August 22
GONE TO GET MARRIED -- BACK LABOR DAY-ish
That's it for the moment, gang. We'll connect up with all 10,000 of you weekly readers when we get back from Nova Scotia. Maryellen and Dennis (the editor) are tying the knot on Friday and heading off for a week. Thanks for your support of this web site, and keep those emails coming. We're putting up an auto-responder and tapping off the phones, tapping the keg and tap dancing out of Seacoast, New Hampshire for a brief journey to the land of the Tories and Loyalists to the North. The news will still arrive daily on SeacoastToday.com, and Tim will pop up the contest on time. In the meantime, check out the latest article about the wedding dress.
Your Humble Editor
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please082502.html

August 22
MORE ON DANIEL WEBSTER
I have visited your web page, Daniel Webster (LinkFreeorDie.com) and am writing to suggest that you add the following link to INFOGRAPHY about Webster, Daniel (1782-1852).

This is a page of superlative sources of information selected by a professor who is a specialist about Daniel Webster. I presume that your audience may find these research recommendations useful. Professors and other subject specialists have recommended the best sources about thousands of subjects for Fields of Knowledge, and I encourage you to search The Infography for related subject headings that your audience also may appreciate.
Howard Chesshire, Fields of Knowledge
http://www.fieldsofknowledge.com/

August 20
SMUTTYNOSE STOPOVER RULES & REGS
I am interested in taking a couple out to the Isles of Shoals on a private boat and dropping them off on Smuttynose for a short day visit. Who can I contact to see if this would be possible? I read that you can moor and row boats into the cove at Smuttynose for day visits, but I would just like to drop them off and pick them up after an hour or so lunch.
Marni T

EDITOR’S REPLY: There is no one to contact since the steward on the island (changes weekly) is the one totally in charge, and there is no island phone. Dropping off a visitor and picking up that person is fine. Actually there is no mooring at the island unless one of the few moorings is open in Gosport Harbor. The mooring marked for SMYC is reserved for the island steward, and only very small boats can enter the cove, which is literally empty of water at low tide. Stewards request that boats not stay in the small cove since that totally blocks the swimming area and can be unsafe. Best bet is to anchor offshore and row in the visitors. Picnic is fine, but just keep the key rules in mind – no dogs, no fires of any kind. It is a private island and visitorship is at the discretion of the steward. Please remember to carry everything off that you carry on. There is no trash disposal, no public rest rooms, no shelters, no electricity and no water available. I suggest a picnic at the far end of the front lawn facing Star Island, away from the Haley House. The back end of the island can be pretty – umm – unappetizing, thanks to the 4-8,000 seagulls that populate the area. We also suggest bringing $3 to purchase the tour booklet that is available in the box at the cove. It’s well worth it as a souvenir.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please071401.html

August 20
SENIOR DISCOVERS SEACOASTNH.com
You have a very nice Webb site - I am a Senior Citizen by a few years and just started the computer field -- am enjoying it very much so far. I saw your Webb in the Sunday Fosters -- again its lovely.
Unsigned Admirer

August 19
JET SKI RENTAL? WE GOT THAT
Hello there my family and i travel to hampton a few times a summer ..we were wondering if you can rent jet ski anywhere ? we have asked around but with no LUCK:( so maybe you know of somewhere...thanks
amy k m in, taunton ma

EDITOR’S REPLY: We’re guessing you didn’t see our last newsletter mentioning the dreaded “personal watercraft” that look like so much fun,m but are the bane of fishermen and locals. But we just happened to be on the phone with exactly the people you want. You’ll find Hampton Harbor Boat Center & Adventure Charters down the list on our new expanded boat listing. Tell them you heard about them SeacoastNH.com. Happy Hampton riding.
http://seacoastboat.com/

August 19
POEM OF THE OLD MERRIMACK
Can you find the poem which has this verse in it: “Go back, go back Old Merrimack, The Lord is on the sea. Tis He who put our boat afloat, and you must let her be.”
Mary Barkley in São Paulo, Brazil

EDITOR’S REPLY: Hmm, that’s a tricky one. We weren’t able to find the reference online, despite an hour of poking around the Internet. This certainly could be our old friend John Greenleaf Whitter who was raised along the river in Amesbury and Haverhill. Other famous poets who knew the river well include Robert Frost and Jack Keroac, but our bet is on Whittier. Anybody who knows, pass the info along. In the process we got sidetracked in search of a poem called “Wreck of the Merrimack” about the Civil War battle between the ironclads Merrimack and Monitor. The NOVA TV web site is so cool (especially the tour inside the submarine) that we just had to put a link below. You’ll also find totally unrelated links to Whittier’s home and poetry. So far, we didn’t answer your question, but we sure had some fun surfing the Web.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/postcards/whittier/index.html
http://www.seacoastnh.com/poems/index.html
http://www.mariner.org/monitorcenter/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/monitor/

