ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE
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July 21
MORE AFRICAN BURIAL GROUNDS
Hurrah, Dennis! Thanks for expressing for us unemotive whitefolks the feelings implicit in this forgotten intersection of graves and roads and history and peoples. We need your voice to touch our ears and hearts, as well as the voices of Valerie Cunningham and other members of the local African-American community. We're all in a learning process, and with the guidance of artistic insight a site worthy of these unremembered lives can lead us towards healing.
Jennifer Stiefel
What a great, affecting essay on the African burial ground memorial. I was close to tears...usually am when that's mentioned. Somehow, it would be helpful if the design drew in the curious, beguiling them with a bit of nice and then shocked them with the truth when they reached the Court Street end. Please keep on keeping on. You're SO needed.
Pat Wall.
July 20
AFRICAN BURYING GROUND
To the Editor of the NH Gazette: I agree with J. Dennis Robinson that the memorial should honor those buried below while actively engaging our minds, as opposed to a memorial that invites one to sit on their behind. The hand emerging from the earth idea is a good one. I recently had a conversation with a Zulu African about their round huts, these buildings are spiritual places where people go to seek guidance from their ancestors, only elders are allowed to sleep there and children to keep the elders company. I would love to see a small hut, and a tree in the park surrounded by a discriminating round fence that only lets children in (the elders are already there). They can go into the hut and inscribed on the wall are the names of the African tribes that helped found this country. Let¹s provoke the children, the promise of our future, to discuss.
Didi Wallace, Portsmouth, NH
July 19
SEE CRAIGSLIST
I have subscribed to your Great Newsletter and information for several years; much to my delight. I am wondering if you have a "classified ad" section anyplace as I have some items; (Lighthouse prints, Seafaring Captain Prints and Ship Prints; that I feel would be of interest to this population. Sea Coast Prints etc., Vintage) Thanks again for sharing this site with me.
Nance Blair Stultz
EDITOR’S REPLY: Our guiding philosophy is to do what we do best and not do what others do better. Other than Craigslist.com, the local daily newspapers do a bang-up job with classified ads.
July 15
OCEAN BORN MARY POEM
A poem was written about the Ocean Mary storie and a copy was given to the family members that received parts of silk from the dress. I have a copy of the poem and would like to hear from you if you are interested in corresponding further.
CF
EDITOR’S REPLY: Have heard the story about the dress. An alleged piece of the dress is, I think, at the NH Historical Society in Concord, NH. Don’t know the poem, only the book by children's author Lois Lenski that was very popular in the mid 20th century.
July 14
SEEKING FAMILY TOMB
Where's the best place online to go to try to locate a gravestone in Portsmouth -I'm specifically looking for the resting place of former Portsmouth mayor Colonel John Pender.
Rich Pender
EDITOR’S REPLY: I'm not aware of a complete listing of graves in the area, but a number of the best known historic grave sites are on A Very Grave Matter. And you will find many photos in the Arcadia Publishing book on Portsmouth Cemeteries by Greg Knoblock.
July 13
PORTSMOUTH ORANGE CAKE
We enjoyed the Historic picture in the Portsmouth Herald on June 28th! It highlighted the Nathaniel Rogers House on Congress Street and spoke of the Robeck's Famous orange cake ! How exciting - We would love for this cake to be part of our 4th of July Celebration Party - Would you have the recipe that you would share?
Dee on Verizon
EDITOR’S REPLY: That recipe has been published a number of time, but we don’t have a copy on hand. A quick Internet search turned up this PDF version. (click here)
July 11
STAR ISLAND COMMENTARY
Star Island says they don't know (and certainly don't communicate to readers) what the electrical problems are that caused Rye to order the Star Island hotel to be closed. They almost certainly have a written report from the Town or State officials stating the life safety and electrical code violations that have resulted in the closing. If they really want the public to know the reason, they can publish the pertinent parts of the official report describing the life safety violations.
Robert Campbell
July 10
CALL TO READERS FOR MILK TRUCK INFO
Mr. Robinson: I was told that you might be able to help me with a restoration project that I'm doing. I'm currently restoring a Badger Farms milk truck, and I'm searching for any photos (color, hopefully) to help with the final painting. I would like very much to talk with you, to see if you have anything available.
John Grover
EDITOR’S REPLY: Sorry, this one depends on reader response. We’re clueless on milk trucks. Certainly check the Portsmouth Athenaeum photo file on their web site, and perhaps, one of viewers has a photo.
