Wolfeboro Historical Society Digital Archive Postcard Archive Schools

This very early 1900's card is very interesting. See details on the back. The Gov. Wentworth Academy never existed. In 1782, a contractor was hired to build several farm buildings, a large school house (young men's seminary) and teacher's residence on Gov. Wentworth Hwy near the Wentworth estate. The complex was only used as a farm. In the 1830's or 1840's, several walls were frescoed by an itinerant artist. Briefly, the house deteriorated, was restored in 1885, used as a boarding house into the 1930's. Restored again in 1962 by new owners, it was exhibited on a house tour. In 1975, the house, apparently unoccupied and somewhat vandalized, sells again for a low price due to deterioration. Finally, on July 24. 2008. a tornado that crossed the northern end of Lake Wentworth and went up the hill toward Cotton Valley Road destroyed the house, and all that is left is this postcard of the mural. Complete details of the ownership chain and history are in the WHS files.

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   (19/23)