Melvin Village, NH

Melvin Village occupies western Tuftonboro where the Melvin River enters Melvin Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee. New Hampshire Route 109 runs through the center, reaching Wolfeboro about ten miles southeast and Moultonborough about seven miles northwest. The village name itself is uncertain: local lore says early settlers found the word Melvin carved into a nearby tree, while another story connects it to two men named Melvin who traveled through the region.

Farmers and loggers came first, followed by steamboats and summer visitors drawn to the lake. A marina and boat dealership now sit on Melvin Bay, among cottages, year-round homes, and the village's older streets. Tuftonboro includes Melvin Village, Mirror Lake, Tuftonboro Center, and Tuftonboro Corner, so town services stretch across several distinct places. Melvin Village remains the lake-facing piece of that town map, where Route 109, the river, the bay, and the seasonal boating economy meet. Summer traffic is part of the village rhythm, but the river and bay remain its fixed geography.