Wentworth by the Sea’s 150th Anniversary

Built by Sarah and Charles Campbell, who lived on a neighboring island, “Wentworth House” began as a modest three-story shoebox-shaped structure (depicted above) wrapped in a spartan wooden porch. Its most elaborate feature was an observation tower, where guests could view the surrounding seacoast. Only open in July and August, Wentworth House’s weekly rates ranged from $14 to $28.

Following the 1876 recession, Wentworth was acquired by Portsmouth politician and ale tycoon Frank Jones. Under his two-decade tenure, the building saw extensive expansions and grand upgrades, including layers of Colonial Revival features, ornate ceiling frescoes, sprawling gardens, and exciting tech advances for the time (steam-powered elevators and the first flush toilets!). He also added the three towers and curved mansard roof – the iconic silhouette we now know today.

After Jones’s death in 1902, the hotel was passed to his trustees and later to Harry H. Priest, who upheld Jones’s tradition of improvements. However, what really defined this era was that Wentworth housed the Russian and Japanese delegates (pictured above on the veranda) during the August 1905 Russo-Japanese war peace talks. While formal negotiations occurred at the nearby naval shipyard, the hotel also served as a venue for numerous informal discussions.

In 1919, Harry Beckwith, a wealthy Massachusetts manufacturer, purchased the hotel and officially renamed it “Wentworth by the Sea.” This was an era all about enhancing on-site recreation, best signified by the construction of a large wooden complex located at the edge of what is now the marina. Known as “The Ship,” this boat-shaped structure featured a theater (for films, plays, the hotel dance band, and even boxing matches) and was surrounded by a engineering marvel: an ocean-fed (and heated!) pool.

In 1946, the hotel was acquired by Margaret and James Barker Smith. With James’s background in hotel operations, the duo had a hands-on management style that was key to gaining loyal guests and skyrocketing revenue – much of which was poured right into improving the hotel experience. The biggest focus? Entertainment. For 34 consecutive summers, they hosted masquerades, Mardi Gras celebrations, clambakes, tennis tournaments, and much more. But as they say, “all good things must come to an end.” In 1980, the 70-something-year-old Smiths retired, and Wentworth was sold to Swiss conglomerate.

That Swiss conglomerate had plans to transform the property into a year-round conference and sports center, so in order to do so, they wanted to clean house. In 1982, a four-day auction (pictured above) emptied the hotel of most of its contents (down to the carpeting). Unfortunately , the remodel never happened and, over the next 20 years, while changing ownership multiple times, the property sat vacant. Without regular maintenance, the hotel fell into a sad state of disrepair.

As the wrecking ball loomed large throughout the ’90s, a non-profit group, The Friends of the Wentworth, was formed and they worked tirelessly to save the historic landmark. In 1999, they found a new owner willing to restore the last remaining part of the building and reopen it as a hotel: the owners of Opal Collection. And after extensive renovations, Wentworth by the Sea reopened in May of 2003 to much fanfare. Today, the hotel lives on as a cherished piece of New Hampshire history – and that’s how it will remain.