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| READ OUR MAIL APRIL 2001 Mailbag SeacoastNH.com |
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April 26 NH CHILDREN OF THE REPUBLIC What a delight to discover your website! Let me introduce myself and our organization to you. We are New Hampshire Children of the Republic out of Sanbornville, N.H. and we teach the U.S. Constitution. This past year, however, our board has discussed a desire to add the New Hampshire Constitution to what we teach. We know there must be a wealth of information just waiting to be discovered (such as the writings of this Langdon or that Gilman) with their philosophies of founding principles but would certainly appreciate suggestions and guidance as to where we might find such treasures.
Since we do teach original intent, it would be terrific if you could offer advice. We have also been searching for Samuel Langdon's speech to the N.H. Legislature which resulted in the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. They say it is one of the finest ever given and yet it is hard to find.
April 25 BUILDING A THEORETICAL BRIDGE I am trying to write a paper regarding the Maine/New Hampshire dispute over the Piscataqua River Water. I am trying to find out what the initial cost of the bridge was when it was constructed? I am interested in building a argument based on compound interest and the inabilities of Maine contractors to construct the industry along the river without the use of a NH constructed bridge. Jennifer of Manchester, NH EDITOR'S REPLY: There are three bridges connecting Portsmouth and Kittery, the Rte 95 overpass, the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and the Memorial Bridge. Memorial Bridge is the oldest, build in 1923. For stats on that you would likely have to do newspaper research at the Portsmouth Athenaeum, which has a nice file of info and pictures from the construction. There is an entire book about the "Long" railroad and auto bridge written by Woody Openo and published by Peter Randall Press. Info on the most recent bridge would likely be available from the state highway department. We're not sure whether the costs were shared between states in the early bridges and how much federal money went into the third one, but don't forget to factor that in. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please081698.html April 24 BLACKBEARD & US ON TV THIS WEEK? We hear that the History Channel is finally about to air the episode on the Isles of Shoals and pirate Blackbeard, shot last fall. We were there and did an on-camera interview, but don't know if SeacoastNH made the cut. We also broke the story last October, and that essay and photo tour is linked below. At this writing, it was still unclear if the show is airing. We even checked the History Channel web site (www.HistoryChannel.com), but could not tell for sure. If you have the premium cable channel, why not check in at 8pm EST for History's Mysteries. If you have a VCR, tape a copy for us, OK? Our VCR is on the fritz. The Management http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please100700.html April 23 THE SOFTER SIDE OF SULLIVAN Interesting article on John Sullivan, but a very biased source. Surely there must be something good about him if he enjoyed Washington's confidence and was elected to Congress by the people of his State. His expedition of 1779 against the Iroquois was deemed a great success by what it did to neutralize a major front of the war and supply base. And yet is described at your site as an "inconclusive" campaign. Does conclusive mean all the Indians would be decimated? The article is obviously authored by one who subscribes to leveling the famous. Suggest someone at your site read about The Sullivan Campaign of 1779. His soldiers indicate he was a good officer Don Cady EDITOR'S REPLY: Good point. We've been inoculated with the stories of Sullivan's greed, drunkenness, ego and tendency to sue everyone with whom he came in contact. Washington hated him. The people of Durham wanted him driven out, and yet he stands out as a key figure in the Revolutionary War. What we know came from a bicentennial article written by a local historian 25 years ago. As an interactive site, we welcome a response article from an equally good writer with the softer side view. So far, no Sullivans have complained, but the General is certainly on our list for a page in Link Free of Die. In fact, we'll move him nearer to the top of the list and see what others have to say on the Web. http://www.seacoastnh.com/framers/sullivan.html April 23 SEEKS VACATION RENTAL Hi: I am looking