The Speakers Stand faced uphill and was located directly behind the 7th Regiment building. In the first B&W photo, visible off in the distance is part of the National Veterans Association building on the left, and the 15th Regiment building on the right.

In 1924, the Speaker's Stand burned to the ground in the Great Weirs Beach Fire. Click here to see a picture of the ruins of the Speakers Stand.





There were two versions of the Speakers Stand. There was an elaborate version with a gabled roof, seen above, in photographs from an 1897 souvenir photo book, and a simpler structure with a lean-to roof, seen below in the colorized postcard and in the lower left corner of an 1899 calendar illustration. It would seem the simpler structure followed the more elaborate one, although it is not known why. In the colorized photo, one can can see that Lake Winnipesaukee was partly visible through the trees behind and to the right of the Speaker's Stand.





Although it seems unlikely, it was reported that the benches could seat 3000 persons (Warren Huse, The Weirs, p. 47.)



In this photo, of what is likely a wedding party, taken June 19, 1901 by the photographer C.D. Andrews, of Lakeport, it does seem possible that 3000 could be seated. The building in the upper left is the Heavy Artillery and Sharpshooters building.



An interesting detail from the above photo shows the ladies in their fine garments, wearing their fanciest hats.



The Veterans Grove Speakers Stand was not the only auditorium in Weirs Beach. There was another, located at the Methodist Campground.



There was also another outside auditorium in Alton that was sometimes confused with the one in Weirs Beach. In Alton, at the Advent Christian Campground, also known as the Alton Bay Camp Meeting Grounds, the amphitheatre in Advent Grove served as the center of Sunday church services for thousands.



Apparently, the publisher of the postcard below confused the two amphitheatres, and mistakenly labelled it as being located in Weirs Beach.