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| READ OUR MAIL November 1998 Mailbag SeacoastNH.com |
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November 28 CAN I SEE SOME ID, MAN? I am a student at Franklin High School. I am doing a research project on Oliver Wendell Holmes. While looking around the Internet I came across your website. I would like to use this as a source, but first I need to know about the credibility of the report. It would be greatly appreciated if you would send me a list of your credentials so I could cite you as a source. Specialkx2@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Credentials? I think we left our scholar's license in another suit. The author has a BA in English Literature from UNH, which so far hasn't counted for much. This site has been selected as one of the best by the Discovery Channel, Christian Science Monitor, Money Magazine, etc. but your very legitimate question may not bring the authority you hoped. Students should ALWAYS question authenticity on the Internet. The editor here is no Holmes scholar, though he has a few hundred published local history article under his belt, taught at UNH and Exeter High and owns a small company. He has never met Mr Holmes personally. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please110197.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please051698.html November 25 WENTWORTH IN TODAY'S NEWS EDITOR'S UPDATE: Today's Herald notes that the developers are taking one last shot at saving thre Wentworth Hotel (see reader letter below) so we have linked the article here: http://www.seacoastonline.com/1998news/11_25c.htm November 25 CANADA CARES ABOUT WENTWORTH TOO! I'm a frequent visitor to your seacoast and love your historic sites and buildings, especially the Wentworth. I heard last year that it was to be renovated and turned into a conference center, which I think is a great idea for visitors and people who are fortunate enough to live there. The history and the beauty of that building are worth a lot. Last week, however, I heard that it was being torn down to build housing units. I think that would be very shortsighted.
A conference center and hotel at the old site with the preserved main
building would bring in revenue and international interest in the region
for years to come. Housing units would please a few people (the
homeowners) and boost the local tax base initially.
The Wentworth deserves to be preserved and I urge you to do all you can to do so. Also, could you please let me know if I can do anything else to
help preserve this site.
November 23 TRYING TO FIND THE HERALD I was recently informed that some articles ran the Hampton Union and the Portsmouth Herald regarding a proposal for new tax on the Arcades in Hampton. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction to gain access to these articles. I searched the Portsmouth Herald online and did not see anything. Any assistance would be appreciated. Dan W dwilliams@dreamcom.net EDITOR'S REPLY: Hmmm, that's the third letter this week that has mistaken us for the Herald. Could it be that the newspaper's SeacoastOnline.com name, sounds oddly similar to ours? In fact, we used the same moniker in 1997 until the newspaper's original domain name suddenly changed. Anyway, the Herald puts about ten articles a day online and, to our knowledge, the Hampton Union is without a website still. We suggest, when trying to contact this source, to use the low tech telephone at 436-1800. You will likely be told, as we were when we just called, to come down to the Herald office at 111 Maplewood Ave and search through their library of recent papers. You can do the same at the Portsmouth Public Library. To see our news page click below. A link to the highly improved Herald web site is included, though we have yet to find a link back. Oh well.... http://www.seacoastnh.com/news November 23 PUMPING IRONSIDES STATS I'd like to know what the dimensions of the USS Constitution are, plus her crew compliment and armaments. Also I'd like to know her cargo capacity and if you possibly could, maybe a deck plan of some sorts or just a list of what is on each deck. Dave L dwl_18@hotmail.com EDITOR'S REPLY: We're pretty sure a solid search of the official US Navy site or other Old Ironsides sites on the Internet will yield the data you need. Our Ironsides hotlinks and Maritime hotlinks pages should get you there: http://www.seacoastnh.com/ussconstitution/links.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/jpj/links.html#more November 20 MORE REPONSE TO MYRNA'S GROTTO (Scroll down for Myrna's letter from November 18 letter) From Ralph Morang: Was your house built in the 18th century, or early nineteenth? As to how your grotto was built, those early farmers did incredible things with horses and simple machines. Just look at any old stone wall. The grotto could be one of a couple of things. Some chimneys were built over vaulted supports instead of just a pile of granite. But more likely the grotto was built for rendering fat for making soap. It there a way to vent smoke from a fire? Take some photos of the structure and send them to local and state historical societies, presvervationists, and a copy via email or snail-mail to SeacoastNH.com From Steven Fowle: Earl Proulx at Yankee Magazine can probably explain this. He's from out that way and knows more about old farmhouses than anyone. (see link below)
From Paige Roberts: You may want to temporarily subscribe (free) to the preservation discussion list, which focuses more on restoration than preservation. To subscribe, send this message to majordomo@majordomo.netcom.com
SUBSCRIBE PRESERVATION-L MMILANI@CYBERPORTAL.NET
It will automatically send you a message within 24 hours giving you easy
directions on how to post your inquiry to the list.
