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. 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 NINTH year. 

JUMP to last month's mail  

December 14
WANTS MY JOB
Man, you have such a great job! I just looked at your Hampton Beach off-season photos. I would love to do what you do! Good work. We passed through Portsmouth (my hometown) last month on a sunny, nippy day when the place was full of shoppers walking everywhere. While strolling back to our car with a bagful of aromatic Moe's sandwiches, my husband and I decided we want to move "back home." Thanks for sending me some "seacoast."
-- Sue Lee

December 14
SEEKING SECOND COUSIN RENE GAGNON
My father (George Gagnon) was Rene Gagnon's cousin. They were in iwo jima together during world war two. I am trying to get ahold of Rene's son, Rene Jr. I have old family photos of Rene (Sr.) and Rene's father and grandfather. Rene's father's name was Henry Gagnon, and his grandfather was Narcesse Gagnon, who married Edwidge, who would be rene's great gradmother. If you have any way for me to get ahold of my second cousin, rene, please let me know. preferably his email. I would like to send him old family photos i have scanned to my computer. I found an internet article rene jr. wrote about his father, and thought you would be able to help me out. Thank you.
Gay Gagnon

EDITOR’S REPLY: We have an old email from when Rene Jr. wrote to us a few years back and will forward your email to that address. Hope you get a response and thanks for the picture.

December 13
JACKSON HOUSE STILL OPEN
I came across and old spoon. It has a marking on it: Old Jackson House Portsmouth NH. Does this house still exist? I am interested in a little history of the house if it is available. Thanks for your time.
Art Susmann in VT

EDITOR’S REPLY: Amazingly, the 1664 house remains open by Historic New England (formerly SPNEA). Check their web site for in-season opening days. Here is our GOseacoast page.

December 12 
Ok, WE FORWARDED YOUR MESSAGE
I recently found a letter from 1864 from the owner of the Bark Lightfoot to the then captain Capt. A. P. Lond regarding weathering out a bad storm and having the ship in for repairs to the bottom copper and caulking. Anyway, in searching the web for some information on this ship I ran into the inquiry for a picture of the ship in a March 2006 email to you. If you have the email address for the fellow from I believe from South Carolina, I will send him a copy of the letter and see if he was able to find a picture of the Bark Lightfoot. Kind regards,
Donald Elliott in North Andover. MA

December 11
IN DEFENSE OF FIRST NIGHT
Dear Editor or should I say the Grinch that would steal First Night.
Last Thursdays editorial (Portsmouth Herald, 12-07-06) stating that Portsmouth's First Night celebration was "an event that had run it's course" and "an idea whose time has come and gone" was particularly nihilistic and unnecessarily negative.
 
I've had the pleasure to be selected to perform at Portsmouth's First Night Celebration ( It indeed is a celebration) several times. I've also performed in First Night celebrations in Boston MA, Concord, Clarmont and Keene NH. All of my experiences at First Nights have been extremely wonderful memorable musical moments. In every occasion, I was given the honor to play to extremely warm, musically literate and appreciative, first class audiences.
 
As a professional musician for 35 years, I had plenty of experiences performing for crowds ( rarely audiences) before the advent of First Night celebrations. An old friend of mine and Portsmouth's, by the name of Jay Smith, began a popular watering hole and first class music club in Portsmouth 30 years ago. Before the advent of First Night Celebrations, Jay traditionally closed his club down on New Years Eve. The reason for this he sited was that New Years Eve was to problematic. In fact, he used to always refer to the so-called celebration as "Amateur Night". Within a few years, after the creation of First Night, he reopened his venue on New Years Eve. Dec.31st in Portsmouth had indeed been transformed into a true celebration. He gave haven to those who felt the need to drop in for a warming drink between First Night acts and to his loyal customers who wanted to listen to some great regional artists.
  
I feel First Night, in general, changed a lot of attitudes, for the better towards New Years Eve. First Night created a first rate experience for entire family's, opposed to exacerbating the potential climates for family abuse in equating celebration with just getting Blotto. I'd wager the the number of DWI's cases went down as well, helping protect us all, but that admittedly is conjecture.
 
After several successful years, several weeks of above average seasonal weather suddenly plummeted New Years Eve Night into below zero temperatures. This unfortunately occurred several years in a row. All First Night Celebrations, during this period, took a very hard hit. Many cities simply threw up their arms and threw in the First night towel. Portsmouth, to our credit, didn't.