for a very large nice house on ocean for early Sept. for one week. We are 4 couples--no kids, but need either 2 two br. room houses-2 bath or a lrg. 4 br. And 4 bath house. Do you have anything or know of another source that I could e-mail about this. thank you so much for your help. Pat S from Panama City, FL EDITOR'S REPLY: We're still looking for a good centralized vacation rental web site or print source, other than the local newspapers. The best we know is our own Vacation Rental category in our LODGING GUIDE on either SeacoastSearch or SeacoastNH.com. We have the best list because we offer it free to qualified listers with permanent web sites. http://www.seacoastnh.com/touring/lodging.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com/ April 19 MORE MAIL MONDAY We've got a real backlog here again, but we're separated from our computer undtil Monday. It hurts, but don't worry, new articles will be posted daily in What's New? Don't miss the Ocean Born Mary hoax this weekend and more. The Editor http://www.seacoastnh.com/new.html April 18 RESEACRCHING THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT My grandfather owns a boarding house on Islington Street. I have wanted to do some Historical History on this property. I believe it could have been part of the "red Light" district. It has many small rooms with a sink in each one. How could I go about researching this property. Melynda Breton of Rochester Melynda B of Rochester EDITOR'S REPLY: That sounds like the format of any public boarding house in that era, but Islington Street is a possible bordello location. We've been considering a booklet on how to research local houses for a couple of years, but for the moment, none exists. Best bet is start in the two key places that have files of local houses through history - the Portsmouth Athenaeum and Strawbery Banke Museum. Both are private libraries, but they are open to the public during select hours each week. Both have a street by street listing of houses, with as much info as has been assembled by volunteers over the years. Then whatever info you can add, gets put into the files to help others in the future. Our article on the Re Light district focuses on the South End. Keep us posted on your research. Take photos. Keep good records. These personal projects greatly help local historians in their research. http://www.seacoastnh.com/20th/prostitute.html April 16 A VOTE FOR HARRIET DAME I have an addition for your N.H. Famous People, i.e. Women: Harriet Patience Dame. I came across her while poking around in some old genealogy/history books a while back. I am a descendent, on my fathers side, of Deacon John Dame who settled in Dover in 1633.
Thank you for considering one of my ancestors as a Famous N.H. Person. April 15 GRAMMA USED A TOMATO Killer. Nice to see such a familiar tale with the family and a love for good food. My gramma made her chowda similar to yours, only leaving out the cream and finishing with a half can of tomato soup.
Yer site made me think of good days and awesome food never to be duplicated by us mere descendants. I even had my gramma go through the process with me one on one and to this day, still does not taste the same
April 15 JENNY LIND FIGURHEAD COMING In 1851, in Eliot Maine, a luxurious extreme clipper was built by Samuel Hanscom and christened Nightingale, after the nickname, Swedish Nightingale. given to the gifted soprano, Jenny Lind. A prominent carver was commissioned to create a figurehead in her likeness for the bow of the Nightingale. Jenny was in the midst of her American tour, arranged by American entrepreneur PT Barnum. Her voice, beauty, youth and charitable nature, as well as her rise from a poverty stricken background, endeared her to the world. On June 16, 1851, 150 years ago, the Nightingale was launched from the Eliot shipyard and sailed to Boston where its figurehead was mounted. Nightingale sailed through its checkered career, at one time it was captained by a notorious slave trader, until 1895 when it was abandoned at sea. In 1874 the Nightingale underwent a major refit to change its use to that of a cargo ship. This occurred in Norway and the deckhouse, which was removed during the refitting, remains today in that seaport, used at one time as a youth center. The figurehead, believed to have graced the bow of the Nightingale, was discovered in Sweden on a farm where it had been used as a scarecrow so like life it was frightening. This farm is on the railway route from the seaport in Norway and could have provided a means of transportation for the figurehead and the Swedish workman who brought it home.
