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ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below)

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below)

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below)

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below) 

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below) 

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below)

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year.

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. 

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 13th year.  

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 13th year.

ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 13th year.

NEW ENGLAND’S DARKEST DAY WAS MAY 18, 1780
Just wondering if you heard of this historical event ? On May 19, 1780, the skies darkened over much of New England, (and especially NE Mass., and coastal NH) to the point where many people thought Judgement Day was descending upon them. Its now been proven by people at the Univ. of Missouri that the cause of it was almost certainly the huge fires that erupted at that time in Alqonquin Park, Ont.(about 3 hrs. N of Toronto). They've proven this through dendrochronology.
Mark Wilson, Toronto, CA

EDITOR’S REPLY: Yes, know about it from Nathaniel Adams "Annals of Portsmouth, NH" published in 1825 -- the first history of Portsmouth: I think I even mentioned in my last book.

From Adams (page 271-2) courtesy SeacoastNH.com

"1780 -- The 18th day of May was remarkable for its uncommon darkness. The morning was cloudy, attended with a little rain. Between 10 and 11 o'clock the darkness increased, and began to assume the appearance of evening. Fowls went to roost, and cattle collected round the barn-yards, as at the approach of night. Before noon it became so dark, as to be difficult to read without a candle; and lights were necessary at dinner, and to transact the ordinary work of a family through the afternoon. The evening was enveloped in total darkness; the sky could not be distinguished from the ground. The clouds began to separate, and the vapours to disperse a little before midnight, and some glimmerings of light appeared. The next morning was cloudy , but not unusually dark.

For several weeks previous there had been extensive fires in the woods, and the westerly wind had driven the smoke and cinders, with which the air was charge, all over the country. On the morning of the 19th the wind came in various directions, but principally from the eastward, and brought with it a thick fog; these counter currents meeting, stopped the progress of the clouds, and formed different strata of them; and as light is always reflected from the surface, they became more impervious to it, than a more dense cloud, which presents only one surface. The atmosphere was likewise filled with clouds of smoke and cinders, as well as with vapour, which gave them a dirty yellowish hue. Pieces of burnt leaves were continually falling, and 'the rain water was covered with a sooty sum'. The darkness extended throughout New-England, and was observed several leagues at sea."

THE GAME OF AUTHORS
Dear Sir --As a youngster in the 1940's I was introduced to the game of authors by my grandmother. The knowledge acquired truly served me well in the years ahead. Not only was I able to associate writers with specific works,I had a determination to read many of the listed works.At any rate the game remained a fond memory until recently.In order to whet my granddaughters reading interest to an even greater degree,I ordered two old sets. After playing a game,one of the girls bought copies of Little Women and Oliver Twist. A link has been formed between one woman and her great-great grandchildren.. My wife and I retired to the seacoast area nine years ago and truly love it.I was a history instructor in a boarding school for nearly forty years and love your worh. Steve Bishop-Greenland,NH

MORE ISLAND GARDEN
How do you get to Appledore Island to see Celia Thaxter garden? Are there boats leaving from other than Portsmouth? Do you have to go on a tour? If you are a photographer, can you spend the afternoon there? Or is there a time frame?
Sharon in North Andover MA

EDITOR’S REPLY: As far as we know, currently, there is one way to get to Celia’s Garden and that is with a formal tour, about $100 including boat and tour guide, and all sold out for 2009. But you can certainly contact the Shoals Marine Lab to find out if there are alternative ways to visit. If you know someone at the Lab, or have a press with an assignment from an editor, that might increase your chances. It is definitely worth a try to contact SML at their official web site.

TALL SHIPS HOTLINE
My sweetie and I are planning to come see the tall ships on August 7 and are wondering where the parking is going to be. Is there somewhere we can park and catch a shuttle? If you could please point me in the right direction, any help will be appreciated. Thanks!
Katherine from Keene, NH

EDITOR’S REPLY: This one is moot since the ship have come and gone, but we did send Katherine the info in time. Each year we post the info about the tall ship visit in advance and you can reach the Portsmouth Maritime Commission hotline at 603-431-SHIP (7447).

