A complete archive of email from January 2004.

January 28
WEATHER OR NOT?
Ken- I always enjoy your forecasts and information. Why am I getting the January 10th forecast when I look you up? It started to happen yesterday and continues today.
John

EDITOR’S REPLY: Dennis the Editor here, That's because we "migrated" SeacaostNH.com from a host site in Miami to a host site in Oregon this weekend. In the process, we lost a few days of content and had to re- enter it on the other end of the journey. You should find the most recent weather forecast posted back now and, if all the buttons work, the new forecast will appear tomorrow as per normal. Then a great number of changes will begin to appear, including your ability to access Ken's weather forecast on the homepage and to find it in one click (some time in 2004) from all 7,500 web pages on the site. It's a huge project, but the migration is complete and we're underway. Thanks for your patience.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/weather/index.html

January 28
FAST FOOD KILLS
Dear Mr. Robinson, Thanks for the great article appearing in the Site of the Week today regarding Fast Food Nation. Are you aware of the recent NH politics concerning food safety? You see, last spring the legislature passed a rule that would require that every restaurant in the state to have at least one person on the payroll who has been certified in food safety. Low and behold in comes a new commissioner of Health and Human Services and he overturns the rule change. Mr. Robinson the facts are clear, just last week in the USA there were more than 1 million Americans sickened with a food borne illness, 6000 of these poor people required hospitalization and NEARLY 100 DIED. Indeed the problem is huge and NH needs this rule not only to protect the public, but also the food industry. Our fragile tourist economy can not risk a food borne outbreak. Friday there is a hearing in concord to finish the repeal. I will be there to speak, probably to no avail, but I feel that I need to be heard.
Ron Jones in Portsmouth, NH
http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature92.htm

January 22
LOVED THE MURDER MOVIE
I recently viewed the movie "weight of water" on tv. One of the best movies I've ever seen. After reading all the "actual" articles/info I am definitely seeing contradictions. I know movies are movies but is there any truth about the incest and jealousy of brother/sister? The fact that her brother brings home a beautiful wife unexpectedly, the other sister knowing the secret, her unhappy marriage could weigh considerably if true. Is there any truth in that aspect of the film?
Joelle in Phoenix, AZ

EDITOR’S REPLY: Don’t confuse fact with fiction. The modern jealousy theme is, to our knowledge, totally the product of the mind of the author, and Weight of Water is a work of FICTION, based on a true event from history. There is no historic basis, whatsoever, for the wild incest and jealousy story in the film, and in real life, the murderer was identified, tried, convicted and executed. The letter in the novel in which Maren confesses to the murder is wholly imagined, based on an unlikely rumor that was briefly circulated in the late 1800s. We can only refer you to our detailed web site on the topic and hope that the fictionalized version will draw you into the facts of the case.
http://seacoastnh.com/smuttynose/

January 22
SEEKS PHOTO OF RUSSO-JAPAN WAR
My great, great grandfather Albert Schillers (Latvian) was an officer/cartographer in the Baltic fleet in 1904, and was present at the signing of the Russo / Japanese Peace Treaty in Portsmouth in 1905.

My Father (almost 80 years old) can remember a large photo (about 70cms by 40cms) depicting the Russian military in Cossak uniform together with the Japanese wearing uniforms and carrying swords. This photo has been missing from our family in Riga since the death of my grandmother in 1968. Can anyone tell me if a duplicate exists among the phographic archives in Portsmouth, as we would love to obtain a copy to surprise my Dad on his 80th Birthday.
Monika in Adelaide, South Australia

EDITOR’S REPLY: Quite possibly. There was a surge of books published about the Russo-Japanese War and the Portsmouth Athenaeum has about a dozen of them in its top floor gallery. Two are elaborate oversized photo books, and these books appear regularly on online auctions too. Whether one particular image can be located among so many similar photos is another matter, and the photo reproduction of these books from around 1905 is not always good. The large scale of the war (half a million killed) and the rise of photojournalism has left us with many images of the war that ended with peace negotiations in Portsmouth, NH in 1905. Archives around the world have thousands of copies of photos from this era and there are many knowledgeable collectors. Locating one photo, however, could be like finding a Cossack in a haystack.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/1905treaty.html

January 20
DAN WEBSTER STILL KICKING
I read your excellent story about Daniel Webster. I "Know" D. Webster from the German TV. It was a one-man performance...about his dialog with the devil. Best regards
W. Friedländer, Bonn , Germany