August 17
LISTEN TO THE WINDJAMMER
I am looking for a 33 1/3 phonograph record of the music from the Louis deRochemont movie "Windjammer". A reponse in November, 2000 to Betty Amiralt, a deRochemont descendent, says you had this record in your store at that time. Do you still have one? Do you know where I could find one? We had it at one time, but I can't find it.

Also, I have a friend on the board of the American Sail Training Association and am pondering suggesting that they try to do a video of the movie "Windjammer". Do you know who they would have to contact. The movie must exist somewhere.
Kae P in Gig Harbor, Washington

EDITOR’S REPLY: We have a copy in our Louis de Rochemont archives, but not in the Store. That item has not been for sale for decades. But never fear. It is a VERY common item on eBay.com where we got out copy. If you select SEARCH and type “de rochemont” into the search box (remember to tick the box below to search both title and description) you will eventually find one. The hardcover book of the film comes up much more often, and may sell for as little as one dollar. The soundtrack shows up every few weeks, selling for under $10. You just have to keep trying. We get LOTS of letters from people who want to purchase the video version. There is no video version, and we don’t know, currently, who owns the copyright of the original film. If you do, and can orchestrate the video production – go for it. It’s a costly process and probably there is little chance of a video version being profitable, which is why it likely does not exist. Director Louis de Rochemont III died recently. Perhaps the clout of a large group like ASTA, or someone offering funds to assist in the video issue would help the process. Let us know if you find out who owns the original cut and the rights, and we’ll send along a sample of the many SeacoastNH.com readers who have requested copies. We’ll make an Amazon.com link when it is available, like we have to other de rochemont films currently available in video.
http://seacoastnh.com/louis/filmography.html

August 15
IRONSIDES CAUGHT IN OLD SNAPSHOT
I have an old ships photo that my mother in law bought in the late 1960's...after looking at your WONDERFUL website last night I would like to email it to you and see if your experts could identify it?...it looks like it could be the Ironsides when it was cabbed over. PS: Your info on the history of the Ironsides on the web was super!!!! Thanks roberth@tca.net (Sarah Hensz)
Sarah H of College Station, TX

EDITOR’S REPLY: That was such a great photo, we had to add it to our Ironsides section. Many thanks for your permission and the large format image you sent. We’re happy to donate them and images you may wish to the local historical archives.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/ussconstitution/oldpic.html

August 15
IS THIS DANIEL WEBSTER?
Salutations! I hope you can help me. Your website had images that look similar to my portrait. I've been doing some research on the portrait in the attached file. My research has led me to believe this could be of Daniel Webster. On the back are the stamped words "Warranted Oil Color/Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1863, by E. C. Middleton, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Cincinnati" . This date would place the portrait after Mr. Webster's death. Any information you could share would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
Cyndie Smith

EDITOR’S REPLY: That sure looks like Dan, all right. As to the artwork, we can’t be of much help. There were many prints of Webster, popular before and after his death. We’re not in the antiques business, but should you want to donate the item to a local museum, we’re happy to help. You may find helpful links on the Daniel Webster page in Link Free or Die below. Included among the essays is our report on his ten years in Portsmouth, NH. Only one of three houses he occupied here survives. s
http://linkfreeordie.com/

August 15
BAD BOY MEETS THE VAMPIRE
I have a copy of a book, The Man, by Bram Stoker. It is inscribed by Stoker as follows, "T.B. Aldrich from his old friend Bram Stoker" and dated 4/23/06. I am trying to find out who Aldrich was....could it be the same person as noted in your local history? Was T.B. Aldrich connected with Bram Stoker?
Darc

EDITOR’S REPLY: No question about it. Aldrich’s wife Lillian recalls an incident near the very end of his life where he met with Bram Stoker and actress Sarah Bernhardt, If you ever decide to part this volume, it would be a great to return this item to the Aldrich Museum. Give us a call, and thanks for making a fascinating connection.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/aldrich

