Poll: What generation are you?

[mrportjeff]

Remember when there was no Grocery Store in the Gilford area - then Dan's Star Market came with its directional arrows on the floor?
How about when the Kellerhaus was not up the hill from the Wiers?
How about when Gunstock ran the chairlifts in the summer so you could walk down the moutians?
Remember when there was no Patricks Pub?
Silver Sands Motel and White Sands Motel right next to each other?
No St Helenas Church?
The Big Banana?
No Laconia By-Pass?
No Tilton Outlets?
Saunders Bay Motel and Cottages?
The Kings Grant Inn and the cruise boat that went out twice a day from its' dock on Dockham Shore Road?
The Saturday Night Dances at the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club?
The Mart?
Fireworks every Sunday Night at the Weirs?
Hickory Stick Farm?
Wendys on Paugus Bay (where you could get to by boat?)

I could go on and on - thanks for letting me take a storll down memory lane

[WinnDixie]

The more I hear, the better it gets! Thanks, again, Chickie! Now I can admit I, too, licked my fingers when using that slippery, icky pale white glue!! Some time I wish you would post a picture of some of those bygone treasures...I am in awe that you actually still have them.

mrportjeff: I remember when Dan's Star Market was pretty much the "go to" supermarket( I shopped there for years, even after it became Jackson's Star Market)...but I most of all missed The Big Banana when it left...and why did it?? It was always mobbed.

Flboater...I am right there..turned 71 this summer ( I can't imagine how this has happened!!). I would say that I still golf, but that would be a stretch, considering how I bash the ball around...but...to everyone...isn't it great we are all on the correct side of the ground and having this much fun! A great thread, esp. considering all the "downer" news we contend with!

[Orion]

Originally Posted by WinnDixie

...but...to everyone...isn't it great we are all on the correct side of the ground and having this much fun! A great thread, esp. considering all the "downer" news we contend with!

Amen, WinnDixie.....and thanks for reminding us all to take the proper perspective!

[Newbiesaukee]

When my grandparents were my present age, they were OLD. Hard to believe. We were the last family on the block to get T.V. There was Milton Berle on Tuesday nights along with "professional" wrestling as well as Howdy Doody and I Love Lucy. My favorite was "Winky Dink." The deal was you sent in for a sheet of clear plastic to put over the T.V. screen so you could draw directly on the TV along with Winky Dink.

This year, the big excitement was that I am now on Medicare.Now if I can only figure out Part D.

[Rose]

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

My favorite was "Winky Dink." The deal was you sent in for a sheet of clear plastic to put over the T.V. screen so you could draw directly on the TV along with Winky Dink.

I had that!!!! I think it lasted about a week before my evil older brother used regular crayons on the plastic which wouldn't come off. I'd forgotten the name...thanks for the reminder.

[mets3007]

I have a few 1980s memories as well

1. Staying at Bmae's then going to the buffett in the AM

2. going to Frankensundae at nite for my ice cream fix

3. going to Sawyers the original for 830m Fries lol

4. I used to never like the train rides back until 2001 cause it took too long

5. spending the day with my dad as my Mom and Grandparents antiqued shopping

6. going to dinner with Dad while my Mom and Grandparents went to William Tell Inn

7. spending the day at Funspot ( i still go there but for not as long as I used to)

8. I also remembered when we used to get off at exit 20 and when we saw the Bmae's and Funspot billboards my grandmother would turn around in the car in front of me and my Dad and wave that we made it

[Chickie]

Penny,Penny - The restaurant next to the Big Banana was called the Red Barn in more recent years, but had been Foster's Restaurant when first built in the late 1940's. They had a good variety of ice cream flavors and a take-out window. For a short time there was a soft serve place on the other side of the Big Banana, as well. It looked like a small chalet and was better than DQ in my estimation. They had more than just the usual two flavors and their orange-pineapple was to die for. The first soft serve I ever had was called frozen pudding. Remember?

[mcdude]

anyone remember the short-lived Road Kill Cafe in this same general vicinity?

