Exhibit on The Lee Settlement and Ossipee Mountain Park Open at Castle in the Clouds

MOULTONBOROUGH — The Castle in the Clouds, working with the Oliver family of Moultonborough, is giving a special gift to the Town of Moultonborough and to everyone interested in the history of the region--a never before assembled exhibit of the life and times of the Lee Settlement and Ossipee Mountain Park--the precursors of The Castle in the Clouds. The exhibit, at Castle in the Clouds Carriage House, is open now on weekends, and will be open daily from June 9 through June 27.

The area known successively as the Ossipee Mountain Intervale, Ossipee Mountain Park, Lucknow Estate, and now Castle in the Clouds, was first permanently settled by the Lees, and five other families, in the late 1700s. Now, several generations later, the Oliver family, descendants of the Lees, continues to treasure many of the artifacts remaining from those years, including farm tools, furniture, toys and clothes, letters and fine quality photographs. These make up the core of this most wonderful and evocative exhibit. But this is much more than an exhibit of historical memorabilia. It tells the story of one extended family's struggle, to live a harsh life in a beautiful mountain valley, and to continue to stay there even when strong forces tried to drive them out.

There is Martha Jane Lee's spinning wheel, photos of young Lizzie Lee milking a cow, a photo of the wicked "spite fence" Tom Plant put up to force the Lees to sell, and nearby a letter from a distant relative commiserating with Martha Jane's troubles.

The curators of the exhibit, Ann Hackl and Nancy Gaver, have carefully used photographs, artifacts and some text to tell the story of these hard working pioneers and of the wealthy industrialists who joined them a century later. While B.F. Shaw peacefully co-existed with them, Thomas G. Plant eventually succeeded in driving them out.

The exhibit is free with Castle in the Clouds admission and open during regular Castle hours. A special free reception will be held on May 27 at 5:30 p.m. The Castle is grateful to John and David Oliver for their generosity in lending the material for this exhibit and Christopher P. Williams Architects for financial support.

Castle in the Clouds is open on week-ends, including Memorial Day Monday, through June 3 and opens daily on June 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Castle and the Castle Preservation Society has planned a summer full of special exhibits and events. For more information on Castle in the Clouds and its activities visit the website at www.castleintheclouds.org.

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Articles and photos from the Lee Settlement, which predated Castle in the Clouds, make up a compelling exhibit now at the Castle Carriage House Gallery. (Courtesy photo)