Martin Luther King Jr.’s Family Found Safety In New Hampshire In 1968

Flashback: 1968 was a year of uncertainty

It was a tumultuous year.  1968 brought the assassination's of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in April, and then of presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy in June.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was killed, and in 1965 human rights activist Malcom X was also shot down.  The 1960s were difficult times, with political and racial tensions pushing and pulling America in a way that hadn't been seen before.  The Vietnam War was also a divisive topic.  It was a troubling time in our history.

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So in the summer of 1968, when Martin Luther King's widow, Coretta Scott King, and their children needed some time out of the limelight, they called on family friends who had a home in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Mrs. King and her children's stay in New Hampshire

Nobody knew the Kings were spending time there, but the local paper got wind of the story. However, they opted not to report of the celebrity visit to their quiet town, per the request of Mrs. King.  It wasn't until the national news reported the story that the Granite State News published an editorial requesting privacy during her stay in Wolfeboro.

According to the Wolfeboro Historical Society Facebook Page, Mrs. King was trying to write a book about her life with Martin Luther King, Jr. and had trouble finding quiet time with four children running about.  She was secluded at a home in Wolfeboro on the Brookfield line.

While in New Hampshire, the children were allowed to go boating and played with family friends while Coretta found solitude in writing.   In fact, if it had not been for this quiet time of friendship, she may not have been able to complete her writings for some time.

The Dunfey family had a lake house in Gilford, New Hampshire, and their close friends, the Hirsbergs, owned a camp on Mark Island.  The children were entertained by these families and their children while Coretta worked on the book.

In 1970, Mrs. King released My Life With Martin Luther King Jr., and it was a huge success.  It's nice to know New Hampshire played a small role in this history.

Keep reading to learn more about important New Hampshire history!