IN THE NEWS

CASTLE LECTURE SERIES

September 2004

MOULTONBOROUGH - The Lakes Region Conservation Trust and the Castle Preservation Society concluded a six-part weekly series of lectures at Castle in the Clouds on Sept. 1. Each of the programs, designed to explore the history, ecology and significance of the Castle, the Castle property and its environs, drew between 75 and 100 people.

The success of the programs has solidified the Society's resolve to continue presenting programs of interest at the Castle, and these will resume next summer.

Among the topics addressed this summer have been:

• The early history of land development and settlement in the town of Moultonborough, presented by Dartmouth College Emeritus Professor Jere R. Daniell;
  
  
• "Lucknow and New Hampshire's Summer Architecture," an exploration of the Castle in the Clouds architecture by University of Virginia Professor Richard Guy Wilson;
  
  
• "Glacial Sculpting of New Hampshire's Landscape," a look at the effect of glaciers on the area, presented by Smith College Professor Robert Newton;
  
  
• "Native American History of New Hampshire," presented by Dr. David Stewart-Smith of Vermont College of Union Institute; and
  
  
• "Ecology of the Castle Lands - Bio-Inventory Results and Stewardship Plans," by Thomas Curren, President of the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. This program was a look at the comprehensive study of the 5,500-acre property that was conducted over a two-year period and included surveys of mammals, birds, amphibians. reptiles, butterflies and other insects, fish, aquatic macro-invertebrates, plants, lichens, fungi, soils, surface and groundwater resources, and bedrock geology.

Closing out the series on September 1 was a program titled "Tom Plant's Lucknow Castle," by independent art historian and Moultonborough resident Cristina M. Ashjian. This included discussion of the Castle's interior décor to evoke the life of Tom and Olive Plant at "Lucknow" in the early part of the 20th century. Ashjian earned her MA in the History of Art at the University of London, Courtauld Institute of Art, and her Ph.D. in Art History at Northwestern University.

The Castle is located off Route 171 in Moultonborough and will remain open through the weekend after Columbus Day and reopen for the 2005 season early next May.

Area residents and visitors are invited to drive the winding road to the Castle property to view fall foliage. Overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the mountains beyond, it is one of the more spectacular foliage viewing areas in the region. Lookout points along the drive afford parking space. From the first of these, a walking path to a waterfall is available. It's a short walk, but those making the trek are advised to wear sturdy shoes. There are benches to rest along the way for those less mobile.

Don Berry, President of the Castle Preservation Society, and Curren extend an invitation for all to enjoy the Castle and its grounds, whose purchase was made possible by donations from over 2,000 individuals and organizations.