LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY


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THE DOWNING FAMILY OF ALTON BAY
A Free presentation from the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum

(August 22, 2008 – Weirs, NH) The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society welcomes Nancy Downing Merrill and Jonathan H. Downing of Alton Bay to the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum on Wednesday, September 10, for a presentation on their family’s almost 200-year history on Lake Winnipesaukee. The program begins at 7pm at the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Route 3 (503 Endicott Street North), Weirs Beach, NH. Admission is free; doors open at 6:30pm.

The Downing Family first came to the area from the Seacoast in the 1830s and have had a significant impact on the Lake’s history ever since. The Downings owned the Bay Boat Company, Downing’s Landing, Downing’s Garage, The Corner Store, The Winnipesaukee Hotel, and the Bay View Pavilion at Alton Bay. The family began selling boats in 1917 and provided boat rides to the public for a period of time. They brought the fastest public speed boat in the world to the Lake around 1940, the Legionnaire 70, a 36’ Garwood design that could go 70 miles per hour and was one of only two made - the other was for the Shah of Iran.

This special program comes directly from the source, and will include a PowerPoint presentation of wonderful images from the family’s private archives that bring the stories to life.

Nancy Downing Merrill, a retired civics and US history teacher, will begin the presentation, covering the period from about 1830 to 1934. Jonathan H. Downing, a semi-retired architect, general contractor and present owner of Downing’s Landing, will continue the interesting history on to the present.

Light refreshments will be served after the program and guests are encouraged to stay and meet the family one on one, and enjoy the exhibits, which include the new ship model of The Lady of the Lake created by David Warren of Melvin Village.

The Lake Winnipesaukee Museum is open all year Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 2pm and located directly on Route 3 (503 Endicott St. No.) in the Weirs section of Laconia, next door to Funspot. Admission is free; donations appreciated.

The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society is actively seeking new members to help support its mission. Established to preserve and promote the history and heritage of Lake Winnipesaukee, membership levels for the

nonprofit organization are $10 One Year; $25 Five Year, and $100 Lifetime, with special incentives for new members and regular membership benefits.

For information on events, membership or volunteer opportunities, please contact 603-366-5776 or info@lwhs.us or visit their website at www.LakeWinnipesaukeeMuseum.org.












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The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society is a non-profit organization.