Lake Shore Farm has been in the family since 1848, but the family tree was planted long before that. Reuben and Elizabeth Brown built the first house on the spot now occupied by the great set of buildings we call Lake Shore Farm. As the Browns prospered, they added more buildings and cleared more acreage as the years went by, living almost entirely on what they produced. Their daughter, Deborah, married Jonathan Watson in 1820. They took over the farm in 1826, when Reuben died and they continued to farm it until sometime before 1856, when Jonathan died. The farm at this time was occupied by Deborah's sister, Sarah and her husband, Capt. Ebenezer Griffin, and the farm was known as the Griffin Place.
The grandson of Reuben Brown, Reuben Watson bought land approximately 1/2 mile south of the original farm, thus in a sense, the family tree was transplanted and has been growing ever since. Reuben was a successful farmer and was able to add many acres to the original purchase. Edville, Reuben Watson's only living son, settled on the farm, keeping only a few of the family traditions. Sometime late in the 1880s, Edville Watson had become ill and expected he would only have a few years left. In an effort to make sure his wife, Annette, and his aging parents would be able to provided for themselves, Edville devised a plan to enlarge the house his father had built by adding enough rooms so Annette could run a summer boarding house. Thus, in a sense, Lake Shore Farm was begun. In 1926, Everett Watson, with his father's original idea of the boarding house in mind, turned their home, once again, into a successful summer boarding house and Lake Shore Farm was established.
The sons of Everett, Ermon and Ernest, were capable farmers and continued to work the farm after their father was gone. Everett's young daughter, Eloise did her part as well. As time went on, Ernest tired of his role as the younger brother on, what was at the time, not a large farm. In 1938, a solution presented itself. A hurricane had blown over much of the timber and Ernest went to work in an effort to save the timber, beginning his own business venture. The farm suited Ermon just fine, though, and for years, Ermon continued his work on the farm while his mother, Lena, continued to run the inn. During and after WWII, the summer business continued to grow. In 1946 the Watsons added eleven more rooms and enlarged the kitchen. Eloise, having worked with her mother and learned all she needed to know to run the inn, began to assume some of her mother's roles when Lena began to slow down.
In 1948, Eloise married Ellis Ring. Eloise and Ellis did not settle immediately into the big house that she grew up in. They moved to Springfield so Ellis could finish his education which had been put on hold due to his enlistment in the service, near the end of WWII. During their almost 15 years in Springfield, Ellis earned his degree and the couple had 3 children, Harry, Sandra, and James. Over the years, Eloise and the children returned to Northwood every summer, where Eloise continued her role as hostess and cook. Though less able each year, Lena continued her role as true manager. Ermon continued to help until his death in 1958. Early in the 1960s, Eloise and Ellis added 8 rooms in a new building. In 1963, Lena was near the end of her life and Eloise did much of the management. It became clear to the Rings that Eloise could no longer divide her time between Northwood and Springfield and so the Ring family came to stay at Lake Shore Farm, permanently. In the summer of 1968, Lena died, content in the knowledge she'd left her affairs in capable hands. The permanent move had allowed Eloise and Ellis to extend the amount of time the doors were open to guests and so once the doors opened, they never again closed. Once the guest lost at Lake Shore Farm consisted of families from far away cities. Now Lake Shore Farm entertains square dancers, snowmobilers, club members, and party goers. Many still come for a week or two while others come for a weekend here and there. Eloise Ring died in the fall of 1994. Harry and continued in his mother's footsteps, with the aid of his wife Lyn. Lyn continued to help until her untimely death in 1999. Harry continues to manage the Farm, with Ellis as an advisor. Sandi manages record keeping and Jim oversees the maintenance of the grounds and minor repairs. They intend to carry on the same sense of warmth, simplicity, and family that Eloise and the generations before had begun and welcome you to visit them at Lake Shore Farm anytime. Come for the stay or just to say hello. You are always welcome at Lake Shore Farm!
Lake Shore Farm is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are always considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
ROOMS & RATES | MEALS | FUNCTIONS | WEDDINGS | NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTRACTIONS | LOCATION | ABOUT LSF | POLICIES | COOK BOOK | HOME
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lake Shore Farm Inn
275 Jennes Pond Rd, Northwood, New Hampshire 03261
Phone: (603) 942-5921
Email: lakeshorefarm@metrocast.net
Website: www.lakeshorefarminn.com
Contact the Webmaster