Slowly Portsmouth has been building back this important annual event. The editor of this fine newspaper, says that bands have to be solicited to play and that the final event lack variety. On the contrary, the First night organization is inundated with a wide variety of quality artistic acts from all over New England who competitively campaign for a performance slot here each year. Unfortunately, because I'm performing at the same time, I don't often have time to hear many other acts. Last year though, I can testify that the entire price of admission (which is always an incredible bargain ) was worth paying just to hear the incredible " High Range" band They performed two sets of consummate old timey, Blue grass, and even New Grass Beatles numbers. They preceded my youthful Funky River Band who performed a night of Blues, Gospel, Jazz, New Orleans R&B, Freedom songs and African drumming .Of course, there were a number of other venues as well as incredible ice sculptures and yes a fireworks display. Lack of variety?...hummmmm.
 
The usual astute editor ( hey.. were all allowed a misstep now & again) also complains that the time has passed for " the need for people to join with strangers to walk the cold & alcohol free streets in search of good times". Well...the way I look at it, even with the gentrification of so many Portsmouth expatriates, and even if many current residence just can't pry themselves a way from their Jacuzzis and DVDs, First Night In Portsmouth is never, ever a night of strangers (whether I recognize anyone or not! ). It ain't strangers going out to First Night... it's community. And no matter how cold the thermostat might read it's still one of the warmest nights of the year.You want to improve on a good thing? By all means use the power of your editorial position to do just that.. But please Mr. Editor don't throw the New Years Baby out with the bath tub gin!
  
One should be careful about what one wishes for. Many other naysayers globally say that the days of newspapers is nearing an end, to be replaced by media news on the Internet. By the way, that's how I've corresponded this letter.
  
Happy Holidaze
TJ Wheeler

December 10
READERS IN GOOLE, UK
I am writing to you from Goole, Yorkshire, the furthest inland port of the UK so we really should be twinned.  I have been receiving your missives for about 8 years now and enjoy them tremendously as I am an expat and originally from the fleshpots of NY; Yonkers to be exact.
Jessica Thompson, Goole, England

December 9
PICTURE OF OLD IRONSIDES
I got this from my Great Grandmother and wonder if you know the artist and date? Regards,
Sandra Lee of Reno, NV

EDITOR’S REPLY:  We always refer readers with Old Ironsides imagery to the USS Constitution Museum in Charleston, MA. It is right on the docks opposite the ship itself and the gift shop is packed with books, posters, puzzles, videos and other items with imagery of the old ship. Perhaps this particular image has been studied or reprinted. We assume it Is from the 1900 to 1930s when Ironisdes Fever was at its peak during the slow reconstruction of the ship and its world tour when it was towed around the Americas and seen by millions. Millions also bought souvenirs of which this appears to be one.

STOP THE PRESSES: We just found an almost identical painting sent by a reader back in August 2004. We have copied them side by side with yours on the left. Scroll way down on the link to see response to the earlier painting by an artist possible named HIULL.

December 7
BOOTH AND THE MAINE INDIAN
I was told you had an interest in the story of John Wilkes Booth.  I am trying to find out about a young Penobscot Indian girl that apparently performed in a theatre where he performed.  Do you know of any time when he and Maine Indians' paths may have crossed?  I read that he performed in NY and in Boston, though I don't know just where or when.  Do you?
Pauleena MacDougall

EDITOR’S REPLY:  I don’t know the story, but would love to. Certainly makes sense that as one of the most famous and busy touring actors of his age, that Booth may have worked with the person you’re seeking. Native American figures were fascinating to theater goers of this era. Nothing yet found on Google and I even tried looking into half a dozen Booth biographies using the incredible Amazon.com ‘Search Inside the Book” feature – but so far no luck.


December 5
GEORGE FISHLEY RIDES AGAIN
I am a ranger at Saratoga National Historical Park here in Stillwater, NY.
Each April, the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield sponsor a March For Parks.
This program is a method of highlighting our shared natural and cultural
heritage.  Additionally, the March is a walk-a-thon whose proceeds are
utilized by the Friends to support park programs and events.

This year, the theme of the March for Parks will center around American
veterans, and I was asked to find out from your organization about the
possible use of the image of George Fishley.  Planning is far from
complete, but it may be that the image of Captain Fishley would be utilized
in the t-shirt design.  (Frankly, it's my favorite of all the daguerreotypes of Revolutionary War veterans.)
Joe Craig, Park Ranger

December 3
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION
I came across your website doing research on Captain Halford R. Greenlee, who apparently was part of the rescue team of the Squalus. Wierdly enough, the reason I was doing research on this name, I have an oil painting that is signed "H.R. Greenlee" 1956.  And just out of bored curiousity looked up the name on the internet.   And even wierder, I have a regular customer at my shop, who served under Captain Momsen, who was part of the rescue team of the Squalus.  Strange coincidences! 
Lisa Dean