After it spent over 100 years in a barn loft, Karl-Eric Svärdskog discovered this figurehead and spent the next six years researching its origins. The Portsmouth Marine Society¹s 27th volume tells the many faceted story of the discovery of this figurehead, the author's six year search for its origin, the history of the Clipper Nightingale, the life of figurehead carver John Mason, and the life of Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale." This volume tells the engaging tale of Svärdskog¹s search with over 130 images including many of the figurehead, Jenny Lind, and the clipper Nightingale. Distributed by Peter E. Randall Publisher for: The Portsmouth Marine Society
April 14 A TURKISH LEGEND I am looking for the text of Aldrich's poem " A Turkish Legend". Could you tell me where I could find it? Thank you. Irving Horn EDITOR'S REPLY: You may have to head to Bibliofind.com or eBay for this one. We also could not find the text of this poem online. Project Gutenberg has many Aldrich poems in etext, but apparently not this obscure gem. Aldishch's are frequently available on the auction sites, and definitely in quantity on used book sites. You can usually pick them up for a song. To get you started, here are the opening lines from "A Turkish Legent":
A certain Pasha, dead five thousand years,/ Once from his harem fled in sudden tears,/ And had this sentence on the city's gate / Deeply engraven, "Only God is great." / So these four words above the city's gate / Hung like the accents of an angel's voice, / And evermore, from the high barbican, /
Saluted each returning caravan. / Lost is that city's glory. Every gust /
Lifts, with dead leaves, the unknown / Pasha's dust, / And all is ruin, -save one wrinkled gate / Where on is written, "Only God is great."
April 13 SHADY UNH PROMOTIONS? This is how they do it here in New Hampshire!!! (See attached reader link) Best, Ed Chapin of Dover, NH http://pubpages.unh.edu/~ecc/congress.htm April 13 ABOUT BALD HEAD CLIFF I was wondering if you could tell me the history (if there is any) of how Bald Head Cliff got it's name? Dawn Pacheco JOAN DOW AT THE CLIFF HOUSE REPLIES: We thought we knew the answer but just to be sure we checked with the Wells-Ogunquit Historical Society. BALD HEAD CLIFF was so named because there are no trees on it and it's great rocky cliff looked bald headed! Thanks for your inquiry and thanks to Dawn for asking! http://www.CliffHouseMaine.com/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/earlyphotos/memoriesmaine/ph3.html April 12 WANTS GENEALOGY INFO I have always considered myself a northener married to a southern boy. But low and behold he has more family connection to Portsmouth and Hampton then I do. His cousin has traced his family back to this area. The earliest ancestor mentioned is Lt. Issac Chase, born in Hampton, NH. His granddaughter Sarah Case married Francis Pease. Another ancestor is Elizabet Hillard Parkhurst. She was married Dec 14, 1659, Hampton, NH. There are many more. I guess my question is where can I go to find the information to fill in the geneology. Is there a listing of the founding families of Portsmotuh and the surrounding area? Suzy Moore, Former resident of Portsmouth CANFLI@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: We've prepared a link list for readers requesting genealogical information which has been forwarded by email. We've included you email address in case any local readers want to respond as well. Thanks. April 12 HATES CATS AND US As a person who is currently being "displaced" from the home i've been renting for the last 20 years because of greedy landlords, developers, an invasion of rich people from mass., lack of rent control, etc. etc. etc., i find this "humor" quite offensive, annoying, insensitive to a serious, real problem (especially to the artists and other creative people that helped make Portsmouth great), and just plain stupid. if over 5000 people have left the seacost, why is housing at such a premium? Unsigned Ultranet User EDITOR'S REPLY: Glad to hear you liked our article so much. The great thing about satire is that it can so easily be misunderstood. We too are among the artists who make peanuts and hang on here in gentrified Portsmouth by the skin of our teeth, and have been doing so, actually, for 30 years now. It ain't easy. We've moved apartments and offices eight times to find affordable rent and have been tirelessly advocating affordable housing and support of local artists in our work through the web, in newspapers, via the chamber and with the City. The fact the population has dropped 5,200 souls may actually be tied to the rising rental rates, but the facts are the facts. We didn't make that stat up, though, perhaps, we fibbed a bit about the giant cats. Read the article again and you may see that we are not making fun of those being driven from town, but are making light of those who wonder why fewer people live in the city that Money magazine calls among the best place to live in the USA. http://www.seacoastnh.com/granitestatenose/index.html April 11 BLACK HISTORY IS NOT ENOUGH I did take issue with your "celebration" of BLACK