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The Public Bandstand at Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens

(1926 – early 1950s)

In this rare old photograph, we see the public bandstand in the right foreground, from the vantage point of the boardwalk from where it descended down to Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens. The footbridge to the bandstand is just off the photo to the right. This photo shows there was an alternate entrance to the bandstand – a set of stairs from the ground level. Beyond the bandstand, the old Mount Washington steamer is docked by the Weirs Cafe.
Here’s a photo of a band playing at the bandstand on a patriotic occasion. A sign for a Chris-Craft “Thrill Ride” for $1 and a boat race poster are attached to the bandstand. (Note: the bandstand did not have a curved roof or sides; this look is due to a warped photo.)

A photo of the “Wildcat” speedboat, racing out of the Weirs during the summer of 1926. A series of boat races over a six-lap, 2.5-mile triangular course in Weirs Bay were held 4 times that summer, each race attended by a crowd estimated to be about 6,000 people, with the victor crowned the Irwin’s Cup champion at the concluding, Labor Day weekend race.

Clearly seen in the center background is the Irwin’s Bandstand, erected earlier that year. Band concerts were given every Sunday afternoon by the 387th Infantry Band. The concerts were held from 2pm-3pm, and then again from 4pm-5pm.

Below is a photo of the bandstand, taken from the cove between the Winnipesaukee Pier and the Mount Washington pier. Source for this photo was an extremely rare home movie, filmed around 1929.

Later on, the structure was used for other purposes than music, including darts, as seen in the photo below. Note the newer Mount Washington parked at the docks.

The bandstand was used as the AMA registration booth during the 1940 Laconia Motorcycle rally.

The bandstand at Irwin’s was removed in the early 1950s. In the late 1950s, a new, rooftop bandstand was built atop the 1940-1987, fourth railroad station.