SeacoastNH.com Presents
Historic Portsmouth #336

Some things never change. Except for the signs and cars, these images of a mighty Christmas tree installed in Market Square look happily familiar. The year was 1954 and the candid photos were taken by the late Douglas Armsden of Kittery Point. (Continued below)

Note the rooftop billboard for radio station WHEB. Other downtown advertising visible includes Connell Real Estate, Blanchard & Winton Lawyers, Arthur B. Duncan, Jeweler, Wendell’s Hardware & Paint, Kingsbury Photographer. Red Feather Services, Green’s Drugstore, and the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. A large Army and Air Force banner offers good pay and education to recruits signing up at the post office. You know the photo is old when all the phone numbers are just three digits. (Courtesy of the Portsmouth Athenaeum)

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