A complete archive of mail from May 2004

May 21
1500 MILES FROM THE SHOALS
Loved the stories about the finds at Star Island, the work on Smuttynose, and the Constitution light. It is Spring and and an old woman's fancy turns to thoughts of home! I always miss the seacoast at this time of year. Thanks to you I can regularly "visit" thought 1500 miles inland! Keep up the good work!
joan johnson

May 20
THINKS LOUIS WAS INNOCENT
Hi. I am a student at North Hampton School and I am researching the murder a Smuttynose for a mock trail that my grade will perform. I am convinded that Louis Wagner is innocent and I am searching for any shreds of evidence that I could present to support my argument.

My teacher, Sue Reynolds, recommended that I talk to you for the answer my question. Okay, here it is: Was there any blood found in James Burke's dory, the supposed transportation of Louis .Wagner when he went to commit the crime?

EDITOR’S REPLY: I’m afraid we’re pretty heavily of the opinion that Louis did the crime. But we’re not experts on the trial transcript, which has a lot of holes in it. I hope you have a copy of it there. We don’t remember any information about blood in the stolen dory. That would not be a huge factor either way since there was no scientific blood analysis back in 1873. Detectives would not have been able to tell human blood from, say fish blood, that might have been in a fishing dory. Also, remember that Louis reportedly washed up at the well where there was blood. Also, he was rowing over 10 miles in a boat over the ocean where blood on a painted boat might certainly have been washed off along the trip. The most incriminating part of the circumstantial evidence, as we see it, is that Louis had no alibi for his night in Portsmouth, despite his long complex tale of where he was. His landlady said he was out. He was spotted by witnesses. If even one single person had seen Louis in Portsmouth that night, Maren’s accusation would have fallen apart. But no one had. He had motive, ability, access and was familiar with the murdered women having lived on the island for months. But this isn’t helping your case, is it?
See Smuttynose Murder section

May 18
ALSO PLAYED "AUTHORS" AS A KID
Think you, I have insight about "Authors" inspiration! (Playing Cards with Dead Authors) We played with a newer deck with less noted deleted and what an adventure it was to later discover and read the works we only knew by title. And writers came alive from the images we had stamped into the mind as they stared back at us while we played. That was the time of radio and you seldom saw the profile of a speaker or writer.
Don

May 18
OLD-FASHIONED BEACH CLAMBAKE -- NOT
Are there any beaches on NH's seacoast that allow traditional clambakes (with the pit and all)? I'm interested in holding one for me and my friends (about 12 people), but can't seem to find a beach that allows it.
Sherif

EDITOR’S REPLY: we don't think so. If readers know otherwise, let us know. The coastline is only 17 miles long and crowded. Odiorne and Wallis Sands and Hampton Beach are run by the state of NH and subject to the laws of the state. Those would be the most likely. Other beaches are town owned and usually more highly regulated. You can check with them individually. Some, like New Castle Commons, have cooking facilities, but no one’s going to dig up the beach there, for sure. Coastal Maine, which is200x longer may be your best bet. Foster's Downeast Clambake in York and a number of sites on the Maine South coast have professional clambake facilities off the beach, but not for do-it-yourselfers.

May 15
PRINT YOUR OWN
How can I get a copy of the edition with the playing cards and the artilcle about the items found at Star Island? Thank you.
Janet Cann

EDITOR'S REPLY: All new articles posted since the launch of our redesign last month can be run directly to your printer by hitting the PRINT icon on the upper right side of the article. Make sure you have clicked on the full page by hiting the clickable title line. The printable text will appear in a separate box when you click the icon, Click it again to print. Many of our articles appear in other Seacoast publications, but those two were web-only.

May 12
LIKE MONEY, ONLY EDIBLE
I am looking for the web address for seacoast dine-around. I would like to purchase gift certificates. My understanding is that the certificate is good at many of Portsmouth restaurants.
Chris

EDITOR'S REPLY: We've heard of a program by that name in Portland, Maine, but not here. The one you want is called Portsmouth a la Carte. We've both used and received these coupons and they really do work, especially in a place like Portsmouth where there are so many dining spots to chose from. The web site is right here.

