Today we drove to Moultonborough in the Osippee Mountains at the north end of Lake Winnipesaukee to visit the "Castle in the Clouds." When this home was built in 1914 by Thomas Plant it was named Lucknow. The current "tourist" name is quite appealing.
Thomas Plant, born in Bath, Maine, made his fortune in manufacturing shoes for women. He was an inventor and patented several shoe-making machines. His company, Queen Quality Shoes, was in Boston.
Mr. Plant sold his company to the United Shoe Company and retired in 1910. He looked for a place to retire. His niece recommended this area and he eventually owned 6,300 acres. The home was built by 1,200 craftsmen in the Arts and Crafts style at a cost of $1 million. It contained many innovations for the time, including a central vacuum system. The house is large, but not ostentatious. I loved the master bath with its twin sinks and a spa-type shower. There are 4 bathrooms on the second floor. The views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Winnipausaukee are breathtaking.
Today, the house and 5,400 acres are owned by the Lake Region Conservation Trust. The grounds are used for weddings and other events. A fund raiser for John Sununu was being held on a lower pasture the day we were there.
The property is also the site of
Castle Springs water bottling plant was originally on Mr. Plant's property, but has been separated into a separate parcel and owned by Castle Springs.
After we toured the "castle" we drove through Wolfeboro and on around Lake Winnipausaukee. French President Sarkozy spent his summer vacation in Wolfeboro which caused a flap in France at the time. This is a very beautiful part of our country.
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