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August 9, 2019

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Mummy and Daddy headed out early yesterday morning to see a CASTLE of sorts. It wasn’t a place for doggies so we stayed behind, which was fine by us since frankly, we were getting a little “road weary” and needed some down time at the YORKIE EXPRESS to recharge our batteries… PLUS, it was raining off and on, and the thought of getting wet wasn’t all that appealing to us! ?

Mummy had read about this big house called “Lucknow,” but most people referred to it as “The Castle in the Clouds,” and she wanted to see it! It turned out to be a 16-room mansion built in 1914 on 5,500 acres of beautiful forested land. Originally they had about 1,000 more acres but they sold off some of the land a long time ago. It was built in the Arts & Crafts style by Thomas Gustave Plant for his wife Olive, and it sits on a mountaintop in Moultonborough, New Hampshire overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains. The house is clad is carefully fitted stone veneer that were hand chiseled by many, many stone masons working on the house. It would take one stone worker an entire day to cut and place just THREE STONES on this house!!! When you walk around the entire home it makes you shake your head to think of how long it took to just do the stone work! They had 1,000 men working on the house for 1 1/2 years. 1,000 men!!! Mummy said she has a hard time getting ONE MAN to come and fix our air-conditioner when it breaks!!!!

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The front door (seen in the picture) as well as all of the exposed beams in the house, have a dimpled appearance. This is made by carefully hand chiseling the wood to get this effect and while very beautiful, is extremely time consuming. Mummy said that the back yard was like a little spot of HEAVEN! There were flowers everywhere, and planters bordering the edge of the yard that were made of stone and shaped like CASTLES… OH MY GOSH HOW ADORABLE!!! The view was truly one from the clouds, where you looked down to Lake Winnipesaukee far, far out on the horizon. This is the largest lake in all of New Hampshire. It is 21-miles long, varies from 1-9 miles in width and has a maximum depth of 180-feet!!! WOW THAT IS REALLY DEEP! There are at least 264 islands in the lake, half of which are less than 1/4 of an acre. If you wanted to drive around the whole thing… it is about 63 miles… just so you know. And one last thing, there is a movie called, “What About Bob?” that features this lake. In the movie, this crazy man named Bob, carries his pet goldfish around with him in a jar hung around his neck… and Daddy wanted to go into town and get a goldfish….Mummy stopped him RIGHT THERE and said she wanted NO PART of this activity he was planning! ????

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Inside the house there was lots of wood, stained in a warm, brown finish and stained glass windows in many rooms with several leaded glass panels even on the ceilings… the overall effect was a very comfortable, homey place rather than a cold mansion. The rooms were not humongous in size but they were certainly large! The attention to detail was obvious and even back then, in 1914, the house included several innovations that were considered rare… like special interlocking kitchen tiles, the “needle” showers, ammonia-brine refrigeration, house-wide interphone system and even central vac! In one of the pictures Mummy has included a picture of the “needle” shower. This was the description of this contraption in the bathroom: The wraparound arms feature tiny pinholes that spray jets of water around the user’s torso area. These little sprays of water strike the kidney area, ribcage, liver or spine like little “needles,” providing an energizing “massage” for the internal organs. It was thought to be invigorating and therapeutic, and in 1914 it was still believed that women were fragile and delicate, and showering might be harmful to them because their delicate constitutions could not withstand the rigors of shower bathing!!! This procedure should only be resorted to under the advice of a physician! Typically, only the wealthy had showers in their homes up until the 1920’s. This type of shower would have cost between $300-$500. (The Lucknow mansion had THREE of these “needle” showers!) The master bathroom which is also pictured, was considered the epitome of the early 20th-century “Sanitary Bathroom” with the tiled walls and floors, 2 separate toilets in private rooms, 2 sinks, a deep tub and a “needle” shower.

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The center grouping of pictures includes Mummy and Daddy’s trip to the estate’s “Carriage House,” which was once the beautiful stables with brick floors and stained stalls with iron dividers for the horses. It has now been converted into a charming restaurant where they stopped for lunch following their tour! The “stall” they ate in even included the original corner horse  trough! Mummy chose the “Tom Foolery” sandwich (I have NO IDEA where that name came from ??❤️) and consisted of oven roasted turkey, warm brie cheese, cranberry aioli and applewood bacon on grilled bread! Now THIS is when I wished I was with her!!! She said that when we get back home she is going to try and recreate this, because it was simply DE-LICIOUS!!! ????

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The end of the Thomas Plant story is sort of sad. He ended up losing all of his money due to bad investments. ??? The house was foreclosed on but he was allowed to keep living there for some reason… I mean, you KNOW that would never happen today! And then he had to have surgery for something and died from complications. Olive moved back to Illinois where she was originally from, to live with relatives, and the new owners moved into Lucknow. But… to this day, there still stands a retirement home that he built way back at the turn of the century to house the elderly who had nowhere to go. So his legacy does still continue, and he is highly thought of in the community for his generous, giving spirit. The Castle in the Clouds is a place that you will definitely want to visit on your next trip through New Hampshire! ?❤️?❤️?

