SeacoastNH.com Presents
Historic Portsmouth #397

We hear so much about Thomas Laighton and his famous poet daughter Celia. Thomas bought the Maine half of the Isles of Shoals and moved his young family from Portsmouth to these barren rocks in 1839. Thomas eventually built the grand hotel on Appledore Island and kicked off the tourism industry that eventually killed the fishing village of Gosport. (continued below)

Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses have scheduled three nights of our always popular "Haunted Lighthouse and Fort" tours: June 30, July 14, and August 25, 2012. Join author and radio personality Ron Kolek of the New England Ghost Project, along with author and lighthouse historian Jeremy D'Entremont, for a rare nighttime walking tour of Fort Constitution and Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. (Continued below)

2012 LECTURE SERIES 

Explore the often forgotten but pivotal conflict between a fledgling nation and the British, Canadian colonists and native nations on the bicentennial of the War of 1812 at the Portsmouth Athenaeum 2012 Program Series. Investigate the conflict from a sailor's point of view hands-on and broaden the scope to consider the war in a global context. (See schedule below)

TOP EVENTS

There’s really nothing wrong with the guy, he’s fun at parties and plenty of tickets are still available, but Bob Sprankle of South Berwick was told to forget it when he tried to buy a ticket for a local dinner/dance to benefit the new South Berwick library. Ladies only, Sprankle was informed. (Read more)

WHAT: Winter Symposium "Life and Death in the Piscataqua Region", WHEN: February 11, 2012 10 AM-3 PM 
Masonic Temple; Miller and Middle Street Portsmouth NH 
HOW MUCH:: $10 in advance; $15 at the door; includes four lectures and lunch of homemade soup, bread and dessert. (See details below)

HISTORY NEWS

In four short years the Portsmouth Historical Society transformed the empty former public library into a gateway to the Seacoast’s art, culture and history sites and resources, creating the Discover Portsmouth Center at the intersection of Middle and Islington Streets – exactly where the city’s Master Plan had foreseen such a resource. With $900,000 in hand of the $1 million it took for the energy retrofit to make the DPC a viable year-round asset for City visitors and residents, the Society has launched a capital campaign to secure public support for the effort. $100,000 in donations to create a viable year-round asset for City visitors and residents. An energy retrofit project has been underway since October that replaces old air handlers, boilers, ductwork and ceilings with energy-efficient, made-in-America, new systems and lighting. (Continued below)

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The Star Island Corp. is excited to announce the launch of its 2012 conference season with themes ranging from the Arab Spring to the secret lives of birds and turtles -- among  40 events with speakers as diverse as best-selling authors to lighthouse historians. (Continued below)

HISTORY MATTERS

The Portsmouth Public Library moved to its expansive new facility on Parrott Ave six years ago. Yet now and then a very delinquent borrower stops by the old brick library building at the corner of Middle and Islington streets with some very-overdue books. He peers through the windows of what is now the Discover Portsmouth Center. What he sees is a building turned inside out. Wires dangle from an exposed ceiling and the floor is littered with lighting fixtures, heating ducts, and coiled cables. (Continued below)

RUNS UNTIL APRIL 13. 2012

The Gallery at 100 Market is bringing a bit of bright to the winter months with “Sweet, Sentimental & Thoughtful Delights.” The exhibition features works selected for their lighter side: humor, inspiration, blitheness and nostalgic. (Continued below)

SeacoastNH.com Presents  
Historic Portsmouth #394

Normally we would be getting antsy for summer about this time of year. But thanks to global warming, it’s still balmy in January. These young ladies are modeling the perfect winter beachware for the near future when we can add a whole new tourists season to the Seacoast. (Continued below)

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

So far they have found artifacts dating to 1660s and the dig will continue in 2012. Archaeological excavations led by Dr. Neill De Paoli have provided the first concrete evidence of a late 17^th century and early 18^th century presence on the Goodwin homestead in South Berwick.  De Paoli, joined in 2011 by two Old Berwick Historical Society members, Steve Woodman and Phil Kendrick, has uncovered artifacts dating from c. 1650 to c. 1730, including fragments of German and English stoneware jugs, tankards, and glass wine bottles, English clay smoking pipes, English delftware and Portuguese or Spanish majolica plates and bowls, and turned lead and glass quarrels to casement windows. (Continued below)

MARK THE CALDNER

Visit the Little Shop of Horrors, when the Rochester Opera House presents this deliciously humorous rock musical from February 23 to March 3.  One of the longest running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this charming spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies was written by Howard Ashman.  The music is composed by Alan Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown. (Continued below)

SeacoastNH.com Presents  
Historic Portsmouth #393

From the look of the midriffs here, the South Berwick Cadet Band could do with some aerobic marching practice. A snappier image of the musicians shot in Portsmouth in the 1880s was auctioned on eBay this week. That formal portrait shows the group of 20-strong in their snappy new uniforms and pointed Prussian-style helmets. (Continued below)

Book launch by author
Katherine Mayfield

Friday, January 27th, 6pm, at the
Portsmouth Athenaeum
9 Market Square, Portsmouth
Brief presentation and reading at 6:30
Refreshments will be served

HISTORY MATTERS

Last week a caller told me that what I do for a living is trivial. I tend to agree. I write about obscure historical topics, he pointed out, focused on the smallest seacoast in the nation. What could be less important? That’s exactly my point. Out of the tiny mustard seed, according to the ancient parable, big things grow. (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

On January 27-29, 2012 Pontine Theatre presents the North American Cultural Laboratory Theatre (NACL), performing its award-winning “The Little Farm Show,” a musical extravaganza about farming, food, and the environment. From the inception of the solar system, to sunset on Millicent’s farm, the Magnificent MacDonald Twins explore the question, “Where does your food come from?” giving audiences a whirlwind tour of “The Greatest Show on Dirt!” (Continued below)

Generic Theater's long running play reading series will continue this January with "The Skin of our Teeth" by Thornton Wilder.  The reading will take the stage at the Players’ Ring, 105 Marcy Street in Portsmouth, NH on Wednesday, January 18th at 7:30 pm.Admission is free (donations are always gratefully accepted) an no reservations are necessary. (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The story of a baby named by an infamous pirate, whose birth saved a group of Scottish immigrants in 1720, will be presented by the Old Berwick Historical Society on Thursday, January 26, at 7:30 pm. Historian Jeremy D'Entremont will separate the facts from the fantastic legends shrouding one of New England's most enduring folk tales. (Continued below)

SeacoastNH.com Presents 
Historic Portsmouth #391

We’re going to miss Cynthia Raymond in 2012. The philanthropist and energetic volunteer passed away recently at age 98. I first met Cynthia four years ago when she was a spry 94. She invited me to tea at her condo in York Harbor, Maine to celebrate the publication of my book n Strawbery Banke Museum. (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

On Monday April 16, at 7:00 pm, The Music Hall’s Writers in the Loft series welcomes one of the foremost scholars and critics of our time, Harvard University’s Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  The author of several bestselling books joins the series to discuss his new nonfiction work, LIFE UPON THESE SHORES: Looking at African American History, 1513-2008. (Continued below)