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

Originally Posted by mcdude

anyone remember the short-lived Road Kill Cafe in this same general vicinity?

Sure do remember the Road Kill Restaurant. I thought it was around for a few seasons. Somewhere in my "well organized" file system is an old menu from the place. Item names on the menu that Granny Clampett would probably cook for the Beverly Hillbillies crew.

[SLI]

Been reading this forum for awhile and finally decided to register! I'm right smack in the middle of the 40-60 age group! Some days I feel like closer to the next group up!

[angela4design]

Yup, Big Banana was one of my favorite places. And, remember Zayre's at the Belknap Mall and The Globe where the Gilford 8 cinema is now?

[The Skipper]

You're bringing back too many memories. I guess I am getting old. I remember decades at the lake.

[sa meredith]

Staying at the "Holiday Bungalows" on Paugus Bay every summer.
Bowling on the Weirs strip.
Waiting in lines that took forever at The Kellerhaus.
Dinners with the family at The Windmill. (I think it is a furniture store now???)
And, hitting golf balls at a driving range that is on the left hand side of the street, heading toward the Weirs, a short while after Funspot. The remains are still there. The old lights, and the land was never used for anything. It still looks very much like a driving range that was simply abandoned. I give it a look every time I drive by, and think back 30 years, of my dad sitting there, watch me hit golf balls.
How does the Eddie Money song go? "I wanna go back, go back, and do it all over, but I can't go back, I know...."

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

Staying at the "Holiday Bungalows" on Paugus Bay every summer.

[Waterbaby]

Originally Posted by mcdude

Gotta love that the sign says "heated", lol -- I remember those type cabins from when I was little and the grandparents took us on trips during the summer and renting heated cabins was a huge deal, it could get chilly even during the summer! (Not to the Lake, other areas, but that era of cabins.) Anyone know if the Holiday Bungalows had knotty-pine interior? That's what I picture.

[mets3007]

Ahh the Roadkill Cafe, i remember that place in the mid 1990's with their sound effects and funny signs another place I miss.

[Chickie]

Great photo mcdude. Thanks for posting it. Did you know that before Foster’s Restaurant was built, there was a Howard Johnson’s at that location? It was moved to the Weirs in the mid to late ‘40s and burned to the ground a number of years later. Prior to Howard Johnson’s, there had been another restaurant there called “Dutch Land”, which was probably the first restaurant in this area to offer curb service. The waitresses were dressed in Dutch costumes and took and delivered orders right to the cars. I remember my mother speaking of it, as it was quite a novelty. I believe it was operating there in the late 1930’s to early ‘40s, when Howard Johnson purchased and renovated it.

[tricia1218]

I remember the big banana before the Road Kill Cafe was there. And the trip Frankensunday by boat (Town Docks now), I also remember being able to waterski during the weekend on Paugus Bay, too crowded now ahhh the memories

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by Chickie

.... before Foster’s Restaurant was built, there was a Howard Johnson’s at that location? It was moved to the Weirs in the mid to late ‘40s and burned to the ground a number of years later. .

This postcard shows the distinctive orange roof of HoJo's along side the drive-in entrance at the Weirs before it burned.

[granitebox]

Anyone remember OBIs in Alton Bay? The Oak Birch Inn on Route 28A heading toward Wolfboro. Had docks and full movie theatre in the back with bar, restaurant and rocking chairs spread throughout the porch areas. I believe burned to the ground in the 90s?

[RLW]

Originally Posted by SLI

Been reading this forum for awhile and finally decided to register! I'm right smack in the middle of the 40-60 age group! Some days I feel like closer to the next group up!

Now come on, are you saying that there is something wrong with the next group up never mind 2 groups up???? You will be there some day and you will wish you never had said that.

[katiesmom]

Angela I think it was Mammoth Mart at the Gilford 8 the Globe was at the beginning of the boulavard where those condos are now if I remember correctly and I think there was an ice cream place on the boulevard kind of by the doll house cottages, actually I'm pretty sure it was called the Boulevard drive inn anybody remember that?

