A complete archive of mail from June 2004

June 18
EDITOR OUT OF TOUCH ON SMUTTYNOSE
No phone, no water, no electricity -- just us and 8,000 seagulls. You can't reach us without a boat until June 27. Those people whose letters are stuck in the pipeline will be hearing from us early in July. And there's a lot of stuck questions. But sometimes, you just have get off the mainland on onto a rock in the sea. It's the same old thing, year after year, so here's what it was like a few years ago. FOr the perspective of a 9-year old, click here. Or just visit our entire Smuttynose section. But don't worry, there's lots' of new content coming up on SeacoastNH.com all week long. Check the home page. See you in July. .


June 14
DOVER’S TALLEST TOWER
Can someone look into adding to the historical sites the Garrison Tower build in by all volunteers in 1993. This is the third tower with interesting history behind it.Barbara Nicholson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

EDITOR’S REPLY: We do list the tower in GOseacoast and it is featured in our videotape "101 Highlights of Seacoast NH". Our web page links to the full history of the tower already online. We tend to devote precious writing time to focusing items not already well covered on other web sites, but the tower certainly deserves attention. It’s one of the most spectacular lookout points in the region and – yes—you can see both the Isles of Shoals and Mount Washnigton on a very clear day.

June 10
SIGNED WBS BOOKS ARE ONLINE
I am interested in buying a copy of your book , but would like to purchase it when we are in the area next week... at the Wentworth..It would seem more of a souvenir if we came back with it....Any place locally we can buy it and preferably signed by the author?
Peter S

EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks for buying the book. We hear that the first edition is all but sold out after only two months and another shipment is due in June. The book is available at Wentworth by the Sea and at Barnes & Noble, Borders, through University Press of New England, at the Portsmouth Athenaeum. There have been two busy book signings and a couple more are planned at bookstores, but for now, only copies purchase online are signed by the author. We’ve added a new bounce name that is easy to remember – wentbysea.com – so you can tell your friends where to purchase the signed copies. Or just click BUY OUR BOOK at the top of this web site. Makes a great gift too.

June 10
ANOTHER SONG FOR NH
If someone wants to consider all the reasonable alternatives to "Old New Hampshire", then the rousing "Purple Lilacs" should be on the list. My version of the lyrics:

I want to wake up in the morning where the purple lilacs grow --
Where the sun goes a peepin' into where I'm a sleepin'
And the song birds say "hello!"

I want to wander through the wild woods where the fragrant breezes blow
And drift back to New Hampshire
Where the purple lilacs grow.

Having lost most of my Yankee accent, I once proved to a visiting Congressional dignitary that I was in fact from New Hampshire as I claimed by breaking into "with a skill that knows no measure from the golden store of fate . . ." Let's keep both the song and the seal just the way they are -- keep a'goin'
Respectfully,
Becky Kimball Hommon
Epping, Kensington and for the time being Hawaii

June 8
MORE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS

I love the local news especially for the summer and family outings. All you need to do is look on your web site to find what's new and what's happening in the seacoast area at any time. I am from from Rochester, NH and used to live in Exeter.
Linda

You need to "widen" the web page, it makes it awful hard to read as narrow as it is, now! PLEASE add me to your Newsletter mailing list ONLY, if it's in TEXT format!
Attica, Kansas

EDITOR’S REPLY: In redesigning the web site, we decided it was time to move to the format most readers now use. If you set your monitor resolution at 1024 x 768 pixels, you’ll see the screen perfectly. Monitors set at 800 x 600 see a squashed version that is by no means as attractive. The larger format is the trend among web sites with larger monitors coming and smaller ones going out. You can make the change yourself quite easily on most computers, and will likely see a world of difference on other sites as well. And yes, the newsletter is in text, not graphical. We’re kicking around the idea of an alternate format, but for now, text is best.

O’m from Maine and heard about your site from a friend.
Helen

I am moving to Durham in 2 weeks. I can't wait to see things to do in the area.
Cheryl

I was researching information regarding Celia Thaxter and found your interesting web site. I am interested in visiting Portsmouth this summer and hope to find some vacationing information.
Bette from Hillsboro, NH

