From Hotel to Sawmill and Log Yard
Sept. 13, 1933, the Newport Fire Dept. was enlisted into service to fight a fire which razed the “Pleasant View,” formerly “The Earl.” The building had been unoccupied for several months and was owned by E. M. Clark of North Haverhill. Recently dances had been held there by the Civilian Conservation Corps but a short distance away on the Mummery Brook.
While known as “The Earl” this hotel was the mecca for many gay parties and dances in the “Nineties.” Built in 1897 by Joseph C. Winter, it was described in its advertising leaflets as “a first-class summer hotel delightfully situated on high land commanding a view of the mountains and valleys for which New Hampshire is famous . . . the grounds afford a grand opportunity for children; cool, shady and romantic walks, tennis and croquet grounds and the grandest Scotland golf-links in New England. Accommodations for fifty guests. Elegantly and tastefully furnished throughout.”
The Village took its turn at fiery disaster in the early morning of Jan. 19, 1943, when Martin Tatro, in driving past the John S. Smart house on his way to work saw flames through the kitchen window. By the time the Newport Fire Department made the five-mile run over sleet-glazed roads the fire had spread from the kitchen to a shed connected with an unusually large and well-equipped barn, both of which were destroyed. Failure of the portable pump, first to arrive on the scene, aided the flames to spread to the upper part of the main house, although this portion was saved and was immediately re-roofed and repaired.” (History of Goshen)
This is where Mark’s Midnight Auto is now. The stone ramp to the barn is still here. This hotel burned down and was later the John Sargent Lumber Company’s log yard with sawmill. Albert and George Caron ended up owning and operating a steam sawmill here. It is still in the Caron family today. In the picture below you can see the barn that is in this photo after the hotel was burned down. (Mark Caron)