February 3, 2012

Dear Editor,

Lakeport lost its greatest cheerleader, its Queen of Lakeport, that lady with a commanding stance, booming voice and a quick smile. Wanda Tibbetts passed away on Thursday, February 2 at Dartmouth/Hitchcock Medical Center.

The heart that she gave to her Lakeport community gave out but her spirit will continue to inspire those that she lead to complete her goals, the most important being the grand opening of the Lakeport Freighthouse Museum and Community Center for railroad and Lakeport memorabilia.

Because she had a hearing problem, her voice was strong but her ways were soft. She had leadership qualities that encouraged the most humble to advance from the negative to the positive to tackle the task on hand and get the job done. Generations to come must respect Wanda's role in saving Lakeport historic sites like the last Boston & Maine Railroad building, the "Hathaway House", the Goss Reading Room while planning for its growth with the TIF District, WOW Trail, Leavitt Park and the Elm Street Bridge and preserving the old oak tree in Torrey Park, cleaning up Bond Beach and beautifying Lakeport Square with flowers, flags and holiday decorations with Santa and scarecrows to greet all.

Her customers will miss their kind hair dresser that picked them up to give them their "do" in her shop. Hail to the Queen! We will miss our dear leader, Wanda Tibbetts, and we hope you will remember her and share her dream of preserving Lakeport history as a railroad hub established by the wealth of blue collar citizens that put it on the map . . . between Laconia and the Weirs.

Dorothy Duffy

Lakeport Community Association

Yep, it's finally Ice Out in Lakeport, NH.  It's been a long winter and most of us have grown whiter as a result.

Our friends are being very kind to the Lakeport Community Association.  Many more members have joined and better yet, some are younger.  Our guys are still being manly banging nails in new floors, doors, windows.  The office is nearly done.  New energy efficient windows were set in place mid-April 2011.

Other friends are so kind with their donations - whether it's a few photographs, many wonderful lighted display cases, in-kind service or other donations, we are indebted to them.  Funds have been received in memory of Mildred Ladieu and added to the Henry Rogers Fund which is designated to gardens, plantings and holiday decorations of Torrey Park and the Lakeport Freighthouse.

Our Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner in March 2011 should keep us going full steam into our summer activities.

Our group will miss Laconia City Manager Eileen Cabanel when she leaves to start her new job as Town Manager for Merrimack, NH.  She has supported and assisted our association in many important ways.  We wish Eileen the very best and thank her.

      What's happening in Lakeport this winter?  Snow, snow and more snow. 

       Anyone working in sync with snow is reaping the profits;  raking or clearing roofs of snow is commanding $50 an hour or more.  The slopes are drawing capacity crowds.  The Lakes Regions Sled Dog Club will have plenty of snow for their annual races on February 11 to 13th.  Our neighbors to the north in Meredith have the annual fish derby February 12-13 and they just featured The New England Pond Hockey Classic on February 5-7 that brought together 77 ice hockey teams from across the northeast to compete on 15 hockey rinks in Meredith Bay.  The restaurants are gleaming and beaming  So it seems the snow has been good for the Lakes Region economy.  For others like we elders, our roofs are creaking as much as our bones.

      The Lakeport Community Assn. folks are enjoying monthly dinners during the hibernation - pot luck, pizza night and next Chinese.  That's for well-earned fun socializing.

      Our next meeting on March 1st will host Allan Beetle of the WOW Trail promoting folks to buy a brick, engraved with your message, to be part of the upgraded Lakeport entrance to the WOW Trail at Elm Street. In 2011, the Lakeport entrance to the WOW Trail will have several new enhancements, including a granite stairway from the Lake Opechee Inn & Spa parking area, an information kiosk, granite benches and brick walkways. Bricks, engraved with your name or personalized message, are being sold to fund these upgrades with additional monies going to the WOW Trail general fund which is used to expand, maintain and beautify the WOW Trail. Buy a brick today, help beautify the WOW Trail and leave your legacy forever!

      Our eyes are on the Hathaway House, the Goss Reading Room and the Colonial Theatre, all historic sites very worthy of hugging and striving to save. 

Stay warm and stay in touch,

DD ~ 2/6/11 

      You know that the Lakeport Community Association has always been a friend of the Goss Reading Room, 188 Elm Street, Lakeport.  

     Well, now some of our members have established the Friends of the Goss Reading Room.  We intend to have programs to expand the use of this little library on the knoll and offer our neighbors and students more resources,  community services and entertainment.

      We held our first meeting there in November forming a interim board of directors, constitution and by-laws.  We are in the process of filing for non-profit status and need a good lawyer.

