I need help! This photograph was taken by my grandfather Mackenzie who had a camp at the end of North Shore Road, and lived in Wakefield MA. I had heard that there once was a store at the corner of Cobbett’s and Ministerial Road, where Bud’s corner was located. Does anybody from Community Beach or Pine Terrace know?
These workers at Seavey’s Mill in the Windham Depot. were from left to right, Mr. Scott, Mr. Butterfield and Mr. Easton. One of these workers died on the job after the photograph was taken, being mauled by the giant circular saw at the mill. George Seavey was one of the most prosperous men in Windham at the turn of the last century. Office jobs have there place, but there really is nothing as satisfying as working with your head and hands.
So I have recently become enamored with flowering vines. It used to be very common to find homes with vines trailing along the exteriors and around entrance ways. This old photograph shows the Wilson farm, in the Depot, with a variety of vines accenting the exterior of the old homestead. They certainly must have enjoyed them as much as I have!
The reason why I have come to like flowering vines is because they are incredibly easy to grow, if you know which ones to choose. I faithfully, every summer, used to purchase morning glory vines, and in August would be bitterly disappointed with how poorly they were doing. I am happy to report there are much better choices out there! I have recently planted a vine wall which enjoys only morning sun. The vines have thrived there!
The plant that turned me on to vines is Mandevilla. I first planted them outside my office in containers and was impressed by their growth and continuous, abundant blooms.
This summer I planted “Moonflower” vines (Ipomoea alba) along with other vines on the blank wall under my bay window. I have nurtured them, watering regularly and tying and guiding the vines as they grow upwards. Wow, the “Moonflower” vine is voracious, covering the whole front of the wall and leading my wife to dub it the “Little Shop of Horrors” vine. That is just fine with me, because I am happy if anything I plant actually grows and thrives. After patiently waiting all summer, last night three white blooms appeared, filling the air with a beautiful fragrance. It was worth the wait.
By far, the most spectacular vine on my wall garden is the Passion Flower vine (Passiflora) with 4,000 species. The complex blooms of the Passion Flower Vine are said to represent The Passion of Christ; the central stamen representing the cross, various parts representing the apostles, and more. So give vine gardening a try; it’s easy, if it wasn’t, I couldn’t pull it off! Ah next year, maybe add, Climbing Snapdragon(Asarina) or Cup and Saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens) or search for a different variety of Passion Flower vine.
Cobbett’s Pond and Searles Castle
This old view shows Cobbett’s Pond with Searles Castle in the background. Dunkin Beach does not yet exist, where Castleton is today and “Granite Hill” is an open pasture.
Dinsmore Associates Office next to Pelham Bank and Trust
Its hard to believe that it has been forty years since we opened the real estate brokerage business in Windham. Our small office was located next to the Pelham Bank and Trust on Route 111. I know what your thinking, yes that crappy “Pinto” Mustang was mine… but I loved that car because it saved me from near certain death in West Virginia.
Many of the laborers and masons who worked in the construction of Searles Castle, in Windham, were immigrants from Italy. A few years back, I had a gentleman drop by my office who provided me a photograph of his grandfather, Jacob Pitchochelli with his family. The gentleman shown in the photograph above driving the oxen is also Jacob Pitchochelli. Wouldn’t Mr. Searles and all of the people who labored to build the walls of Searles Castle, and who must have taken such pride in their work, be disappointed that so much of it has been destroyed or is falling to the ground today. The beautiful gate being constructed in the photograph above, became a safety hazard and was torn down.
Jacob Pitchochelli with his family
According to “Rural Oasis” “Camp Colt on Cobbett’s Pond was run by Mr. and Mrs. Alan Delaney. It opened in 1947 and functioned successfully for twenty-three years until it finally closed in 1970.”
Loraine Delaney writes in a note that, “As I told you these are the only pictures that I could find, Denise said she had some but doesn’t know where they are stashed.”
“We started Camp Colt June 1948 and it ran 24 years. Alan received his degree in Physical Education from the University of Miami. Before that he had been a Head-liner football star player from Lynn English High School in Lynn Massachusetts. His nickname was Alan-A-Dale.”
“The camp ran for 10 weeks each summer and the cost was $7.50 a week. This included transportation to and from the children’s residence plus a carton of Milk and a lot of forgotten lunches.”
“Swimming in Cobbett’s Pond was the main spark at the camp. Alan believed that every child should learn to swim.” ( I remember learning to float on my back there.)
“We also featured other sport including water skiing in later years —” (And I remember during my time there, that on rainy days, the boxing gloves came out and everybody had a turn at a round with another boy at camp.)
“Ceramics was the favorite craft in the Arts and Crafts program.”
“With the closing of the camp Alan worked as a Miami Stage Employee and became Jackie Gleason’s main Spot-Light operator. “
Alan and Lorraine’s son still owns the waterfront property that was once the location of part of Camp Colt. Of course, Denise Delaney is my sister-in-law, married to my brother Gardner.
The beautiful photograph was among some family items I came across recently. Unfortunately, I don’t really know who these people are. I am thinking they are Butler or Johnson family members. Maybe my Johnson “cousins: can help me out. The caption reads: “To Al” Sept. 18, 1910. The Clam Bake at Cobbetts. Jade___of l__e
Lakeview Golf Course Windham NH
Long before Windham Country Club was ever conceived, there was a golf course in Windham that offered views of Cobbett’s Pond. Rural Oasis states that, “Several years before the construction of Route I-93 and the influx of new residents, Windham’s people could hike, swim, skate, ice fish and toboggan in town (Or ride a dirt bike on miles and miles of old wood roads, like I did on my beloved Honda 70.) In fact there was even a golf course and summer playhouse, both located on Range Road. Ed Walkey from Cliftondale, Massachusetts , owned the former Lakeview Boarding House. During this period he started Lakeview Golf Course, the nine-hole course especially popular with summer visitors. The pro shop was located under the barn. The number one green was on the other side of Armstrong Road. When the southbound lane of I-93 was constructed the green was abolished for the new entrance of Armstrong Road. The golf course was a family business where Thyra, Ann, and their brother Allen worked with their parents taking care of the greens and the shop.”
Old Glory waves above the dock at “Fairview” on Cobbett’s Pond during the tenancy of the Brooks family 1900-1902.
Windham NH History 