EDITOR’S REPLY: Glad to see NH’s top 19th century orator is still playing well in Germany. Let’s remember that this was a one-man performance about Dan Webster’s FICTIONAL dialogue with the devil. I'm afraid some people here forget that the story for which Dan is best known, was made up by Stephen Vincent Benet. The short story about a NH farmer was made into a great movie 60 years ago and recently remade, we understand, with by Alec Baldwin. We just watched the trailer of the film online, but the movie, so far, has not been released in over 2 years. It stars Baldwin as Jabez Stone, Anthony Hoplins as Daniel Webster, Jennifer Love Hewitt as the Devil, and Dan Akroyd as, well who knows. This modernized version of the popular tale seems to have gone the way of the Weight Of Water.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/lawyers/websterhouse.html

January 20
WHAT ABOUT SEABROOK?
Why isn't Seabrook considered part of NH's seacoast? It has the nicest beach around and should be included in NH,not MA.
Patricia in Seabrook, NH

EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ve never considered Seabrook anywhere but in Seacoast NH. It’s pictured in our regional book and video and figures in SeacoastSearch.com. But yes, it’s not well represented in our history or touring sections. It’s not from lack of respect, but from lack of response. Readers may not always know that we cannot be everywhere, so we rely in each town, on people who supply us with tips, facts, photos, research, and sometimes complete contributions. In seven years, we’ve never found a contact in Seabrook ready and willing to provide the data and images needed. That’s not for want of trying. SeacoastNH is ready to document every cemetery, every famous person, every key historic event, every web site, every cultural and natural place in Seabrook – but we need someone willing to help there, as in other largely ignored towns. This portal is a community collaboration, or at least, we want it to be. So bring on the high quality photos and detailed facts.

January 15
WENTWORTH HOTEL MEMORIES
I'VE ENJOYED YOUR WEB SITE IMMENSELY. MY LATE PARENTS, GRANDMOTHER AND I SPENT MANY SUMMER VACATIONS THERE. THERE CERTAINLY WERE NO BLACK GUESTS THERE WHEN I WAS A KID, 1950' 60'S, I'M SORRY TO SAY PEOPLE OF THE JEWISH FAITH WEREN'T THERE EITHER. I CAN REMEMBER SOME GUESTS BEING ESCORTED AWAY FOR UNRULY BEHAVIOR (THEY DESERVED IT ). THERE WERE MANY BEAUTIFUL CARS AND CHAUFFEURS IN THE OLD GARAGE AND SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST GUESTS, WHO SPENT THE WHOLE SUMMER, BROUGHT THEIR MAIDS, TOO. WE ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT THE MAIDS DID ALL DAY. THE DRIVERS SAT IN ROCKING CHAIRS AROUND THE GARAGE AND RARELY DROVE. JIM & MARGARET SMITH THREW MANY SWELL PARTIES AND THEME EVENTS. THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT AND PLENTIFUL, THERE WAS A "RELISH GIRL" TOURING THE BEAUTIFUL DINING ROOM. REGULAR GUESTS HAD THEIR OWN TABLE FOR YEARS ON END. THE UPPER LEVEL HELP HAD THEIR OWN DINING ROOM, AS DID CHILDREN GUESTS. THE LOWER LEVEL HELP ATE LEFTOVERS IN THE "ZOO" OFF THE KITCHEN. FLOWERS WERE EVERYWHERE AND ALL LANDSCAPING WAS MAGNIFICENTLY MANAGED BY AN ELDERLY LADY (MRS. HACKLEY, MABEY) AND BOY DID SHE HAVE CLOUT! THE PLACE WAS RUN LIKE A SWISS WATCH, AFTERNOON TEA IN THE LOBBY, THURSDAY EVENING WAS VIENESE NIGHT IN THE HUGE DINING ROOM WITH THE "WENTWORTH SYMPHINETTE" ORCHESTRA. (OR SOME NAME LIKE THAT) ACTIVITIES GALORE FOR ALL AGES. THERE WAS A GOOD SIZED CARD ROOM AND A FULL TIME "CARD HOSTESS", AGATHA WAS HER FIRST NAME AND SHE CONTINUED TO RULE HER ROOST, EVEN AFTER SHE GOT "SQUASH ROT".

THERE WAS ALWAYS A SOCIAL DIRECTOR, CHILDREN'S HOSTESS (PATTY PIPER WAS ONE) & PLAYHOUSE. "MISS DAISY", FROM NYC BANGED AWAY ON THE PIANO IN THE AVENIEDA LOUNGE. THE HOTEL IN FLA WAS THE FLAMINGO IN MIAMI. IT WAS PINK, BUSTER KEATON WAS A GUEST AND FLORENCE CHADWICK TAUGHT SWIMMING AND JOHNNY IZZO TAUGHT DIVING. IT WAS ON THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY AND TORN DOWN ABOUT 1960. SOMEONE WROTE THAT MARGARET REALLY RAN THE SHOW, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT AT THE TIME, BUT THAT'S TRUE. JIM WAS FREQUENTLY ON THE FRONT DESK AND ALSO HAD MANY CRABBY OLD LADIES (SOME WEREN'T HOUSEBROKEN) STORM INTO HIS OFFICE FUMING. SHORTLY AFTER THEIR ENTRY JIM WOULD JUMP UP, ALWAYS SMILING, "WELL, WELL, WELL MRS JONES, HOW NICE TO SEE YOU AND HOW LOVELY YOU LOOK" THEN THEY'D GIGGLE AND FORGET WHAT THE WERE SO PISSED OFF ABOUT. THERE WAS A "CLAMBAKE BEACH" WITH A SORT OF CLUBHOUSE DOWN THE ROAD AND PRIVATE "COTTAGES".

