
You
may not find John Barrymore and Greta Garbo in the guest list, but The
Wentworth is truly a "Grand Hotel" in the European
tradition, with a history that reaches back a century and a quarter to
the golden age of New England resorts.
At the turn of the century, Wentworth Hall sported an
attractive Casino, with "spacious smoking and billiard parlours,
cafe, et cetera; while overhead a large handsome ballroom is
brilliantly illuminated by its overarching electric lights. Here the
guests dance every Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Two formal balls
are held each season." So goes the text of a booklet available to
guests in the twenties: "Wentworth Hall is situated in an
amphitheater, rimmed by the noblest mountain peaks of the region. On
one side is Mount Washington, on the other Kearsarge, both within easy
driving distance, while Thorn Mountain, Tin Mountain, Spruce Mountain,
Doublehead, Black Mountain, Giant's Stairs, Iron Mountain, the Moat
Range, and a host of others guard this happy valley, which is
encircled by the Wildcat and Glen Ellis Rivers. Both of these noted
streams unite their forces near Wentworth Hall, and flow on to the
Saco, three miles distant."
Things are not so different today. History rests
easily within the ambience of The Wentworth: a comfortable hotel,
managed with contemporary efficiency and amenities, but echoing a
gentler tradition of European and turn-of-the-century New England
innkeeping.
Come see us soon, and don't forget to browse through
our historical books, documents, and scrapbooks, maintained in the
room adjoining the lounge. You'll find memorabilia of the hotel and
its varied clientele, letters, artwork, and a thousand memories
preserved for your moments of leisurely browsing.