ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below)

Selected letters from our overflowing mailbox

PLEASE CALL HIM H.M.S. HARLOW

I notice that when you refer to Mr. Harlow (}The Many Doors of Harry Harlow), you call him Harry S. Harlow. Having been close to both him and his wife since my birth in 1941 until his death, I feel that I need to let everyone know just how proud Harry was of his Mayflower ancestry. He made sure one of the first things I learned at his side, was that he was descended from the Merricks who came over on the Mayflower. He always used the initials H. M. S. Harlow, which was Harry Merrick Sutton Harlow. As a child, I spent many, many hours watching him work on his oil paintings, and when I was able (in his opinion), he would let me pull the handle on his printing press which I was so thrilled to do. I remember Marion painstakingly painting with watercolors, the notecards, which were lined up on the drying racks. By my pre-teen years, I was allowed to fold these cards and count them out, and combine them with their envelopes, to be placed in the boxes (which they also made by hand - boxes & envelopes). My sister and I both had Pilgrim costumes, which we wore when "working" the garden parties at the Jackson House one wonderful summer. Marion's father was a fantastic man. We called him ChaCha, and he always smelled like Noxema....not a bad thing. He had so many rare antique tools, and slide after slide (stereo-opticon) of Portsmouth that he would spend hours telling me all about. But, I tend to ramble...which is easy when thinking back to the many hours spent with Harry, Marion, and Charlie. My main objective was to tell you how important ALL of Harry's names were, and to see if possibly you could make the correction in your article about him, to include the extra initial. Even though I read your paper thoroughly each issue, I failed to notice the omission of Harry's initial until today. Hopefully this can be corrected, even at this late date. Thank you for such a great publication....one I might add has helped my immensely in my research of the Caswell's of Smutty Nose, who were my grandmother's family.

Patricia Holt

EDITOR’S REPLY: We love getting such great memory letters to help us fill in the gaps of history. The felibility of the web allows us to continually adapt and expand content. We have added this note to the HMS Harlow page on SeacoastNH.com based on the research done by Dr. Richard M. Candee for the exhibit at the Discover Portsmouth Center. 

FIREWORKS IN INDIA
I just read your article on fireworks. In India, the fireworks are in October during the festival of Diwali. I always stayed away because it was so dangerous and I read somewhere that little kids are made to work on some of the crackers. Being totally against child labour in any form, I could never support Diwali whole heartedly. Over here, during my first of 4th of July celebrations, I appreciated the fire engines parked nearby and every other precautionary measure take by the PA Govt. I was in Poconos on a camping trip. The whole display was well-organized and made me less skeptical of celebrations which included fireworks. Now your article has given me a new perspective on the whole affair. Thanks for such an interesting read.
Esha Samajpati

Our latest Fireworks article is here

REAL BAD BOYS IN PORTSMOUTH
Hi Dennis,Reading your article about fireworks stirred up some memories for me.In 1938 fireworks were legal in Portsmouth. My father would buy a peck bag of fireworks for $10.00 and we would have a blast. We lived on the corner

of Prospect and Maplewood Ave. behind the Old Franklin School. We could look down on Dennett St. and to the North Mill Pond. My father said -- I’ll show you kids something.He set up a skyrocket at an angle to aim it over Dennett St.

and put it in the North Mill Pond. Needless to say, he lit it and it went off and went through a guy’s front room window. A very irate man came storming up the hill to find out who did it. Nobody on Prospect St. knew anything about it.

Another incident I remember, across Maplewood Ave. was an empty loft (I think there is a house there now). it had three beehives there at the time. I went over there and put a cherry bomb in one of the beehives and ran like hell. I’m glad they finally declared fireworks illegal because many people were getting hurt. I remember one kid with no shirt on got hit in the back with a roman candle. His back was a mess.
BRAD HARRINGTON ROCHESTER,NH

RELATED TO LEARS
I am trying to trace family connection. I have been told my grandmother’s father was a desendent of Tobias Lear. Her name was Ella Etta Lear, her mother was Susie McGaugh. Lived most of her later life in Cape Nedick ME. Ella Etta married Everett Jackson had three children -- Thelma, Frederick and Walter. Just trying to answer some curiosity. Any information you might have would be greatly appreciated.
Ella R Wood

EDITOR’S REPLY: Tobias Lear had only one son, Benjamin, who died childless. But the Tobias Lear House Assoc. In Portsmouth, NH is always in need of new memebrs and benfactors to keep the Lear name alive and the house of Washinton’s secretary standing.

COCHECHO MASSACRE EXPLOITED
Hi I am doing research on this and was wondering if this place has ever hads any type of paranormal activity or has been investigated by any one. I find it intriguing and would love to look more into this if its open for people to go to. Please contact me asap as I would love to bring it up to my team leads. Thank you
Terri at Maineghosthunters.org

EDITOR’S REPLY: Sorry, cannot help on ghostly topics other than to relate old folktales. We do history here, and don’t want to promote the paranormal craze.

