SeacoastNH.com Presents
Historic Portsmouth #282

The New Hampshire town of Gosport disappeared in the late 1800s when its population of fishing families sold off their homes to developer John Poor of Boston’s famed Stickney & Poor Spice Company. (continued bnelow)

The wealthy investor built the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island at the Isles of Shoals to compete with the Appledore Hotel run by Celia Thaxter and the Laighton family who later purchased the island. It has been operated by the Star Island Corporation since 1916, a nonprofit group recently relocated to the Morton-Benedict House at 30 Middle Street in Portsmouth. Under their stewardship, Star Island and its Victorian hotel have been preserved and open to summer visitors ever since. It remains a scenic destination for conferences, day trips and personal retreats. The historic Gosport Chapel, built of stone at the highest point on the island around 1800, looks today exactly as it did in this 20^th century photo postcard. Visitors still attend nondenominational services each night in season. Then they walk silently down the rocky hill carrying lanterns in a moving tribute to the original residents of this island village. (SeacoastNH.com Collection)

Visit Star Island web site

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