volume 21, no. 51 the weirs, lake winnipesaukee, n.h ... · in nh section” pages 14-19 belmont...

1THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, Thursday, December 20, 2012

COMPLIMENTARYTHE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, DECEMbER 20, 2012VOLUME 21, NO. 51

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PAIDCONCORD, NH 03301

Permit No. 177

Great Local Christmas Shopping Ideas

See Our “Christmas in NH Section”

Pages 14-19

Belmont Keeps moving Forward with the past

The Town of Belmont, New Hampshire, has be-come a shining example of the importance of heri-tage preservation.

A recent unearthing of a good portion of 100 year old metal penstocks, only happened as a re-sult of another preserva-tion project.

A penstock is conduit used to carry water to a water wheel or turbine;

in this case, they once powered the Belmont Mill, which was built in 1833 to manufacture cotton and wool goods and even hosiery under its last owner.

Originally the water-power came by construc-tion of a dam which di-verted a portion of the Tioga River (then known as The Great Brook) through a canal which joined a small stream which then flowed to a

See belmonton 22

A 1910 photo from Belmont Historical Society and Mill records shows the penstock installation for the Village. Belmont resident Joseph Frasier, with his trademark corncob pipe, is the only one files currently identify. (Inset photo) Two volunteers from the community, Peter Harris (left) longtime Belmont Planning Board chairman and Jeremy Perkins of Rusty’s Towing and Recovery Service, with a piece of the recently unearthed penstock they are helping to move.

On Saturday, January 19th at 7:30pm the Lakes Region Big Band comes to the Franklin Opera House for a gala evening of big band music and dancing. Celebrate the new year with the Opera House staff and volunteers and enjoy complimentary bev-erages and hors d’oeuvres with the price of your ad-mission.

The Lakes Region Big Band is a fine group of accomplished musicians from all around the Lakes Region.

So come in from the cold and enjoy a great evening of dancing and entertain-ment at the Franklin Op-

Lakes Region Big Band Concert & Dance

era House. This event will also in-

clude a silent auction to benefit the Franklin Op-era House.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Box Office at 316 Central Street.

Call 603-934-1901 or visit www.franklinoperahouse.org.

by brendan SmithWeirs Times Editor

courtesy Photos

22 THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, Thursday, December 20, 2012

small pond. The water then flowed to the rear of the mill through a canal. On the river bank behind the mill was a large water wheel which connected to a system of belts and pulleys which transferred power to the mill.

Around 1890, wooden penstocks were used to bring water from Fellows Dam, bringing greater

water pressure. In 1910, the wooden

penstocks were replaced with steel ones; these were the ones recently unearthed.

The Belmont Mill saw its finals days in that capacity in 1970. Over the years following, some small industries occupied the building but lack of maintenance caused its

belmont from 1

See belmont on 23

Wallace Rhodes and Linda Frawley of the Belmont Heritage Society, in front of the Tioga River. In the background is a metal penstock which has been a fixture in the town for years. Frawley laughs as she notes that people don’t realize its historic significance and call it “that old rusted pipe.” Rhodes is Belmont Historical Society President & Vice Chairman of the Belmont Heritage Commission. After chairing Belmont’s Master Plan in 2001-2 and advocating rural and historic assets, Frawley led establishment of the Heritage Commission, founded by citizens at the 2004 Town Meeting, supported by Rhodes and others as “another needed voice to celebrate Belmont’s past and future relevance.”

The bandstand was moved during the extension road renovation and will have some work done to it to make it more stable before being put back into use.

courtesy Photo

BreNDAN sMIth Photo

Happy Healthy New Year!

Maintain a Balanced diet • Exercise Regularly • Get A Good Nights Rest • Do Something Fun • Get Outdoors

Healthy Living AdvertisingPACKAGE DISCOUNT

TAKE 50% Off All Five Happy Healthy New Year ads when

combined with monthly ads in our “Healthy Living” section.

Let’s Help Get �e New Year Started O� Right!Healthy Living starts with healthy new habits. Each week in January we’re featuring local

advertisers and editorial content that will highlight ways to make healthy changes for the new year.

Call or email today for info on discounted marketing packages. 1-888-308-8463 • www.weirs.com • [email protected]

THE WEIRS TIMES AND THE COCHECO TIMES PROUDLY PRESENT....


We’re Your Comfort Zone

603-524-2308800-924-6568170 DW Hwy., Belmont, NH

¼ mile south of the Belknap Mall next to

Taylor Rental

[email protected]

www.HomeEnergyProducts.net

With “High Efficiency” Heat Pump & Combination AC

or Mitsubishi Ductless AC modelsThe A/C-Heat Pump Model can significantly reduce heating costs.

