Seven to Save 2021: United Baptist Church of Lakeport

Unique Architectural Features Abound

A wonderful example of Victorian polychromatic design, this impressive wood-frame church remains largely as it was built in 1892. Designed and built by Montpelier, Vermont, architect George H. Guernsey, it was listed to the National Register of Historic Places for its architecture in 1985.

The church’s relatively small congregation is working to preserve and repair this large building and find new ways for it to remain viable in the midst of dramatic changes to the surrounding village.

An Important Landmark in the Community

Historically the church stood at the center of a small residential neighborhood in Lakeport, now a part of Laconia. Lakeport’s mills, lumberyards, ship-building industries, and railroad capitalized on the water flow from Winnipesaukee River into Paugus and Opechee Bays. A fire in the early 1900s destroyed a large portion of the homes and mills west of the river which includes the properties of many of the church’s proprietors. Today, the church is surrounded by new residential/commercial, large marinas and boat storage facilities.

Reaching Out to the N.H. Preservation Alliance

Pictured L to R: Mae Williams, architectural historian; Jared Guilmett, architect, Misiaszek Turpin, pllc; Rev. Bob Lemieux, pastor, United Baptist Churck of Lakeport; Elizabeth Hackett, chair, Board of Trustees, United Baptist Church of Lakeport. Photo courtesy of United Baptist Church of Lakeport.

Realizing that the structural integrity of their building was at risk, the stewards of the church knew they had to act. The 120-foot steeple will require partial dismantling to correct a lean and twisting cause by years of constant wind pressure. When the church realized the issues, they needed advice to address the problem, they contacted Preservation Timber Framing (PTF) of Berwick, ME and they were referred to the Preservation Allance. PTF completed a temporary stabilization of the tower in 2019. Additional repairs are needed to a corner roof support post whose deterioration has caused an interior sanctuary arch to drop several inches. The arch was temporarily bolted into position so no further movement can occur until the post is replaced. Also, the building’s stained-glass windows need extensive re-leading work to remain sound. With the assistance of a Preservation Planning Grant from the Preservation Alliance, a historic building assessment is underway to help church leaders figure out a long-term treatment plan for the building and long-term fixes for the structural issues.

Click to learn more about our Seven to Save program and view past listees:

Thanks to our generous 2021 sponsors: Anagnost Companies, Chinburg Properties and Milestone Engineering & Construction, Inc. Also: Great Bridge Properties | JLT Painting | Turnstone Corporation | American Steeple & Tower Co., Inc. SMP Architecture | Dennis Mires, P.A., The Architects | Ciborowski Associates | Fisher Engineering | JR Graton Historic Restoration, LLC | Misiaszek Turpin, PLLC | Peter W. Powell Real Estate | Graham & Veroff, P.C. Summit Engineering | Yeaton Associates, Inc. | Ambit Engineering, Inc. | DB Architects, LLC | Altus Engineering, Inc. | Erie Landmark Co. Emanual Engineering, Inc. | Alba Architects, LLP | Enviro-Tote, Inc. | Arch Weathers Historic SashWorks, LLC | Udelsman Associates Hamblet Electric | Samyn-D’Elia Architects | Abatron, Inc. | Nobis Engineering, Inc.

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