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CLICK HERE FOR September Letters 

CATES OF CATE STREET
I was just looking over a current map of Portsmouth and noticed a street called Cate Road just under the southernmost tip of North Mill Pond. My ancestors owned land somewhere near the pond (at the time called the Creek of Islington) 300 years ago and I was wondering if it was named after them. Do you know how I might be able to find out about the naming of this road?
Matt

EDITOR’S REPLY: An entry in "Placenames of Portsmouth" (Back Channel Press) mentions Cates names Edward, James, John, Joseph, Samuel and William. You may be surprised by the research since the first of the family here, Joseph Cate (1634-1677), is listed in town records for drunkenness, breach of the peace and fornication. You might also check Brewster’s Rambles and the Portsmouth Athenaeum and possibly the provincial records of early NH, but expect a long slow digging process.

OWNS DOORS OF THE WENTWORTH
I believe I have two of the original doors of the Wentworth installed in my Fort Point Channel loft. The picture to the right is how I found them at a salvage shop in Amesbury. The Nor'East Salvage shop guys said that's where they got them. Something about the fact that they were too narrow for wheelchairs. They are lovely! Do you have any information or old photos?
Cameron Sawzin

EDITR’S REPLY" There are a number of pix in my book, and many more in the archived at the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Tracking these down for certain will be a trick, but at first glance, they may be authentic.

REREADING THE BAD BOY
Recently I read in the paper about Thomas Bailey Aldrich, and remembered that I have the book, The Story of a Bad Boy, so I found it and re-read and enjoyed it again. I am wondering if you have any idea if this book has monetary value. it is in excellent condition.
Shirley Washburn

EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks for your note. Glad you got to reread Portsmouth's only classic book (with the possible exception of Celia Thaxter's Among the Isles of Shoals). I'm afraid, unless you have an 1870 first edition, that there is no likely value to the book. I own 30 different versions of it and purchased all of them for under $10, often as little as $1. The first edition goes for about $200. The best place to look for prices is Bookfinder.com online. Thanks again for your note. I'll be talking about the Bad Boy books at the Discover Portsmouth Center on the evening of October 5, I believe.  

SING A SONG OF WHITTIER
I have been in search for some sheet music or hymnal that would include a tune called "I will Believe". Mr. Whittier wrote a song using this tune and the circumstance was in 1862. I found the information in Laura Towne's Diary. The children on St. Helena Island SC, on Christmas 1862 just prior to Emancipation: the Children sang his poem "Saint Helena Hymn" at the big celebration. I am attempting to have our local Low Country Children's Choir sing this on a new music CD. We need the sheet music for the tune to do some arranging. Can you direct me or do you have this sheet music "I Will Believe"? I teach history with music, diary accounts to schools and tour companies that come to our island. Check out my web page and you'll see what we do.
Evelene of The Spirit of Old Beaufort, SC

EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Not in our collection, so your best bet is to contact the two Whittier houses, one in Amesbury, MA and one in Haverhill, MA to see if they have this item in their archives. Also the Haverhill Library apparently has a large Whittier collection. Good Luck with your search and concert.

DO YOU KINDLE?
Dear Mr. Robinson, -- I was researching the Kindle reader as a potential birthday gift for my husband, whose vision is comparable to yours, when I came across your article. I was wondering if you finally obtained a Kindle and if it met your expectations. Please let me know. I'd love to be able to give him a gift that would give him more freedom to read when and what he'd like.
Gennyfer H

EDITOR’S REPLY: We have yet to Kindle. We’re happy that Amazon.com has so far proved the critics wrong by creating a new technology that users apparently love. But it has bugs, and we’re hanging out until they are worked out. In the meantime, we purchased a couple of portable closed circuit magnifying devices that allow us to read small print anywhere with ease.

FB-111A PART TWO
Thankyou for the very informative story about the 1981 FB111 crash in Portsmouth. I was working for Shaw's groceries in Newington and was in the parking lot when I heard the roar of the jet. With a coworker, we saw the pilot and navigator eject in the cockpit capsule. It all seemed so unreal.

The thunderous explosion was felt against my chest. I just prayed that everyone was OK, that included not only the USAF crew but the people on the ground.

I was only 17 at the time. I remember when I got home from work only about an hour later, it all kind of hit me and I think I was in a bit of some shock. I kept seeing that image in my head for hours. For so many years as a kid growing up and watching those jets in awe as they came and went. Again, thank you for the story. Don O'Brien, Raymond, NH

HAUNTED THEATER
Doing some research on haunted spots in town and one of them is supposed to be a former movie house where adult films reigned... any info on this?????
nancy elwell

EDITOR’S REPLY: Doesn't ring a bell, but could be the current Portsmouth Music Hall that was once called the Civic and showed films, though not of that ilk. Your best bet is Roxie's book Haunted Portsmouth that you can find on Amazon.com. The Music Hall has an historian who may know more.

DE ROCHEMONT IN ROCHESTER
I am researching a movie that I believe was produced by Louis de Rochemont. It was produced between 1953 and 1958, and had scenes shot in Rochester, NH which included Spaulding High School and the Spaulding High School Band. Do you have any information on this subject?
Rod Grondin

EDITOR’S REPLY: Not too many possibilities in that era, but I’m not sure which film it would be. My guess is Whistle at Eaton Falls since that was shot mostly in Dover, NH, the next town over. Other options are possibly Walk East on Beacon Street or maybe even a scene in Cinerama Holiday or Windjammer, although unlikely. Lost Boundaries is possible, but that is 1949. Hard to tell since, when shooting on real scenes, the producer mixed interiors with the exterior of other buildings and would disguise locations as places other than where they were. We have posted a lot of images from Whistle online and there is a good collection of photos of the film at a couple of local libraries. Unfortunately it is not commercially available. If you find out more details, we could pin it down closer.

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