You may not find John Barrymore and Greta Garbo on 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. Our storied past permeates 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 inn keeping.
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.
In 1869, Joshua Trickey built The Wentworth as a wedding gift to his daughter Georgia Trickey and her husband-to-be, General Marshall Wentworth. Before they were to be married, General Wentworth respectfully asked Mr. Trickey for his daughters hand in marriage. We are lucky enough to have this very personal and intimate hand written letter at our historic hotel to this day. It reads:
New York Nov 30th, 1869
Mr. J. Trickey My dear and respected Sir:
I thank you very much for your favorable answer to my proposal. I never can be grateful enough for the happiness you have bestowed upon me, rest assured that I shall always strive to merit your approbation. I think I can make your daughter happy- we love each other devotedly and are very anxious for your consent to marriage the 1st week in June 1869- and if we can get your consent we shall be very happy- it is very hard for us to be separated from each other for so long- but if you give us your consent to our union then it will not seem half so long and besides it will make us very happy.
I am very anxious to see your lovely daughter once more- it seems an age since I saw her. You can imagine how I feel to be separated from a lady that I love better than my life for two long years and not once having the pleasure of seeing her in the whole time.
Hoping that you will consider my proposal in as favorable a light as you did my other- I thank you again very kindly and close- hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours very respectfully, Marsh C. Wentworth
219 East 69th Street, NY
With such great history, it is only natural for The Wentworth to be considered as one of the most romantic and elegant wedding destinations of the Mount Washington Valley.