Wentworth by the Sea… The Last of the Grand Dame Hotels
W
hat is that quaint, little portside town with the glistening steeples and lovely, historic homes and architecture? This is a question I would ask myself so many times as
we crossed the Piscataqua River on our way to Maine and back. Considering I have such a love of seaport towns, it was amazing that I hadn’t found my way to Portsmouth, New Hampshire many years before. But finally, one year we stopped…and I’ve been go- ing back ever since. For me, Portsmouth has it all. Locally sourced, fresh and
imaginative cuisine; historic buildings; cozy sidewalk cafes; art galleries; jazz clubs; distinctive artisans’ boutiques…and some of the best pumpkin-spiced beer you’ve ever tasted – well, that is if you visit in October! An easy hour drive north from Boston, it makes a great weekend getaway. There are charming inns and B&Bs and your standard well-known hotels right in the downtown area, however, a trip to Portsmouth wouldn’t be complete without staying at the grand Wentworth by the Sea.
The almost 140 year history of Wentworth by the Sea is
astounding. As the only grand seaside resort left standing on the New Hampshire coast, it was named to the National Trust’s 2008 list of Dozen Distinctive Destinations.®
Only four grand hotels
remain in New Hampshire, and the Wentworth almost wasn’t one of them. In the early 1980’s grand dame hotels had lost their appeal to most upscale travelers. Huge hotel chains were popping up everywhere and people wanted modern comforts and modern design in up and coming sophisticated cities. Sadly, having fallen into disrepair, the Wentworth closed in 1982 and was almost de- molished to make way for private homes. All was not lost though as the grand hotel was reborn after
Friends of the Wentworth, the nonprofit group that helped save the endangered building from extinction, captured the imagination of a local hotel company, Ocean Properties, Ltd. Rescued from the wrecking ball and its place on the National Trust’s “Most Endan-
18 Natural Nutmeg April 2014
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