June 5
SEEKS WENTWORTH PHOTOS
I'M NOT TOO SHARP W/ALL THIS ELECTRONIC WIZADRY, BUT LEARNING. HOW DO I ACCESS PICS FROM WENTWORTH FROM 1920'S-1970'S. MY FAMILY AND I WENT THERE MANY SUMMERS, BOY COULD JIM & MARGARET SMITH THROW A SWELL PARTY ! SOMEWHERE I HAVE PICS MY DAD TOOK IN THE 50'S & 60'S ESPECIALLY. MANY FOND & VIVID MEMORIES OF THOSE TIMES AND MANY REGULAR GUESTS AND SUPER STAFF. ALSO NEED INFO ON JOINING WENTWORTH BY THE SEA HISTORICAL GROUP.
JOHN REDDINGTON, NILTON, MA

June 5
SEEKING RANDALLS AND HODGDONS
I have 2 "mystery lines" in the area.......the Randalls of the Isles of Shoals, and Aaron Hodgdon of Portsmouth. I would like to correspond with local experts and perhaps even plan a research trip to Portsmouth.

Eliphalet Randall, my ggg grandfather was born at he Isles of Shoals in 1791 and I have roughly tracked his ancestry with info from NEHGR and resources provided by Peter Randall, but I cannot make the connection with earlier Randall settleres such as Richard of Cape Porpoise. My ancestor Charles Chauncy Hodgdon was the son of Aaron Hodgdon and Margaret Sherman of Portsmouth. I cannot determine Aaron's father's name through the usual resources and suspect a local researcher with access to town and church records may have useful information.
Jeffrey Marsh , Pittsfield, ME

June 5
FIRE AWAY, RJ
My name is RJ, and I am in a gifted and talented fourth grade classroom in Texas. This year we are doing research on someone who has impacted the world positively or negatively, I have chosen to research John Paul Jones.

We are required to interview someone who has a wealth of knowledge on our topic. My hope is that I could email you several questions related to John Paul Jones, and you could email me back your responses.

June 5
ON BP SHILLABER
As happens so often once you learn something, BP Shillaber's name has popped up a few times since I read about him in your columns -- most recently at the Portsmouth Athenaeum, where I've been doing some research. My topic is early Portsmouth photography, especially Samuel Pierce Long. He was a Portsmouth artist and member of a prominent Revolutionary family who lectured on & demonstrated the daguerreotype process in the winter of 1840, which is quite early in the medium's history.
Greg Drake

EDITOR’S REPLY: It looks like BP actually wrote about a dozen books, mostly collected work from his newspaper columns. We’ve collect three so far, and the only two biographies. And for even more on BP, check the Portsmouth Library where a descendant of the Shillaber family has put together a collection of documents and notes about the family from its days in England in the 1600s. It is available from the history room there.

June 5
OUR BOOK IN VIET NAM
Dear Dennis: You will be happy to know that I am bringing a copy of your "New England: A Photographic Portrait" to Vietnam with me. I intend to give the book as a gift to a man who has written the English translation for a survey of the temples and pagodas of Hue City. Your book seems like an appropriate gift. Thad Guldbrandsen, UNH Center for Community

June 4
CATLIN ON ISLAND
I'm looking for any information relating to my father's family. It is believed that my grandfather was born on one of the Isles of Shoal. How would I get any information on births from the late 1800's? In particular I wanted to know which island he was born on and if there are still some "Catlins" living on the islands. His name was Byron Washington Catlin. I very much appreciate any assistance that you can give me.
Alliean Catlin Liebfied in Haverhill, MA

EDITOR’S RPELY: There are no full time residents on any of the islands today unless you count the winter caretaker at the Oceanic Hotel. Tracking Shoals history is difficult since recards are sparse. Best to contact the Vaughan Museum on Star in the summer and join the local Isles history club (ISHRA) to search for gemology details. There were likely very very few births on the islands in that era since there were only two summer hotels and not much else going on. You’ll find ISHRA listed among the local historical societies.

June 4
REMEMBERING THE SEA BREEZE
My Wentworth by the Sea book just came and I just did a quick look through at the pictures. Congratulations-- it really is beautiful. My family started summering in New Castle in the early 20th cent. right next to one of the Victorian guest houses on the beach (the Sea Breeze, near the Sawtelles' first house in New Castle), and we moved there year round in 1953. We knew the Smiths, I used to have to take swimming lessons in the big pool, etc. etc., so there's a lot of personal nostalgia here, and now I'll have to buy copies for my brother and sister. But it also looks like a really really good book, too. May you look forward to dying a rich man from all your royalties!
Wendy Pirsig