August 15
SEEKING PORTSMOUTH LIVERY
I was looking for some information on the horse carriage rides through portsmouth. If I could get some information such as prices, hours, reservations...etc. that would be great. Could I also get a telephone number to make reservations or whatever as well.
Phil Bresson

EDITOR’S REPLY: When in doubt of a place to GO, always check our new tourism site GOseacoast.com. Search for Portsmouth Livery and you will find all the info you are looking for. They currently have no web site, but the phone info is included.
http://www.goseacoast.com/detail.ihtml?lid=257&catID=21

August 13
THE OLD YORK SIGN SHOP GANG
I always read your Newsletter with interest...My parents were from York and used to talk about Laighton family and others that I see you write about now. I spent many Sundays visiting my Grandparents there...Raymond and Luella Earle from the Village and Thomas and Mary Darke from York Beach. I was surprised to open one of the historical books from there and see R. Earle's "sign shop" right on York Street. All my relatives still live in the Yorks.
Gerie (Earle) Spencer of Edgewater, Florida

EDITOR’S REPLY: Make sure you get a copy of the new history of York issued as part of the ongoing 350th celebration. We’ll be featuring it later this month and giving away a copy next month in our Contest. The local public library site is also a great source of York-related info. We’ll be adding more and more South Coast, Maine info onto SeacoastNH and GOseacaost.com too.

August 13
Smuttynose, not Smutty the Movie
FROM THE EDITOR: A number of readers have kindely emailed me to say that the Weight of Water film link from the Smuttynose Movie logo on the following web page, goes instead to an nasty adult site. We checked, and they were right. Apparently the old link to the Kathryn Bigelow film -- not yet released in the USA after a 2 year wait -- has been taken over by someone else. That happens when someone forgets to renew a domain name. It's easy to do. Anyway, it appears they found a smilar URL and I've repaired the link. We've heard that the film about the Smuttynose Murders is due for USA release this fall. It does have nudity, but nothing like the link we just clipped off.
The Ed
http://www.seacoastnh.com/smuttynose/101.html

August 13
RYE WW2 TOWER CONTROVERSY?
Forwarded from PortsmouthForts.com: Thank you for the valuable information on your websites concerning military installations on the New Hampshire seacoast. I want to alert you to the potential situation whereby the Pulpit Rock Tower, just south of Fort Dearborn (Odiorne Point), will be ruined. The land has or will imminently revert back to the federal government from the State of NH. The Town of Rye is talking with the federal government about "taking it off their hands" and then using it as a cellular phone tower. This will mean enclosing the observation deck, thereby increasing the bulk of the tower by 10-12 feet (making it look more like a nuclear plant), adding up to 48 panels around the top two tiers of the tower, adding significant structures to the land, and forever denying public access to the tower. Those of us who live in the neighborhood had hoped that the tower could become a federal historical site or added to the National Register of Historical Places. Do you know what happened when this was tried before? That is, why was it turned down? Do you know who was involved so that we might contact them? Do you have any ideas to save this important historical building? Thank you for any help you can offer.
A Concerned Rye Citizen

EDITOR’S REPLY: See Peter Payette’s response below and read about the WW2 towers on his web site on PortsmouthForts.com.
http://www.portsmouthforts.com

August 13
PULPIT ROCK TOWER
Here's a heads-up on some disturbing news from New Hampshire. Yes, again. The concrete tower is sure convenient for a cell phone tower, but do we really need it to be on this historic structure? I do not know why it was turned down for the National Register in 1977, in response to the last question in the following message. It is owned by the NH Fish and Game Dept. The tower has been closed for years. It was not visited at CDSG 2001 conference due to no key for lock, and due to unhealthy amounts of bird and bat guano inside. It was an OP for Fort Dearborn's Battery Seaman-103 (B8 S8) and Battery 204 (B4 S4). -- Click to see similar tower on GOseacoast.com
Pete Payette, Portsmouth Forts.com
http://www.goseacoast.com/detail.ihtml?lid=108&catID=13

August 13
DID GRANDAD WORK AT PORTSMOUTH YARD?
I have a number of post card photos of ships being built during World War I. I have been told that my grandfather worked in Portsmouth,N.H. as a carpenter on ships being built during this time, and these postcards were with this belongings. I am attaching 3 postcards with photos of ships under construction. Would someone associated with your web site be able to determine if these photos were taken in the Portsmouth area during the First World War ? I am positive that my grandfather was in Portsmouth, N.H., not Portsmouth, Virginia. I had an uncle born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1917. I also have other photo postcards of ships under construction at the same location, which I am assuming was New Hampshire.
Peter Flood

NICOLE CLOUTIER REPLIES: Dear Mr. Flood, Your question was forwarded to us at the Public Library by Dennis at SeacoastNH. I have spoken with Richard Winslow, a local historian, regarding the photos you sent. He feels strongly that they are photos of the Shattuck Shipyard, ca 1917 and located in Newington or the Atlantic Corporation Shipyard located where the Atlantic Heights neighborhood is currently. They built quite a few ships starting in 1917 and 1918 respectively.

