Old Car Found In Winnipesaukee

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Diver1111

Senter Cove Guy-thanks for the update-very interesting; I was aware of that car thanks to you and Grant;

While researching the alleged "Rum Boat" I came across the attached article from 1925; I've tried scanning for it but I would imagine there is not much left of it. Would be a neat find but I don't spend time actively looking for it anymore.

To enlarge the pdf text try hitting the plus/minus arrow at the top.

Diver: That would be a very difficult area to dive in given all the boat traffic in the area wouldn't it? Given this, it probably has never been visited??

[Diver1111]

I have dived it twice off season looking for the car after scanning it-both this spring in early late April-early May. In deeper water-say30 feet to the southwest coming out of the channel I could hear boats overhead periodically. I did cross the channel itself swimming towards Govs. Island several times in maybe15 feet of water. Current is obvious flowing towards the Weirs, with white sand bottom amongst scattered rocks. Heavy boulder field to the right in 3-10 feet of water facing Eagle. Very few traces of human activity.

[Coolbreeze]

Great stuff, the hair on my arms was standing up. Senter cove guy, do you think you are the only one to have found this car? What was that car doing out on the ice anyway? Any thoughts? That must have been a cold ride!

[Senter Cove Guy]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

Great stuff, the hair on my arms was standing up. Senter cove guy, do you think you are the only one to have found this car? What was that car doing out on the ice anyway? Any thoughts? That must have been a cold ride!

When I found the car, there was basically no human inflicted damage to it that I could see. The steering column had collapsed and the steering wheel was sitting right at the end of the steering column. It was the first thing I touched. I know of 2 people who dove for the car in the early 1960's and neither of them found it. I'm just about certain that I was the first person (other than the recovery diver in 1937) to see the car in the 67 years since it went down. I have personally taken several other divers to see the car and they, in turn, have told others. There has been significant damage done to the car since I found it. I think that someone has salvaged the front windshield. I know it was there initially because I touched it but the last time I dove the car, which was in late 2007, I could not see it. It looked like someone may have punched a hole in the left side of the car and slid the windshield out. That must have been a tricky salvage job.

I have been asked if it was worth trying to raise it. The answer is no because it is so fragile. It would simply fall apart if moved.

Driving on the ice was and still is commonly done. The 2 people in the car were on their way to visit friends who were ice fishing not too far away. And yes, I'm sure it was cold. Did you notice in one of the pictures that the left rear window was half way down? I'm sure they were dressed for the cold.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

Great stuff, the hair on my arms was standing up. Senter cove guy, do you think you are the only one to have found this car? What was that car doing out on the ice anyway? Any thoughts? That must have been a cold ride!

I was fortunate to accompany Senter Cove Guy on one of those dives on the car. It truly is an eerie feeling when your down there looking at this car just sitting upright down there, especially knowing people died when it went down. It did have an impact on me for a few weeks thereafter and I couldn't get it out of my mind.

[Coolbreeze]

It is almost like going back into a timewarp or time capsule. My imagination is running wild with all of the scenarios of theday that led to the fate of those people, the fear that must have been felt and how desolate the area was back then to try and find help not to mention the struggle to survive. Just think of the world events going on at that time, furthermore all the world events that occured from that fateful day to present. That car weathered them all in its watery grave. Great story!

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

It is almost like going back into a timewarp or time capsule. My imagination is running wild with all of the scenarios of theday that led to the fate of those people, the fear that must have been felt and how desolate the area was back then to try and find help not to mention the struggle to survive. Just think of the world events going on at that time, furthermore all the world events that occured from that fateful day to present. That car weathered them all in its watery grave. Great story!

It really is (or was, when I last saw it about three years ago) in remarkable shape. Senter Cove Guy found this 'wreck' through sheer determination (visibility in that part of the Lake typically STINKS). On more than one occasion I balked at looking for the car, insisting that there would be nothing left. So I felt rather foolish (and very happy for him) when he finally happened upon it.

There are others! In fact, another forum diver sent me some interesting clips about a car that went through Winni ice about 12 years before this car, so I bet there is still something there (they obviously didn't bother removing them, like today). We'll see!!

[Coolbreeze]

Keep me posted on the others!

[Tallyho]

In the late 1950s, the brother of a friend of mine went through the ice in his pickup and drowned, somewhere in the Gilford/Laconia area. I expect it must have been mentioned in the Laconia Evening Citizen, but I don't know how to access their archives online, and I don't live in the area. I'm sure the truck wasn't retrieved, so it must be somewhere in that area. Not much information, but it might be worth researching if you are a diver.

[BroadHopper]

has microfilms of the Citizen dating back to the 60's. I did research for college and remember going to the library. I would give them a call.