Our Detailed History - Mountain View Grand Resort

M
V
G
OUNTAIN
IEWRESORT
RAND
MOUNTAIN
VIEW GRAND
& SPA
The
MostHistoric
HistoricResort
Resort
TheStory
StoryofofNew
NewHampshireʼs
Hampshire’s Most
O n a dark and stormy spring night in 1865, a stagecoach
traveling
from Boston
Montreal
bumped
On a dark
and stormy
springtonight
in 1865,
a and plodded northward along what is now Route 3. The going
stagecoach traveling from Boston to Montreal bumped
grew steadily worse until near the intersection of what is
and plodded northward along what is now Route 3.
now Mountain View Road and Route 3, the coach hit a
The going grew steadily worse until, near the
mud hole and tipped onto its side. As the two passengers
intersection
of what
now Mountainthey
View
Road
and
crawled
out, the
driverisrecommended
walk
a half
mile
Route
3,
the
coach
hit
a
mud
hole
and
tipped
onto
up the then dirt road where he was sure there was a its
farm
side. AsPerhaps
the two the
passengers
crawled
out,
the indriver
house.
farmers would
take
them
for the
recommended they walk a half mile up the then dirt
night.
road where he was sure there was a farm house.
Perhaps
farmers
take
them
in for
night.the
The wetthe
and
weary would
travelers
made
their
waythe
through
driving rain to the home of William and Mary Jane Dodge,
who
them
in and made
gave them
snug
place to
The not
wetonly
and took
weary
travelers
their away
through
sleep,
they
provided
a
hearty
farm
breakfast
that
featured
the driving rain to the home of William and Mary Jane
homemade
doughnuts,
pancakes
sausages.
Dodge, whofresh
not only
took them
in andand
gave
them a
snug place to sleep, but provided a hearty farm
The guests
enjoyedhomemade
the hospitality
of doughnuts,
the Dodges and
breakfast
thatsofeatured
fresh
the
majestic
360-degree
views
that
they
implored
their
pancakes and sausages.
hosts to let them stay for a few more days. Before they
left, the passengers made sure that they would be welThe guests
so enjoyed
theweeks
hospitality
of the Dodges
come
to return
for several
the following
summer.
and
the
majestic
360-degree
views
that
they implored
During that extended stay, the Dodges became
convinced
theirother
hoststourists
to let them
fortheir
a few
more days.
Before
that
wouldstay
enjoy
hospitality
as well,
and
they
the passengers
made
sure that
theythe
would
be
in
theleft,
summer
of 1866, they
officially
opened
Mountain
welcome
to return
for with
several
weeks
thetwo-story
following
View
House,
complete
a newly
built
addition
summer.
and
a full During
veranda.that extended stay, the Dodges
became convinced that other tourists would enjoy their
hospitality
as well,
andand
in visitors
the summer
1866,
theythe
Word spread
quickly
cameof
from
all over
East
to enjoy
the delectable
food,View
magnificent
and
officially
opened
the Mountain
House,views,
complete
the
of the Dodge
family.
their fame
withgracious
a newlyhospitality
built two-story
addition
and aAs
full
grew,
the Dodges responded in true New England fashion
veranda.
by expanding the Mountain View House outward and upward
meet the
expanding
needs came
of theirfrom
clientele.
With
Wordtospread
quickly
and visitors
all over
the East to enjoy the delectable food, magnificent
views, and the gracious hospitality of the Dodge
family. As their fame grew, the Dodges responded in
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
101 Mountain View Road, Whitefield, NH 03598
603.837.2100 | mountainviewgrand.com
each addition to the building, the Dodges would take out a
new mortgage and each time it was paid off the family
true New England fashion by expanding the Mountain
would celebrate with a ceremonial mortgage-burning.
View House outward and upward to meet the
expanding
needs of their clientele.
In the early years of the resort, life was simple. Light
was supplied from oil lamps and baths were taken in tin
With
each addition
to the building,
Dodges
would
tubs
brought
into the rooms
for gueststhe
upon
request.
Heat
takefrom
out fireplaces
a new mortgage
and each stoves.
time it was
was
or wood-burning
Thepaid
food off
the family
would
with farm.
a ceremonial
came
fresh from
thecelebrate
Dodge family
Mary Jane Dodge
mortgage-burning.
ran
the kitchen and became known for her excellent
meals.
In the early years of the resort, life was simple. Light
Thissupplied
uncomplicated
lifelamps
away and
frombaths
the crowded
city was
was
from oil
were taken
in
atin
welcome
respiteinto
for most
urban for
dwellers
the time.
tubs brought
the rooms
guestsofupon
request.