      The month of December, we hosted Kirk Dougal's collection of penguins for Parade of the Penguins exhibit and provided fun penguin worksheets, pencils and notebooks to all the students who used the library. 

January 20, Lakeport's own, David Hough, genealogist and Coordinator for Belknap Gen Web, introduced The Family Tree, the root of the matter to nearly two dozen guests starting with the best resources to use.  Many are hoping for more sessions.

      Each month, we hope to feature a children's theme and an adult presentation on the third Thursday, 6 p.m. at the Goss. 

Watch for our new blog section on Friends of the Goss Reading Room. 

 DD ~ 1-24-11

     We have just published our 2011 Lakeport Community Association Calendar - just in time to add to our wares at our booth at the 9th Annual  Laconia Multicultural Market Day.  The calendars are $6.00; past years, also available at reduced price of $3.00, may be purchased by contacting:  Lakeport Community Association, P. O. Box 6015, Lakeport, NH 03246.  We are always looking for photographs of Lakeport and hope that others may want to share or donate theirs. 

     Our fund-raising yard sales are continuing to be profitable and what fun to shop in our new boxcar.  And our museum preparation is ongoing with donations graciously received, catalogued and displayed.  One of these days, there will be our grand opening!

     LCA members have been hosting meetings to establish a Friends of the Goss Reading Room.  Our next meeting will acquire our non-profit status, choose officers and approve the constitution and by-laws.  The library has a new roof and may have the storm windows replaced.  Many nearby sites are being considered to create parking that is so needed to increase the use of this little historic gem.  Join us - near or afar - as a Friend of the Goss Reading Room.

     Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plans for a Lakeport district have been created and forwarded to the City  of Laconia City Manager.  This will enable the Lakeport community to

benefit from any tax revenue increase gained from the increase in assessed property values for infrastruture.  They can be used for a variety of purposes associated with redevelopment, development,  or related physical infrastructure improvements.

DD ~ 9/13/11

This is my comment at the first meeting to establish a Friends of the Goss Reading Room hosted by the Lakeport Community Association at the Lake Opechee Inn & Spa on June 2, 2010.

Friends of the Goss Reading Room

      It looks like the Goss Reading Room has some friends and I’m sure more will follow. Thank you for coming.

     The Goss Reading Room is that lovely little red brick building on a knoll on the corner of Elm and Franklin Streets. Even though it’s been there for over 100 years, some don’t know it’s there and others don’t know it’s a library. But we do. 

     In 1890, Lakeport established a library. In 1893, when Lakeport annexed with Laconia, this library and its books merged as a branch of the Laconia Public Library. Dr. Ossian W. Goss was not happy about this. In 1903, a devastating fire destroyed much of Lakeport including Dr. Goss’ home on the corner of Elm and Franklin Streets. Dr. Goss planned to rebuild but since his wife and only child had died, he included a bequest in his will to build a reading room instead of a house. Three trustees were empowered to oversee erecting the building and operating it. Just weeks later, Dr. Goss died.

     The trustees took great pain in the design and construction and finally in 1907, the Goss Reading Room opened to the public with little fanfare.

     For over 100 years, this little library has served our grandparents, our parents, you, your children, and your grandchildren through depressions, recessions, wars and hurricanes.

I walked across the footbridge and met up with that cute redhead, Ginger Tefft to go across Elm Street to the Goss to read The Bobbsey Twins. Our beloved librarian then, Marie Prey is your beloved librarian today, Sue Laramie.

     The Goss was so treasured that it was added to the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1986.

     Yet, recently the Goss was threatened with closure for the lack of users and to save less than $20,000 as a budget item. The Goss still has funds and the Goss still has friends.

Lois Juris and her class of first graders from Elm Street Elementary School are friends.

The Lakeport Community Association has been a friend for years. While there was a lack of fanfare when it opened, the Lakeport Community Association organized a grand fanfare for its 100th Anniversary celebration on the back lawn of the Goss in 1907.

     Other friends have planted flowers and donated books, paintings and other treasures and funds. Former Mayor Charles H. Perkins left the Goss $81,000 when he died in 1948.

On July 30, 2009, Armand Bolduc and I met with the Laconia Public Library Board to seek information on the Goss. I proposed plans to establish a Friends of the Goss Reading Room and Armand Bolduc resolved to look into issues with parking and signs.

     The problems plaguing the Goss were not having the three designated trustees from Lakeport – a doctor, a lawyer and no, not an Indian chief but a minister – and the lack of parking which created the Catch 22, a lack of use and enthusiasm. We must find a solution to the parking issue so we can use it.

     And that is why we are here tonight. We must save it and use it by making it easier to use. It is very important to the Lakeport community, its residents, its businesses, its history, its culture and its future.