HISTORY MONTH a couple of months ago. As you know, there is no EQUAL month long celebration of such a racially motivated "history month" for the other races of our great nation. It is more or less a liberally lopsided event. I don't think you should cater to such special interest groups. Unless you do equal to all. Don't you agree? Signed P EDITOR'S REPLY: Actually, we don't agree at all. Our celebration of Black History Month follows a national trend that has been 400 years overdue. We focus on it because Portsmouth has a rich African American history (which we promote 356 day a year) and that information is changing the way Americans see themselves now that it is being released. We're ready to create space for any ethnic population of Seacoast NH (we only cover that region) in which people are willing to provide us with data. Our section is based on 30 years of work by our resident black historian who has gathered the data and offered it at no cost to the public. Should you want to offer the same sort of information for other groups from this region, we'll run that too, and celebrate it. We exclude no one, but our site is an all-volunteer effort and depends on work contributed by outsiders. So far, no one has offered to provide the other data, pictures, articles. http://www.seacoastnh.com/blackhistory/index.html April 10 USS CISCO LAUNCHED 58 YEARS AGO TODAY I am seeking any information on the USS Cisco, (SS290) built in Portsmouth during WWII. I have been in contact with the Naval Archives and will be requesting patrol reports. I would like to know what information, if any, is available from the Shipyard. I am a US Submarine Veteran and am preparing some newsletter articles on lost WWII boats. George Bard EDITOR'S REPLY: We see the Cisco listed in the appendix of the new history of the Navy Yard 'Do Your Job" by Richard Winslow, but no more details than that. It was launched on April 10, 1943. The ship was one of great burst of projects completed during the peak of the war when SEVENTY-NINE submarines were produced during a four-year period! The museum at the Navy Yard, open a few hours each month, has extensive records. You can contact them via the web site below. Our web site (not associated with the Navy) is linked here also, along with a link to the Portsmouth Marine Society publisher. http://www.ports.navy.mil/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/index.html http://www.seacoaststore.com/store.cfm?StoreID=42 April 10 WHEN WEB SITES LIE This is a brief bit of feedback to a recent Site of the Week (Graphic Science, "When is a Hit, Not a Hit?"). I found myself saying "amen", "amen" to the issues of counting and education of stats consumers, something I've often worked on in my sometimes role of Web manager. But then at the end I felt that the expert was falling into a related trap of mistaken use of numbers in this quotation: "Two weeks later she called to say -- Thank you," he recalls. "She had signed up $7,000 in work already. I almost fell over! She had paid for the cost of her site and a year of hosting many many times over in days."
She doubtless grossed $7000, but that doesn't mean she actually made enough profit (relative to production costs) to pay for the site and hosting even once, never mind many times. Isn't that analogous to the confusion of hits-pages-visitors?
April 08 WHITTIER'S BUST Among the pictures in the Whittier Home Tour (in Amesbury, MA) is one of a bust of John Greenleaf Whittier. Could you please tell me the name of the sculptor and whether or not the bust is an original work or a copy? I am interested, because I purchased a plaster bust of John Greenleaf Whittier from an antique dealer in Concord, MA in 1988.. The dealer said that he purchased it at an auction on the grounds of Elmfield, Hampton Falls, NH, the home in which Whittier died. Scribed on the back of the bust is, "Patented by D. M. French." The bust looks very similar to the one in your photograph -- the same "austere" appearance. The head seems to be turned at the same angle. The bust in my possesion includes the shoulders, but is otherwise very similar -- although the surface on mine is quite eroded in places. The one I own is about 36 centimeters (14 inches) high including the base. It does not have the folds outside the lapels, the coat being smooth all the way to the shoulders.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture (on the Internet) lists two busts of Whittier by David M. French -- one a marble bust sculpted in 1876 owned by the Historical Society of Old Newbury, Newburyport, MA; there is no information about the other except that the owner is "Unlocated." The Smithsonian Inventory lists six other busts of John Greenleaf Whittier - one by Rudulph Evans (1878 - 1960), three by William Ordway Partridge (1861 - 1930), one by Preston Powers (1843 - 1931), and a plaster bust for which the sculptor is "Unknown." The latter is listed as being owned
by Haverhill Public Library and dated "c. 1906." The Preston Powers bust is dated 1874, but the others, except for one undated bust by William Partridge, have dates later than 1892, the year in which Whittier died.