The other option is to give Old House Journal a call for suggestions or
answers (see link below). Their editorial offices are in Gloucester, Mass at 978-283-3200. I hope this helps.
November 19 AND NOW... NAME THOSE ISLES! Can you please tell me the names of the various islands that make up the Isles of Shoals? Nathan M of Hanover, NH mulherin@crrel41.crrel.usace.army.mil EDITOR'S REPLY: We can do better by showing you . Our incredible clickable Isles Map is part a featured Isles of Shoals section: http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/map.html November 18 NAME THAT GROTTO (Readers Help Us!) I have a large approximately 7' 6" high, 5'6" deep, 7' wide stone structure in the basement of my old farmhouse that has what looks like a small grotto of some sort in its east-facing wall. Although the house's chimney is built on top of it, it's only centered over one wall of the structure so it wouldn't seem to be a support for it. Some of the slabs of stone forming the top of the approximately 4' wide x 5' deep x6' high opening and tying it into the stone wall approximately 30" behind are so huge, I can't help wondering a) how it was built and b) for what purpose it was built. I live along the Little Sugar River, a tributary of the Connecticut in Unity. Although I notice that most of your information seems limited to the coast, I was wondering if you know of any publications or person I might consult to find out more about this. Myrna M from Unity mmilani@cyberportal.net EDITOR'S REPLY: No ideas here. We'll circulate this one and see if anyone has a clue. Readers, please cc us here at info@seacoastnh.com if you have an answer for Myra. Maybe we need a threaded reader discussion page for questions that we can't solve. November 16 THE REAL BONHOMME ONLINE Please check out this Bon Homme Richard web site. It has lots of info and photos. Please sign the Ships Log while you are there.... George Cox-webmaster, former IC2, USS BHR 1968-1971 IC2COX@aol.com http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/3102 EDITOR'S REPLY: Thought we had this one in our JPJ site Hotlinks page. If not, we can add it. But readers beware, we tend not to provide links to sites that use consoles with attached ads. This site does. http://www.seacoastnh.com/jpj/links.html November 16 DID YOU TRY FENWAY PARK DOCK? We are looking for a USS Consitution battleship baseball cap. Jim Kulwicki quickie@nauticom.net EDITOR'S REPLY: We like it when you lob us the easy ones, though we doubt they played baseball aboard Old Ironsides. All the same, the USS Constitution Museum in Massachusetts is the place you want: http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ November 13 CORRECTION FROM STAR ISLAND Hi. I recently visited your Isles of Shoals site and was very impressed. Someone has done a lot of good work! I appreciate the fact that we are listed, and I would like to return the favor by listing your site. FYI, your links mention "Universalist Unitarian web site" as the owner of Star Island. In fact, the UUA is not involved in the ownership or management of Star Island or Appledore. The islands are owned and operated by The Star Island Corporation, an independent, non-profit organization, based in Boston. We are associated with several religious and educational bodies, not just the UUA. Thanks for the correction. Ken Schoman, Star Island Corp Webmaster sysadmin@starisland.org http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/index.html November 13 WELCOME PORTSMOUTH HOSPITAL Perusing your great site, I thought I'd drop you a line. Did you know that Wilson & Gould developed the two new websites for Portsmouth Regional Hospital? (portsmouthhospital.com and heart-and-lung-center.com). We're advertising the main site on Seacoastnh.com. (Editor's Note: It's linked to our What's New page. Great sites!) Rebeccar Gould, Wilson & Gould rgould@cybertours.com http://www.portsmouthhospital.com/ November 11 HMM...HOW DO YOU CITE A WEB SITE? I am doing a report on John Paul Jones and your site has helped me with everything I needed to know. Now though I need to put you on my bibliography page. This means I need to know the last time you updated your Seacoast page. Thank you. Goodbye. Mackenzie EDITOR'S REPLY: Whew! We must have helped on two dozen school projects in the last week. We wish a teacher would mail us the official format for web sites. Our latest update is always at the top of each section marked "NEW." The copyright date appears at the bottom of each web page.. Of the 16 JPJ-related articles now online, the most recent posting was October. Separate articles should be listed alphabetically by author's last name, but how about this general format?
