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| READ OUR MAIL February 2001 Mailbag SeacoastNH.com |
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February 26 MOVING MAPS Hi; I am looking for a map of the Seacoast area. We are looking to get more info on this area so we can decide which community we liked to move to. If you have one with the towns on them ,could you let me know. I have looked on the web and really have not found a good map so we can visit these towns. Thank you for your time. truly; Nancy M EDITOR'S REPLY: Each of the 14 local chambers offers its own small slice of the region, so we built a map (actually SIX maps) of our own by hand on PageMaker that show the NH towns, but it is a touring map with Things To Do. We've not seen a better one, since most people, looking for maps, go to MapQuest which has it all, including a zoom feature. http://www.seacoastnh.com/101nh/maps.html http://www.mapquest.com/ February 24 WANTS BLACK HERITAGE GUIDE Hi, I am wondering if you can tell me where I can buy the black heritage guide? Is it only available by mail? Julie EDITOR'S REPLY: This month we'll have the entire Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail© guide online. The paper copy is available by mail and there is a new edition coming out. It should also be available from the local chamber of commerce, and we've seen it for sale at the Portsmouth Athenaeum which is open to the public on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursdays. At the bottom of all 24 trail guide pages on seacaostNH.com you will find the link to purchase the guide and the amazing Resource Book via mail. There is a phone number there too. http://www.seacoastnh.com/blackhistory/pbht.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/blackhistory/trail.html February 23 MORE GILES ON ISLES I am intersted in finding info on the Giles famiy. I have info that The Giles family arrived in 1635 on the Elizabeth. setteled first in Glouster-Salem area then went be water to Isle of Shoals, then to Dover,By 1642 Matther was the larest taxpayer there. In June 1659 he and his wife Elizabeth dividd their time between the Isle of Shoals and the Mainland: There Children Morjorie, John, Paul, Mark. Can you tell me who might hold the records of the Isle of Shoals. Anna Mae EDITOR'S REPLY: You might write to Fred Hallet who wrote to use in January (see READ OUR MAIL ARCHIVES, January 16 and 17). Our Shoals historian Bob Tuttlle sent him all the note you will see on our web site. We're always happy to link old relatives together. http://www.seacoastnh.com/mail/mail0101.html February 23 KUDOS FOR SMUTTYNOSE SITE Thank you for your informative website. I just finished THE WEIGHT OF WATER late last night and was so intrigued with the Isle of Shoals area that I searched for more information this morning. I found more than I ever expected. Thank you for your historical information! Cynthia S of Osmond, NE http://www.seacoastnh.com/smuttynose February 21 RETURN OF THE CYBER SONS & DAUGHTERS 2001 Thank You for this wonderful web site. I was researching some education information this morning and found it. It is a delightful surprise. I found much material for teaching my family about history. In addition, I found a website about my favorite place on earth. My husband was stationed at Pease Air Force Base until he retired in the early 1990's. This web site brings back many memories and offers an opportunity to teach my family about very special part of our life. Sincerely, Norma Wampler February 20 THE HILTON'S COUNTERPUNCH THOMPSONS A Gentleman and a Scholar? Founder of New Hampshire? "According to "Hubbard", DAVID THOMPSON was a fish-monger of London who came over in 1623, to begin a plantation at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. [that is the river bordering New hampshire and Maine] In 1626 he came to Boston and took possession of Trevor's Island. He did not live long and in 1648 upon presentation of the facts to the General court, island was granted to his son,John".
William and Edward Hilton were fishermen from the Palatinate of Durham are recorded in Plymouth in 1621. William stayed in Plymouth and moved up to New Hampshire when Edward Hilton returned to America with David Thompson in 1623. They founded Dover and gave Durham it's name. They stayed and helped develop the State, David Thompson was a tourist!.