I presume the D. M. French busts were made in Whittier's lifetime. I vaguely remember reading that D. M. French was, like Whittier, an Abolitionist, and that he was best known for a lifesize statue of William Lloyd Garrison (in Newburyport according to the Smithsonian
Inventory).
April 06 FROM JAPAN TO THE ISLES OF SHOALS Came across your site while doing some research on Isle of Shoals. The info on the whole site here is amazing! I'm so curious now I want to visit NH's seacoast just to experience the beauty, adventure and mystery firsthand. Great site! Brian Maitland of Tokyo, Japan http://seacoastnh.com/shoals/index.html April 05 LIFE'S A BEACH I PLAN ON GOING TO HAMPTON BEACH THIS SUMMER I'M 21, AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERES ANY ENTERTAINMENT, CLUBS, BARS, THINGS TO DO SO IM NOT BORED JUST GOING THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, Stepahnie from Westfield, MA EDITOR'S REPLY: Oh, you won't be bored, don't worry. Happy Hampton is the hotspot of the region for the young and the restless. You can always hop a trolley to Portsmouth if the night life gets too intense. We're sorry to see that so few Hampton spots have web sites, but the Casino site is an excellent example of the 100-year history of this Atlantic Ocean action site. And there is the Shell, fireworks, bars galore, plus cops on horses if you misbehave. We'll forward your note to the local chamber and they can send you the whole tourist kit. http://www.casinoballroom.com/ http://seacoastnh.com/hamptonbeach/ April 05 YOU BRING THE KIDS, WE'LL SUPPLY THE TIDES We are thinking of visiting the sea coast of New Hampshire this summer and the kids are anxious to see some tidal pools. Are there any along New Hampshire's shores? Thanks for any info. The Mongis EDITOR'S REPLY: We strongly suggest a visit to the Seacoast Science Center where trained tidal pool experts will actually take the kids out around Odiornes Point in Rye and show them what's living in them thar tidal pools. There's even an indoor tidal pool where kids can pick up the little critters that inhabit the pools and study them. It's the cheapest, bestest educational kid's spot on the whole Seacoast. Tell them we sent you. http://www.seacentr.org/ April 05 HAPPY CONTEST WINNER I want to thank you for naming me the grand prize winner for February. As a 20+ year employee of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a history buff, and an ameteur photographer, I will enjoy the collection of books immensely. My Mother-in-law has already borrowed "Do Your Job", as she was a crane operator during WW II at the Yard and my Father-in-law was a Sub Sailor (surviving two sinkings during the war), and later, a Shipyard employee. We do enjoy the web site very much. (Now, maybe my Wife will take the time to enter the monthly contest also. She's one of the "we never win anything in those contests" types. John C. Hilton http://www.seacoastnh.com/contests/index.html April 03 FREAKING OUT IN SEARCH OF VIDEO I am a teacher of dyslexic students at middle and high school. I showed this movie to my students last year and they really enjoyed it. I believe it helps to promote interrelations with learning different students. I have looked in several places and can no longer find the movie to rent. I would be interested in purchasing it for my collection of informative movies of learning differences. If you know how I can get this movie please let me know. Thank you. Treasa Owens AUTHOR ROD PHILBRICK REPLIES: Dear Ms. Owens. Many of the Blockbuster outlets still carry 'The Mighty' as a rental, but if you want to buy a copy of the tape or DVD it is readily available from Amazon.com. The tape version sells for $17.99. By the way, I'm delighted to hear that your students enjoyed the story of 'Freak The Mighty'. I hope you'll read it to them so you can discuss the differences between this book and this movie in particular, and books and movies in general. A NOTE FROM SEACOASTNH.com: It's a great film version, but teachers remember that authors depend on book sales for a living. The author enjoys no royalties from the movie version, and remember - READING is the name of the game. To purchase the book or more, click on BOOKS and look for Mr. Philbrick's latest works on his web site. http://www.seacoaststore.com/ April 02 WAITING ON THE OLD HOTEL Is there any new information on the renovations at Wentworth-By-The-Sea. I noticed the last article you have is from November 2000. I'd love to see some pictures (if there is anything new to see, that is) and get an update on the progress of the construction! Thanks! Joan of