JIM & MARGARET WERE AS SMOOTH AS SILK AND RAN A VERY TIGHT SHIP. MANY HAPPY MEMORIES OF A SWELL JOINT. SOMEWHERE I HAVE MANY PHOTOS OF THE OLD WENTWORTH, ITS' MANY SHINDIGS AND SWELL GUESTS AND HELP. THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE OLD FLAMINGO AS WELL, SOME OF THEIR GUESTS HAD BIG YACHTS TIED OUT BACK. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE WHEN I FIND THEM. I'D ALSO BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY INFO I CAN. JIM PLAYED A MEAN GAME OF TENNIS, I LAST SAW HIM PLAY AROUND 1983 OR 84.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE NEW PLACE AND HOPE THEY RETAINED MUCH OF ITS' BEAUTY. I ALSO HAVE TO ORDER THE BOOKS.
JOHN REDDINGTON
http://seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/

January 14
WANTS OWN PLYMOUTH ROCK
I have a quick question. Can you buy a replica of Plymouth Rock? I would like one small enough to fit on a shelf (about 4" wide). Thank-you for your time.
Brad

EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ve seen replicas made into plastic penny banks, Jello molds, plaster of paris lumps, brass paperweights, etc. A full-sized replica would flatten any shelf. Let’s always keep in mind that the rock is a fake, just a symbol, not an historic reality. The Pilgrims may have stepped on lots of rocks when they arrived, but the one on display is pretty definitely not one of them. But it did become famous in the late 1700s and early 1800s. For a souvenir, contact the gift shop at the Wax Museum in downtown Plymouth, MA. Don’t contact the gift shop at Plimouth Plantation, since that site is based on an accurate reconstruction of the colony in 1627 and does not deal in the myths surrounding the founding. Click below for some of our ongoing Plymouth coverage.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/earlyimages/thanksgiving.html

January 13
IN SEARCH OF EMILIO
A while back (quite a while) you mentioned a place in Portsmouth in your column. The store/deli was located near I think the Portsmouth Press Herald. I do not remember the name of the store, but the man that ran the store is often on Ciao Italia cooking show on channel 11. His name is Emilio (spelling may be bad sorry, I can cook but I can't spell). My daughter just took over the Customer Service group at a nearby company. I asked her about the place but I could not remember the name, or the directions you posted in your column and no one at the company seemed to know what she was talking about. If you remember what I am talking about, would you please let me know the name and address of the place. I thought it would be fun to meet my daughter at work and grab a sandwich at this place.
Bella
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please051202.html

January 09
A FEW OF OUR NEW NEWSLETTER FRIENDS
My family have all grown up and I need a change. We will be visiting New Hampshire in June. My husband accidentally subscribed twice to your newsletter; so you can delete one of them. We are interested in nature walks, beaches, historical sites, accommodations, and dining. Sharon in Lindstrom MN

I am from Seabrook Beach and found you browsing.

I was copying some tide charts for my husband and was intrigued by your banner ad and I know seacoast.nh.com, but had not Visited recently and was intrigued by GOseacoast link. Love it! I copied “My Night at the Isles” for my grandchildren and I want to make sure our link at our company web site is up-to-date so all of our visitors can get to this site...great work, but then you've always been involved in quality presentations! Carolyn McGee, Owner, Buyer's Brokers of the Seacoast.

I am from Portsmouth NH. This site is interesting, unusual, and useful site!

I am from Rye and heard about you from Norman O'Neil and Louise Giordani.

I am from Lancaster, Pa. Found you searching for Wentworth by the Sea

Retired living in Fort Lauderdale, FL Heard about us from: JP Jones piece was sent me by a friend Wife and I usually visit NH and ME every summer. I am a retired USN officer. We are increasingly drawn to the Portsmouth area, Nice facilities, nice folks, good accommodations. Great waterfront and short boat sightseeing.

I am from “Manchestah”. Heard about you from on-line search

Please add my name to your mail list so that I might enjoy the interesting material that you feature. Thank You. WJA, Captain US Navy retired, Fort Lauderdale FL 33315

I am from Colorado Springs. Might be moving to Portsmouth and need this local info, specific things to do, kids' activities, etc.

