Driving through Melvin Village in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire on Saturday August 14th, I was thrilled to see the large number of antique and collectable cars and two antique trucks being displayed at the Melvin Garage and the Village Old Car Shop. It was the Tuftonboro Historical Society’s annual arts and crafts fair.

Beautifully Restored Antique Autos Lined Up in Melvin Village

Tuftonboro Historical Society Arts and Crafts Fair, Melvin Village

Now I’ve always loved Melvin Village! The history of this part of Tuftonboro is rich with lore of an old hotel and steamships docking to let off and take on summer folk, as well as the quiet charm of a small New England village on Lake Winnipesaukee. On this absolutely beautiful summer day, I was transported back in time while viewing the restored 1929 Ford Model A Doctor’s Coup, Model T, Texaco truck, the Checker taxi, Pontiac convertible,66 Thunderbird convertible, and Ford Econoline to name just a few of the many on public view or for sale. Boy do I wish I could buy one!

Restored Texaco Tanker Truck

Set in between the antique car dealers is one of the best antique shops in the area, Geez Louise. Mindy Jones, the proprietor, is always upbeat and fun to talk with about antiques or anything else that may be of interest. I wandered in to look at the new old items. Mindy was saying how she loves her location. I can’t blame her for I love going back in time in Melvin Village New Hampshire and you will too.

1966 Ford Thunderbird Covertible

For real estate information on Melvin Village or anywhere in the Lakes Region, please contact us.

New York Yellow Checker Cab

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…)

I’ve always been a lover of old. Old houses, antiques, paintings, records, boats, cars, stamps, stone walls and so many other things have always stimulated in me those questions of who built this, who used this, who saved this, and who valued this as much as I do now?

What I ultimately found on this beautiful early spring morning was a truly captivating property.  The house and barn were empty and unlived in probably for well over fifty years, but the cape style home in need of major restoration still showcased the wooden floors, wood stoves, hand hewed beams and the patina of time with a magic that was perfect for what it was. The barn, though listing slightly had those dirt floor, and  wooden stall characteristics along with the wide doors that typify early New Hampshire barns with room for a horse, cow, chickens and few goats or lambs. What was most intriguing about the house was that it was built to house a family who worked at the old mill; a mill structure that no longer stood. I kept thinking about how small in height people back then must have been compared to today, as the house was small by most conservative standards. I also thought about how hardy these people were working at the mill and making ends meet with none of the things we take for granted in our lives.

The property abuts a brook, which on this day had become a raging river, as well as the Bear Camp River. Here is where I really felt reminiscent. I looked longingly at the brook and thought of the fun it would have been in my younger years living in such a spot with those three distinct swimming holes polished into the granite by rushing water. I had not seen such fine swimming holes before this and I thought of hot summer nights in July in one of those three swimming holes with friends and family, which captivated me for many moments.

Call me a dreamer when it comes to such things, but experiencing these feelings about not only the wonderful brook and river, but the gardening possibilities of which I’m passionate about, as well as the work I would have done on the cape and the barn made for a delightful time on a day when I didn’t expect much unlike any other day.