History of LSPA

The organization's first president was Col. William Swinton Bennett Hopkins (1836-1900), who summed up the importance of protecting the Lake Sunapee Watershed as follows:

"The lake is the one jewel that calls in all here. The man who builds his house on a hill and does not reach the shore at all, were it not for the lake, would not have built it there. Carelessness, even the slightest introduction of impurity, will destroy the healthfulness of the region, repel the newcomer who should be invited, and destroy the value of what we have already established."  

Back in the 1890s, environmental education was pretty basic. The NH Argus and Spectator of May 5, 1899 had this advice: "Those desiring to dispose of their cats, dead hens, etc., should notify the 'Lake Sunapee Water Supply Company' to see that they are properly disposed of, rather than have them left on the ice of the lake or thrown into its waters." 

Lake Level

One of the early issues was the water level of Lake Sunapee. The mill owners downstream wanted continuous water power for the mill works, and the tourism concern at the lake was to have less variation on lake level. The New Hampshire legislature at the time began thinking that all lakes should be managed for public benefit. In 1905, LSPA and other parties, agreed that the lake level must be maintained within the range of 1,108.5' and 1,111.5' elevation. Those levels were modified slightly once, but the variation of three feet still holds. The New Hampshire Dam Bureau, who currently manages the lake level, continues to have that variation as its goal.  Click here to watch a presentation on lake level management on Lake Sunapee.

The Beginning

Lake Sunapee is a glacial lake, with geological faults and a graben structure. As the last glacier retreated around 11,000 years ago, it deposited large rocks in the landscape. These rocks are called glacial erratics. An example of a large glacial erratic can be found on Minute Island in front of the John Hay Wildlife Refuge, as seen along the wildlife shoreline trail. Native Abenaqui called the lake Soo-Nipi, which translates to "Rocky Lake". Lake Sunapee resembles a bird (goose) in flight, with the bird's head as the harbor area, from an aerial view, and at times from Mount Sunapee. The Penacooks, the local group of the Abenaqui around Sunapee, hunted in the autumn and fished using nets, weirs and spears.

The Steamboat Era

Following the extension of the B&M Railroad into Newbury, Lake Sunapee became a popular vacation area long before the introduction of the automobile. The main rail station was first at Newbury Harbor, the southernmost point of the lake. Today, the village contains a colorful antique caboose commemorating the railroad line that passed by, bringing vacationers from other parts of the country. When deeper water was needed for larger steamboats, Lake Sunapee Station - sometimes regarded simply as Lake Station - was built on the western shore near Davis Cabins.

Steamboat service developed on the lake to accommodate the new populace. Steamships ferried passengers from the south end of the lake to cottages and large resort hotels around the lake. Sunapee Harbor, George’s Mills Harbor, Burkehaven, Lakeside Landing, Bay Point, and Blodgett Landing were the most popular piers. One of the first commercial boats was actually propelled by horses in 1854, and in 1859, the lake’s first commercial steamboat, The Surprise, operated until 1861. Namaniel S. Gardner purchased Little Island for $1.00 and put a bowling alley on it in 1875. The following year, he launched the Penacook (later renamed Mountain Maid) steamer to carry passengers to Little Island, and so the steamboat era began.

The Woodsum brothers

The Woodsum Brothers launched the Lady Woodsum in 1876. It was 48 feet (15 m) long and could carry 75 passengers. The 90-foot (27 m) Edmund Burke was launched in 1885, carrying 450 passengers. In 1887, the Armenia White was launched; it was 101 feet (31 m) long and carried 650 passengers. It was the flagship of the Woodsum fleet and the biggest boat ever on Lake Sunapee.

The Final Steamship Years

In 1897, the 72-foot (21 m) steamship Kearsarge was launched, carrying 300 passengers daily in the summer months. In 1902, the 54-foot (15 m) Weetamoo was launched, operated until 1926, then was scuttled near Newbury. The ship is still intact and is visited frequently by local SCUBA clubs. The pilothouse of the Kearsarge was salvaged from the lake in 1936 and has been on display at the Sunapee Historical Society's Flanders-Osborne Museum (see SunapeeHisotricalSociety.org) since 1985. The 52-foot (16 m) MV Mount Sunapee II was launched in 1965 to take passengers on lake cruises in summer months. The original M.V. Mount Sunapee was first named Susie Q, and ran on the lake from 1951-1965. The automobile led to the demise of the steamer era.

Today's Cruise Boats

Today, the M.V. MT Sunapee II and the M.V. Sunapee Lake Queen continue the tradition of transporting guests along the beautiful Lake Sunapee for sunsets, dinners or just a great ride.