Letters February 2006

A complete archive of mail from February 2006

Feburary 21
WANTS DE ROCHEMONT FILMS
I saw your web site a few months ago while looking for anything on L. deRochemont. I ordered a movie but it didn't get sent. Can I re-order or is it obsolete? Do you know where else I might find any of his films? One of his granddaughters is a good friend and I was trying to get it for her, now after reading about him on your site I'm anxious to see one of his films myself.
Rick Rhoades

EDITOR’S REPLY: We don't sell movies, so you didn't order from us. But you can get a number of them on Amazon.com and many more on eBay. Search by title and place an order. Many are out of print or have never been available, but Lost Boundaries, Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, 13 Rue Madelaine and House on 92nd Street are easily obtained in new DVD releases there. Remember, he was the producer, not the director, actor or writer, so you will see a wide variety of styles, although always under the de rochemont philosophy.

February 20
TWO MONTH FORECAST
Hi, would it be possible to find out the weather conditions for Easter this year/ We live in Port Dover, Ontario
V. Zander

EDITOR’S REPLY: Are you kidding me? It is February. Try the Farmer’s Almanac if you don’t mind fantasy. That’s as close as you get with New England weather months ahead.

Feburary 19
PASS THE LIVERMORE, PLEASE
The town of Livermore, on the Sandwich Notch road, I believe. no longer exists. Really just a logging town and saw mill. I don't think even any buildings remain. If you collect NH town postal cancels, that one is tough. I've seen the story in Road Thru The Notch, by Elizabeth Yates. Also various histories on the White Mountains. Even a couple photos in something like Lost Towns of NH. There is a small booklet on Discontinued Post Offices in New Hampshire. Maybe the state historical. But then you have one in Portsmouth. Mail canceled on the trolley, between Hampton, Portsmouth, and Portland? An identifiable cancel. But then, Isles of Shoals cancels are not easy.
Ken Y.

February 18
WHAT HAPPENED TO SEABROOK?
Hi,I enjoy reading your articles on and off line but what I find rather odd is I checked the areas to visit and the log of all the towns and could not find a thing on SEABROOK,N.H. It has such a nice Ocean View and the River is great for Kayaking and all other water sports and the History of the Town, well they have buildings all refurbished to keep the memory of the TownsPeople alive. Also all the stores and restaurants you will ever need is right there on Rt.1 I could go on and on, I find it ODD that you don't even print the Town's name I can't find SEABROOK,N.H. anywhere under GoSeacoast.com's info. So sad that I have to read elsewhere to get my information complete and that is what I will do.So Disappointed,Pat

EDITOR’S REPLY: You got us there. Except for the 30 web site listings in our Directory and a few mentions in our history articles, we haven’t got much on Seabrook. It is not for want of trying. We have taken a half dozen trips down there to photograph historic and scenic sites, but to be honest, have not located them. We’re wide open to reader suggestions, articles and photos that will show us what we’ve been missing.

February 17
WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE
Read your piece on Prince Whipple. When I was an art historian, lecturing at the Met, and several times in the American Wing, I did a bit of research in the Leutze painting. Emmanuel Leutze came to the US as a baby, but returned to Germany in 1841 to study painting, and subsequently, to teach it in Dusseldorf. For his own work, he specialized in large historic canvases and chose subjects popular with the English, the French, etc., did a grand heroic depiction, and toured it around the country, making a tidy sum. He almost always sold it at one point during its tour, making more.

When he went to do the American scene, he hired the usual locals as models, and they looked wrong. He always had a few American students (Worthington Whittredge was one), so asked if the current crop would model. If you study the faces closely as I did, you can see there is a great similarity (except for the costume) among the boat crew. He couldn't have used more than two models for all except GW and the black boy! The painting was purchased while here, and was badly damaged in a subsequent fire a few years later. So Leutze painted the whole shebang a second time, and that's the painting the Met has.
Joyce Volk, Portsmouth, NH

February 16
GLAD TO BE INCLUDED IN KUDOS
When I got your ezine today and found the link to your 100 reader comments, I was thrilled to find my comment on page 5 in the Readers Missing NH Badly section! (Actually, while I skimmed pages 1-4, I kept saying, "It'd better be there!") Good job! :) Thanks again for the ezines and your website. They're real links "home." I'd love to move back to Portsmouth!
Susan Lee

February 16
GLOBAL WARNING?
I tend to agree ("Global Warning from My Back Yard" February Newsletter) that there is some truth in global warming. But is this weather really unusual? I just saw a film on PBS recently about "skiing in the north country" . Full of interviews with folks that started the ski areas and hotels after WW2. Evidently a lot of areas and inns closed in the 50’s due to several years in a row without decent snow. So who knows? Might be an interesting story to compare the conditions of the 50’s to today.
Jeff Latimer

EDITOR’S REPLY -- Thanks for your note. Exactly my point. Who knows? But according to pretty much all of the major scientists on the planet that I reviewed online, this time something really BIG is happening. Even the Alps are melting. 10 of the warmest years in recorded history have occurred within the last 15 years. That’s pretty scary. Scientist around the globe are seeing evidence everywhere, everywhere except in the White House, of course.