Eric William Lamberton, The "Original" Washington, Durham, UK February 18 SQUALUS MEMORIAL NOT EASY TO SEE My grandson and I just finished a fascinating book about the sinking of the USS Squalus off the Isles of Shoals. Is it true that a part of the Squalus is preserved as a monument? If so, we would like driving directions - we would both love to see it. Also, where is the submarine that is available for tours located? Ed Connors of Hermon, Maine EDITOR'S REPLY: We assume that is the revised version of the Peter Mass book that you read. We haven't yet, but the "sail" of the Squalus is visible in a park in the center of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. You have to call ahead and get permission to visit the island, but the museum at Gate 2 in Kittery Point is accessible a few hours a week -- and has a lot of info on the tragedy. You'll also see old fashioned diving suits like the kinds used at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye and the Kittery Naval Museum on the traffic circle. All are good spots for grandsons. The Squalus itself, as you read, was refit and launched as the Sailfish. The "tourable" sub is the USS Albacore which is very accessible on Market Street Extension open often and an interesting self guided tour, though cold this time of the year. Bring mittens. (Scroll down to see Squalus Memorial) http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/2000B.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/artists/Perrault/index.html#topopage February 17 WENTWORTH HOTEL SNAFU REPAIRED Hi Seacoastnh.com. I was just wondering if there was a problem with the archived articles on the Wentworth-by-the Sea page? When I tried to click on several of them, they would not open. Ihave attempted to read them for the past several days, both from home and at work, to no avail. Regards, Erin M in Sleepy Hollow, NH EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks for the heads up. Webmaster Tim has addressed the problem. One of the great time-eaters in hosting content sites with thousands of free outside links is that these links change. We've made it a policy to keep our 2,600+ pages in the same spot, but when the local newspaper, eg, alter their systems, everything goes out of whack. That's the third shift we've made to keep those links to other sites available in an easy-to-access format for our readers. Maintenance, ugh! Imagine a volunteer cable operator keeping 10,000 TV-sets working every day for free (yes, we're up to 10,000 "user sessions" daily now). It's an enormous task, but you should find the links working again soon. http://www.seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/news.html February 16 NEW OWNERS FOR BOUNTY I WAS BROUSING THE INTERNET TODAY ON THE HMS BOUNTY AND SAW YOUR SITE, LOVE THE PICTURES. WE ARE THE NEW OWNERS OF THE HMS BOUNTY. FYI, WE WIL BE SAILING HER FROM FALL RIVER, MA TO GLOUCESTER, MA WHERE SHE WILL BE RESTORED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. RICHARD NUSS, NY http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/camtour4.html February 15 ARTIFACTS FOUND IN MAINE While digging up our garage foundation, I came across some arrow heads and then a stone foot form, carved, possibly to make shoes around. Can you tell me where I can get information on an item such as this? Sheila of Scituate, MA with house in Maine EDITOR'S REPLY: Contact the state archaeologist at the Maine Historical Preservation Commission (207-287-2132) and the State Museum archaeologist at the Maine State Museum. These places field similar questions all the time. Your state also has an Historic Preservation Commission and the Maine State Museum. Have pictures ready and try not disturb the site, if possible. http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/prehistoric/index.html February 12 SHIPBUILDING IN GREAT BAY I am looking for some information on shipbuilding in 1700's or 1800's around the Great Bay in Durham NH. Tom Talbot EDITOR RESPONDS: Here are a few books to add to your library, all probably out of print, but likely available on Bibliofind.com: (1) Drowned Valley: The Piscataqua River Basin, John P. Adams, 1976; (2) Portsmouth's Heyday in Shipbuilding, Gertrude M. Pickett, 1979; (3) Port of Dover:Two Centuries of Shipping on the Cochecho, Whitehouse and Beaudoin, 1988; (4) Port of Portsmouth Ships and the Cotton Trade: 1783-1829, Ray Brighton, 1986; (5) Ports of Piscataqua, William Saltonstall, 1941. http://www.seacoaststore.com/store.cfm?StoreID=42 February 11 THANKS FOR THE HISTORY Just a thank you for being there. My mother was a Tibbetts and we trace our ancestry to Dover Neck and Dover until my grandfather's generation when they moved to Lexington. Reading of the attack at Fort William and Mary gave me insight into what transpired as my many times removed uncle was in that party attacking the fort. The Indian uprising that was mentioned where Ursulla had her hands removed for her jewelry is a continuation of events when my 7th ggrandfather, Richard Otis was killed in Dover and his wife and children were taken to Montreal by the Indians in 1693. A 5th grandfather, Daniel Thompson, died at the Battle of Lexington, so history is personal to me in regards to accuracy. I am very impressed with your articles and will continue to immerse myself in your sparkling words. Fred Day http://www.seacoastnh.com/themes/index.html February 10 KUDOS FOR NEW WBS NOVEL Hi Seacoastnh.com. I wanted to take a moment and let you know how much I enjoyed the interview with Sue Melanson regarding her book "Wentworth-by-the-Sea: 1969. I was fortunate enough to have made Sue's acquaintance through an on-line bidding "war" on ebay over a piece of Wentworth memorabilia, and have subsequently watched as she put the finishing touches on this wonderful book. When I received a copy of it, I immediately started to read it, and was loathe to put it down. The combination of Sue's personal experience and style of writing was superb, and I could actually imagine myself back in that short period of time that she captured on page. The only disappointment was when I was finished; I only wished that it could go on! Congratulations to both Seacoastn.com and Sue! Erin E. McGowan of Sleepy Hollow, NY http://www.seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/1969.html February 10 DAVID THOMPSON WRITES A LETTER (1625) In 1625 David Thomson, the founder of New Hampshire wrote a letter from New England to Thomas Howard, the Earl of Arundel. The Earl of Arundel was and to this day remains one of the greatest art collectors of all time. The letter and other details of Thomson's life have been published in "David Thomson, the Scottish Founder of New Hampshire, a Scholar and Gentleman" by Genevieve Cora Fraser. Parts 1, 2 have been published in the June and September 1999 issues of "The Scottish Genealogist" by the Scottish Genealogical Society in Edinburgh, Scotland. Part 3, which contains the Thomson letter, is pending publication.
