There are so many reasons why living in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is inimitable when compared to many other areas of the country, and why visiting or if so fortunate living here will bring you memories to cherish for a lifetime. An example of one such experience is the recent lecture, lunch, and tour of Moultonborough Neck and Long Island historic inns and estates in Moultonborough, New Hampshire.

Image from Calvert's Map of the Lakes Region, 1893 (adapted by Eliza Tappe)

Carol and I were proud to be co-sponsors of the Moultonborough Heritage Commission Community Landmarks Tour on Saturday, August 8^th, 2010. The Moultonborough Heritage Commission collaborated with the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and setup a 5 property tour on what turned out to be a spectacularly beautiful Lakes Region summer day. More than 275 people participated in the tour and heard a lecture by noted Moultonborough historian, Cristina Ashjian. Ms. Ashjan’s eloquent speaking style and her deep understanding of the history of this area was appreciated by all that morning.

The inns and estates that we toured were the 1874 Long Island Inn, the 1891 Windermere (Lands End) Estate, the 1907 Winnipesaukee Inn (formerly the Roxmont Poultry Farm) on the grounds of Geneva Point Center, the 1900 Kona Farm (Kona Mansion Inn) and the Swallow Boathouse which served the Kona Farm. During the later part of the 19^th century and into the early 20^th century all these inns and estates were accessed by steamers that traveled Lake Winnipesaukee delivering not only people but cargo, livestock, and the mail. (more…)

As one who has owned two antique homes, one a 1899 Victorian on the Island of Jamestown, Rhode Island, and a 1837 cape and barn in North Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, I can say with authority there is nothing as exciting nor as demanding in home ownership than to restore an old home.

The first things you will notice when entering an antique home that’s in close to original condition are the wide floor boards, overhead beams, corner posts, horsehair plaster walls, unique wallpaper, glass windows that bend light in strange ways, beautiful hearths, stone foundations, and where almost nothing tends to be level or square. Once you get past the awe that these antique features bestow upon you, you start to imagine yourself living there and just possibly continuing the stewardship of caring for this special property or working to bring back the antique charm to what someone over 100 years ago called home.

Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, antique homes with charm, beauty, and stories to tell await those who value history as well as making some of their own history. When you purchase an antique home you become part of the story. Essentially you become the caretaker of a very important piece of United States history not to mention preserving local history. The story of your life in that house continues the tradition of owners and will be left for the next owner to create their own story and value what you found so precious living there. This can’t be said about many of the homes built in the early 1950′s and later, which were thrown up as fast as they could be after World War II and the Baby Boom Generation was born.

Antique homes in Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Moultonboro, Sandwich, Brookfield, and Alton New Hampshire are available now, to be lived in and enjoyed by people who value history, preservation, and that special feeling of owning something timeless.