Fourth Weirs Beach Train Station (1940-1986)
The fourth Weirs Beach train station was built in 1940. Its 1893 predecessor had burned down on December 22, 1939. The B&M railroad opted not to replace the old station. However, the City of Laconia found that unacceptable, so it decided to build a “Municipal Building”, where it would rent out space to the railroad for its ticket office, and to the Armstrong Co. for its souvenir shop and newsstand, as well as provide public restrooms.
The new station was designed by Architect Norman P. Randlett. A very plain and unadorned building, built in the post-WWII modernistic style, it was replaced in 1987. Its best feature was its curving, overhanging roof, which gave it an art-deco touch. The stairs on the right side of the building, visible in the color photo, were added later. They led up to a stage on the flat roof of the building where band concerts were held. From this prominent position bands could be heard all over Weirs Beach, although this arrangement left much to be desired in terms of the musicians being seen and interacting with their audience.
1940s linen postcard views of the fourth train station.
At this late 1950’s boat festival, the Uncle Sam approaches the docks from the right, while the Sophie C. approaches from the left. This photo dates as 1956 or later, because the parking meters, visible in the photo, were added during the 1956 season. Scroll down to see a close-up color photo of the bandstand.
A late 1950s view of the fourth train station. The photo was taken from the rooftop of the Half Moon Bowling Alley. It catches a band at play on the rooftop of the station, with the boardwalk full of visitors, while the Mount pulls away.
A mid-1960s performance on the rooftop bandstand, probably by the Nevers’ 2nd Regiment Band. The back of this postcard reads, “Plenty of color and gaiety everywhere at Weirs Beach, N.H., as shown here in a close up of the Band Stand during a Concert. One of the regular features sponsored by the local Publicity Bureau.”
The fourth train station, built in 1940, did not originally feature a bandstand on its roof, as the following 1940s aerial photo demonstrates. The bandstand was added in the late 1950s, after the original Weirs Beach bandstand at Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens was removed in the early 1950s. The original bandstand at Irwin’s can be seen in this aerial photo.