To read excerpts from this article, a transcription of the letter, and view a copy of the original letter which is housed at Arundel Castle, West Sussex, England, go the the web site linked below. Permission to publish the 1625 Thomson letter on the David Thomson web site has been granted through the kindness of the Duke of Norfolk.
February 09 UGH God, I am glad that Clinton is no longer President. That "Blow, Clinton., Blow" campaign button is fitting. [X-rated comment deleted] It is so nice to currently have a President in the White House we can be proud of. Even Clinton's friends proved to be thieves. Gladys in Texas EDITOR'S REPLY: We couldn't agree less as our editorial indicates, but it sure is nice to get mail from a reader willing, at least, to read down through our views. We extend that same courtesy above. We're thinking of re-digging our old bomb shelter and hiding for four years, but we are proud that our new president managed to beat his DWI rap, hide out from the National Guard without getting caught and survive the loss of all the money invested in his oil wells. Our candidate never could have gotten away with all that. Let's make our comparisons again in four years. Thanks. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please012701.html February 07 BOOKING THE WENTWORTH, NOT YET Hello - I am not sure if this is the correct address to obtain info on the Wentworth hotel -- we are exploring sites for an educational conference for April, 2002 -- Is the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel open for business? Do they have conference facilities, hotel accommodations, restaurants, other amenities? Cindy from a Cape Cod Company EDITOR'S REPLY: We're definitely the wrong people, since we focus on the history of our endangered old hotel - so we called the right people. A representative of Ocean Properties that plans to renovate the hotel says the projected opening date is a bit too close to call. The new hotel may be up and running before your event, but may not. We've had similar requests from other readers and, at the moment, all we can do is watch the local newspapers and help by posting updates when they appear on local news web sites. For other seacoast area conference sites, check out SeacoastSearch.com below. http://www.seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/index.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com/ February 07 SHARON FROM WEATHERMAN KEN Hi, Sharon. I did more grunt work in searching the net for decent climatologic data..and again came up short. There just isn't a whole lot of it around in the useful category your questions fall into. I can tell you that we have had around 43 inches of snow so far, in an area that usually gets around 60. So two more reasonable storms and we will be at or even above the norm. Quite reachable, although this next storm looks to be mainly rain at this point. As far as the worst winter in recorded history, I'll refer you to Barry Keim, State Climatologist at UNH. He is reachable at barry.keim@unh.edu. Thanks for writing! I'm always willing to help! Ken Mitchel http://www.seacoastnh.com/weather February 07 VACATION RENTALS ONLINE? As a "New Hampshire lover" from way back, I was wondering if this great site has (or maybe could have) the ability to post and search "vacation rental" properties only along the NH coast? Paul of Wexford, PA EDITOR'S REPLY: In a sense, we already do. SeacoastSearch.com, our unique regional search engine, has exactly that category in our real estate section. It also reappears in our LODGING section on SeacaostNH.com. At the moment, there are 27 listings. We offer FREE listings to established local web sites, but we currently don't have the facility to offer listings to individuals in a classified ad format. It is a great idea. Technically it is possible to set up a page for people who want to list properties and to offer that list to our 8,000 daily readers. The tricky part, we've discovered, is the time required to promote the page and collect income, etc. The answer is the creation of a page that would allows listers to fill in a form and enter credit cards without the addition of staff members here. For the moment, our goal has to been to add as many features with the most information with the least manpower possible. But in time, as the number of readers continue to grow, such features are a great idea. For the moment, we can offer the largest number of free listings currently available in the Seacoast. http://www.seacoastnh.com/lodging http://www.seacoastsearch.com/ February 06 SHOVEL THIS! To SeacoastNH.com Weatherman Ken Mitchell: I have a standing invitation for those who thrill to northeasters (I grew up with them and the thrill has long disappeared) to come to my driveway and do some thrilling shoveling. But as I look out on the white wasteland that is my impassable driveway this morning, there are no shovelers in sight. How can that be?