The
poverty,
crime,
and disease
that were rampant
in the
Heat
was from
fireplaces
or wood-burning
stoves.
The
larger
cities,
especially
during
the
summer
months,
drove
food came fresh from the Dodge family farm. Mary
families of means to the country, where life was simpler,
Jane Dodge ran the kitchen and became known for her
calmer, and cleaner.
excellent meals.
Many former U.S. presidents have enjoyed the beauty
This
uncomplicated
liferesort,
away including:
from the crowded
and
the
hospitality of the
Theodorecity
Roowas a Grover
welcome
respite for
mostG.
urban
dwellers
of the
sevelt,
Cleveland,
Warren
Harding,
Calvin
time. TheFranklin
poverty,Delano
crime,Roosevelt,
and disease
that were
Coolidge,
Dwight
D. Eisenrampant
the larger
cities,
especially
during
the at
hower,
andinRichard
Nixon.
Writers
were often
guests
summer
months,
of means
to the
the
Mountain
View drove
Housefamilies
and the guest
register
has incountry,
where
life Ralph
was simpler,
calmer, and
cluded
Robert
Frost,
Waldo Emerson,
andcleaner.
Stephen
King. Hollywood celebrities: Betty Grable, Bette Davis,
and
all four
Marx
Brothers
stayed
at the
Mountain
Many
former
U.S.
presidents
have
enjoyed
the View
beauty
House.
famousofpersons
found
the hospitality
of the
and theOther
hospitality
the resort,
including:
Theodore
Mountain
View
House
to
their
liking,
notably:
Norman
Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Warren G. Harding,
Rockwell,
Babe Ruth,
John D.Delano
Rockefeller,
and family,
Calvin Coolidge,
Franklin
Roosevelt,
Dwight
Lady Astor, and Neil Armstrong.
D. Eisenhower, and Richard Nixon. Writers were often
guests at the Mountain View House and the guest
In 1922, the west wing was built, which included the new
register has included Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, and Stephen King. Hollywood celebrities
Betty Grable, Bette Davis, and all four Marx Brothers
stayed at the Mountain View House. Other famous
persons found the hospitality of the Mountain View
House to their liking, notably: Norman Rockwell, Babe
Ruth, John D. Rockefeller, and family, Lady Astor, and
Neil Armstrong.
In 1922, the west wing was built, which included the
new dining hall and kitchen. This dining hall was built
with a round appearance so that the socially conscious
guests would not worry that they would get a “corner
table.” The Dodges claimed that no corners existed in
the dining hall and all tables were equal. The dining
hall, now remodeled and known as the Crystal
Ballroom, was the hotel’s only restaurant for many
years. The bar was located on the first floor where the
tavern and fine dining restaurant are now located.
Originally they were one large room with a dance
floor. In later years, there was an “Arthur Murray
Dance Studio” at the Mountain View House.
As the years went by, the family business was passed
down to later generations, with each known for
different accomplishments. Herbert Van Dodge was
known for his foresight and patience. Under his
management, the hotel moved from the stagecoach era
to the train era to the automobile era. As the mode of
transportation changed and the affluence of the
traveling public grew, the Dodges happily began taking
in guests who stayed the entire summer and returned
every year. Some of the modifications to the hotel
helped to accommodate the visitors who brought more
luggage and sometimes their entire households.
Herbert Van Dodge influenced many of his summer
visitors with his calm ways and his habit of taking the
“long view” of circumstances.
One of the changes was the popularity of chauffeur
driven luxury automobiles among the affluent. In one
of their additions to the property, the Dodges built a
covered entrance where the limousines could drive
through, drop their guests off, and pull through to park
in front of the newly built chauffeurs’ quarters.
Chauffeurs lived in this dormitory, sometimes with
their families. This building still exists on the property,
directly behind the hotel, and is currently used for
storage.
A summer stay at Mountain View House meant a
leisurely country lifestyle so that guests could enjoy
regular bridge games in the parlor or under the shade
of the maple trees in front of the hotel, walks in the
lovely begonia gardens, and afternoon teas on the
veranda. It was a time of relaxation and simple
pleasures with a strong sense of propriety, as the
founder, William Dodge, was a deacon in the local
church.
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
101 Mountain View Road, Whitefield, NH 03598
603.837.2100 | mountainviewgrand.com
By 1900, a nine-hole golf course had been installed,
de- signed by Harvard math professor Ralph Barton.
