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Two arrested for fire which destroyed Kimball Castle

6 days ago in Local

FILE-In this photo taken Wednesday Aug. 7, 2013 Kimball Castle is seen in Gilford, N.H. It was built in the late 1890s for Benjamin Ames Kimball, who was president of the Boston-Montreal Railroad. The decrepit castle with commanding views of the Lake Winnipesaukee is under the threat of a wrecking ball in its near future and is on the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance list of Seven to Save. Photo: Associated Press/AP Photo/Jim Cole/FILE

MANCHESTER, N.H.- Two men have been charged for the fire which destroyed the historic Kimball Castle in Gilford in 2025.

Authorities said on Friday Joshua Pittman,18, of Dover and Peyton Eastman,19, of Portsmouth were charged in connection with the fire that gutted the castle last summer.

According to the indictment Pittman was charged with conspiracy to commit arson and criminal trespassing for his actions on September 1,2025 while Eastman was charged arson and criminal trespassing for his actions back on September 2,2025.

Following their arrest the pair were released on personal recognizance and are due back in Laconia District Court on October 8th.

Authorities say the fire was that intense that Fire fighters had to take extra precautions as flames were spreading into the surrounding brush, but both the structure and brush fires were brought under control in under an hour, with the castle being called a total loss.

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