Let's hope global warming gets back on track in New England and that we repeat the 90-degree March day that we had 4 or 5 years ago! I'm optimistic because despite the continuous cold+snow we've been hit with this winter, the Canadian Arctic has actually looked quite mild all winter. If we can just get the polar jet to jump a little bit further north, we should be back in Mild City.
February 06 SAW YOU IN SEDONA I picked up your business card on the Sedona bus tour in Phoenix recently; have been visiting your wonderful site in search of an article about the trip West. Could you tell me where to find it, please? I see lots and lots of 'water', but no 'desert'! Irene Hart EDITOR'S REPLY: The fruits of our recent jaunt to sunny Arizona should start appearing soon. Look for the first of two installments of "A Yankee in the Desert: Part One -- Operation Cactus" in the editor's column "As I Please" late in February, after he has shoveled a path to the SeacoastNH.com World Headquarters and can get our coal-fired computer up to steam. We count 84 columns already online for your to read through in the interim. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please.html February 06 MORE ON GERMAN U-BOATS, MAY 1945 Are you able to get me directed to where I might find a roster of the crews of the U-boats that surrendered at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, May 1945. I was at the hospital and had two patients that were taken off the subs. I don't know the # of the boats but do know the names of the enlisted man and officer. I'm sure any little bit you might have would help. Paul of Lexington, KY magboll@home.com EDITOR'S REPLY: The three best sources are to contact Walt at the museum at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The PSNY web site is attached and you'll have to work your way through the red tape. There is a large archive of material there in their reference area. You can also contact Richard Winslow (Tuesdays) at the Portsmouth Public Library. He wrote the history of the Navy Yard just our - DO YOUR JOB (in our STORE). And there is also a Maritime Museum in Kittery, Maine with a number of knowledgeable docents. No web site, sorry. http://www.seacoastnh.com/20th/uboat.html http://www.ports.navy.mil/ http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/Library/index.htm http://www.seacoaststore.com/store.cfm?StoreID=42 February 05 WANTS TO BUY HOTEL BOOK Hello.I am a fifteen year old who is extremely intrigued with the old Wentworth Hotel and I recently found out about Sue Melanson's novel, "Wentworth by the Sea,1969" and since then I have tried to find it everywhere. Unfortunately, it is absolutely nowhere to be found. I was wondering if you could help me in any way.. PLEASE?? I will be eternally grateful. Also,I was wondering if you could help me get in touch with Mrs. Melanson. I have a number of questions to ask her. Thank you so much! Laura EDITOR'S REPLY: If you are looking for a book online, always check Amazon.com first. It's there, big as life. Before the Internet, however, it would have been very hard to find a self-published book. This one is published "on demand" by Xlibris.com. That's why it is scarce. The books are published as they are ordered online. We've made it easier for you by creating a BUY THIS BOOK button on the top of our interview with the author, so all you have to do is click -- which also helps us keep the lights on here at your favorite web site. We'll forward your letter to the author, whom we understand, will be having a book signing party in the Seacoast this spring. And stay in touch with the hotel via our all-Wentworth section online. http://www.seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/1969.html February 04 ANYONE HAVE JPJ's TREE ON HAND? I am trying to find out if John Paul Jones had any brothers or sisters. If so where and when were they born. Also was John Paul married and did he have any children.Can you help me with these questions or tell me where they may be found. James I Royer jroyer2000@wctel.net EDITOR'S REPLY: Can we assume you are looking for reasons of genealogy? If you check our READ OUR MAIL archivesusing our archive letter search engine, you'll see many letters to other readers searching for an historical link to Jones as an ancestor. The bottom line is that Jones had sisters, a brother who died in Virginia, was never married and had no children, legitimate anyway, that are known -- thus any claims to direct descendancy are likely false. There are a number of claims coming from the Carolinas that Jones was related to someone there, but they seem unlikely. His name was John Paul and the addition of the pseudonym "Jones" was likely an alias due to a murder triial which he was avoiding. Depiste the facts, the rumores persost. We're always searching for new solid research. It might be a good idea for us to local the basic family tree and post it for future readers. Anyone who has it already on hand, please sent it our way. Thanks. http://www.seacoastnh.com/mail/indexarch.