John Paul Jones Web Site, www.SeacoastNH.com/jpj . Portsmouth: Ideaworks, 1998.
November 11 SUB SURCOUF LOST IN BERMUDA TRIANGLE? What became of the French submarine the Surcouf? It was drydocked at the Navy Yard just prior to WW2. It sailed from Portsmouth and mysteriously disappeared. Jerry M gmacsmx@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Richard Winslow's submarine book "Portsmouth-Built" (page 82) tells the story. After five months at the shipyard in late 1941, the Surcouf was off the coast of Newfoundland, then was ordered to Tahiti via the Panama Canal. Leaving Bermuda on February 12, 1942, it disappeared en route. According to Winslow, a subsequent Navy report said an American merchant ship, the SS Thompson Lykes, accidentally hit and sank a submarine in the Surcouf's likely location on February 19. But local rumors persist. One indicates that the Surcouf was seen off Cape Cod refueling a German U-boat and both were bombed by a Coast Guard blimp. This was supported by shipyard stories that the Surcouf returned to the base after "accidentally" dumping its fuel. In 1967 a diver reportedly found the sub near Long Island, but no evidence yet proves these stories. http://www.seacoastnh.com/ussconstitution/quiz.html November 09 THANKS INTERFACE MONTHLY We're pleased to be one of two Portsmouth-area web sites positively reviewed in this month's paper issue of Interface Monthly magazine. The article by Christine Gillette focuses on Portsmouth technology. The magazine is looking good, guys. The Editor, SeacoastNH.com http://www.interfacemonthly.com/ November 09 THE HUNT FOR BOOTH CONTINUES I am doing a paper on the Albany theatre in the 1800's, and I think that John Wilkes Booth actually played in one. Do you have any information for me, or where I can look? The bookstores in the area are decidedly limited. Imklem1@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Our knowledge of once-popular American actor is limited to his dalliance with our Miss Lucy Hale. The Booth family toured extensively and it is hard to imagine an old theater they did not appear in. We have attached a list of links created during our research which is clickable below. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/lucy.html#links http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please042098.html November 05 HOME, STARK HOME Thank you for the information on Gen. John Stark. Your internet site was very helpful. Is there a John Stark Museum in New Hampshire? I have been told there is, but I can not find any information about it. Susan H sholland@glynn.k12.ga.us EDITOR'S REPLY: According to "New Hampshire An Explorer's Guide" by Christina Tree and Peter Randall, the Stark House in Manchester, NH is open for tours by appointment (603-622-5719) http://www.seacoastnh.com/framers/stark.html November 04 NH NOT AS SIMPLE AS PLYMOUTH ROCK What was the basic religion of New Hampshire (where the immigrants Puritans or were they in consensus with the English Church? Also what is the connection between New Hampshire and New England (I came under the impression that New Hampshire was part of New England, however then i began to read further and started to believe that New Hampshire and New England were the same place)? Louise Lou81lou@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Remember, Seacoast NH isn't as simple as the rest of the world. Some, like founder David Thomson, the Penhallows, the Hiltons came to make their fortunes in the fishing industry. Dover and Portsmouth have mercantile roots. Meanwhile, Exeter and Hampton right nearby were founded by Puritans who could not see eye-to-eye with their Massachusetts leaders. NH was founded by a group called The Council of New England and the Laconia Corporation which granted the land between the Merrimack and the Piscataqua, eventually, to John Mason who was from Portsmouth, England in Hampshire County. We're one of the six New England states, formerly colonies. http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/contact/index.html November 03 TRACKING REV. HULL Do you know when Rev. Joseph Hull lived on the Isles of Shoals, and where he served as minister? Family information says that he served the fishermen in the 1600's as minister and that he died there. If so are any of the early graves able to be found? Marjorie Arp EXPERT BOB TUTTLE REPLIES: I have no idea where he lived at the Shoals. There are a few gravestones on Star Island and Smuttynose, but I know of none for him. The Rev. Joseph Hull is an interesting man. Born in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England in 1594. Graduated from St. Mary's Hall, Oxford in 1614. Teacher and curate at Colyson, in Devonshire and Northleigh, diocese of Exeter. At age 40, came to what is now Weymouth, MA, with his second wife, Agnes, 7 children, and 3 servants in 1635. There was some dissension in his church and he went to what is now Hull in 1636, then to Barnstable, and then to Yarmouth - all in MA. Excommunicated in 1641 for leaving Barnstable, but received back into church in Barnstable in 1643. Went to York, ME, in 1642 or 1643.
