User:Bayres5/The Coe House Mansion

Background
John Coe, a wealthy shipbuilder and businessman from Durham, New Hampshire built the Coe mansion in 1820 when he and his wife, Lavinia Senter, moved to Center Harbor, New Hampshire. Along with building the mansion right on the shores of the Great Pond, (now known as Lake Winnipesaukee), John Coe purchased a shop down the road from his house and began shipbuilding there. The house takes on a classic New England colonial theme and is often times referred to as the “Classic House of Winni”.

Early History
John Coe was born in Durham, New Hampshire on November 3, 1797. John attended the common schools of Durham and worked for his brother in a country store. Circa 1819, John Coe moved to Center Harbor and purchased his own store in town. Soon after, John married Lavinia Senter, daughter of Samuel and Lettice Senter, owners of the Senter House Hotel overlooking Center Harbor Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee. John and Lavinia then built a Mansion directly next to the Senter House Hotel with the help of Samuel Lattice.

The Wallpaper
Since the Senter’s were the wealthiest family in the area at the time, they were able to acquire the famous wallpaper that is still in the house to this day. Hand-painted on paper then shipped over from France, the wallpaper has the Seven Wonders of the World scattered throughout. The wallpaper was actually courted by the Smithsonian Museum in the 1990’s, however the plans for the museum to obtain the wallpaper fell through when Museum officials realized that the wallpaper was improperly restored earlier that decade.

Underground Railroad
In the midst of the civil war, African Americans made their refuge to Canada through New England for freedom. Although unclear who was in charge of the mansion at the time, it was well documented that slaves used the Coe mansion as a safe house in their quest for Canada. A tunnel that is still accessible in the basement of the house was also apparently used for slaves to travel from the Coe mansion to the Senter Hotel, another safe house in the town.

Belknap College
In the late 1960’s Dr. Royal M. Frye of Boston, MA started Belknap College in Center Harbor, NH. The college used many of the buildings in Center harbor, including the Senter House and the John Coe Mansion. The Coe Mansion was used as a dormitory for the college until the late 1970’s when the college disbanded.

Today
Recently the mansion has been used as a restaurant under two names; the Coe house and Lavinia’s Relaxed Dining. The Coe house was in operation from the early 2000’s until 2011 when it changed over to Lavinia’s Relaxed Dining.