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Millie LaRue

Author Millie LaRue

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Jeanie Drane
Jeanie Drane
3 years ago

Wowza i love the nsme,i m so amazed at the beauty of the mansion ,id love to see it, it sounds like a dream the nsme itself ,built it fot his wife oh my, i cant imagine all the beauty of back in yhose days and the showers wow!!!!!,my brain could not comprehend, all id b seeing, sounds breath taking. Guess no little firbabys in there lived sad, they would have had their own waitressess,wowza!!!!u have lived and saw so many exciting things,im happy for u all, love the stories of the mansions,stay safe,be blest ,have a great day kiss… Read more »

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeanie Drane

Mummy said it was sooo lovely. One of the later owners who used it as a summer home was asked to lend it to President Eisenhower!!!! to use during the summer and she REFUSED because she and her family loved to use it THEMSELVES so much!!!

Diane Painter
Diane Painter
3 years ago

You are an expert at finding some fascinating places to visit for all of us. Love seeing Millie and her sissies.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Diane Painter

Mummy said it was sooo lovely. One of the later owners who used it as a summer home was asked to lend it to President Eisenhower!!!! to use during the summer and she REFUSED because she and her family loved to use it THEMSELVES so much!!!

Jeanie Drane
Jeanie Drane
3 years ago

He did sound like a generous man to have buolt thatcplacexfor others bless his heart just the nane Castle in the Clouds sounds like Heaven !!!!! Love u all???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeanie Drane

It was really so pretty. If you ever get a chance, make sure and stop to see it. ??

Marilyn Williams
Marilyn Williams
3 years ago

That house was beautiful. I love the arts and crafts style. Glad you were able to take a day of rest. That is always important on vacation.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago

We are going to the top of Mount Washington today and then trying to Find a MOOSE! ???

Johnna Wheeler
Johnna Wheeler
3 years ago

Such an interesting place! Thanks for sharing!

Bob Mayes
Bob Mayes
3 years ago

I think Daddy should be allowed to get a goldfish!!!!

Laurie Heikoff
Laurie Heikoff
3 years ago

Sounds lovely, little Millie!!! So glad that your mummy and daddy enjoyed the tour of the house, and that you and your sisters had a nice relaxing day!!! ?

Debra
Debra
3 years ago

Wow sounds wonderful Millie and only and hour and a half from where I live now! I’m going to plan a trip there. Enjoy Mount Washington. I hope you see a moose. I have and they hare huge!!!
Can’t wait for your next post.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Debra

I hope that we get to see one!!! We drove around last night but didn’t see any and tonight is our last chance. ??

Susan Thomas
Susan Thomas
3 years ago

oh my gosh this is just beautiful! and am I the only one that really wants to try that needle shower? LOL The floors are gorgeous! Just a really beautiful place!!! I can’t imagine having 1000 men working on those stones….. yeah that wouldn’t happen now for sure! LOL oh my goodness looking for a MOOSE? you be careful around them and stay away from any baby Moose!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Susan Thomas

We will be very careful! Don’t worry. ??

Joan Evans
Joan Evans
3 years ago

So love your summer trips. I feel I can travel through you all. X

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Joan Evans

Thank you for following along with us this summer… we have looked forward to reading your comments as well. ??

Susan Calvert
Susan Calvert
3 years ago

Thank you for sharing this treasure with all of us! Mummy’s sandwich sounds amazing…and may have to be in the next cookbook!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Susan Calvert

I think the sandwich looks easy enough for anyone to make, that’s why we wanted to give you all of the ingredients so you can try to recreate it for yourself! ❤️?❤️?

Lynn Davis
Lynn Davis
3 years ago

Wow! Amazing history! Thanks for the tour! ❤

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Lynn Davis

It was soooo beautiful! ??

Daphne Parris
Daphne Parris
3 years ago

Millie LaRue your Mummy and Daddy are very Blessed people. The places they’ve been to and the things they’ve seen are Absolutely Amazing. Sorry you Little Ladies couldn’t go. Hope your Mummy bought y’all a Treat or two home. I’m really enjoying your stories.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Daphne Parris

Thank you so much! We have really enjoyed your comments this summer. We actually enjoy a day or two alone to catch up on our naps!!! ???❤️

Susan Nicol
Susan Nicol
3 years ago

Millie
Seems every day you make me laugh harder.
Your daddy is a rascal. Gold fish hmm. Maybe he’s gotten to much mountain air.
I think mommy is about to lose her temper.
Daddy better watch out.
Love you all!!
Oliver and Susan

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Susan Nicol

Daddy thinks he is a comedian sometimes! ???

