toss anything.

[Biggd]

Roller skating at the pavilion in Alton Bay.

[LoveLakeLife]

Indian Village next to Funspot. The Windmill restaurant with its popovers.


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[Major]

Originally Posted by LoveLakeLife

Indian Village next to Funspot. The Windmill restaurant with its popovers.


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Very fond memories of the Windmill, which was owned by the Thomas family.

Reminded me of the Double Decker. We would stop there for a bite on our way back to Mass prior to when we moved to NH.

[John Mercier]

Double Decker being gone, maybe the Tamarack for a similar experience?

[Mr. V]

Carrying a big Thermos jug from our cabin up to the pavilion at Lake Shore Park, then pumping the well handle to fill the Thermos with drinking water for the day.

Carving my initials into the pavillion wall; listening to rock n roll on the juke box.

Envious of my fellow young teens who made out on Baby Beach.

Espying my first Donzi.

[retired]

Bonfires on the beach at Lake Shore Park and sending morse code signals with our flashlights to someone on Welch Island, who sent them back.

[NH.Solar]

Living on Bear Island for the summers as a kid on the beach of BIYC near Camp Nokomis, and drivng a 13' whaler from there to the docks in front of Chase's so I could tie up the boat for the day and walk up the hill to my first job working back kitchen prep boy at Hart's. Halcyon days for sure...

[retired]

Mount One!

[BroadHopper]

Ringing the dinner bell at Camp Samoset at 2am walking from the LSP pavilion to Terrace Hill Road.
Thanks for the reminder Mr. V about Baby Beach and the 'innocent youth' of LSP.

[dickiej]

Rowing all the way from Peggy’s Cove to the Bandstand….roller skating at the rink…kissed Sandy from Somerville wen we were 14…playing pinball at Downings.

[Aunt Lula]

In Wolfeboro- Eating at Bailey's (before it was called Morrissey's) on Rt 28; the Huggins Hosptial Fair every August; the Basket Barn and the Minnetonka shoe store in Wolfeboro Falls; picking up our mail at the post office in Wolfeboro Falls; The Yum Yum Shop when it was on the other side of the street.

[Descant]

The OP asked about things that were nostalgic that could be repeated today. A lot of good memories posted above, but lots that can't be repeated. Nevertheless, for Think and his family, anything you do together today can be nostalgia for the kids in 2075. AND, 2076 will be our TRICENTENNIAL. How many will store a time capsule someplace? There's a chance for some bona fide nostalgia.