The dates are confusing as to when he visited the Shoals occasionally to administer the sacraments in the meetinghouse, then on Smuttynose Island. One source notes that he did this "prior to 1640" while "settled in Accominticus" (now York, ME) -- but he didn't go there until 1642, or thereabouts. Another source notes that he ministered at the Shoals from 1639 to 1640. Apparently he did this for only year, because the following year (1640) a Rev. Robert Jordan served out there. He left to go to England. In 1662, he was ejected from the rectory of Buryan, Cornwall. He returned to America and his children in Oyster River shortly after that, and was serving as minister there in 1662. He returned to the Shoals and died there on November 18, 1665. His wife, Agnes, administered his estate, noting that "the Isle owed him for his ministry 20 pounds." His estate amounted to a little over 62 pounds.
November 02 SUNNY SIDE UP (& DOWN) We are considering a transfer to the Portsmouth area from Dallas, TX. We get a lot of sunny days here, around 320. Do you know how many sunny days your area gets or where I can find out. I don't mind cold I am originally from N.J., but gray days drive me crazy! gocasual@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Well, we do happen to know that fact courtesy of Money Magazine which again picked us as one of the most liveable regions in the USA. The national average is 213 sunny days per year. We fall just below that with 205 on average, a far cry from your Texas stats. And that figure includes partly cloudy weather. According to our meteorologist Ken Mitchell, our cloud cover runs high -- about 60%. That's how we take all those gorgeous photos of fluffy purple sunsets. He adds, however, that unlike Texas, we almost never get tornadoes and baseball-sized hail. To see if we're sunny right now, check Ken's forecast by clicking below. http://www.seacoastnh.com/weather http://cgi.pathfinder.com/cgi-bin/Money/cgi/citypages/?city=PORTS_NH November 01 LOST WORLD WEB SITE I am looking for information on the archaeological site at North Salem, containing the ruins of a Phoenician or Irish settlement that pre-dates Columbus' voyage. I have not been able to find any website that contain this information, Bob H wrhagen@desupernet.net EDITOR'S REPLY: Wonder if you are talking about Mystery Hill Caves, now calling itself America's Stonehenge? We had to do a little poking around to find this site too. http://www.stonehengeusa.com/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/prehistoric November 01 NEED A NEW LIFE? TRY "NEW" ENGLAND I am doing a report on the colonial times of New Hampshire. In the project. i have to advertise New Hampshire in the same way which it would be advertised when they were first trying to bring people over to settle. I would appreciate it if you would be able to send me any information. Louise lou81lou@aol.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Great assignment! Your teacher is on the ball. We've never heard of ads for NH settlers, but it makes total sense. New England offered the chance for religious freedom for some, an opportunity for adventure, or to break free of class structure, to possibly make a fortune. For many it was a way to repay a prison sentence or work off an indentured debt. We'd love to see your ad when it is done. Can you send it to us? http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/colonial |
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