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As one who has been fascinated with history for as long as I can remember, I have eagerly anticipated the publication of this book, the irreplaceable Warren Huse's telling of the story of what we know today as the City of Laconia. Technically, as Warren points out, we celebrate in 2018 the 125th anniversary of the year Laconia became a city. That, in New England terms, would make us hardly more than a teenager at this point but the history of English-speaking settlements in this area dates back to the 1760s and, of course, the Native American presence in these forests far pre-dates the 18th Century.

Most of what is now Laconia was a part of the township of Meredith (incorporated in 1768) until 1855, when the N.H. Legislature granted a new township charter to folks living along the upper reaches of the Winnipesaukee River, most notably the settlement known as Meredith Bridge. The new township also included the portion of Meredith Bridge that was settled on the east bank of the river, in the township of Gilford, which itself has been carved from the township of Gilmanton (1727) in 1812. The vibrancy of Meredith Bridge is perhaps best measured by the fact is was chosen to be the seat of the newly formed Belknap County in 1840.

So far as I know, no written record exists as to why Laconia's incorporators chose the name they did for their new town, but thanks to the scholarly research of our own Pat Tierney we recently learned that England's King Charles I, in 1629, granted a large tract of Northern New England land to a newly formed Laconia Company — apparently the first appearance of the word in the English language.

In 1893 Laconia's leaders petitioned the Legislature to move from township to city status and it is that milestone we celebrate in 2018. As part of that incorporation the community of Lakeport left Gilford and joined Laconia. 

A benefit of the relative youth of our city has been the opportunity, in recent decades, for one to still have conversations with people who personally experienced, and, in many cases, led the way through most of our city's history. I cherish the fact that that I was able to enjoy a number of those oral history talks. On a small scale it was like siting down for a cup of coffee with Washington, Jefferson or Lincoln. It was in heaven.

Laconia is not unusual in that a good share of the people who have the greatest interest in her history are natives. This, quite literally, is their hometown and they love her dearly, warts and all. The chair of the Celebrate Laconia committee, Pam Clark, is a sterling example and I both thank and congratulate her and the other volunteers who have put their hearts into organizing every aspect of our year-long celebration.

What is very special about our natives, however, is the degree to which they accpet newcomers, like myself. I have lived, at one time or another, in a number of different regions of our country and never before experienced a community as willing to really welcome new contributors. And a community that can do that can't help but prosper.

So, in 2018, we celebrate. Yes, we celebrate the places and events that shaped us. But, most of all, we celebrate people, past, present and future. The people who formed and shaped Laconia. The people who contribute so much to her health and vitality this very day. And the people who will be the engine of her bright future.

Edward J. Engler

Mayor of Laconia

oral history