     Our goal tonight is to establish the Friends of the Goss Reading Room. Thank you.

There are very many Friends of Library organizations in New Hampshire.

                                                                  Dorothy Duffy

                                                                  Secretary

                                                                  Lakeport Community Association

DD ~ 7/5/10

Hello Lakeport Lovers,

Here we are entering yet another year and adding 2009 to history. The Christmas lights came down in Lakeport Square.  What a sight this year and many comments of appreciation.  Our members went all out devoting the finances and the labor to light up Torrey Park.

Santa visited the freighthouse and children shared their wish list and enjoyed treats. And the members enjoyed the annual Christmas party hosted by our leader, Wanda Tibbetts.

Our men are readying to continue working on the inside and the office is on the agenda.  In the meantime, we are not meeting until the thaw.

We won the Laconia Community Award for our Adopt-A-Spot in Torrey Park for the second time.  See, we do nice work.  Join us anytime.  You'll be rewarded with pride.

Happy New Year!
DD ~  1/6/10

Hello Lakeport Lovers,

Here we are entering yet another year and adding 2009 to history. The Christmas lights came down in Lakeport Square.  What a sight this year and many comments of appreciation.  Our members went all out devoting the finances and the labor to light up Torrey Park.

Santa visited the freighthouse and children shared their wish list and enjoyed treats. And the members enjoyed the annual Christmas party hosted by our leader, Wanda Tibbetts.

Our men are readying to continue working on the inside and the office is on the agenda.  In the meantime, we are not meeting until the thaw.

We won the Laconia Community Award for our Adopt-A-Spot in Torrey Park for the second time.  See, we do nice work.  Join us anytime.  You'll be rewarded with pride.

Happy New Year!
DD  ~ 1/6/10

Hello Lakeport Fans,

The lush rains we had this year have served our trees well.  They are healthy, full and ready to burst into the bright autumn colors for all to enjoy before they are blanketed with that cold, white stuff that makes everything look so clean and to the delight of skiers and snowmobilers. 

LCA has had more yard sales to help defray the cost of painting the boxcar.  It looks so good with the maroon color.  The paint is so rich and  thick; it should last many years.  The next procedure is to stencil the car in gold lettering. 

Stop and take a look at Lakeport.  It's greatly improved.  Stop in at Wanda's Beauty Shop on Elm Street and she will delight in telling you about Lakeport.  

DD

Hi Lakeport Fans,

     Two months of nearly constant rain, don't know where it's all coming from but it's sure going into our lakes. 

I'm on Facebook now, family snagged me.  I've discovered this site  "I Love Lakeport" designed by Jay Goodwin and enjoyed reading many comments of others growing up in Lakeport.  I hope they visit this site and add to it.

      We've decided to hire a painter to paint the boxcar and hopefully it will be done soon.  It's not one of our better sights in Lakeport at the moment ~ like some of our members, a little rusty looking.  But I tell you, folks like the idea of shopping in a boxcar during our yard sales.  It's the yard sales, donations and grants that pay for everything.

       LCA has been receiving some wonderful items to add to our museum collections.  The Richardson family just donated over two dozen clothing items from the late 1800s, early 1900s.  One that we especially enjoyed was a very petite lady's mourning outfit; we had just heard a presentation at the Laconia Historical & Museum Society on mourning customs.

      Come visit Lakeport -home of 4 of the best restaurants in town - Avery's, Fratello's, O's Steak & Seafood and T-Bones, 3 lakes -  Winnisquam, Opechee, Winnipesaukee WOW, 2 sites on the National Registry of Historic Buildings - Untied Baptist church and the Goss Reading Room and 1 remaining B & M building in the once railroad hub -our Lakeport Freighthouse.

     And speaking of the Goss Reading Room. If we don't use it, we may lose it.  We have to convince others that we do not want to see it sold or closed.  Please, become a "Friend of the Goss Reading Room" and use the library or donate to keep it open.  Write me at dorothyduffy@metrocast.net. 

      Carl and Sandy Lendl invited LCA members for a splendid evening of cocktails, dinner and grand tour of the former G.A.R. building.  It was located on the other side of the footbridge on Gold Street and housed our famous Old Niagara No. 1 fire engine.  The Lendls live in California and restored the inside as their summer home.  They collect and  treasure antiques and fire station history.  This building was put to such wonderful reuse.   

       The Leavitt Park Carnival may have be reduced in size and time, but everyone enjoyed it.  They need more volunteers to help with the community center.  YOU?

      Live for today, plan for the future, but treasure your past.

DD ~ 8/1/09