The Dodge property was still a working farm at this
time and most of the course could not be played until
the hay had been harvested. Feeding the horses came
before playing golf.
During the early mid 1900s Frank Schuyler Dodge
expanded the hotel further. In 1939, the Sport House
(now the Club House) was built to accommodate the
golfers and in 1946 the heated in-ground pool was
installed just outside. Tennis courts were built around
the same time.
In 1948, Frank Schuyler Dodge died suddenly and his
wife, Mary Eunice Bowden, was left with the daunting
task of running the hotel and raising their three
children. Soon their sons Frank Schuyler Jr. and John
Dodge ran the hotel together, traveling to Florida
during the winter to work in a grand hotel, learning
more about being hoteliers. They also brought staff
back with them from Florida to work at the Mountain
View House during the South’s slow summer season.
At this time there were dormitory buildings to the rear
of the hotel for the transient summer staff’s housing.
As transportation became faster, many husbands would
stay in the city during the week and take the train to
Whitefield to stay with their families for summer
weekends. Mountain View House became known for
its Friday night dinner dances held to greet the
returning husbands.
John Dodge eventually left the family business to
pursue his own business interests. Frank Schuyler
Dodge Jr. continued to run the Mountain View House,
building Century Hall (now Presidential Hall) in 1965,
to honor 100 continuous years of Dodge family
ownership and management of the hotel. Century Hall
was used for conferences and social events. It allowed
the Dodges to have special events on the property and
bring in business to stem the tide of waning summerlong guests.
By 1965, the guests who had returned every year and
upon whom the Dodges had built their business, were
aging. The hotel was becoming known for its elderly
clientele. In 1979, the Dodges elected to sell the hotel
to a group named Mountain View Associates, headed
by Robert and Ann Diltz. This was a time when many
of the region’s grand hotels closed or burned to the
ground. These grand hotels, which had enjoyed so
much prosperity, had difficulty making the transition to
four-season, short-stay travelers.
Mountain View Associates soon sold the resort, and the
Mountain View House changed hands once again. By
1986, the resort had closed its doors. Several attempts
were made to reopen it, without success. In 1987, the
American Savings Bank of Buffalo, New York
purchased the Mountain View House. The entire hotel,
grounds, and contents were put up for auction in 1989.
The contents were sold, but there were no acceptable
bids for the buildings and the grounds. In 1990,
Charles Carroll purchased the Mountain View House in
a foreclosure auction, but the hotel remained dormant
for the next several years.
In December 1998, Kevin Craffey, a contractor from
Duxbury, Massachusetts, who had a vision of
recreating the splendor of the “golden days” of the
grand resorts of the White Mountains, purchased the
Mountain View House. In June of 1999, the Mountain
View Golf Course was reopened after renovations to
the pool, club house, tennis courts, and lawns. In May
2002, after the completion of a $20 million restoration,
the Mountain View House proudly reopened as
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa.
In June of 2005, Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
was purchased by its current owner, American
Financial, who set out to further enhance the property.
From 2005 to 2007, new additions to the resort have
included a health and wellness studio with personal
trainer and yoga studio, 17-seat movie theater, a
family-oriented game room, a regulation-size croquet
lawn, an additional wedding terrace, and four, classic
clay tennis courts. Renovations have been completed
on Presidential Hall, a state-of-the-art meeting facility,
the dining rooms, Tavern, Club House, grounds, and
the golf course
Today, Mountain View Grand creates an atmosphere of
warmth and friendliness where city dwellers can once
again find the comforts of gracious hospitality
surrounded by the natural unspoiled beauty of the
White Mountains. Our guests can still sit on the
veranda, stare at the far horizon, and soak in the
pristine beauty that is preserved on the 1,700 acres.
RENOVATION FACTS & FIGURES
•
937 windows were removed & 5,622 panes of
glass were reglazed, sanded, and painted
•
38 miles of old mechanical piping were removed
& replaced
•
78 miles of 135-year-old exterior cedar siding was
restored and painted with the hotel’s original
Colonial yellow color
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
101 Mountain View Road, Whitefield, NH 03598
603.837.2100 | mountainviewgrand.com
•
7 layers of wallpaper, accumulated over 135 years,
were removed from the walls of Mountain View
Grand. A total of 2,520,000 square feet of
wallpaper was removed—the equivalent of 62
football fields
•
The original 200 guest rooms were converted into
what is now 145 rooms and suites to offer
additional space and comfort.