[PennyPenny]

Originally Posted by katiesmom

Angela I think it was Mammoth Mart at the Gilford 8 the Globe was at the beginning of the boulevard where those condos are now if I remember correctly and I think there was an ice cream place on the boulevard kind of by the doll house cottages, actually I'm pretty sure it was called the Boulevard drive inn anybody remember that?

I remember the Globe actually being in both locations, the condo area and the Cinema 8 building. I don't remember which one first but I think it was the condo location. Remember Grants that was in the same mall as Osco Drug and Dans Star Market before K-Mart was there? Are you talking about the Drive-In ice cream place that was Bakers Drive-IN at one point and now it is a realestate office(i think) It was headed north past the gun shop.

[mrportjeff]

My son loved that place - he was young and the put gummie worms in his ice cream sundae - I know the chicken place that was near the Marget , but I do not think it was KFC - as I recall they speciallized in Broasted Chicken - how 'bout the Boulevard - they had great hot dogs.

Remember the animal petting zoo that used to be accross from funspot?

Remember when B Maes was called B Mae Dennys but they had to change the name because of the Dennys Restuarant chain?

Howard Johnsons across the street from the Weirs sign? - Mow the Lobster Place

I could go on and on - and I may in my next post!

[Just Sold]

Well, I am 2nd generation at the lake. My dad was at the lake in the 20's. and early 30's returning in the 50's. He spent time at the Y camp on Bear Island in his youth and he had a boat on the lake back then too.

I have been coming here since 1957. Next year I will be in the top age category !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ILoveWinnipesaukee]

Does anyone remember the Captain's Table that used to be around the corner from the Margate, they had a trout tank outside and as kids we would feed the trout while waiting in line for dinner. I also remember the White Owl motel that was where the Shaws is today, there was also a KFC there with the huge bucket sign, they moved down the street I noticed today.

Also does anyone remember when Mamouth Mart was across from the airport?

[Pineedles]

I am the 5th generation on the lake. Although my great, great, great, grandfather is buried in the Quaker cemetery (Friends Cemetery) in Center Sandwich. Uriah Hoag. A real smart guy, as far I am concerned.

[wifi]

Originally Posted by ILoveWinnipesaukee

Does anyone remember the Captain's Table that used to be around the corner from the Margate, they had a trout tank outside and as kids we would feed the trout while waiting in line for dinner......Also does anyone remember when Mamouth Mart was across from the airport?

Wasn't the Captain's table formerly The Windmill Restaraunt? The Windmill was there for years and years, years and more years ago, LOL

I remember "The Mart" being built. It also comes to mind someone lost their life putting up the water tower. I remember hearing it on WLNH AM, FM wasn't around then.

Remember comercial airliners landing in Laconia Airport, the old one? It was one of the major airlines (Northeast?), prop of course

Ah yes, memory lane.... and now back to the reality of paying the mortgage...

[Chickie]

The Captain’s Table and the Windmill were two different restaurants. The Captain’s Table occupied the present Lakes Region Veterinarian Hospital building, while the Windmill Restaurant was at the bottom of White Oaks Road. The building is still there but I don’t know what it is now. It was an antique shop and a paint store for a while after the Windmill ceased to be.

The Captain’s Table was first known as Chickland, a restaurant built about 1958 by Edward Spadafora. He later changed the name to the Captain’s Table and it operated under that name until around 1981. After that time it had two or three different owners and all specialized in seafood. They had seafaring names but I can’t recall what they were. I believe one of them had “Anchor” in the name. Wonder if anyone remembers these restaurants? It operated as a Wendy’s in the early to mid 1990’s, prior to Wendy's relocation to Lakeshore Road.

I remember the White Owl Cabins and next to them were the Bluebird Cabins, then the Douglas House on the same side of the street. On the lake side of the street (next to the cemetery) were the Sunset Cabins, Happy Landing Cabins and Douglas House owned a piece of property on that side, as well. Then there was the Swedish Village with its distinctive red cabins dotting the landscape. All gone but not forgotten.

