LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY


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HOSPITALITY EXHIBIT
AT THE LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM

(September 30, 2005 – Weirs, NH) Where did you stay when vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee as a child? Is it still in business? What is it called now?

The “Lake Winnipesaukee Hospitality Exhibit,” presently featured at the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society Museum in the Weirs, depicts the era of the cabin colonies from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. The collection is on loan to the museum from Fred Clausen, owner of Proctor’s Lakehouse Cottages in the Weirs, and includes memorabilia, promotional flyers, keys, bumper stickers, menus, brochures and other visitor information literature on cabins, cottages and motels on the lake.

“I’m happy to loan this collection to the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society. The museum is a perfect place to share the history with other people interested in the lake,” stated Clausen. “There is no sense having all these wonderful historical items and keeping them hidden.”
Clausen indicates that many of his guests at Proctor’s Lakehouse Cottages stayed there as children. Now as adults they return, bringing their own children, so the next generation can experience the same feelings they had when at the Lake.

Clausen’s Lake Winnipesaukee Hospitality Collection began about 15 years ago. Ending a career in the insurance industry, he wanted to go into the hospitality business, following in his family tradition. His father owned an inn in New Jersey and was once the general manager of the Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch. It had been a long time dream for Clausen to run his own place.

“I bought a group antique shop that had a dealer with thousands of postcards and all kinds of paper literature for sale,” said Clausen. “Upon browsing through them, I realized there was a lot of hospitality history in these paper items, so I bought quite a bit…even trying to find some of the actual places in the Lakes Region to see if they could be for sale!”

The hospitality paper collection grew rapidly and “then came Ebay” said Clausen, indicating that antique shops and Ebay are his best sources of items. The collection is a “work in progress,” and Clausen is interested in gaining a better understanding of the historical chronology from the start of cottage colonies in the 1940’s, to the transition into roadside motels in the 1960’s, and now the conversion into condominiums.
The public is invited to view the collection that depicts the Lake’s historical popularity as a visitor destination and the importance of the hospitality industry to our area. Lodging establishments are welcome to see if they are represented and add their own historical memorabilia on loan to expand the display, as did the Sun Deck Cottages and Lodge on Dockham Shore, Gilford.

The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society Museum is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all year and is located directly on Route 3 in the Weirs, just south of Funspot. Admission is free. The historical society was established in 1985 to preserve and promote the history of Lake Winnipesaukee and vicinity. For further information, please contact info@lwhs.us, 603-366-5776.

 







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