$3-mil Centre Harbor oars from 1852
 

Estimated to sell for three to five million dollars at auction online on May 17, these oars were awarded to the Harvard vs Yale crew race winning team held on August 3, 1852 in Centre Harbor.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles...sports-history

These oars were presented to the winning team by U.S. Senator from New Hampshire and future president, Franklin Pierce, who had recently been nominated Democratic candidate for president in the election to be held on November 2, 1852.

This here pair of historic oars, made from black walnut, were originally purchased by the race organizers in late July, 1852 at E M Heath's Hardware in Centre Harbor for the very reasonable price of four dollars and 75-cents. ...... :laugh:

Thanks for the heads up.

I'm on it! :D

My bid is secured...
 

My bid is secured by the value of my house as collateral. :cool:

Maybe Harvard could buy them.

I believe their endowment has a few extra bucks in it.

I would check a few facts...EM Heath's was originally opened in 1945, 90+ years after the alleged initial purchase.

I think he was joking.

Thanks JM for your opinion......I had assumed that point even thought the rest of FLL's info appears correct from the auction site and the EM Heath's citation was not.

And, a recent letter to the Laconia Daily Sun from someone who has been around Centre Harbor for a good long time, mentioned that Millard Fillmore, the U.S. President at the time of the August 3, 1852 rowing race was indeed, actually present and was reported to be watching the race from the cupola look-out, high atop the historic Coe House.

https://timpanogos.blog/2013/04/05/m...more-waxes-on/ ...... Millard waxes on about his fantastic Coe House cupola view looking down that Centre Harbor bay as the rowers from Yale and Harvard raced it out!

And, here's a very informative letter to the local newspaper from:

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Bob Heath: Harvard-Yale oar has Center Harbor history
updated Apr 22, 2022

To The Daily Sun,

In the April 22, edition of The Sun (page 4), there is an article concerning the prize for the first Harvard and Yale race being auctioned. The expected price, $3 million. I am surprised there was no mention of Center Harbor, since this was the location of this race. Millard Fillmore was president and I believe he viewed this race from the cupola of the Coe House. In 1952, there was the 100th anniversary celebration race held in Center Harbor. My dad, Everett Heath, was I believe the chair of the committee that put the anniversary race together from the Center Harbor end. Presidential candidate Dwight Eisenhower attended and viewed this race from the Coe House also (now Osteria Poggio restaurant).

I feel that more should be made of the Center Harbor involvement in both races. Both were great events for this little town.

Bob Heath

Center Harbor

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