June 2
SEEKING BROWNIE IN NH
Once again I find myself writing you, this time regarding your story on NH State Songs. I was quite interested in this as for one I was unaware that 9 songs had been done for the state. I do however remember one fondly from back in the fall of 1979. Brownie MacIntosh (and the Apple Cider Band) was a standing band at the "Two Brewers Steak House" in Portsmouth. At the time I was pregnant with my daughter and went evenings to hear Brownie and the band and to sip my Pepsi. I often reflect back on those times and wonder what ever happened to Brownie and the boys. Anyway enough of my ramblings, I was wondering is there anyway to obtain a copy of Brownies' lyrics for "Oh NH You’re My Home", of course if the record is replaceable as mine died a sad death that would be preferable. Also I was wondering if during the bicentennial celebration there was a song writting contest in NH as I noticed that 5 of the songs were written in 1977? Once again I thank you for your time and remain a faithful reader. Blessings to all,
Dawn

EDITOR’S REPLY: We don’t have the lyrics, but you can likely get them from the state of NH library or from the horse’s mouth. As far as we know Brownie is still touring. Here’s the web link

June 1
ACCOLADES FOR WENTWORTH BOOK
This is to J. Dennis Robinson. I just want to add my personal congratulations and accolades on your publication of Wentworth By the Sea. It is not only a beautiful book but also a delightful "read." Thank you for this history. When my wife and I drove past it sometime in the late '90s we concluded that it would never be brought back to life. Well, it certainly has been brought back and now you have superbly added the history to go with the gleaming new resort. What a great combination. I'm 120 pages into it and enjoying every paragraph..
Frank C. Mevers in Concord, NH

June 1
SHIPYARD ROOTS
I have been tracing family roots since 1996. My family is the oldest African American family in Portsmouth, NH. Three years ago I relocated to NYC to teach and have since discovered that my 'other' family [Dad's maternal line] dates back to South Berwick, ME pre-revolutionary war. In trying to locate some living descendants of this Williams, and associated surnames, family, I have a need to get information about a relative who worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Is such information available to me? Thanks for any help.
Sheila Reed Findlay

EDITOR’S REPLY: Our Genealogy links last been sent via email. We suggest you contact the Public Information Office at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Walter is the man in the history museum there. We’d be surprised if such records are made public, but good luck.

June 1
READERS LOVE SEACOASTNH 2.0
Your new site is a smash. More power to you all -- I can imagine the work required.
Peggy FIsh

I see the new site is up. It looks great. I have been directing people to
South Berwick stuff on it. Now I suppose you'll enjoy lots of free leisure time.
Wendy Pirsig, South Berwick, ME

This is a fabulous web-site! Very well-done! I'm saving it as a "Favorite" and may use it to develop a local history curriculum for my 5th graders.
Anon E. Mouse

What a pleasant surprise to load the home page to SeacoastNH and see the new format! I haven't had the time to tour the entire site yet, but I really like what I have seen so far. Well done!!
Jay Diener, Hampton, NH

Congrats on your new and improved website. Night Tunes is still up and running, and I have not paid one cent to RIAA thus far...keep listening! Thanks again for your past support.
George Kloda, Eliot, ME

Your new site is a thing of beauty. Congrats!.
Scott Campbell

Just wanted to say I am very impressed with the new look of the site! It is a wonderful showcase for the exceptional and unique quality of your articles and information.
Donna Haskins

AND ONE NEGATIVE NOTE
You need to know that your blinking ads can cause migraines and seizures.....many people will not stay at your site with these on it.
Ethel’s Tree of LIfe

June 1
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS FLAG
Re: your article entitled "Mrs. Stafford & Paul Jones’ Flag". In about 1947 I was given a gift of a 12 star 13 stripe flag approximately 4 by 6 feet. It prompted me to do some research on US flags. The first place where I discovered the story of the Bon Homme Richard flag was in a private publication byGeorge Henry Preble printed in 1874 entitled "Three Historic Flags and Three September Victories". I still have the flag, but the arrangement of stars is 3 along the mast and 4 parallel to the stripes. The prior owner of the flag was an artist named Murphy. He was a widower. His deceased wife's name was Adah Smith Murphy. It was supposed to have been Sarah Smith Stafford who gave a strip of the flag along the pole to Abraham Lincoln thus leaving only twelve stars but still 13 stripes. And of course it was supposed to have been a Lt. Stafford who rescued the flag when it fell into the sea during the engagement of the Bon Homme Richard with the Serapis. Is this of any interest to you or to the author of th article?
Sylvain Segal 

EDITOR’S REPLY: We’re always interested in reader response to our thousands of posted pages. The Stafford Story is likely well told somewhere in the museum archives where it sits on a dusty shelf. We’ve added your note to the bottom of that article for future readers to ponder and enjoy.