July 8
SEEKING LOCAL HORSESHOE COURTS
Might you know where we can find a horse shoe court in the Seacoast, for pitching ? I know of no place with horseshoe courts where a local or visitor can go play - such as a town park - the nearest I can find on the Web is in Kingston, NH. I have a set of my own, but would love to discover a place, in a town park, with a bench and as a long as I'm wishing – with restrooms closeby! I was recently in Telluride, CO and they had 2 of the most amazing courts - with court boxes and clay - and rake! Town officials even left 2 sets of shoes right there for folks to use. We were impressed. Please let me know - or if you have any ideas about who to contact to make a permanant site, available or created - please do share your SeacoastNH wisdom.
Andy Howe, Portsmouth, NH
July 7
HAS A SKETCH BY UNLCE OSCAR
I have in my possession a pencil sketch by oscar Laighton. It is entitled "Gloucester Fisherman" autographed by Mr. Laighton. I wonder if you could give me any info on this sketch.
Gary Hinchey
EDITOR’S REPLY: Not sure what more we might offer having not seen the sketch. Oscar did sketch in pencil, usually sailing or fishing boats and fish. He gave or sold pictures to tourists on the Isles of Shoals where he lived more of his 100 years. He wrote his autobiography, which is where you fin d most of the info about him, and a couple of slim volumes of poetry. For more info, read The Simple Art of Uncle Oscar.
July 5
AFRICA LOVES THEODORE TUG
I am from South Africa and looking for books, DVD, toys on Theodore the Tug. Would you be able to assist me with this query and where to order / purchase these products?
PENNY RANDALL
VICTORIA & ALFRED WATERFRONT (PTY) LTD CAPE TOWN
EDITOR’S REPLY: This New Hampshire store, Tugboat Alley, has some Theodore items in its online store at Tugboat Alley in Portsmouth, NH. The official web site is in Halifax, CA.
July 3
NEWSPAPERS DON’T TELL ENOUGH ABOUT STAR
I agree with Phyllis (June 14) that I'd like more info on the Star Island failure to meet fire inspection. I see by today's posting on the Star Island site, that they are canceled to at least August.
I've read all the local newspaper reports and even written to a reporter to ask them to dig deeper on the story, but at the same time I know that editors love pictures of actual fires, not stories about fire prevention.
Am I alone in the following line of questioning: What is different in Summer 2007 compared to Summer 2006? The structures are the same. The usage is the same. Star Island Corp. and the Rye Fire Department are existing entities that presumably have an ongoing relationship. So, why wasn't there an inspection last fall, leaving all winter and all spring to fix problems? Did the code suddenly change? Is it as much politics as actual fire code? Etc. To me this is a more interesting mystery than the worn-out murder on Smuttynose! Will some reader tell us more?
Jim Cerny
July 1
JPJ BOOK DISCOVERED
I was just gathering some 4th ofJuly items to put around the house and I remembered buying two books at a used book sale in navy blue bindings last year. They are titled Paul Jones~volume one and two by Augustus C. Buell~ dated 1900. As I'm sure you've seen them, wonderful as they are but these two are doubly special as inside I found a newspaper article describing the finding of Jones body in Paris. It says April 15, Paris but does not give a year. The article is titled, "Body of Paul Jones Indentified in Paris." It goes into detail the description of his body as then found, even mentioning how his hair was tied back with a clasp. I then decided to get on the internet to look up Paul Jones and on your calendar and I noticed it stated there would be a walking tour of haunted locations in Portsmouth tonight. How fun!! Although, as much as I would like to be there on the tour in person, I'm sure the original owner of my books will be there in spirit! The owner of the books and the old news article even left me her personal calling card inside. How often do you find a 107 year old book with the subject of that books obituary notice inside??? Just wondering have you ever seen article I have mentioned??? Love to hear from you.
Susan Russell
EDITOR’S REPLY: Yes, I've written extensively about Paul Jones funeral and even have 20 new (or old) photos coming up soon from the French portion of the funeral in 1906. Most of my articles on the topic are clickable from this index page
Also, I am very interested in Augustus C. Buell. He is known as "the father of lies" for his inaccurate coverage of Jones’ life in that two-volume biography you have. It is a great-looking book, but one of the most inaccurate biographies in American history since Buell had a hard time telling the truth. Here's a little piece about him that you may have seen on my web site
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