View from Basin View Lot with painting by Penny Purcell. Photo: John Watkins
The view from the hill overlooking Chocorua Lake is iconic: from the historic barn downward to Little Chocorua Lake, past the Narrows Bridge, over Chocorua Lake and up to majestic Mount Chocorua. Each year thousands of photos are snapped of this beautiful view.
For 140 years, the Bowditch family has preserved this view. In 2013, the state chose this iconic view to represent New Hampshire on the “America the Beautiful” quarter.
This historic view is now protected forever thanks to a recent agreement between the Chocorua Lake Conservancy and the Bowditch family for the Conservancy to purchase a perpetual conservation easement on the property. This agreement continues and memorializes the Bowditch family’s long history of conservation and stewardship.
“The Chocorua Lake Conservancy has given us a great opportunity to honor the Bowditch legacy and the work put in by Samuel I. Bowditch and James R. Bowditch, as well as an opportunity for us to show our love for this area and its residents,” said Bill Vander Clute on behalf of the Bowditch family.
Jim Bowditch
The Bowditch legacy is strong in Chocorua. Charles P. Bowditch was one of the founders of the Chocorua Lake community and a devoted conservationist. Both Sam Bowditch and Jim Bowditch served for many years on the board of the Chocorua Lake Association and the Chocorua Lake Conservation Foundation, the predecessor organizations to the Chocorua Lake Conservancy. In 2006, Jim Bowditch conceived and carried through to its completion the awarding of the coveted “National Historic District” status to the Chocorua Lake Basin and its viewshed.
The agreement with the Bowditch family prohibits any additional structures or residential use while preserving the present view. A portion of the property will be designated for public access to enjoy the historic view.
“The view of Chocorua Lake and Mount Chocorua from Route 16 has been recognized by New Hampshire as the emblem of the state’s natural beauty,” said Alex Moot, President of the Conservancy. “The Conservancy is honored to play a part in preserving it for the local community and for visitors from across the nation and the world. This project is a tribute to 140 years of stewardship of this property by the Bowditch family and is a fitting monument to their leadership in preserving the Chocorua Basin.”
The project is supported in part by a grant from New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), demonstrating the state’s recognition of preserving such a special place.
Later this year, the Conservancy will be asking lovers of Chocorua Lake and the Basin to contribute to that portion of the acquisition cost not covered by the LCHIP grant, and to a fund to provide for the management and administration of the property and of the easement.
Banner: Bowditch View Lot (1950)