photo above from @ 1897. If you step back from the photo posted by Topwater you'll see this. It was about 20 years after the Civil War ended that the Weirs started to become popular. The first railroad station was built in 1848. Weirs Landing was pretty much an agricultural
area until the railroad came through and soon thereafter
began to develop as a resort area. The railroad leased land
to both the Civil War Veterans for their annual encampments
and to the Methodists who held yearly camp meetings.
The Methodists also rented their facilities out to other groups
such as the Baptists. The railroads always encouraged events and facilities that would encourage people to use the rails.
It wasn't until about a decade after the end of the
hostilities of the Civil War before the veterans and Methodists
began to arrive.
More info on the Weirs here ---->
https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ead.php?t=1748