May 8
ARMORY TOWER STILL HAS VALUE
OK, we can't save the armory. But we should try to save this one. We need to convince the state to keep the tower under state ownership, preferably with Odiorne State Park, so as to tie in nicely with the other WWII sites. I know that Odiorne didn't want anything to do with it before, back in the '70s, but now it is threatened with adverse development. It can, and should, be saved and converted to public use. Massachusetts did it with a tower in Rockport (Halibut Point State Park), New Jersey with a tower in Pennsville (Fort Mott State Park),and Delaware with a tower in Lewes/Rehoboth (Cape Henlopen State Park).New Hampshire can do it also, if they get their collective butts into action. People like lighthouses, and going up a WWII tower is just like going up a lighthouse. Plus, the views are fantastic! Just ask the Garabedians in Hampton Beach about their refurbished tower on Great Boars Head.

On the other side, as devil's advocate, cellular phone coverage sucks in the Rye Beach area, and a relay tower is sorely needed. But do not build it on a historic site! There has got to be some small plot of land where a small phone tower can be erected. I know! Put it on Appledore Island, on the WWII tower there! At least it would be sort of historically accurate, as there WAS once a 62-foot tall radar mast on top of the Appledore Island tower. If Cornell could agree to that, we can accept that. No, really, that is not too far-fetched. But I don't think Cornell would agree. Other than that, a taller phone tower can be placed further inland, at Rye Center or somewhere along US 1 so as not to obstruct any scenic views along the shoreline. After all, the seacoast is FLAT, and radio waves go a long way on flat terrain. The mountains this ain't!
Pete Payette, editor
PortsmouthForts.com

May 7
1905 TERATY INTERPRETPR WAS ALSO AIKIDO CHAMP
I am writing because I came across the photo in your archives of Japanese Treaty negotiators at the Wentworth Hotel in 1905. I am able to identify the man standing far left as Commander Isamu Takeshita who was one of the interpreters used by the Japanese during the treat negotiations. I know of him because of his later connection with aikido which you can find documented at my website here: Congratulations on a wonderful website.
Stanley Pranin

May 5
SORRY, SEARCH ENGINE TROUBLE
We aologize for problems lately with SeacoastSearch.com. Although readers can use this resource free to locale 3,000 local web sites, we like to keep it running like a top. The site is hosted by a company called Verio, and recent "upgrades" there to our server caused us to be briefly knocked off the air three mohths ago. SeacoastNH.com has since been moved to another server, and GOseacoast.com is hosted on still another facility, both of which have been rock solid. When the search engine is down, our DIning and Lodging Guides are affected as well. Rest assured, we're on it like a whale on plankton.
The Editor

May 3
BROTHER TO JPJ?
I read with interest your life history of John Paul Jones. You included a reference in 1774 to a brother, William, a VA tailor. Is there any source for the enlarged family that may have included a brother, Charles, who may have settled in Newfoundland??? I am researching the possibility that "Charles" could have been my ancestor. My great-great-grandfather, John, moved to Lowell, Mass, from Newfoundland with a family that included son John (my great-grandfather's brother) who went to sea on whaling ships in the 1840's with my great-grandfather, Bob (to sea at age 12 in 1842), who later sired my grandfather, John, who later had two sons, Alfred (my father) and Charles. Coincidence??? Your suggestions would be appreciated.
Bob Paul in Newbury Park, CA

EDITOR’S REPLY: The simple is – No. John Paul (Jones) had one brother, William Paul, and three sisters.

May 1
MORE NOTES FROM NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your newletter. It's great and I'm learning a lot about your part of the country. Can't wait for the next one. Heard about you from my daughter.
From Sacramento CA

I found you looking for info on the new exhibit by painter Doris Rice.
Irene in Portsmouth

I am now from Hollywood, California, but lived in Greenland, NH and my wife is from Boston.
Vincent

I need free print out sheets for homeschool learning for my daughter. Is there a way to print out full learning sheets on subject matter? Thanks so much.
Teresa in Greenville,IL

TO TERESA: Both GOseacoast.com and the new part of SeacoastNH.com have a "Print this Page" function. Over the next year we will be migrating the 7,000 page archive of material from the original SeacoatNH.com. Each page, as it is moved, inherits that function.