February 16
BE KINDER TO POTUS
First of all, I want to join the ranks of people that think that you do a heck of a job getting this entertaining newsletter out to all of us. It is full of factual and fun lessons. That being said, I'm disappointed to see the Global Warming letter from the editor. Not the information itself, but the political bias that has been woven into the story. This world is hard enough without people picking sides and getting other folks all worked up. We should all try to be working together to solve problems, not determining who is "liberal" and who is "conservative", and taking pot shots at the other side. Frankly, I'm sick of both sides, and am trying to find an occasional diversion from everyone's opinion, and just want to escape. Please try to stay somewhere in the middle, the way the old fashioned reporters used to.Thanks for listening.
Louise Basnett

EDITOR’S REPLY: I never want to imply that editorials here are unbiased. They are, after all, editorials. They appear in the newsletter monthly and in EDITOR AT LARGE on the web site, and are wide open to guest editorials by responsible readers. I tend to steer clear of religion and politics in the core content, but the editorial position here has always been that the current war is illegal and the current administration should be replaced with all swiftness for a host of reasons too great to list here. But we LOVE receiving letters from the three or four readers who disagree. The goal here is to enlighten and entertain our growing readership. Telling the truth usually means we are unable to use White House press releases.

February 14
WEAK WOMEN AND DISREPUTABLE MEN
I am a writer hoping you can help me with some research on the Isle of Shoals. In her book Mothers of Maine, Helen Coffin Beedy mentions "weak woman" that "disreputable men had brought to the islands, owning them in shares as they did their boats". I cannot find any information on who these weak woman were or what circumstances made them slaves. Any information would be helpful.
L.E. Hughes

EDITOR’S REPLY: We’re clueless on this one. It appears to be a reference to the 17^th century Shoals law that neither women nor goats were allowed on the islands, probably in an effort to prevent seasonal fishermen from settling down and becoming domestic. Readers with more knowledge, please send info our way.

February 11
THE BOOK OF DANIEL
I noticed on the bio page about Daniel Webster that you have a list of places named for Daniel Webster. Here in Southwest Missouri, there is a Webster County, which is named for "Black Dan":
Todd Wilkinson in Missouri

February 10
BLACK CEMETERY CEREMONY
I am interested in attending the service for the recently discovered burial grounds of the 200 slaves in Portsmouth. Do you have a date and agreed upon site for the ceremony?
Anne Smallidge

REPLY FROM VALERIE CUNNINGHAM: Thank you for your inquiry and for your interest in the African Burying Ground. It seems there are some misunderstandings about what we know. The remains of 8 burials have been recovered from the African Burying Ground and we know that there are 5 other caskets at the site. Since only a small area was excavated, however, we do not know how many others were buried there. Over a period of 150 years, from around 1650 until 1800, we can GUESS that as many as 200 people COULD HAVE BEEN buried at that cemetery. However, we probably will never know how many people actually were buried there. It will be at least another year before Chestnut Street is closed off by the city and work will begin on a small memorial park. That's when we'll have the reinternment and a ceremony. The details will be well advertised. Please watch for updates at seacoastNH.com.

February 9
OLD SALTER SALTS
I saw your photo in today's paper of the four men playing dominoes behind a house on Salter Street. I grew up on Salter Street, and was wondering where I could see more historic pictures of Salter Street? Would it be Strawbery Banke?
Amelia Osborne

EDITOR’S REPLY: There is a vertical file at both the Portsmouth Athenaeum and Strawbery Banke that lists houses by streets. But all you will find, for the most part, are houses, not people. Pictures of people are usually arranged by content or name or date, if there is any info about them at all. This particular one just happened to have a detailed caption. The Portsmouth Library vertical file sometimes contains a few gems too. All it takes is hours, maybe days, of digging. But for now, we have no city-wide cross-referenced photo index. For that, try back again in 2056. Click here for archive guide.

