Tom Bailey was a well known hell-raiser and American literary hero even before Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Yet "The Story of a Bad Boy" has never been dramatized – until now. Learn why the "bad boy" genre was born in post Civil War Portsmouth, NH
In his day, Aldrich was best known for his lyrical and romantic poetry, but his verse is now considered only among the most minor of poets. His reputation stands almost entirely on one bold American novel. This bio comes from an early 20th century collection.
You can get there from here, but you have to stick to the schedule. Here is the 2008 schedule for those who want to catch an official ride and tour the restored garden on Appledore Island at the Isles of Shoals, home of Victorian poet Celia Laighton Thaxter. (see below)
Portsmouth, NH still reminds its tourists that the first president made a healing journey from the nation’s capital at New York in 1798 to New Hampshire. Apparently tourists have been retracing this historic journey for decades as we discovered in this 1916 article from MOTOR AGE magazine. (See text and pictures below)
Celia Thaxter is best known for her short poem about a sandpiper. Few know that the "Island Poet" also wrote a prose story on the same topic. The short piece shows off her nonfiction skills. For the first time on the Internet, we offer this rarely seen colorful piece from Thaxter's "Stories and Poems for Children" which appeared in 1878.
Celia Thaxter is best known for her cute children’s poem about a sandpiper, But like Alfred Hitchcock Celia knew the dark side of birds as well. Her poem about a shrike or "butcher bird" is more for nightmares. Also read her verse about gulls, a kingfisher and a swalow.
A recent eBay auction reminds us that Portsmouth, NH "island poet" Celia Thaxter was a modern woman using state-of-the-art equipment. By 1886 she was writing on a high-tech typewriter and endorsed it in Harper’s Weekly.
Judge, farmer, author and musician, Henry A. Shute was a real boy at heart. In the spirit of Aldrich and Twain, he wrote 18 novels about bad boys that delighted readers across America. And everyone knew him as Plupy. Read our biography of a man almost forgotten by history.
New Hampshire almost missed the boat during the gigantic Jamestown Exposition. At the eleventh hour, a copy of the state’s most patriotic mansion was copied, timber by timber, in Virginia. The duplicate Gov. John Langdon mansion (1784) still stands as a strange footnote to the founding of Jamestown, VA.
Twenty-five years after his famous close encounter with a UFO near Exeter, NH, Norman Muscarello retold his story in a rare public appearance. Here is the transcript of that conversation as documented by the students of Exeter Area High School. Muscarello died om 2003 at age 55.
Aldrich's Bad Boy Live May 9 - 11, 2008 Note -- Sunday show is matinee -- Pontine Theatre celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Portsmouth's Thomas Bailey Aldrich Memorial with it's original stage adaptation of the author's 1869 novel, THE STORY OF A BAD BOY. Co-Directors, Greg Gathers and Mar...
Salmon Falls Mill Open Studios May 10, 2008 ROLLINSFORD -- On Saturday, May 10, 2008, the Artists of the Mills at Salmon Falls will open their studios from 11am to 5pm. Just in time for Mother’s Day, this annual Spring event draws guests from all over New England to the rejuvenated historic mil...
Macbeth in Rochester May 10, 2008 "Macbeth," Shakespeare's great play of temptation, ambition and seduction, is the Rochester Opera House's annual Shakespearean production for the 2007-2008 season.
The Scottish tragedy centers on Macbeth's bloody rise to power, in which gui...
Tea with John Paul Jones May 11, 2008 PORTSMOUTH – Enjoy a Mother’s Day tea with brave Captain Jones, 18th Century Style at the John Paul Jones House 43 Middle St Portsmouth from 2-4 pm on May 11, 2008.
Price: $15 ($12 members of Portsmouth Historical Society)
Plan your Mother’s Day ...
Mother’s Day Tea d’ Jazz May 11, 2008 EXETER -- Bring your mother, family, friends to hear Jazz trumpeter Tom Palance and his Jazz Quartet – piano, drums, bass and trumpet, in a variety of swing jazz favorites and familiar standards of yesteryear. Elegant tearoom seating, teas, coffees, dr...
Mistral - No Ordinary Women May 11, 2008 PORTSMOUTH -- Celebrate Mother’s Day at The Music Hall! This acclaimed Boston-based ensemble will be providing high spirits and serious music making as they focus on inspirational works by women composers. Treat your mother, wife, or sister to chamber m...
UNH Symphony May 11, 2008 The University of New Hampshire Department of Music presents the UNH Concert Choir under the direction of William Kempster and the UNH Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Larry Veal in concert on Sunday afternoon, May 11, 2008 beginning at 3:00 p....
Evening with Ozomatli May 11, 2008 PORTSMOUTH -- Los Angeles’ legendary, double Grammy-Award winning, favorite sons Ozomatli, the 10-man rock/rap collective from Los Angeles performing a globalized Hispanic funk, with roots in salsa, merengue, hip-hop, and Middle Eastern music. Through t...
Greenability Lecture & Soup May 12, 2008 EXETER -- Blue Moon Natural Foods, 8 Clifford Street, Exeter, celebrates its thirteenth year with “an intergenerational green initiative” that includes three different cooking series running through May. The anniversary schedule of events promoting h...
Sea Dogs: Celebrating 15 Years May 13, 2008 PORTLAND -- Charlie Eshbach, President/General Manager, Portland Sea Dogs, will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Sea Dogs with the publication of a new history of the team, “The Portland Sea Dogs: Images of Baseball.” FREE
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