Born in Concord NH 1933. Heard about you searching the web for history. I'm extremely interested in the history of New England and especially Dover Point. My grandmother & father said that the land they bought at the Point was where the first colony started. There is still and old house there which was built at the time, and still has the wooden nails in it although the new owners did some remodeling. I lived in it for awhile when I was a teen. I'm 70 now.

I am from: Live in upstate NY, near Rochester. Born in Boston. At the Shoals when possible from age 6 months. Used to be on your mailing list, but don't seem to be anymore. Yesterday, when at a gathering, our license plate holder attracted the eyes of at least half the other attendees - who knew about this site & the Shoals! It says. "Isles of Shoals" & "Oceanic."

I am from Bloomington MN and I've been a regular subscriber but haven't received anything for probably six months so I'm signing up again! (Editor’s Note: Many overly aggressive spam and virus blockers also block newsletters. There’s not much we can do on this end, and subscribers need to adjust their e-mail browsers to receive our newsletter in order to receive it.)

Thanks for providing such a fun glimpse of the Seacoast! -- Mim Easton

I am from Portsmouth and heard about you from Liz Kennedy's weekly Campus updates

Site looks cool and will be fun to explore some more even though we live across the River in Eliot

January 09
THE OTHER BILLY EILLIOT
Who was Bill Elliott in Hampton and has he got any living relatives?
From Markham, Ontario,Canada

EDITOR’S REPLY: We had know clue what this letter was about until we contacted Lane Library librarian Bill Teshek who offered us the amazing web page link below. It seems that Bill Elliot is the Singing Cop of Hampton, NH who recently celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary – in song, of course.
http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/biog/elliot_index.htm

January 04
ALMOST FAMOUS, NOT REALLY
Dear Dennis, When I read this piece I felt like you were writing my story with The Spectras, another Top 40 cover band from the mid to late '60's. So many similarities. We too played the "Swing Thing" in Manchester. In fact, we even have some film from one of those gigs that must have been shot in the fall of 1966. Thanks for helping me revive some of those memories!
Dick Ray
http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please110400.html

January 04
COULD CELIA’S MOTHER WRITE?
I really enjoy your well presented format and articles but perhaps you are presumptious about Celia Laighton's mother being "likely illiterate" and "probably illiterate". Unless you have some evidence to that effect other than the fact you have seen no writing, I suspect her mother wrote very well to have a daughter so well versed. After all, she was from perhaps the most enlightened part of the nation.
Don in Bolivar NY

EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ll stand by our general assumption about Celia’s mother based on a our discussion of the topic with pretty much all of the Celia scholars we know – with the addendum that she was not completely unable to write, but may have been able to read. We have voluminous correspondence by Celia and her brothers, and the diaries and letters and records of father Thomas Laighton, but only one reportedletter written by mother Eliza. We can even see in the newly discovered Celia 1847 letter that she appears to emulate her father’s handwriting and writing style, and since tutor Levi did not appear on the scene until that year, it appears Celia learned to write from her father, who had also been a newspaper writer and editor.

Norma Mandel, author of the new biography of Celia Thaxter coming out in 2004 says, “The implication was that Eliza Laighton had difficulty writing, but, of course, there is no real proof. This is what I say in my book: "Little is known of Eliza's childhood, although it appears that she received no formal schooling. Rosamond Thaxter, who wrote a loving biography of her grandmother, Celia, said that when Celia was expecting her third child, she 'grew ever more homesick, and wrote her mother how much she needed to see and talk to her. Eliza with great difficulty replied, explaining to her daughter that letter writing was extremely hard for her since she had never had the advantage of as much education as her husband.' " That is a quote from Sandpiper.

January 04
HOPE CEMETERY
I AM TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT MY ANCESTORS THAT ARE BURRIED IN HOPE CEMETARY . THE LAST NAME IS SIRONI. AND IT WOULD OF BEEN AT LEAST 100 YEARS AGO IF NOT MORE. ANY INFORMATION WOULD HELP MY FAMILY LIVED THERE THE SIRONI'S AND RIZZI'S
Emily in Southington, CT

EDITOR’S REPLY: We simply passed through that cemetery in Barre, Vermont one day, but have received lots of mail on our Disposable Camera Tour. In fact, our pictures of the cemetery are appearing in two national magazines in 2004. We asked the cemetery manager whom you should contact for info on your family and will forward that email to you.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/dct/barrecemetery.html

January 04
WINTER CHOWDA
I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your story and am really looking forward to trying it. I thought my g-mas clam chowder was the best, but I will have to put this one to the test. It sounds very simple.
Daniel Gross
http://www.seacoastnh.com/clam/index.html