ISLAND ON LAKE WENTWORTH
Can you help me get in touch with author Paul Wilderson, who wrote a book about colonial governor John Wentworth? I would like to ask him how Stamp Act Island, in Lake Wentworth, New Hampshire got its name. I know this was a controversial revenue-raising Act imposed on the colonies by England, and so very unpopular in its day. It seems unlikely such a name could long endure in New Hampshire, but it has!
Edward B. Cummings, LtCol, USMC (Ret.)

THE EDITOR REPLIES: Don't know the man, but have heard of his book. I assume the name is a bit of local humor or a commemorative title since the Stamp Act (that Wentowrth opposed) helped end the career of the last royal governor John Wentworth of Portsmouth who built his summer mansion in Wolfeboro. There are lots of links between the Stamp Act and Wentworth whose home still stands not far from the Liberty Pole in Portsmouth, NH's south end. You can search this Web site for a number of articles on the topic including (1) NH Liberty Pole Guide for Idoiots, (2) Stamp Act Agent Burned in Effigy, and (3) How the Governor Lost Three Mansions. You’ll find them all with our handy-dandy site search engine at the top of each page.

STAMP ACT ISLAND FOLLOW-UP:
Mr. Robinson--Thank you so much for these many excellent points.　 Several folks I have heard back from also feel the name is to commemorate the repeal, and that Governor John Wentworth and the Stamp Act (his strident opposition to same) were so tied together that the Lake and the largest island on it should also be so tied.　 I will dig deeper.　 As you say, much about history is revisionist and not all events are viewed through the same glass by everyone in the same way.　 Wolfeboro itself was named after British General James Wolfe who fell at Quebec and I don't think--in the same vein as Stamp Act Island's name--anyone ever seriously considered erasing that name of the town simply because he was British.　 Like Governor Wentworth, Wolfe was a popular leader and so the name endures.　 Thanks for everything you have given me, and best regards--
Buck Cummings

EVEN MORE ON STAMP ACT ISLAND
To all,In Chapter III (pages 32 and 33) of the "The History of Wolfeborough (sic)" by Benjamin Franklin Parker, "published by the town" in 1901, is this (italics are mine):

"In the south central part of the town lies a body of water nearly four miles long and three miles wide, formerly known as Smith's Pond, but now called Lake Wentworth....It is, however certain that the town proprietors applied the name "Smith" to the pond and river before there there were any inhabitants in the town. Still it has been deemed proper to change the name of the pond, or lake, to that of the town's most distinguished early patron (colonial Governor John Wentworth), who was at one time the possessor of a large portion of its shoreline....The largest island was called Mill Island by the proprietors of the town, probably because it was granted to the builders of the first mills. Subsequently it received the name of Stamp Act, which it still (in 1901) retains. Why it was thus called is not known. The town proprietors first granted the land with other property to George Meserve as a consideration for his building mills at the falls on Smith's River within a definite time. He did not fully comply with the conditions of the agreement, and the island reverted to its original owners. In 1765, Meserve was appointed distributor of stamps for New Hampshire, but the hostility of the people to the odious Stamp Act was so great that he immediately resigned the office on arriving at the province. It is difficult to see how this affair should have had anything to do with the name of the island. The name not being euphonic, and to the present generation apparently meaningless, should be changed. Perhaps it would not be amiss to restore the original name. The island ws covered with the usual forest trees, some of them lofty pines. Here, from the recollection of the oldest inhabitant until a recent date, when the trees were felled, was a heronry. The area of the island is ninety acres...."

My note: The author Parker cites a "recollection of the oldest inhabitant until a recent date" as being an authority on the discovery of a "heronry" on Stamp Act Island. This inhabitant was probably in his 80's when the book was being written by Parker from 1898 to 1900, so could have been born in 1820, with good memories from about the 1830's. Today, as I understand it, Stamp Act Island is a Nature Conservancy designated location and probably regrown to a nearly pristine forest state once again. I can accept this version of the name of the island, but like Mr. Parker, don't understand how it "stuck" all these years! Many thanks to all. I think it's all a fine story and has so much in it of the Revolutionary era history in and around Wolfeboro. I also undertstand it was the railroad companies, trying to save printing space in their timetables around the turn of the century, who shortened the town name to "Wolfeboro," dropping the "ugh" letters at the end. This was not apparently before Parker published his book (or Parker just was too old-fashioned to accept the change!).
Buck Cummings

GLASS NEGATIVES ARE LANTERN SLIDES
HI Dennis, I recently was visiting my parents who dug out some old slides (glass picture plates) that came from Puerto Rico; no cars in site; perhaps prior to ww1?. They are National Geographic quality taken by my mother's grandfather on a trip down there. Do you know what one should do with historic info like that? A photograher who might know about them? Historical society in Puerto Rico? I also found a cool top hat that flattens and then pops up but it needs some repairs. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Parkie

THOM HINDLE REPLIES: PARKIE...your question was forwarded to me here in Dover. I own the works (100,000 glass plate negatives) of 35 New England photographers from the early 1900s. What you have sounds like Lantern Slides (positives) that were the early version of 35mm slides that everyone used to capture vacations in the 1950s-60s-70s. Lantern slide seem to have little interest by collectors unless created by a famous photographer. Many commercial slides were created and still exist today in great numbers...(I even have boxes of them related to various subjects). Your slides might be of interest to a historical group in Puerto Rico or a community in the US. Not much interest to the general market. (Most were blk & wht..some hand colored)

