Gilmanton Winery's serial-killer roots

Marshall Bishop, owner with his wife, Carol, of Gilmanton Winery, displays vintages, including the Jack the Ripper, a red wine produced as an homage to the winery's history. (David Carkhuff/Laconia Daily Sun)

Herman Webster Mudgett — known later in life by his alias H.H. Holmes — was a prolific serial killer who built a "Murder Castle" in Chicago. He was born in Gilmanton, and his extended family lived at the Gilmanton Winery. (Courtesy photo)

H.H. Holmes killings linked to Jack the Ripper in new History Channel debut

By DAVID CARKHUFF/THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILMANTON — Jack the Ripper certainly delivers a blow.

This particular red wine, with its robust taste and potent 13 percent alcohol content, also is a dark-humored wink to a theory that notorious American serial killer, H.H. Holmes, committed the murders attributed to London's infamous slayer, Jack the Ripper.

Gilmanton Winery developed the vintage in partial recognition that the winery's history is intertwined with the legacy of H.H. Holmes, whose extended family once lived there.

At 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, Marshall and Carol Bishop, owners of the Gilmanton Winery, will pause from their day-to-day life to tune in to the History Channel for "American Ripper," a series premier.

On Friday, April 21, during the winery's five-course dinner cocktail hour, the Bishops plan to screen the documentary for the public. Cocktail hour starts at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required.

The Gilmanton Winery's historic house at 528 Meadow Pond Road was originally built in 1756.

The winery is most famous as the former home of Grace Metalious, who wrote the famous, controversial novel "Peyton Place." The book spawned a 1957 film featuring Lana Turner and a television series, as well as countless spin-offs.

But the Bishops discovered a second history, equally fascinating if a bit more disturbing than the "Peyton Place" calling card.

"This was the home of the extended family of H.H. Holmes," said Marshall Bishop. "The Mudgett homestead. They actually owned this in the 1800s."

Herman Webster Mudgett — known later in life by his alias H.H. Holmes — was a doctor who designed and built a three-story Chicago hotel, which came to be known as the "Murder Castle" because of the dozens of victims killed there via elaborate and diabolical means. Police linked Holmes to as many as 200 murders. He was hanged in a Philadelphia prison in 1896 but not before he lured, imprisoned and murdered his victims, reportedly for their insurance policies.

Before his well-publicized foray with methodical killing in Chicago, H.H. Holmes had a family life in New Hampshire. He was born Herman Webster Mudgett on May 16, 1861, in Gilmanton. As a young adult, he taught school in Gilmanton and Alton. His birthplace, a house at 500 Province Road, remains standing in downtown Gilmanton, near the town hall. Extended family — including a cousin and his uncle — lived at the winery, and the Bishops said an early tragedy may stem from the young Mudgett's exploration of his dark nature.

"Just before he left here in the 1890s, they found her, his cousin, dead across the street, drowned in the river. They really think that was his first victim," Marshall Bishop said.

Carol Bishop speculated that another victim, a little boy who died mysteriously, may have been a victim as well.

The Mudgetts ultimately sold the house, but the legacy continued to intrigue.

As an adult, Jeff Mudgett, great-great-grandson of the infamous serial killer, discovered his troubling family legacy and wrote, "Bloodstains," a book that explores the theory that H.H. Holmes also was Jack the Ripper.

A crew with the History Channel interviewed the Bishops for an H.H. Holmes docu-series. Jeff Mudgett visited the winery several times while promoting his book and the Jack the Ripper theory.

Next week, the Bishops will watch the "American Ripper" premier, particularly with an eye for the parts filmed at the winery.

Carol Bishop said, "They were talking about Herman Mudgett, H.H. Holmes, how he might have gotten started."

During the Friday, April 21 wine dinner, guests will be invited to sample locally produced vintages, and don't be surprised if Jack the Ripper is a favorite (the robust and powerful tones of this red Carmenere boasts "black cherry and plum nuances and a smooth finish," the winery notes). Gilmanton Winery developed the Jack the Ripper vintage in partial recognition that the winery's history is intertwined with the notorious serial killer, H.H. Holmes, and his great-great-grandson's speculations.

Carol Bishop said whimsically that the red wine could undergo a name change, depending on the success of historical investigation.

"The pastor of our church said, 'Ooh, you should name it Jack the Ripper.' So we did. But then as Jeff Mudgett was leaving, he said, 'If we find out he was Jack the Ripper, you could rename it, 'American Ripper.'"

DETAILS: On Friday, April 21, the five-course dinner cocktail hour at Gilmanton Winery starts at 5:30 p.m. and features a screening of "American Ripper" from the History Channel. Reservations are required. The public is asked to RSVP for dinners at the winery by the Tuesday prior to the event.

Chef Sarah Baldwin-Welcome, who ran kitchens in both Anthron's Fine Food Market in Concord and Summerfield's Restaurant in Laconia, and over the last 25 years has owned her own catering business named Provincial Palate, is the guest chef. The cost of the meal is $45. RSVP is required at (603) 267-8251. The next five-course meal in the series is Friday, May 19, and then the dinners shift to Saturdays in the summer months, June 17, July 22 and Aug. 12. To reserve a spot for a weekend dinner at the winery, call or visit www.gilmantonwinery.com.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, when the winery is not hosting its three-course or five-course dinners, guests can come without reservation for Uncorked, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. from Columbus Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend, and 4 p.m.-9 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend to Columbus Day weekend. Cost to dine is $15 per person, and a glass of wine is $6 per glass or $22 per bottle. The winery also hosts brunches on Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and lunches on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (603) 267-8251 for details.

Jeff Mudgett, great-great-grandson of the infamous serial killer, H.H. Holmes, discovered his troubling family legacy and wrote, "Bloodstains," a book that explores the theory that H.H. Holmes also was Jack the Ripper. (Courtesy photo from Facebook)

Jack the Ripper is a red Carmenere which boasts "black cherry and plum nuances and a smooth finish," the Gilmanton Winery notes. (David Carkhuff/Laconia Daily Sun)