HISTORY MATTERS

He led the 1774 raid against the king’s fort, built America’s first frigates, fought, financed the war, designed and signed the US Constitution, served as New Hampshire senator, “president,” and governor. So was this “founding father” also a slave owner? Signs point to NO.  (Complete article below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The popular Lilac Festival returns to Portsmouth's Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion on Saturday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Wentworth-Coolidge Commission, the celebration of the nation's oldest lilacs brings this historic seaside site to life each year.  (Continued below)

NEW SHOALS EXHIBIT

Original paintings by celebrated maritime artist John Stobart will be on display in the upper gallery at Discover Portsmouth beginning June 1. These gorgeous oil paintings were specifically created by Mr. Stobart to complement the exhibit Under the Isles of Shoals that features artifacts recently unearthed on Smuttynose Island that is now running in the lower gallery. (Continued below)

SeacoastNH.com Presents 
Historic Portsmouth #411

While we’re on the subject of hanging things on clotheslines at the Isles of Shoals (see last week’s fishy photos) – here is a rare candid image. This picture was taken around the time of the Civil War and shows the 1856 home of John Handy Robinson (no relation to yours truly) on the left. On the right two boys lounge on the rocks in Gosport, NH. (Continued below)

HAMPTON BEACH

History buffs and those nostalgic for summers gone by will enjoy the activities planned by the Hampton Beach Historical Society for the Hampton Beach State Park Gala to be held June 1 and 2, 2012. The Gala marks the completion of the new $14.5 million Seashell complex restoration; it is the perfect time to not only salute Hampton Beach's future but to recognize its past. (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Come to the Exeter and Portsmouth Farmers' Markets this week for everything you need to get your garden started. From seedlings and garden transplants to compost, an array of market vendors makes it easy. It's a great way to buy local and bring a bit of your favorite farms home to your own garden. (Continued below)

WAR OF 1812

FAME is a full-scale replica of a privateer schooner that sailed from Salem during the War of 1812. The original FAME was one of the first American privateers to get to sea and the first to send in a captured vessel. She took some 21 prizes before being wrecked in the Bay of Fundy in 1814. (See event listings below)

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!

The American Independence Museum, located at One Governors Lane in Exeter, opens Wednesday, May 16th for the 2012 season. Museum hours are 10 am to 4 pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays until October 27.  Guided tours will be offered at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm. The admission fee is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students; children under 6 and members of the museum pay no admission fee.   Visitors may also take a self-guided tour, following a specially designed booklet.  This option will allow visitors to proceed at their own rate and focus on items of particular personal interest.  Admission rates remain the same, and the times are flexible; the last tour tickets will be sold at 3 pm.(Continued below)

SeacoastNH.com Presents   
Historic Portsmouth #410

Twenty-first century folks often find it hard to connect with the past because so much of what made this region great no longer resonates. The fur industry is as dead as a beaver hat. We no longer export masts for tall ships or staves for wooden barrels. But at least, for now, we still have fishing. (Continued below)

HISTORY MATTERS

John Paul Jones has gone fishing for the summer. The life-sized mannequin of the naval hero, the one with the foam body and the molded plastic face, has moved from his ancient bedroom in the John Paul Jones House museum to the Discover Portsmouth Center across the street. His Revolutionary War uniform has been temporarily replaced by the canvas smock and apron of an English fisherman from the 1600s. He now stands behind a crude wooden rack covered with dried codfish. On August 21, when the new exhibit ends, Jones will quit fishing and go back to fighting the Revolution. (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Folk-rock singer-songwriter Connor Garvey will perform at the society’s Counting House Museum on Thursday evening, May 24.  Doors open at 7:00 pm. The concert is open to members of the public who join the Old Berwick Historical Society, which owns the museum.  Annual membership is $20 per person, or $30 for a family. Member support provides the basis for the museum and for community local history programming throughout the year.  (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The board of PPMtv proudly announce that veteran filmmaker, actor, producer, and broadcaster Bill Humphreys has been named to the new position of Executive Director at the community access cable channel in Portsmouth, known as PPMtv. In addition, the organization invites the media to PPMtv's Founders Club 2012 Gala on Thursday, May 17 from 5-8PM. (Continued below)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

On June 19 Thomas M. Hardiman, Keeper of the Portsmouth Athenaeum, will give a  lecture titled “A Field Guide to Portsmouth Chippendale Chair Patterns” for the Piscataqua Decorative Arts Society at the Tyco Center in Strawbery Banke Museum. The lecture starts at 5:30 sharp, preceded by refreshments at 5. The cost to the general public is $10.00, while members are free. (Continued below)

In the days preceding the American Revolution, colonists were fed up with over-taxed ale imported from England and started to brew their own beer at home.  To honor these “beer revolutionaries,” Redhook Brewery and the American Independence Museum are introducing introduce a special limited-release brew called “American Independence Ale.” Redhook Brewery’s team of craft brewers have created a medium-bodied pale ale with locally grown and malted barley and hops as part of their Brewery Backyard Series.  (Continued below)

WEAR EAR PROTECTION

The Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show announced today that the Black Diamond jet demonstration team has been formally added to its 2012 lineup. This year’s show will take to the skies at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease on June 30 and July 1 and will feature the United States Navy Blue Angels.  (Continued below)

RUNS THRU AUGUST 31, 2012

The long-buried secrets of Smuttynose Island are revealed this summer in a surprising new exhibit at Discover Portsmouth, the city’s new downtown visitor center. “Under the Isles of Shoals” features artifacts unearthed in recent years by archaeology professor Nathan Hamilton and his students. Hamilton created the exhibit with historian J. Dennis Robinson who has written a companion book about the historic “dig” that continues this summer at the Isles of Shoals. (Continued below)

SeacoastNH.com Presents  
Historic Portsmouth #408

Even as a little boy – yes, I said “boy” – Barrett Wendell (1855-1921) knew he was going places. Just like baby Justin Bieber, he carried himself like a star. And it worked. Born in Boston, Barrett was descended from Jacob Wendell of Portsmouth who was the wealthy family patriarch. Jacob had earned his money the old fashioned way. (Continued below)

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

The Trustees of the Maine Historical Society announced today that effective June 1, Stephen Bromage will become the organization's new Executive Director. Assistant Director of MHS since 2006, Bromage was chosen after a lengthy and rigorous national search. “He's the very best choice,” said Katherine Pope, President of the Board. “He has played a vital and integral role in the success and growth of MHS over the last ten years.  We have ambitious goals and Steve has the vision and creativity to lead MHS into the future.” (Continued below)

HEAR YE!  HEAR YE!

Joel Lefever has been named the Museum of Old York’s new executive director by the Board of Trustees. Lefever will replace former executive director Scott Stevens, who has tendered his resignation.  The Search Committee, comprised of five current trustees and one former trustee, selected three finalists from 82 candidate resumes. All three had a 2-day site visit that included a tour of the Old York buildings and a variety of meetings with trustees, former trustees and staff.  (Continued below)

HISTORY MATTERS

I have a fascination for long-forgotten local writers, perhaps because I expect to become one soon enough. In this column I’ve unearthed the bones of James T. Fields, BP Shillaber, James Kennard, TB Aldrich, Sam Walter Foss and others. But I never tripped over the remains of George Savary Wasson (1855 – 1932) until last week. He’s so forgotten, he doesn’t even show up on Wikipedia. (Continued below)