Speakers Stand
There were many Civil War generals who gave speeches at the annual NHVA reunions. Prior to the construction of the Speakers Stand, generals Ambrose Everett Burnside in 1878; Joseph Hooker in 1879; and George Brinton McClellan in 1880, had all spoken at the annual gathering of Civil War veterans.
In 1882, William Tecumseh Sherman was probably the first general to speak at the newly-constructed Speakers Stand. General Philip Henry Sheridan spoke in 1884. General John C. Fremont, who attended the August 1887 reunion, may have also spoken at the stand. Benjamin Franklin Butler is another general who is thought to have spoken at the stand.
One President, and sons of two different Presidents, spoke at the Speakers Stand.
President Theodore Roosevelt spoke on August 28, 1902. His eldest son, Theodore Roosevelt III, spoke at the stand on August 16, 1923, during the 47th annual reunion. At the time, Theodore Jr., as he was known, was serving as the Assistant Secretary of the US Navy.
Frederick D. Grant, the eldest son of President Ulysses S. Grant, spoke at the stand on August 26, 1908 (see photo below). F.D. Grant, like his father, was also an army General, but served in an entirely different war. Like Theodore Roosevelt, F.D. Grant served in the Spanish-American War.
President Theodore Roosevelt at the Speakers Stand in 1902.
F.D. Grant at the Speakers Stand in 1908. Grant is sitting at a table, above where an “x” marks the spot. His left leg is crossed over his right leg. He is holding his hat with his left arm.
There were three versions of the Speakers Stand. The first stand was an elaborate version with a gabled roof, seen below in photographs from an 1897 souvenir book, and in the above 1902 photo of Roosevelt’s speech. In the first 1897 photo, visible off in the distance through the trees, is part of the National Veterans Association building on the left, and the 15th Regiment building on the right.
Sometime after Roosevelt’s 1902 speech, for reasons unknown, the Speakers Stand was rebuilt as a simpler structure with a lean-to roof. The rebuilt structure can be seen in the 1908 photo of F.D. Grant’s speech, as well as in the following colorized, white border postcard. In the colorized postcard, one can see that Lake Winnipesaukee was partly visible through the trees behind and to the right of the Speakers Stand. The second stand burned down in the Great Weirs Beach Fire of 1924. Click here to see a picture of the ruins of the second Speakers Stand.
A third stand was built, and it lasted until it too was destroyed, in the Great 1938 Hurricane. No pictures are available of the third stand.
Although it seems unlikely, it was reported that the benches could seat 3000 persons (Warren Huse, The Weirs, p. 47.)
In this photo, of what is likely a wedding party, taken June 19, 1901 by the photographer C.D. Andrews, of Lakeport, it does seem possible that 3000 could be seated. The building in the upper left is the Heavy Artillery and Sharpshooters building.
An interesting detail from the photo shows the ladies in their fine garments, wearing their fanciest hats.
Detail from a stereoview of the Speakers Stand by photographer F.J. Moulton.
The Speakers Stand in the Veterans Grove was not the only stand for speakers in Weirs Beach. There was another, the Methodist Campground Auditorium. Click on the link for an extensive look at the Methodist Campground Auditorium.
ALTON (NOT WEIRS!) AMPHITHEATER
This postcard is correctly labeled as the Advent Grove in Alton Bay.
The publisher of the postcard below confused the two amphitheatres. This postcard photo is identical to the Advent Grove postcard, but is mistakenly labelled as being located in Weirs Beach.
The Advent Christian Campground amphitheater, from a postcard postmarked in 1937.
The Seated Grove, Advent Camp Grounds. Postmarked in 1926.