There is a book called Atlantic Heights: A World War I Shipbuilder's Community by Richard M. Candee, pub. for the Portsmouth Marine Society, by Peter E. Randall Publishers, 1985. There are a few blurbs about the Shattuck yard and there is a chapter devoted to The Atlantic Corporation Shipyard history. Although there are quite a few photographs strongly resembling the ones you sent, none were direct matches. Mr. Winslow feels they could be matches but it is hard to be definitive.

August 09
WIN HOTEL NH IN BARTLETT ESSAY CONTEST
There was an interesting story on channel 9 that I think yopur readers would find to be a very interesting story, I know I did. It is about an Inn in Bartlett that you can win in an essay contest. On top of winning the place, the people giving it away are giving 10k to a charity that does conservation work in the white mountains. It is called the Chippanock Inn and here is a link
Rich Palmer in Manchester, NH
http://www.winabedandbreakfast.com/

August 07
WILY WATERS WINNER
Your email made my day!!! I'm thrilled to have won your monthly contest. I can't wait to call my family and let them know. Thank you for this opportunity to win from SeacoastNH.com!
Terry Ravizza
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please062202.html

August 07
BLACKBEARD AT THE SHOALS
Are the tales of Blackbeard, and other pirates in the Shoals fact or fiction? Is there any evidence,homes,artifacts,shipwrecks? Is there any interesting reading on this subject I can get my hands on? Signed a pirate enthusiast. Cliff in Thomaston, ME

EDITOR’S REPLY: Personally, I think it’s bunk – good for tourism only. We’ve not seen any evidence that Teach was at the Isles of Shoals, but there is plenty of anecdotal stuff. One guy told another guy, etc. Mostly the story was perpetuated by poet Celia Thaxter and others who were bringing tourists to the Isles in the 1800s. There is apparently evidence that Teach was in the region, but what region wasn’t he in? Every island could have been a spot for a pirate of that era and the Isles of Shoals get extra attention because they are the only cluster of Isles in the region, thus get more than their fair share of lore and legend. As to treasure, we’re all but certain that it is a hoax. The incidence of pirates burying treasure in the first place is largely legend (OK, maybe it happened once). And the incidence of pirates having any treasure is rare in itself. They were sleazy marauders and, if they struck it rich, they certainly wouldn’t bury the goods on an inhabited island. As we understand it, all references to the Shoals are vague and could refer to any islands in the New England coastal region. There is a diorama of Blackbeard’s treasure hunt at the Isles in the Pirate Museum in Salem. You might want to call there for more info. Nothing we’ve seen in the actual history archives bears up the story. All the islands are privately owned and not open to treasure hunters as well. The story received more credence when Sam Haley reportedly found silver bars on Smuttynose after the Revolutionary Wars, but again, that is just a wild 200 year old myth with no substantiation.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please100700.html

August 05
LOOKING FOR DAS BOAT
We will be hosting guests from Germany and would like infor. on whale watches, historic sights and good old fashion New England living. We would also like info on the Seafood festival in Hampton if this available.
Terry H

EDITOR’S REPLY: Funny you should ask. We just hooked the biggest local boating list to a new bounce domain SeacoastBoat.com. You can click from there to GOseacoast, our newest site, with details on 300 places to visit in the region. You’ll find the Seafood Festival there.
http://www.seacoastboat.com

August 01
CARVED TUSK OF JPJ
Ivory tusk with John Paul Jones and Richard Pearson potraits dated 1779 at top. Other side has a picture of their two ships at war with each other.Tusk is 21 inches long and relativly heavy. the ink or oil is starting to lighten up but is still really legible. Do you know whether this is somthing to persue or probably just a great replica. If it is real what do I do? If the tusk is real is it worth anything just for the artistic value of someones time. Or should I trash it. If you know anyplace to send for further analysist please let me know. BIGWIGSROLLIN@AOL.COM (Jacob Barger)
Jacob B, El Cajon, CA

EFITOR’S REPLY: We get this exact request a lot, so there must be a lot of those tusks floating around out there. We have one here at the museum in Portsmouth. The simple test, again, is to burn a small chip to see if it smells like hair (tusk) or plastic (plastic). Artisan’s cranked these items out probably in the 19th century we are told as tourist souvenirs, so there is likely nothing authentic to the time period, but we’re not the experts. Best to do some research on scrimshaw. This item Is so common that a good dealer should be able to give you an answer if you send a photo. Look for 1999 publication called “Fakeshaw” that tells the difference or contact the Kendall Whaling Museum in Salem, MA or other whaling and scrimshaw locations – and let us know what you learn.

