Last time we were in Moultonborough was one week before “season” and this entryway was gated. Reminiscing about that day, it was rainy and cloudy and our views would have surely been compromised anyway. I don’t know if it was fate or just dumb luck, but we returned nine years later on a truly spectacular day.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit Fall for New England 2021.

Born in 1859, Thomas Plant left school at age 14 to help support his family. He worked at many jobs before his apprenticeship at a shoe factory, where he quickly worked his way up to one of the better paying jobs in shoe manufacturing.

Plant started the Thomas G. Plant Company at age 32. With over 5,500 workers at his state-of-the-art factory in Jamaica Plain, MA and several patents that helped revolutionize the shoe-making process, the facility was highly productive and Plant’s innovative business philosophy promoted this success.

One Key to His Success

Plant was especially concerned about his employees’ wellbeing, so he offered recreational activities at the factory for a happier and healthier work force. Coming from a modest, working class background, he was happy when his employees were happy – and it certainly was good for business.

By 1910, his was the largest factory in the U.S. and the largest shoe factory in the world, producing six million pairs of Queen Quality and Dorothy Dodd women’s shoes annually.

Time to Retire

In 1910 Plant sold his business (and the patents for his shoe machinery) for $6 million and retired from the industry. Over the next few years he purchased 6,300 acres in Moultonborough and Tuftonboro, NH, where he and his wife Olive built Lucknow – their 16-room Arts and Crafts paradise.

Overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains, this rocky outcropping of Lee Mountain was formerly known as The Crow’s Nest.

Turns out money doesn’t stretch nearly as far in retirement when living so lavishly and Tom was unwilling to log any of his many acres – even to save Lucknow. By the early 1920s, parcels were mortgaged and he eventually mortgaged the entire estate to a friend, who let the Plants remain in the house until Tom’s death in 1941. In 1956 the grounds were opened to the public as Castle in the Clouds.

Century-old Pergola

While we waited for our tours to start, we enjoyed 180-degree views of Lake Winnipesaukee from under the pergola. It was fabulous from every angle.

Blending Innovation with Nature

Lucknow was built with then-cutting-edge materials (steel beams, poured concrete and terra cotta architectural blocks) and state-of-the-art amenities (central vacuuming, ammonia brine refrigeration, intercom systems). It was designed to harmonize with its surroundings, using natural and sometimes local materials to create a rustic, handcrafted look. The craftsmen who built the home really knew what they were doing!

“The oak woodwork (hand hewn), which comprises a large part of the outside structure, was made by old time craftsmen in the shipyards at Bath, Maine. These men are skilled in the shaping and fastening together of ship timbers with oaken dowels, work that lasts a lifetime.” ~ Thomas G. Plant, 1924

Expansive Views with Pops of Color

Lake Winnipesaukee stretches for 71 square miles and containers of flowers tempted us to take a closer look. I can imagine that during the summer months, the flowers are even more abundant and spectacular. They would almost have to be, to divert the eye from that view!

A Variety of Tours

The basement tour was an add-on and well worth the upgrade. This 45-minute guided tour highlights the bones of the house, and feature the ultra-modern appliances and amenities and how they were connected to the upstairs. The tour also offers a glimpse into the lives of the staff who helped run and manage the Lucknow Estate in the 1910s and 1920s.

The contraption in the first photo (affectionately referred to as Rosie) was one of the innovations at the time – a central vacuum system. It wasn’t until years later that the more portable versions were invented.

Bring the Outside In

Beautiful iron windows and doors provide views from every room in the house.

“The interior of the house is most livable with its air of restfulness and home comfort. It is rich without looking costly, simple, yet beautiful and artistic.” ~ Thomas G. Plant, 1924

More Breathtaking Views

Many Thanks…

… to the Castle Preservation Society for taking such good care of this fabulous place and keeping it open for all to see from late May to early October. Check CastleintheClouds.org when you’re in the neighborhood and be sure to visit. There are special events throughout the year, especially around the holidays. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

Up Next: Climb to the Clouds

Happy trails,
Barb