LOOKING FOR APPLEDORE BURIALS
I will be traveling to NH & ME next week and hoped to visit a cemetery. on Appledore or possibly the Isle of Shoals. While researching where these places might actually be... I am now confused. I have relatives buried somewhere in Appledore, York, Me and the Isle of Shoals but these are apparently islands. Are there cemetaries on these islands? They were buried between 1634 & 1700. Can I reach these by boat? And if so can you recommend something? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
From a visitor from far away Texas without a clue,

EDITOR’S REPLY: Dear Julie, Appledore is an island, one of the nine Isles of Shoals, about 6 miles off the coast of NH . Maine. I'm unaware of anyone living there in 1634 who is buried there with a marked tomb. Old York Historical Society might know since Appledore is technically in York County, Maine. Five of the islands are in Maine, four in NH. Appledore ISland is actually under the jurisdiction of Kittery, Maine, which is also in York County. YOU might also see if they have copies of the Shoals colonial records at the Rice Public Library there. Or you can contact ISHRA (Isles of Shoals Historic Research Association) via their web site. Bab was a common name on the Sholas in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, but I’d not aware of any surviving Babb tombstones. If they are on Appledore, my guess is, they are no longer there. There was an ancient cemetery during the hotel era in the 1800s, but now the only cemetery we know of is the Laighton family cemetery with half a dozen residents from the 19th century. There are certainly no labeled marker stones from 1634 anywhere in NH or Maine, and probably not in New England or the USA. No gravestone carvers were in the country at that time, and most graves were marked simply with rocks placed at the head and foot of the burial. The 1700s grave is another thing, since there are a number of graves in the region dating to 1700 or a little earlier that have engravings. But not on Appledore, oras far as I know on the Isles of Shoals. To visit Appledore on a very limited basis contact the Shoals Marine.

NOBLES ISLAND
Hello Jeremy -- Thank you for passing along your knowledge of lighthouses. I have a large print of Nobska Point Lighthouse, but cannot identify the artist. It appears to be from an original watercolor or acrylic painting. It likens to your photo, but more distant and at a slightly different angle. If you can identify the artist I would be ever grateful. (This message forwarded to Jeremey D’Entrmeont)
Dick Shaw

FB111A CRASH SITE
I enjoyed your articles on the crash. As a resident of Osprey Landing, I am curious if you know exactly where the plane struck. None of the photos give any clue.
Joel Phelps

EDITOR’S REPLY: The crash site, I believe, is roughly where the water tank is just up the hill from the Spinnaker Point athletic club.

MORE TRUNKS
Its a little bit of a long shot, but having searched the web you guys seem to know your trunks. My Aunt is researching our family history and has identified a direct link to Thomas Handsworth who is listed as a Trunk maker in England over 200 years ago. He apparently patented some special design feature that not many trunks of the era had. We understand this feature was a waterproof trunk that was aimed at sailors and it was mass produced for the Navy at the time. I would appreciate it if you have any information regarding this type of trunk or any advice on where I should look next. (This message forwarded to trunk expert Pat Morse)
From Phil

SOME DAVIS BROS PIX
I have 8 photographs given to me by my father. They are original prints taken by Davis Bros. Photographers of Portsmouth. Two of the photographs are of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, one is of the USS Constitution. The remaining five are of what appears to be shots around town. I saw on your website you like copies of some older photographs. Please let me know if any of these sound like they would be of interest and I can send you a copy.
Roxanne Baxter

EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks for the pix. We’ll post a couple of them in the Historic Portsmouth section in the future. There is an entire book of Davis Bros photos available from Arcadia Publishing entitled "Victorian Portsmouth" .

MORE JENNY LIND
Hello! I've been searching for information on my Jenny Lind Portrait.. I as hoping maybe someone could offer me some information of this picture that I own.. I would love to know how old it is.. Anything concerning this attachment would be greatly appreciated. I can't seem to find this portrait with this frame anywhere online.
Arlene Ellis

EDITOR’S REPLY: Afraid all we know about Jenny LInd is the single article we posted on the Nightingale figurehead discovered in a Swedish barn. We don't get involved in valuing historic items, but it appears that you have a copy (we assume a print) of a popular portrait. If you have the original, it would be of great value, a print, not so much so since it was likely reproduced in large quantity.

FRANK JONES BEER BOTTLE
My husband and I were scuba diving in VT over this past weekend when we came across a clear glass bottle with raised cursive lettering - "Frank Jones Brewery Co., Portsmouth, N.H." In researching the history of the bottle, we came across several web sites. One mentioned that prior to 1900 nearly all glass bottles were custom made with "raised-letters" with name and address of owner on them - so I am thinking that perhaps this bottle may have been made prior to 1900(?). In further researching, I also saw your below article on SeacoastNH.com:

In your research, have you come across this type of bottle often? I have researched Ebay (and the like) with no success on finding any "others" out there (mostly Frank Jones labels and bottles w/labels (not raised glass). Just wondering what you might know about our find.
The Hanley's

EDITOR’S REPLY: Sure, that’s a common bottle in these parts. Other than our online info (search this site for "Frank Jones" in our search box) your best bet for info is the out of print book by Ray Brighton "King of the Ale Makers" what can still be found on used book sites.