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Weirs Seaplane Base (1925-early 1950s)

Below, a rare color photo postcard of the Weirs Seaplane Base. With no sign of the beach, this dates the photo as circa 1949.
Below, a front view of the Weirs Seaplane Base. Photo provided courtesy of Jane Rice, grandaughter of Thomas E.P. Rice, who was an owner of the base from 1934-1938.

Bob Fogg, who started flying seaplanes in the Weirs in 1923, was the original owner of the Weirs Seaplane Base. The Laconia Democrat newspaper reported that on September 9, 1923, “Lieut. Robert Fogg soared to the dizzy height of 5,280 feet in a flight over Lake Winnipesaukee, setting an altitude record that has seldom been equalled or eclipsed in this state.” While at the time, a mile in the air was not considered high when compared with army aviators, it was a substantial achievement by a commercial pilot.

In a 1935 article, the Citizen newspaper noted that three planes were operated by the seaplane service. “Most of the actual flying is done by Maj. Robert S. Fogg of Concord, one of the best known flyers in New England…and Pilot Mike Harlow, a New Hampshire pilot of many years experience who, like Fogg, is thoroughly familiar with the lake and mountain region…while George Barry, old time stunt flier, barnstormer and aviation promotion man, serves in the capacity of traffic manager.”

The article noted that in the winter, the planes flew south to operate a route between Miami and Bimini. Bimini, the closest of the Bahama islands to Florida, lies only a brief 45 minutes by air from Miami. The webmaster experienced this flight once, at the invitation of a family friend with a pilot’s license, who flew a small airplane from the Homestead airport to Bimini.

A 1936 Souvenir flight ticket. Regular, commercial plane service, with paying passengers, began in 1923.
A 1930 advertisement for Fogg’s NEWHAMPCO Air Service
Photo at the NEWHAMPCO Air Service, circa 1930. From left to right: Captain Leander Levallee, owner of the Mount Washington steamship; Bob Fogg; An unknown gentleman in a 3-pc suit; Jim Irwin, owner of Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens.
The NEWHAMCO logo is seen on a 1929 souvenir flight ticket. On the reverse, writing noted the ticket was issued during Meredith Old Home Day, and that the 30-minute flight flew at 110 mph, at an elevation of 2800 ft.

Before Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens were built, the original seaplane base in Weirs Beach had been located on the other (northern) side of the Weirs Cafe. The photo below shows the seaplane base around 1925, shortly after it had relocated to its permanent position on the south side of the Weirs Cafe. Note the designation “US Air Mail” on the body of the seaplane. Earlier in 1925, Fogg had been granted the country’s first RFD airmail service contract. On August 1, 1925, Fogg began the “aero-marine” mail service, as it was called, delivering mail to ten points around Lake Winnipesaukee. A 1925 newspaper article about the service can be found here. The Weirs Times’ front-page article about the base in its September 30, 2010 issue featured a colorized version of the photo below. 

A “real photo” postcard of Fogg’s seaplane circa 1925 by photographer R. Wright. In the photo, the seaplane is seen departing from the vicinity of the Weirs Channel  (off photo to the right.) The boulder and flagpole of Interlaken Park can be seen on the left. On the tail of the seaplane is an advertisement for R.S. Fogg “Safe and Sane” Flying and the plane’s registration, number 2603. The propeller of the plane is in a “pusher” configuration (facing towards the rear of the plane.)

In 1938, the 1925 aero-marine service was commemorated during “National Air Mail Week” with this special rubber stamp which showed the route of the service. However, the 1925 service did not fly to Lakeport or Laconia. The 1925 service flew from Weirs Beach to Wolfeboro, then to Long Island and back to Weirs Beach, with various stops along the way.
Bob Fogg in the open cockpit of his seaplane.
Bob Fogg, leaning out of the back seat of his seaplane, seems to be inspecting the tail of his aircraft. The markings “Concord Airport” and “NC1148” on the tail can also be seen in the photo of the Weirs Seaplane Base that follows.
In the photo below, Bob Fogg is seen standing on the seaplane ramp of his Weirs Seaplane Base in his trademark aviator helmet and goggles.
In the following pair of 1930’s photographs of the seaplane base, we see first a “real photo” postcard, and then a colorized version of the same. Fogg’s name is at the top of the sign! Here is a more modern looking seaplane, with only one wing. This monoplane design became the prevailing design for aircraft beginning in the late 1930s.

A souvenir tray was made of the above image.

Here is another similar pair of Weirs Seaplane Base postcards from the 1930’s, with again the “real photo” shown first, and then the colorized version. The railroad tracks were a freight spur that descended underneath the railroad station’s freight house, where freight was transfered to the Mount Washington steamer. The spur was removed in 1940.
Another 1930’s photo of the Weirs Seaplane Base. The planes seen in this photo, as well as in the colorized photo seen above, are a TravelAir 6000B monoplane and a Waco CSO biplane. They were both destroyed in a hanger fire at the Concord airport in 1932. Note the markings for the Newhampco Air Service, seen on the body of the TravelAir and on the tail of the Waco. As different owners came and went, the name of the air service at the Weirs Seaplane Base changed frequently through the years.
A seaplane party on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Here a Sikorsky S-38 seaplane is seen departing Weirs Bay while the Mount Washington steamer is arriving.
An Aeronca seaplane at the Weirs base, circa 1941. Note the Endicott Rock monument in the distance.
Seaplane NC 4709 is ready to depart the Seaplane Base.
A Beechcraft Staggerwing seaplane is seen landing at Alton Bay, late 1930’s.

By the mid or late 1950’s, the seaplane base had relocated to Paugus Bay, where rides continued until around 1985. From 2010-2021, seaplane rides from Paugus Bay were offered by the Lakes Region Seaplane Services.

In 2024, after a 70-year absence, seaplane rides are once again available in Weirs Beach! Epic Seaplane Adventures departs every hour from the Winnipesaukee Pier on a 40-45 minute tour of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Below, 1971 Sky Tours seaplane ride brochure. There were 3 ride options available, as can be seen by the different types of dotted lines. Prices in 1971 were $9.25/$13.75/$18.00 per adult per tour for a tour with 3 adults.