Replace your window A/C or just beat next summer’s humidity with a more efficient & quieter system. Visit our website or come

by our store to see the systems we have in operation.

Call About Available Rebates!

Skelley’sMarketSkelley’sMarket

Skelley’s Market of Wolfeboro

Whether you are a vacationer or a full time resident of the Lakes Region, Skelley's Market is the place to go for your shopping needs. Located on route

109 in beautiful Moultonboro, New Hampshire, we are very easy to �nd.

Stop by Skelley's Market today and enjoy some great food, Bailey's Bubble Ice Cream, a lobster roll or anything else you may need. You will be glad you did.

Come visit our other location:

Skelley's Market services include:Pizza Special

Clam & Scallop Special

belmont from 22

An early photo of the Belmont Mill back in the day when it was a bustling manufacturer of cotton and wool goods.

The bandstand in Belmont was built in 1909 and continues to serve the community with concerts in the summer. This photo shows an early concert. The Belmont Heritage Society is looking for old photos of the bandstand.

deterioration. On August 14, 1992,

a five-alarm fire ripped through the mill, virtu-ally destroying it. It was left in that condition un-til it was acquired by tax deed through the town.

Belmont had applied Community Block Grant for another building in town that was denied. They dec ided to use $100,000 that had al-ready been appropriated towards the denied proj-ect and use it for demoli-tion and cleanup of the mill.

ACTIVMED PRACTICES & RESEARCH 2299 Woodbury Ave, 2nd floor, Newington, NH 03801

603-319-8863www.activmedresearch.com







See belmont on 24

Happy Healthy New Year!

Maintain a Balanced diet • Exercise Regularly • Get A Good Nights Rest • Do Something Fun • Get Outdoors

Healthy Living AdvertisingPACKAGE DISCOUNT

TAKE 50% Off All Five Happy Healthy New Year ads when

combined with monthly ads in our “Healthy Living” section.

Let’s Help Get �e New Year Started O� Right!Healthy Living starts with healthy new habits. Each week in January we’re featuring local

advertisers and editorial content that will highlight ways to make healthy changes for the new year.

Call or email today for info on discounted marketing packages. 1-888-308-8463 • www.weirs.com • [email protected]

THE WEIRS TIMES AND THE COCHECO TIMES PROUDLY PRESENT....

courtesy Photos BeLMoNt herItAGe coMMIssIoN


belmont from 23

A piece of the 12,000 pounds of metal penstock recently unearthed in Belmont during the extension road project.

It proved to be a wise decision in keeping, what would soon be a valuable asset to Belmont once again.

In January 1996, Plan NH and the Office of State Planning held a charrette that resulted in three proposals for re-use of the mill and recommend-ed another year of study. It was the first “PlanNH Charrette” ever; dozens have since been held in communities around the state.

During the summer of 1996, the town and Belknap County won two Community Development Block Grants totaling $1 million, and the town approved a $215,000 bond issue as its finan-cial match at another special town meeting in October. Aided by private donations, including an anonymous $25,000 gift, the mill was rehabilitated as “Belmont Mill Commu-nity Center” from designs by architect Christopher Williams of Meredith dur-ing the summer of 1997.

Today, the renovated mil l houses the Bel-mont Senior Center, the Belknap Family Health Center and the Food For Thought Café, a culinary

arts program of Lakes Region Community Col-lege that serves lunch and dinner to the public ( a great story for another issue).

The mill stack was tak-en down in 2001 as it was considered unsafe.

Saving the mill wasn’t enough for Rhodes.

“We saved the mi l l and nothing happened around it after that,” said Rhodes. “Now things are happening around it and I think we are going in the right direction.”

The unearthing of the penstocks was a surprise during the second phase of the renovation which included a new exten-sion road, as suggested by the charrette, which runs behind the library to the mill.

“I knew there might be some of the penstock there,” said Rhodes. “But wasn’t sure how much.”

What was uncovered was 12,000 pounds, once part of the 2000-foot conduit feeding the mill.

“When we heard , I thought it would be the perfect storm of busi-ness, history and pos-sibilities,” said Linda Frawley, chairman of the

Wallace Rhodes, Bel-mont historian, and oth-ers decided it might serve the town better to save the Mill.

State architectural his-torian, James Gavin ex-amined the building as the demolition of the mill was planned to begin. He prepared a report on the

capacity of the building to be rehabilitated.

