IN THE NEWS

CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS

September 2004

MEREDITH - Since the January 2002 purchase of the Castle in the Clouds property, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust has been busy planning the future of the property and its historic buildings. Tom Curren, executive director of the Trust, has urged area residents and visitors alike to take advantage of what the conservation area and the buildings have to offer.

Establishment of the Castle Preservation Society, a non-profit subsidiary of the Trust, was filed with the N.H. Secretary of State in June 2004.

Following the purchase of the property by the Trust, board members determined that there was a need for a group to be in charge of the historic buildings on the site, as the Trust is primarily involved in the acquisition and maintenance of conservation land. One of primary goals of both the Trust and the Society is to keep the property open for use by the public for recreational, scientific and educational activities consistent with the land protection mission of the LRCT.

Toward that end, the Society is currently seeking a historical architect to undertake a study of the buildings and what restoration is needed. Members, some of whom are also board members of the Trust, have been in touch with the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and plan to move carefully and slowly to ensure not only the restoration of the Castle, but the preservation of its historical significance.

Society Chairman Don Berry said the group is interested in helping people understand the history of the property and the region. He points out that, in the late 1700s, there were hill farms in the area. By the mid to late 1800s, the farms were being abandoned, presumably because of the difficulty of making a living in such a harsh environment. B.F. Shaw opened a hotel in the 1880s in the field below the current site of the Castle. It was called Weelahka Hall, and attracted summer tourists. Some of the people who stayed on the property included John Greenleaf Whittier, Robert Frost and Lucy Larcom. In fact, two of Frost's poems are linked to the property.

"We'd like to tell the stories of the property so that people will appreciate the area," Berry said in a recent interview. "Programs, lectures and possibly exhibits would be events that would attract people."

Both Curren and Berry have stressed that they want the public to feel the Castle property is theirs. Money for the purchase came from private donations, and the two men hope to perpetuate the feeling that the land is for public use.

Berry said there are aspects of the Castle that the public has never seen. Engineers who have toured the basement remark on the marvel of self-sufficiency the contents of that area provided for Tom Plant and his wife. There is a central vacuuming system, remarkable for a building erected in the early 1900s and occupied beginning in 1914. A heating system carried warm air to outside greenhouses, providing Olive Plant with fresh flowers year-round.

"The stairs to the basement are narrow and steep, so it would not be possible under current conditions to open the basement to tourists, but it is certainly a remarkable part of the Castle," Berry said.

The Castle is located off Route 171 in Moultonborough, but the property purchased by the Trust also includes land in Tuftonboro. After entering the gate, the visitor drives up a narrow, twisting road to the parking lot adjacent to the former carriage house. There are scenic lookouts along the way that offer spectacular views of Lake Winnipesaukee. From the Carriage House, a jitney then takes visitors up another narrow road to the Castle, which is open on weekends in May and then every day from Memorial Day through the weekend after Columbus Day. There, one hears a brief summary of the history of the building by a guide. The tour is self-directed, with small signs pointing out the interesting aspects of each room. However, there are guides inside the Castle to answer any questions the visitor may have.

During the past two summers, a free lecture series has been offered on Wednesday evenings. Berry hopes to expand on the events that will attract people to the site.
"We want people to come back, not just to visit once," he said. " That means offering new events." The grounds are inviting for picnickers. The trails, some easy, some challenging, are popular with hikers. The pond, alive with large trout, is an attraction for children and adults, who enjoy tossing fish food (available in a machine on site) into the pond and seeing the trout leap to catch it.

The Carriage House is available as a function site, and is a popular place for weddings and/or wedding receptions. Hikers along the trails on the property can stop in at the Carriage House for refreshments before or after completing their treks.

The creation of the Castle Preservation Society ensures that, not only will the land be preserved as open space, but that the Castle itself will remain an attraction for years to come.