The Pines

Notes on Crystal Lake Hostelries

by Richard P. Arms

"The hotel was built by the Blackey family in 1905 and later included a string of cottages. There were also "servant's quarters" set back from the beach; the present owner calls it the "Chipmunk Chateau". The hotel was completely destroyed by fire in 1947 wehn some workmen let a salamander got too hot on a very cold day."

From: Gilmanton - My Home Town - Memoirs of Louise Place Shurbert - Copyright 2005 by the Gilmanton Historical Society - Used with permission.

from Back Porch Tales - K. M. Frost

"Built in 1907 and burned in April of 1947. It was built by Mr. and Mrs. John Blackey and was owned by a man named Blake at the time it burned. The fire was believed to have been started by sparks from a roaring fire in the fireplace. It caught easily on the freshly varnished living room floor. There fire alarm rang when Blake was in the village. He returned to help fight the blaze. The blaze was so terriffic it melted the glass doors, and burned everything to the ground."