Clarksville, TN EDITOR'S REPLY: Funny you should ask. We hadn't seen a word in the local media for months until yesterday's front page article in the Portsmouth Herald called "The Waiting Game". We've now linked that to our Endangered Hotel web page. Our job is to explore the past, not speculate on the future. Those who wish more detail may want to contact Ocean Properties in Portsmouth, NH that currently owns the old hotel. We're still being told it is a GO. We've gotten a number of calls from people wanting to book the hotel in 2002, even one call for a reservation in 2005. We simply pass them on to the owners and cross our fingers. http://seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/news.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/index.html April 02 DATING OLD IRONSIDES I recently purchased a picture of Old Ironsides tied up to berth 37 in Los Angeles. I am trying to date the picture but haven"t been able to find a date. Can you help me? I can send a copy of the photo in .jpg format if it will help and if it is legal. Wayne Shaw EDITOR'S REPLY: We're not Ironsides scholars, and without an idea of the age of the picture, we can only guess. Last month we wrote back to a person who had seen Ironsides on the West Coast during her 1931-34 World Tour. That seems most likely, but we don't see any evidence of the ship being in Los Angeles (see READ OUR MAIL ARCHIVES, March 21, 2001) . If it is a VERY old picture, there may be other possibilities and you can check both under the FAQ section of the USS Constitution Museum web site. This link is for the ship's lifetime chronology, an excellent resource. You can also find the 1931 world tour itinerary on this site. http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/faq/chronology.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/ussconstitution/index.html April 02 SEEKING VIRGINIA TANNER I am a student at Southern Utah University. I am doing a research paper for a dance history class on dance education. I am comparing and contrasting the lives of Virginia Tanner and Margaret Doubler. If you have any information on either of these women, or know where I can get some information, I would greatly appreciate it. Julie in Utah EDITOR'S REPLY: We bumped into Ms Tanner's pageant work while during our 375th city anniversary a few years back. She orchestrated the fascinating 1923 Pageant of Portsmouth and we do have a copy of the play. Check with the Portsmouth Athenaeum which has some personal items from Ms. Tanner. Everything we know is online, but we'll keep her in mind for a Link Free or Die candidate as a famous NH personality. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please010398.html April 01 CASTING A VOTE FOR SUFFRAGETTE RICKER Dear Dennis Robinson: I enjoy reading your columns in the Sunday Foster's. This week's piece (History Writer Seeks NH Women -- As I Please) was particularly intriguing as it dealt with NH women, a topic of particular interest to me as I am always trying to find relevant material for girls and boys in my fifth grade class. One of the most interesting NH females I've come across is Marilla Ricker. One of my students studied her a few years ago, so I am quite sure there is information about her on the Internet. Best regards, Janice Roberts EDITOR'S REPLY: Yes, the famous NH suffragette is also on our LINKFREE OR DIE list, however, she does not fare well online as yet. We've found only one page that tells her story on the Web. The rest are mostly quotes and references and she appears in lists of American feminists, atheists, lawyers and activists -- but not much more. It's time for someone to get out there and create her web page. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please033001.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com/nhlinks/people/index.html April 01 TRY DANTE'S Dante's Restaurant/Adagio's Spa in Barrington. That is the BEST italian restaurant in New Hampshire! It's not listed in your restaurant guide. Dante runs the restaurant and his wife has an attached spa for facials, massage, etc What could be better? Karen in Brentwood, NH DITOR'S REPLY: We can only offer free links to establishments that have web sites. So far, we've not seen one for Dante's to add to the most complete DINING GUIDE in the Seacoast (that would be ours) featuring over 150 links to local eateries. Dante's might also be a candidate for our Penny Gourmet Award. If anyone knows of a web site or has more info, let us know. We've been there, liked it. http://www.seacoastnh.com/touring/dining.html |
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