February 8
WHAT BUILDING IS THAT?
I saw the picture of the U-shaped building in the Portsmouth Herald and have been trying to figure out where it is (or was). It appeared that the building to the right of it is the old Indian Head Bank (now Bank of America). Am I correct? If you get a minute could you please tell me more – Portsmouth history and it's old buildings fascinate me.
Karen Foley

EDITOR’S REPLY: That one stumped us too. WE got the info from the recently reprinted book "Historic Portsmouth", but we’re sure which building that is. There is a sign in the window for Piscataqua Savings, but the building is not the same as the current location – Is it? First reader who can tell us with authority wins a prize.

February 7
ICE FISHING IN EXETER
I grew up there 50 years ago calling the fishing shacks "bob" houses for obvious reasons. When the tides go in and out, up and down they go.
Belinda Perry, Santa Fe, NM

February 6
MEMORIES OF RUSSELL ST & MORE
I know its been a while but so much has been going on that I am just now sitting down to let you know of my thoughts of the "new Portsmouth". My husband and I vacationed in Portsmouth this past August. After being away for many many years my first reaction was one of sadness because I could no longer see or even show my husband all of where I grew up in the 50's. Then anger set in (how could they do this to Portsmouth, to Russell St - tear down the old to make way for the "new money"). Then, while laying in the hotel bed that first night there, I realized that even if they had not torn down the old Russell Street what would those houses look like today? After all they were pretty old back then. I felt better about things the next day as I showed my husband around the town and the places where I had lived and played. It was great finding Gilleys new location and eating dogs there! I was disappointed at the library however as they were unable to show me the Russell St video as they had nothing to play it on and I could not take it out as I did not have a library card. If anyone has a copy I would be greatly appreciative. We did go out to dinner and get bibbed up for some GREAT New England lobster which I will miss dearly!! I now have the new Portsmouth in my memory but better yet I have the old Russell St memories locked away and that can never be torn down!!!

Thank you for replying so promptly! I did see the houses that were saved on The Hill. Saw the bench dedicated to Little Italy. It was really nice to see that and see my family name on it. I did visit with Mondo Zoffoli and his sisters, it was a memorable visit as they told me some wonderful stories of my mother that I had not heard before (she died when I was 9). I have to say the biggest change to me of course was that the Russell St area was gone and I have to say I was very surprised at the condition the white steeple of the church in town is in. Hope they do something about that soon. Also the streets seemed not to be as wide as I remembered them, I guess when your're a kid things like that seem bigger. Thank you again for replying.
Lila Ryan

EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks for your impressions. I’m afraid the Russell Street video problem lands back at my feet. Oddly enough, I created that video more than 20 years ago. It was produced very cheaply on half-inch video tape, and shows interviews with people from "Little Italy" who assembled for a reunion. The tape is very old and in poor shape. I’ve been unable to locate the original, also very old, to make a digital copy. Someday we will, and then can make copies more widely available on CD. -- JDR

February 4
THAT OLD COTTAGE HOSPITAL
I saw the picture in last night’s paper on the Aldrich House. I thought the first Cottage Hospital was the one they just converted to elderly housing , and then the one that City Hall is in, was the next hospital to be built. Just curious , because my mother and brother were both born there . >
Lisa Oakes

EDITOR’S REPLY: It gets confusing. The current City Hall is in the old "new" hospital building on the hill on Junkins Ave. The older building in front was the first Portsmouth Hospital building built in 1895 when the Cottage Hospital on Court Street (the one in the photo) became overcrowded. The original Cottage Hospital was converted from the "Nutter House" where Thomas Bailey Aldrich had stayed as a boy. It was largely used for serious cases and indigent patients who had no where else to go. Six beds were supported by charitable groups and individuals who paid $200 per year to keep the bed available in the late 1800s. The house held only about a dozen patients, but there were not always patients in residence at first. A rise in accidents, a influx of diphtheria and injured from the Spanish American War filled the place to overflowing and led to the creation of the new hospital. Your mother and brother would have to be 110 years old to be born in the original Cottage Hospital, but during that time, births took place in the home and the doctor, if there was a doctor, would attend the mother there. For more information on this see -- Historic Portsmouth by Jim Garvin, recently republished. It's probably for sale in the Strawbery Banke gift shop. You might also check the 1902 Guidebook on Portsmouth by Caleb Gurney -- Portsmouth Historic and Picturesque that you'll find in the library. The best book for medical information in Portsmouth is still The Changing Humors of Portsmouth 1623 - 1983 byDavid Goodman and John Worth Estes.