August 01
ARIZONA TO THE ISLES
Not sure I have the right place. I have just found out that I am a descendant of a Rev Joseph Hull who ministered in York and Isles of Shoals and died there in 1665....

I plan on visiting all the sites he lived/ministered at and not sure if you are THAT Isles of Shoals....when I come up to a conference next week...any info you can lead me to would be great.
Julie Strutner of Phoenix, AZ

EDITOR’S REPL: Not sure which Isles of Shoals you’re looking for. We only have one here, but maybe there’s another. The islands were settled by the mid 1600s, but there was a lot more fishing than praying gone on at that time. You may want to contact and join ISHRA to get a little help with your historical research. We’re guessing you have the right place since some of the Isles are actually in York Country, ME. Others are in New Hampshire. Search all three of our sites for TONS more info on the Shoals. If you happen to be from THAT Phoenix, you’ll also find a link below to “A Yankee in the Desert” about our recent trip to your fair city.
http://seacoastnh.com/shoals/
http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/ishra.html
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please022401.html

August 01
TAMWORTH OFFERS BIG CORRECTIONS
I had to go back and re-read your article to check --the facts. Maybe I was too harsh. Your article is informative and written in an entertaining style. Plus, you demonstrate a greater knowledge of Tamworth history than many of the locals do. But, by golly, now that I've opened my trap I've got to produce some corrections. So here goes:

1. There are more than three eateries in town. I can think of a half-dozen without straining.

2. Wonalancet (not Wonaloncet) was not a rebellious son. He honored his father's dying wish and remained friends with the English, although he paid dearly for doing so. You may have been thinking of Kancamagus (Passaconaway's grandson and Wonalancet's nephew), who finally saw the writing on the wall and made life miserable for the settlers.

3. If you know where I can learn the real story of Chocorua, please let me know. The murders of C. Cambell's family are just another part of the legend. And that is most likely all that it is: a legend. I know of no-one who has found any concrete evidence of the existence of any of the people cited in the story.

4. You imply that Tamworth was logged by the English to harvest masts for the royal navy. I can give you numerous reasons why this would not only have been impracticle, but probably impossible. Portsmouth may have used up its supply of tall pines but there were plenty more a heck of a lot closer to the seacoast that never got cut until after the Revolutionary War. Read the history of Weare for an account of the Pine Tree Riots. And those trees were just a hoot and a holler from the Merrimac River -- a handy highway for floating logs to the coast. Tamworth has no such rivers nearby and the first road into Tamworth wasn't built until years after independence, and even then it was only passable by horse and oxcart. Yes, there were trees harvested out of Chocorua and Wonalancet for use as masts, but these harvests took place in the nineteenth century (and one as little as ten years ago), long after the Yanks booted the Limeys out.

5. The town's largest accomodation is most likely the Day's Inn, or whatever it's called now, on Route 16. It includes one of the eateries you probably missed and is accross the street from Rosie's, a restaurant heavily frequented by the Chocorua crowd. Rumer (unsubstantiated) has it that back when J. R. was on the board, this is where the REAL Selectmen's meetings were held.

Thanks for the plug for Tamworth. You and I had the same motive when you wrote your article and I started tamworth.wiredup.com. Best of luck to you.
Chris Conrod, Tamworth WiredUp
http://tamworth.wiredup.com/

EDITOR’S REPLY: Whew! And we were only going there for a vacation. Thanks for the notes. We put up the article because, at the time, we couldn’t find much about Tamworth online.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please101501.html

August 01
ATLANTIC HEIGHTS REVIEW
Charming, and well written -- really captures the essence of the area.

Reading this reminds me... We too saw the fox early in the morning on Monday or Tuesday of this week, rooting around behind ‘our house]. So it is still around, in case anyone is worried about their small pets.
The Atlantic Heights List Serve
http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature15.htm