The Central House
Some of Belgrade’s history is designed to leave the area. I am referring to souvenirs of Belgrade. A souvenir is defined as any object that can be collected, purchased, and transported home by the traveler as a memento of a visit. Be it a postcard, coffee mug, T-shirt, or any item that indicates it was from Belgrade would be considered a souvenir. Over the years, Belgrade had numerous stores, shops, hotels, restaurants and even camps where souvenirs could be purchased. Gift Shops, such as the Brass Knocker, Maine Made Shop, Village Peddler, and Enchanted Swan primarily sold items intended to be souvenirs. Often the souvenir finds a new home far from Belgrade.
Some souvenirs become family heirlooms that are passed down to future generations. The Belgrade Historical Society received a glass paperweight with an 1890 photograph of the Central House in Belgrade Mills — after 1900, the name was changed to Belgrade Lakes — from Jim Lantow of Minnesota. He stated that the paperweight had always been on his grandfather’s desk. Accompanying the paperweight, was a marriage certificate for Samuel H. Page of Belgrade and Minnie Mae Rollins of Belgrade, dated Oct. 2, 1897. They were married in Belgrade by Rev. J.S. Cummings and spent their honeymoon at the Central House before beginning their new life in Waverly, Iowa.
The Central House was originally the home of Charles and Abby Lord Austin. In 1874, they opened their home in the center of Belgrade Mills to young men coming to fish in the Belgrade Lakes region. They called this “inn” with beds and meals, the Central House thus establishing the beginning of tourism in the Belgrade Lakes. In subsequent years, the barn was converted to bedrooms and a three-story separate addition was added. As families began to come to Belgrade, the Central House added a four-story annex with a large dining room overlooking Long Pond and larger bedrooms, and finally, around 1902, an additional three-story annex with more bedrooms was added. Charles Austin died in 1915 and the Central House was sold in 1916 to a consortium that renamed it The Lakeshore Hotel. Ultimately, it closed in the summer of 1962. A portion of the hotel remains as a private home.
The paperweight and accompanying documents have finished their travels, and Belgrade Historical Society is honored to be entrusted with these irreplaceable treasures.
Dianne Dowd is vice president of the Belgrade Historical Society.
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