Deborah Bright
Deborah Bright
3 years ago

I saw a Moose when I was on a New England tour in the fall a few years ago. Hope you get to see one too Millie!!!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Deborah Bright

So far we haven’t seen one, but we will try again one last time tonight!!!

Carole Barrette
Carole Barrette
3 years ago

Now…I have a question: who tends to you Millie and your sisters while mom and dad are galavanting all over the place? I wonder if mommy will finally go to this spooky haunted island she was telling us last year….Don’t go with hr if she does…

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago

We stay by ourselves at our AIRSTREAM while they visit places for a few hours… then they come pick us up and we go do a family outing together. ?❤️?

Dawn Dupuis
Dawn Dupuis
3 years ago

What a lovely adventure! I love how his legacy still continues on. Thank you so much for the history lesson. I’ve been to New Hampshire but never to that area. I must go see this place!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Dawn Dupuis

Ohhhh you MUST GO SEE IT!!!❤️

Mary Hamilton
Mary Hamilton
3 years ago

Sounds absolutely amazing! What an awesome place! If we get up there mummy said she wants to go!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary Hamilton

Ohhh you really need to see it! You will love it. The views from
The backyard are gorgeous. ??

Josephine Oliver
Josephine Oliver
3 years ago

Sounds and looks like a beautiful place to visit ??

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago

It really is lovely. ??

Sherri Davis
Sherri Davis
3 years ago

I sure enjoyed your post today!!! Thank you, I felt like I was on the trip too.. I would love to see the restaurant your Mummy and Daddy had lunch in. I loved hearing about the Castle. I have been to the Biltmore House and it reminded me of my visit there. So glad you and your sisters were able to get some rest. You probably needed a nice relaxing day!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Sherri Davis

Thank you for following along with us this summer! It was not nearly as GRAND as the Biltmore but more of a real home!!! It was obviously a very large home and built with exquisite materials but the stained wood gives it a warm, cozy feel rather than the houses of stone and marble.

Sandy Greenwood
Sandy Greenwood
3 years ago

Wow what a beautiful place ! So sorry you had to miss lunch but I am sure Mummy had something for all of you when they got back . Love following all of your adventures !

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago

We always get a special little snack when Mummy and Daddy come back to get us! ??

Faye Lawrence
Faye Lawrence
3 years ago

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL MANSION. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PLACE,
IT WAS SAD THAT THE MAN LOST SO MUCH BUT HOW NICE TO HAVE A ELDERLY HOME.
YOU HAVE HAD AN AMAZING TRIP. GLAD THE WEATHER HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD.

THINK IT WAS BEST FOR THE 4 OF YOU YORKIES TO REST..

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Faye Lawrence

We are happy you have been with us this summer and have really enjoyed reading your comments! ??

Dianna Reynolds
3 years ago

I LOVE ALL OF THESE PHOTOS. SO BEAUTIFUL, AND VERY INTERESTING. SEEMS YOU BOTH HAVE SEEN SO VERY MUCH ON YOUR TRIP. SO WE HAVE ALSO. THANK YOU AGAIN…
I LOVE THE CASTLE. WOW!! YOUR TRIP HAS BEEN SO LOVELY.
YOU HAVE MANY GREAT MEMORIES. LOVE THAT.
HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR TRIP. BE SAFE. LOVE ALL OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago

This really was a lovely home… I hope that you can see it one day. ??

Kay Ankeny
Kay Ankeny
3 years ago

It certainly looks like a beautiful place to visit. Have fun and as always safe travels. Hugs ❤️❤️❤️❤️

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Kay Ankeny

Thank you… it really was beautiful. The view was one of the best parts but the house was really warm and cozy despite being so large!

Sheri Admire
Sheri Admire
3 years ago

Beautiful story… just imagining the scenery.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Sheri Admire

Ohhhh that was one of the best parts!!! ????

Judy Alter
3 years ago

What a great mansion. That would be interesting to see.

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Judy Alter

It was lovely… I hope you get a chance to see it one day. ❤️?

Carol Copeland
Carol Copeland
3 years ago

Pretty! Love the planters with flowers!

millie larue
millie larue
3 years ago
Reply to  Carol Copeland

Ohhhh the castle planters were gorgeous and they circled the entire backyard! ?❤️?

Sharon Terrel
Sharon Terrel
3 years ago

Millie, I love your detailed stories on mommy and daddy’s adventures. I love that front door. I didn’t know about women and showers way back when. I would love to see your daddy with a gold fish around his neck. Good thing he has mommy to keep him on track. Enjoy the rest of your travels.

Wendy Scoggins
Wendy Scoggins
3 years ago

I just want those 5500 acres! Woohoo!

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