“We went to court and said they weren’t autho-rized to demolish it,” said Rhodes.

Along with Rhodes was attorney Carolyn Bald-win. The court ordered and injunction to halt the demolition.

At the time, the demo-

lition crew was already at the mill site and had taken down the existing outbuildings which were part of the mill.

At a town meeting in November of 1995, the voters denied the select-man the permission to finish the demolition and approved further study of the building.

See belmont on 25

An aerial view of the bandstand before it was moved to make way for the road extension. It is uncertain at this point where the bandstand will be placed after its renovation.



Belmont Heritage Com-mission.

Frawley contacted Tom Sleeper, a juried mem-ber of the NH League of Craftsmen who ad-mired the artisan and hand-pounded rivets of the penstock fragments. Frawley then showed the discovery with the Chairman of the Plan-ning and Zoning Board. Peter Harris who was on board with preserving the penstocks.

On Friday, November 9th, Rusty’s Towing and Recovery donated their

belmont from 24

A five alarm fire in 1992 destroyed the mill and years later it was in danger of being torn down until an effort was made to save it.

The Belmont Mill today.

Sales • Installation • Service

1203 Union Ave • Laconia, NH • 527-8044(next to HK Powersports) • www.FiresideLivingNH.com

WOOD STOVES • FIREPLACES • PATIO • STOVESGRILLS • FIREPLACE INSERTS • WOOD & PELLET STOVES

$200 Off Harman

Stoves

See belmont on 26

227 Court Street • Laconia, NH • 524-9358

Exhaust • Brake Work • Starters • Alternators • Batteries • Engine Diagnostics

Gas • On & Off Road DieselAvailable 24 Hours

via Credit CardState Inspections

TAYLOR RENTAL & HOME ENERGY PRODUCTS

Route 3 • Belmont

And A Happy New Year Too!

The Gorse Familyand Staff



services in transporting the penstocks to Sleep-er’s welding studio as well as some to Blaney Auto Crashing on Hur-ricane Road, where they now sit as they figure out their best use.

“We are looking for ar-tistic ways to use the penstocks,” said Fraw-ley. “Maybe something to help educate children about the town’s his-tory.”

Using a penstock for educational purposes makes sense as pen-stocks aren’t unknown in Belmont.

Penstock Park in Bel-mont, got its name from an old, above ground metal penstock which comes out f rom the

Voted “Best Hearing Center in the Lakes Region”by readers of The Citizen,

August 2010

Serving the Lakes Region since 1992.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDS?

CAN YOU STILL HEAR THEM?From Audiology Specialists, LLC

Music Children’s Voices TV Programs The leaves blowing in the breeze The peepers in the springAre you hearing less of the sounds that mean the most to you? Don’t retreat. Don’t accept it. Change it! Take charge of your hearing. Call your local Doctor of Audiology, Laura O. Robertson, Au.D. You can stay connected and involved. We have shown people how since 1992. Let us show you how easy, comfortable and surprising it can be.

ground and hangs over the Tioga River.

“People always call it ‘that old rusty pipe,’” laughed Frawley.

As Belmont awaits the final use of the unearthed penstock, they are at no loss in pursuits in keep-ing the heritage alive.

Before the extension road was built, the 104-year old bandstand be-hind the library needed to be moved. The band-stand had been located on the Town Green in Belmont Village since it was built. It was moved to the Tioga River bank in the late 1920s to make room for the new library. In the most recent move, it sits on a temporary spot where it will be re-stabilized and be back in

action, hopefully, by the spring of 2013.

“We’re not sure where it will be located yet,” said Frawley.

While waiting for the second phase to be com-pleted, Wallace Rhodes has killed a little time with smaller projects, like the complete exterior restoration on the Prov-ince Road Meetinghouse on Rte 107.

Seems like there will al-ways be some good work going on in Belmont to help preserve that town’s heritage.

The Heritage Commis-sion is looking for any old photos of the bandstand, especially those from the 1950s and 1960s. If you have any or know where some might be located, you are urged to contact the Belmont Heritage Commission at [email protected] or contact Chair-man Rhodes at 603 267-6272.

An early photo of the Belmont Mill and the outbuildings. Many of these buildings were torn down just before the wrecking ball was to take down the Mill.

belmont from 25courtesy Photo BeLMoNt herItAGe coMMIssIoN

volume 21, no. 51 the weirs, lake winnipesaukee, n.h ... · in nh section” pages 14-19 belmont...

Documents