Boat Carnivals and Private Wharves
The Belle of the Isles
Circa 1906, the Belle of the Isles heads towards the steel truss bridge that spans the Weirs Channel while two bystanders on the bridge watch her approach. The postcard artist has humorously drawn the Detroit Publishing logo onto the foreground rock in the Channel. The first image shows the colorized postcard version, the second the original black and white photo.
THE SWALLOW
“SWALLOWS NEST” – PROGRAM COVER, 26TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW, WEIRS BEACH DOCKS, JULY 31, 1999, BY PETER FERBER
“This magnificent boathouse, still standing today, recalls a long passed era of gracious living. Built to house the private steam-powered yacht Swallow, it includes three story high doors to accommodate its occupant’s masts. The 75′ vessel’s exquisite lines incorporate a fantail stern deck with wicker furniture, a curved front pilothouse, and culminate in a schooner-type bowsprit. This hints at her seagoing origin along the New England coast where she was built at Four Rivers in 1890. Joining in this snapshot of life on Lake Winnipesaukee in the 1920’s is a sleek and graceful 1908 locally-built laker and the ‘Model A” of family boating, a 22’ Chris Craft Cadet.”
A colorized postcard of the Swallow. A book about the Swallow, subtitled “Lake Winnipesaukee’s most picturesque steam yacht”, written by Jack Gotthardt, can be found online.
The Flying Yankee
A color linen postcard, postmarked in 1949, shows the “M.V. Mount Washington leaving the Weirs, Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H.”. The postcard caption adds, “A trip always to be remembered.” A crowd at Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens watches the Mount departing. A sign for the Flying Yankee is seen on the docks. The time indicated for the next Flying Yankee cruise, at 3:30pm, is the same as in the previous postcard.