February 3
TYPO ALERT FROM KOREAN READER
Dear Sir: I would like to point out one error in your homepage regarding the Treaty of Portsmouth, NH, "End of Russo-Japanese War". The 1905 newspaer headline of The Philadelphia Inquirer is actually showing the 1945 story of Russia at War with Japan, right after atomic bombiong at Hiroshima. This newspaper has nothing to do with the Treaty of Portsmouth in fact. Please investigate this and kindly change newspaper photo or if not kindly delete it at your earliest convenience.
HP Lee in Seoul, Korea

EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks. You win the award as the 25^th reader to point out that error. We’re in the process of migrating another 2-3,000 web pages from the old half of the site to the new half. This one is on the list. But we will miss all the letters from sharp eyed readers if and when we get to replace it. Volunteers who want to help with the migration are invited to call.

Feb 3
DISTANT WENDELL KUDOS
Dear Dennis: As one of your most enthusiastic out of state fans and fellow Athenaeum proprietor, I am presuming on your time to applaud not only SeacoastNH, every word of which I read each month, but also everywhere else you have your fingerprints, lately in Steve Fowle's Gazette, where I also read every word you write. The current issue's spread on Strawbery Banke was up to your usual standards (Glad to be off the Shoals and Ms Thaxter, for a change?). I am currently reading Susan Goodman and Carl Dawson's wonderfully insightful biography of William Dean Howells, so my ears went up, reading in your article about John Mead Howells, WDH's son and Mrs. William| (Muriel), his grandson's wife. Howells in Kittery gets a whole chapter. I'm sure you haven't time to read a whole biography, but Howells is certainly one of our best products. Continued good luck and prosperity! Believe me, your insights, imagination and sensitivity are greatly appreciated (so I didn't take a poll!).
Charles W. Wendell

EDITOR’S REPLY: Many thanks for the kind words. William Dean Howells will appear among the "Literary Lions" in a new exhibit coming to the Portsmouth Athenaeum this summer and supported by both SeacoastNH and the NH Gazette.

Buckminster House, Islington Street, Portsmouth, NH

February 2
MORE ON THE BUCKMINSTER HOUSE
Am I wrong in believing that the house you referred to as the torn down "Buckminster House" on page #4 of your article " Daniel Webster Lost in Portsmouth" in the January 27, 2006 issue of The New Hampshire Gazette is the Warner-Buckminster House, which I believe still is located at 7 Islington Street at the corner of Bridge Street? I believe that the Warner-Buckminster House was built circa 1720-1730 for Daniel Warner, a sea captain from Ipswich, Massachusetts. In 1760 Jonathan Warner, Daniel’s son, married Mary Macpheadris and they lived in the Macpheadris-Warner house, 150 Daniel Street. In 1793 Eliphalet Ladd (1744-1806), soon after he moved to Portsmouth, bought the house. Ladd was one of the founders of the Portsmouth Aqueduct Company. In 1810 Ladd’s widow, Abigail, married the Rev. Joseph Buckminster of the North Church, who died two years after their wedding.

The Warner-Buckminster House later functioned as a boarding house, a funeral parlor and until recently an antiquarian bookstore. Around the turn of the century a man shot and killed his three daughters and himself at the house. Within the last few months a company managed by developer Stephen Kelm bought this building for a reported $1.4 million. Kelm also is the developer of the construction project at 6-16 Congress St, the site of the former Eagle Photo building. The Warner-Buckminster House certainly has had an historic past. What fate awaits this historic building under Kelm’s ownership?
Shaun Rafferty

EDITOR’S REPLY: I believe the article says the boarding house that Webster stayed in was next door to the Buckminster House and was torn down. It is possible that DW stayed there, making it even more historic, but unlikely from our research. We’re always happy when someone digs deeper and fills us in.

February 1
MOST PUZZLING EMAIL OF THE MONTH
my daughter owns a 27 fairliner 1964 cf2922cd sophia simard.lives in new hamshire.do you know about cutters, i have one as a gift.robert lopez dimond detail,sparkling hulls.

February 1
NEEDS READER HELP WITH ALLISON FAMILY
I just visited your very interesting web site which lists Portsmouth NH residents in 1678 in Brewster’s Rambles. I have read that my Allison/Ellison and Knapp ancestors migrated to NH from England in the 1620s or 1630s, lived there for close to 100 years and then moved to Long Island or Orange County in NY in the early 1700s. I spent several days at both the NHHS' Tuck Library and the New Hampshire State Library in Concord, NH, in July 2004, but I found no documented evidence of Allisons or Ellisons in NH in the 1600s. I was told by a researchg assistant at the NH STate Library that perhaps only one quarter of the records of the 1600s have been found and archived. Do you have access to any records about Allisons or Ellisons or variant spellings or about Knaps, Knapps, Knops, Napps or other possible variant spellings? By the way, there is plenty of info in NH records about Allisons in Londonderry/Derry after 1718, but that is not my Allison line.
Mary Allison Yonant

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