[WinnDixie]

Hi Chickie! These questions about the OLD days do bring us out don't they?? I remember eating at The Captain's Table, and I think, also, one of the later seafood ones. Like you, can't remember the name (does that say something about us or the place???). It seemed to me The Captain's table was always pretty busy... so,just like my question relative to The Big Banana, I wonder why it went away? That was "Burger Alley" then, and having a decent seafood place there was great. Even now, it seems surprising that this pretty water location hosts a Veterinarian (no offense to the Vet) and not a nice eating place! Not enough parking?

I do have a question about "The Mart". I do (barely) remember it. Was it in the location that The Globe eventually moved to, from the bottom of White Oaks Rd.? Isn't that now where the movie theater is? I liked the old original Globe store, and you couldn't beat their bargains. IMO it never was the same after it moved...oh well...goodbye "past"!!

[Chickie]

The owners of the Shore Diner purchased the Captain's Table around 1970 and operated it until 1981. The old Shore Diner was torn down in 1973 to make way for Burger King. After they sold the Captain’s Table in ’81, they operated the Paugus Diner just up the road. I don’t know why those seafood restaurants went out of business. They all started off with a bang but patronage eventually dwindled. I guess it was the sign of the times - people were riding the wave of the new fast food places.

I remember the opening of MacDonald’s in Laconia was a big event. About a year prior to their arrival on the scene, an enterprising man started his own mini business based on the McDonald model. It was called Mr. Beef and was located on Union Avenue near the Messer Street junction – sold burgers and shakes only. He was doing a tremendous business and raking in the bucks when rumor spread that McDonald’s was coming to town. When McDonald’s opened its doors, his business took a nosedive and he erected a sign out front which read, “Old McDonald had a farm and I wish he had stayed there.”

Yes, the Globe was first located at the foot of White Oaks Road and was actually an expansion of the old Keller’s Ice Cream building. It was there for several years before moving to the location across from the airport. I am not certain about this, but think the “Mart” was built while Globe was still at the first location. They ran concurrently for a few years and when the Mart closed, the Globe moved there, as it was a larger building. Everyone loved the old Globe. If you couldn’t find an item anywhere, you could find it at Globe and at quite a bargain price.

Those were the days!

[WinnDixie]

Wow, I guess the McDonald's opening WAS a big event!! I think some of the readers might get a kick out of this, but you can back me up, Chickie. They had the police out on Union Ave. directing traffic, which was backed up in both directions, big-time! You just inched along, and the parking lot couldn't begin to hold everyone. I had to drive by to get home, and my two girls wanted to stop in the worst way...but we had to wait a few days until things quited down. For McDonald's!! Over the years "it growed"--like Topsy--with at least two additions--at different times-- out to the right, as you faced the front. Have had many a cup of coffee with friends there at McDonald's, and--eventually--watched grandsons bouncing around in the tub of balls. Where has the time gone!

[bigdog]

I was a teenager in late 60' s, early seventies..... Use to spend my entire summer in Gilford, as the family owned a lake cottage. (No longer owned)

As teenagers, we use to go to the Weirs Saturday night (usually by boat),
to a place called 'Teen Haven'. The place use to hold teen dances, and they had live bands! We use to dance till midnight. Met many girls there both local and those vacationing like myself.

It was a safe place for kids to meet and have fun, no alcohol or drugs.
I still have fond memories about this place.

[LovelyToSeeYou]

I only joined the Winnipesaukee Forum this week so I am like a kid with a new toy. I first came to the lake when I was nine and had a new baby brother. I am lucky to have purchased something and find myself saying out loud that I love it here several times a day!!!

[Kings Bluff]

65 years old and coming up on 65 Summers on the lake in Alton Bay.

[WJT2]

I am 64. Have had the privilege of being involved at Lake W for 60 Yrs. I have family who is six generation at same camp on Birch Island. Now that's a legacy!

[Paugus Bay Resident]

66 and been hanging around the lake since I was 8. Unfortunately I'm in a different poll bracket that I was when I originally entered