"We almost lost the Wentworth. For two decades, as the twentieth century faded, Wentworth by the Sea hotel teetered on the edge of extinction. New Hampshire's oldest seaside resort, built in 1874, was listed among the nation's most endangered historic properties. The aging Victorian loomed empty and silent on a rocky bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Only a few staunch preservationists dared hope for its survival. Then suddenly the hammers rang out. Starting with the original wooden shell, a thousand workers rebuilt the Wentworth into a modern luxury hotel and spa. It reopened just in time for its 130th birthday." "This is much more than the tale of an old wooden hotel, Wentworth by the Sea is a survivor, intimately linked to the history of the Portsmouth area and its people. Wentworth House is the largest structure in the smallest town in the state. Formerly, "Great Island," New Castle was once the colonial capital of New Hampshire. Locals say that Fort Constitutions, just down the road, is the site of the fist battle of the American Revolution. Across Little Harbor, New Hampshire's first settlers landed in 1623. Today New Castle retains the character of the ancient fishing village it once was." "Researched and illustrated with over 250 images, this volume reads like historic fiction. But every word is true."--BOOK JACKET.