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/jpj/ February 04 EAT NO CLAM CHOWDER THAT COMES IN TIN Thanks very much, all very droll - but I logged on to find a recipe for clam chowder to send to my brother in London (I live in Canada). So, can you make clam chowder or not ? (EDITOR: Yes we can: See clam chowder recipe attached. Maybe you missed it.) Personally, your column was very informative, I was always under the impression that clam chowder came in a tin. Your amusing piece has not done a lot to dispel that view. trevor percy hotspur@mac.com http://www.seacoastnh.com/clam/index.html February 03 SECRET TUNNEL TO THE RIVER? Was there ever a underground tunnel that lead from the John Paul Jones house or the Warren house to the Piscataqua river? Thanks Beth from Fairfax, VA bmulloy@AOL.COM EDITOR'S RESPONSE. Neither the Warner House, nor the JPJ House are near the river, so we assume you must mean the Moffatt Ladd House on Market Street. Yes, there is indeed a tunnel, visible from the kitchen and basement there and proceeding down to Market Street. However no one has ever found any documentation for its date of construction, terminus, or use. The assumption is that anything that existed under Market Street is long gone to road builders, sewers, gas lines, etc. and the owners, the Colonial Dames, have not "thoroughly vetted City records," according to a spokesperson, though she doubts there is anything there. The assumption is that it did end on the waterfront, possibly in or near the building now housing the Oar House kitchen (built and owned by the Ladd family) or some other Ladd warehouse structure that used to stand on the waterfront.. There is no web site for the house, sorry. http://www.seacoastnh.com/houses/index.html February 03 HAMPTON BEACH 2001 Looking forward to another great vacation in Hampton this summer 2001. Was checking out your website and the activities sched. The dates say 2000 is this a misprint or is it last years schedule?? When will this years sched. be avail. How about the Casino Ballroom sched? Thanks in advance. Richard from Queensbury, NY Rickster319@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: We update our Hampton Beach section each year as soon as the info becomes available from the Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Currently the EVENTS calendar and the FIREWORKS schedule is available, but we're waiting on the trolley update and the Shell concert schedule, that usually comes quite later. For the Casino schedule, go to their web site which you will find linked in SeacoastSearch.com. http://www.seacoastnh.com/hamptonbeach http://www.seacoastsearch.com/ February 02 CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MILESTONES In Phyllis Edgerly Ring's article "Tracing a Town's Black Roots"(American Profiles Magazine article featuring Valerie Cunningham of Portsmouth, NH, Jan, 2001) I found it interesting that the Emancipation Proclamation had been commemorated in Portsmouth as early as 1881. As the proclamation applied only to slaves in the states not under Union control it did not apply to what few black people that may have remained in New Hampshire and not been sold South as most of them were. That hardly seems a reason for present day African-Americans in New England to celebrate it.
My wife and I plan to visit Maine this summer and will stop to walk the History Trail
February 02 WANTS FILM OF LOCAL RAID Hello. Do you have a video that I could purchase of your re-enactment of Raid on Fort William & Mary? Karen B mkkcborough@sierratel.com EDITOR'S REPLY: That was one brutally cold day, frigid and windy. As far as we know, nobody made a video of the event, but Ralph Morang did capture it in still images. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/photosmorang3/index.html February 01 THE WRITER By -Carolyn Phannarath For my Exeter writing teacher Mr Ferguson In the spirit of the budding writer, Her pen flies to the paper, Writing for a school assignment, Or about some mystery caper. She can scarcely get the words out, Her mind flies too fast. She struggles to maintain the flow, To make this pleasure last. She wishes to be known, See her books sold in a store. But no, not for the money, Her writing means much more. The joy of knowing others see, "The world," she thinks, "Just..Like..Me!" To know the closet kinship with, A stranger on the street. A sharing of your mind with people, That you'll never meet February 01 CAMPING ON A STAR I am a member of a church in New Hampshire. I have been planning for our family summer trips (we have a 5yo and 3yo). Recently I learned of a family camping trip on Star Island offered through our conference center. I called the UCC conference camps program coordinator who did not have a phone number nor further information about the trip being offered to Star Island as it is the first time it has been part of the UCC summer camp choices. I would like to know where the camp location is or other accomodations being offered in that program...any additional information you have about this "camp" I would greatly appreciate. Angela of Bethlehem, NH EDITOR'S REPLY: We've never heard of a camping conference on Star in its last 100 years and don't see anything mentioned in the Star Island Corp 2001 summer schedule. There are many summer family programs in summer cottages, but no grass or facilities (no fire, no outdoor showers, etc) that would allow for camping. Check the Star Island Corp web site below for lots of info. http://www.starisland.org/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/index.html |
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