My husband is a Naval Officer and we will be stationed at PNSY beginning Oct 04
Jeanne from Coeur d'Alene ID

I am from Kingston now, but grew up in Rye. I don’t know how I discovered your web site; I’ve been reading it for so long now.
Marilyn from Kingston now. Grew up in Rye.

Working as a Coordinator for International Relations in Nichinan, Japan has led me, oddly enough, back to my home state in working with Portsmouth and the sister-city connection between the two cities. I heard about your content on the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth via the Nichinan City Office
Andrew from Londonderry, NH

I heard about you from Foster’s Daily Democrat. I am from Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Lanie from Hookset

Your "Site of the Week" column in Foster’s was my favorite newspaper column.
I am from Dover, NH

I was born in Portsmouth and lived in Rye and Dover.
Now from Buffalo, NY

I love the Wentworth by the sea. It is our favorite place to visit.
New subscriber From New York

I will miss your weekly column but understand you are on to bigger and better things! Wishing you nothing but the very best in your future endeavors. A former seacoast resident, classmate and friend
Stewart

TO STEWART: Don’t despair – Site of the Week is being renamed and refurbished and will continue in a shortened form on the new improved SeacaostNH.com. And now, about that high school reunion…

We found you on a search engine. Please send us vacation information about accommodations, beaches etc.
Circle Pines, MN

TO CIRCLE PINES & hundreds of others: We don’t print material, but our web listings on GOseacoast and SeacoastSearch are the most complete in the region. Both have a complete list of local chambers where you can request printed stuff, and we just added that list to the BUSINESS button on SeacoastNH.com. More visitor material links are in the works.

I am considering relocating to Seacoast area upon imminent retirement. Would appreciate any relevant information.
Jack from St. Louis, Missouri

I used to live there in the past and see the Seacoast as a possible retirement area.
Wamjax in Columbia, MO

I heard about you from your column in ACCENT Magazine. I’m especially interested in events at the Portsmouth Athaneum
Anon

I always loved your newsletter. With my new computer I have a new address. Please let me register to receive your newsletter again. Thanks and best regards.
From Lancaster NH

I am a landscape architect and planner, interested in expanding to seacoast NH.
From Kennebunkport in Maine

I enjoy the summer concerts at the Hampton Beach Seashell. I heard about you because I visit the Seacoast regularly in both winter and in summer.
Eve from Massachusetts

I just wanted to know, Are there ANY Black people in New Hampshire? Just curious
From Jersey

TO JERSEY: There are and have been since the mid 1600s. The black population of males in Portsmouth in the 1700s was about 700, much the same as in Portland, Maine where one family can trace its heritage back nine generation. The percentage of African Americans, though steady, has always been small.

I am from CANADA and found you accidentally. GREAT SITE
Canada

A friend sent me this link and it is pretty cool !
Just moved to North Hampton

Do you ever accept photos from your readers? Have been photo taking for about 50 years which should appear to be a threat right away. Do have a couple that might work. Regards
Dick from Massachusetts, now in New Castle

TO DICK: Now and again we use reader-submissions. We should do more of that. Usually we are looking for pix that fit content, but as we build our new Seacoast Towns section in the future, we’ll need a ton of images.

I am interested in the genealogy of the Wests from Great Island or the Foss Family near to Portsmouth. I heard about you from my cousin.
Karl in Walp[ole, MA

I don’t remember where I heard of you. I am far from "home," "home" being New Hampshire. I am a descendant of Lt. Governor John Wentworth, thus a first cousin five times removed of Gov. John, the last royal Governor who was driven out of Portsmouth in 1774. Of course I'm not bitter at all. I won one of your t-shirts years ago, and still treasure it.
From Mill Valley, California

I found you on the internet searching NH history sites. This is perfect for my unit teaching NH history -- I'm doing a lesson plan on traveling between Milton, NH and Portsmouth in the early 1800's to teach the students the concept of historical time
From Milton, NH

I grew up in Somersworth and am nowliving in San Antonio.

I went to school in Portsmouth and now live in Moscow, PA.