KAYAKING MAP OF PISCATAQUA
In the book AMC book "Sea Kayaking along the New England Coast", 2004 edition, they say that a coastal access map is available through your office or by going on line. I have been on line and cannot find anything. How can I get/order a map?
Paul D in Wolfeboro, NH

EDITOR’S REPLY: Not aware of anything I did relating kayaks except a video back in 1995. The best water map (and waterproof) of the region is included in the book Cross Grained and Wily Waters, a maritime history of the Piscataqua region (pull-out map is great). You can probably get a used copy online at Amazon or contact Molly Bolster at the Gundalow Company at gundalow.org

LOVES JPJ
JPJ is one of my heroes. I have idolized him since I was 7 years old. I am a retired Naval Officer, class of 1976 from USNA. I am very interested in learning more about the JPJ museum and possible membership.
Jim Poole

MORE WHISTLING
I do not have much to add about your fine coverage of the movie "Whistle at Easton Falls." However, my aunt Betty Lou Vancour was included in one scene walking with two of my brothers (Robert and Michael Maloney) and one sister (Barbara Maloney, now Gorby). Seems that I was playing basketball and missed being part of the show.

Thanks also for the info about the movie never being made into DVD format since I had been looking for one for a while. I did find one copy of VHS "Lost Boundaries" which was also filmed in Portsmouth, but its quality is poor. I remembered a neighbor being cast as one of the characters. His name was Richard Johnson and his son was also in the movie. I believe that there also was a third movie [by producer Louis de Rochemont] made about the time of "Whistle". The movie was a grade-B crime movie which had a local cab driver in a minor role. Well, not much new here for you, but maybe others who are fans of your site can add something to my little observations.
Herbert Maloney

EDITORS REPLY: Thanks for the note. Each new detail adds to the full picture of the largely forgotten de Rochemont phenomenon. The good folks at the public library in Newington are carrying on the tale of de Rcohemont. The third film you are refering to may be "Walk Wast on Beacon Street" also shot in the this region. We’ve heard lately from a reader who is trying to track down copies of WHISTLE and will report that if any are available.

OLD IRONSIDES IN PORTSMOUTH YARD (see photo here)
I read with interest the recent SeacoastNH article, "Parting with Tall Ships is Sweet Sorrow". I am especially interested, as the historian connected with the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment who is responsible for USS Constitution's restorations, in the photo of the "barn" being constructed on the ship. I have seen many photos of her as a receiving ship with the barn in place and we have plans of the structure, but I have never seen images of the barn being built. If you would be so kind, would you please tell me where I might obtain a copy of the photo? Is it in one of the Portsmouth research repositories? Thank you for your attention to this request.
Margherita M. Desy, Historian
Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston
USS Constitution, Boston, MA

EDITOR’S REPLY: We found that image in the Strawbery Banke Musuem Collection along with a follow-up image showing the completed "caabed over" housing. Glad we could bring it to the attenting of the USS Constitution museum.Our goal here (since 1977) is to spread local history to the outside world.

FRANK JONES ALE
I’m a former NH resident, now living in California. I’m a professional brewer and am writing a book on historical India Pale Ale brewing techniques. Since I’ve found out that the Frank Jones Brewing Co. specialized in India Pale Ale, I’m trying to find some information on how they brewed their beer, ingredients, brewing techniques, etc. I got your Web site information from the Portsmouth Historical Society. Any information you might know of, or any contacts you may know of that could help me, I’d really appreciate it.
Mitch Steele

EDITOR’S REPLY: Richard Adams, a former Athenaeum president is working on an upcoming exhibit about Jones. If anyone knows anything, he does. I'll cc this email to him. Russ Hammer, owner of the Rusty Hammer, reportedly has the largest collection of Frank Jones beer artifacts. You might be able to reach him thru the restaurant in Portsmouth. And Peter Egelston is CEO of the Smuttynose Brewery, the most successful micro-brew in the region. Not sure if he's up on the history, but his brewers would know more than we historians. The only book on the topic is KING OF THE ALEMAKERS by Raymond Brighton. It is out of print available online in used book sites.

TRAVEL GUIDE ARTICLE
Mr. Robinson -- I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the article in today's (06/07) Portsmouth Herald ("Spreading the Gospel of Historic Portsmouth"). I always enjoy your little bits of history and I always learn something. I am glad that you are our "gray bearded old history guy", and I just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated!
Fred Dolman, Portsmouth, NH

WILLIAM & MARY SOURCES
Is there a deposition or contemporary account of the Dec. 1774 raid on Fort Wm. and Mary in New Castle?
Charles Tarbell

EITOR’S REPLY: Mlne Special Collections has put a nice list of resouces for the raid on their web site including Gov. John Wentworth’s letters about the raid and other contemporary accounts here.
Click here to see the William & Mary web site.