A friend gave me a computer; I’m just learning how to adventure.Ii love lighthouses i have over 300 pieces in my home and I would love to get any kind of information on lighthouses and historic places.
From New Jersey

TO NEW JERSEY: Hang onto your tow line because we are about to launch a section that will catalog all the New England lighthouses.

I have with great interest read about Atkinson House and Theodore Atkinson. However, no articles mention where he came from or who his father was. Was he possibly the grandson of the Theodore Atkinson who married Elizabeth Mitchelson of Cambridge??
Peter in Halifax, Nova Scotia

TO PETER: Would we had world enough and time to answer genealogy questions. They fly in the door like April rain, but we’ll see what more we can add about the able Atkinsons, a staunch Portsmouth family.

We are descendants of Thomas Haley of Winter Harbor, ME and related to Samuel Haley of Haley Island, Isle of Shoals. We had a Haley family reunion last Summer in Colorado and had relatives bring out several cases of Smuttynose, Shoals Pale Ale to give to everyone.
Chuck Haley

I am searching for information on the Tamworth House in Chocorua. I was unable to locate any on your site. I have enjoyed the information on Tamworth village. Thanks

TO TAMWORTH QUERY: We went to Tamworth one weekend years ago, wrote about it, and been getting letters every since. There is an historical society there and a long rich history, but they are out of our Seacoast range for now.

I grew up summering at the NH coast...would love to live there...following my dream...
Worcester, MA

I lived in Portsmouth and LOVED it. I am a film writer and I am doing a film on the history of America... The establishing of the colonies from the time Captain Newport and John Smith's ships set sail. I am in need of any information on the activities of those pilgrims during the time period. If you can help, please email me!
Writer-by-the-Sea

I am from California. Send me information on black history.

NHDTTD is my client and I use this site regularly for media itineraries
Parry in Syracuse, NY

I am a new business in New England. My business is called "New England Informer" Newsmagazine. My first issue is coming out in May/June. It is a newsmagazine publication that publishes 6 times a year. We are a newsmagazine for people of color in New England.
NE Informer

I would appreciate being on your press list for upcoming events and any advertising you may need to do.
Doreen Wade

I am a navy wife and have traveled the world but I love to hear about what's going on back "home."
Carol from Hampton

You popped up on screen while I was contacting NH chamber of Commerce for a vacation guide. I think your site is wonderful and though I am vacationing with my adult children in NH this season 2004.I would love to find a small,cheap fix-it upper and relocate (even if for only part of the year) I have always loved the ocean,and coastal towns. Lighthouses have become a passion with me in the last 5 yrs. I so look forward to hearing from you,your letters make for some interesting reading!!
Susan in Schenectady

I am searching for a Walter J. Kline from Oklahoma City who is the grandson of Rev. John Kleinknecht who served as pastor of Freyburg UMC near Schulenburg, Texas in the 1930s. A web search brought up the correct name and state in your April issue. Could you please forward my message to this gentleman? The church is planning its 125th anniversary party and wants to include the descendents of as many former pastors as possible.
Elaine

TO ELAINE: Huh?

I am a poet and am looking for venues to expose my poetry. I won the Silver Poet Award in '03 and am nominated Amatuer Poet of 2004 through th International Library of Poetry.
Glen Benjamin

I was searching the web for Louis deRochement. Question: Does Blueberry Bank satill exist??? I am a contemporary of Louis III and spent summers in Newington.
Louis Seeker

TO LOUIS SEEKER: The old de Rochemont home in Newington is now the corporate headquarters of Simplex.

I was searching for info on the Lizzie Carr wreck. It's SO nice to see history given a place in today's world!! All too rare.
From Center Harbor, NH

We vacation every year at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, in August for 8 days. We are always looking for new areas to visit during our stay.
Bob & Nicole from Hazardville, Connecticut.

I heard about you from Valerie Cunningham. Fantastic historical content!!!

Please put Alan Shepard on your Link Free or Die page of famous NHites.You might also want to include the current living astronauts from NH.
From Loudon

EDITOR'S NOTE FOR MAY: Also thanks to new subscribers from Dover, Berwick, South Berwick, Eliot, Somersworth, Exeter, York, Kittery, Concord, Somersworth, East Kingston. Peabody, Newmarket, Rochester, and on and on.