A complete archive of mail from April 2005

JUMP TO : Last month's mail

April 19
CAT SENDS INSTANT MESSAGE
Dear Mr. Robinson, This is in response to your article, "Do Cats Use Computers?" The other day I was online, when I decided to run to the convenience store. I left the computer running. When I returned, I found an IM box open on the screen. My cat had sent an IM to a friend of mine while I was gone. It went something like: "fgoop]" My friend had IMed back: "And what does this mean?" Kitty sent an unintelligible reply. My friend said, "I see." I got on there and told my friend what had happened. She thought it was hilarious. Perhaps your friend Caitlin can decipher the above cat language? Thank you for the article, it made my morning.
Cindy White

April 18
SCANNING BREWSTER
Hello I am doing some research with the Brewsters Rambles and have found that a section that you never intended to publish on the web, or that has yet to be put up would help me tremendously. Do you know where I can get a copy of the Rambles or if I could contact J. Dennis Robinson? The list of names mentions would be very helpful since right now I am scanning each section.
Erica L

EDITOR’S REPLY: I’m not sure who, but somebody is offering a CD version of RAMBLES on eBay. It shows up often. There are frequently copies of the book on all the used book sites, even sometimes on eBay and Amazon, but also try Powells, Abe, Bookfinder, Alibris – all dot-coms. Look for the 1970s reprint by Somerwsworth Press since the original mid 1800s versions are very pricey. We intend to get the whole thing online, but the problem is that we are changing formats. So the dozens of articles we have online already (5 years work) now need to be moved into another format. It’s a Herculean task. Any volunteers? 

April 17
FROM LUCY HALE RE: LUCY HALE
Thank you for the article on my 3rd and 4th cousin 3xremoved, Lucy Lambert Hale. Her great granddaughter, Rose Chandler Daniels lives in Concord. The article makes a nice addition to my family genealogy.
Sincerely, Lucy Hale MacLeod

April 8
MORE ON THE 1690 FALKLAND
Dear Sirs: I am seeking information on the first large ship built on the North American continent, it was also the first American built ship to be taken into the Royal Navy. The 44-gun ship "Falkland" was built at Holland's shipyard at New Castle, New Hampshire about 1690. She was order by one John Taylor. He had the sister ship "Bedford Galley" built there shortly after the completion and major success of the "Falkland".

I am currently constructing a 1/33 scale model of the ship from scratch. This it to be a Museum quality model when completed. However all I currently have to go by are the draft and offset drawings of the ship. If you would be so kind as to research your archives and ascertain whether you would so happen to have any drawings, sketches or such of the deck plans, rigging or any other such information concerning the Falkland or Bedford Galley. If so it would afford a successful and accurate reproduction to be completed.
James H. Genzling

FROM MARITIME HISTORIAN NATE HAZEN: There are anecdotal accounts of FALKLAND being built in Newcastle -- a town contiguous with Portsmouth, NH (just two miles to the east). Probably some newspaper references could be found, but I would highly doubt that there would be any draughts of her here in this country. I would guess she was built from a half-model, as was the practice in those days. Any detailed draughts would have been done in England after her acceptance, as also was the practice then. I'm also surprised that the BEDFORD GALLEY was thought to be her sister-ship. I've seen no reference to that here.

April 5
ORBS?
The 9th picture in page one from your series Wentworth by the sea May 2003, shows a man in stilts posing for the camera. It looks like he is in a stairwell. To the right of him are many "orbs". I have orbs in many of my pictures from the use of my disposable cameras. Is this a defect in the film? Or is there a phenomenam taking place at the time of the shot? I have bee searching for a scientific explanation. Do you know anything about disposable cameras? Can you point me to someone who can help me? Thank you for your reply in advance.
Tina Silva

EDITOR’S RESPONSE? Huh? Orbs? There is no film in a digital camera. Must be something in the flash, probably dust in the air that is out of focus. Probably not aliens, time travelers or angels.

April 4
REMEMBERS LITTLE ITALY
As I was searching for anything re Russell St in Portsmouth, I came across your article on Urban Renewal Takes Little Italy by J Dennis Robinson - it was so meaningful to me (formerly Emily aka ChiChi Minichiello) as I grew up on Russell St from 1950 to 1959. I moved away from NH in 1964 and am saddened that I could never revisit my mothers house (she died in 1959). I am desperately trying to find out how I can get my hands on the video mentioned in the article, any suggestions?? I plan to visit Portsmouth this summer in August. I am so excited and yet apprehensive to see all the changes made to my old hometown. Where is the bench mentioned in the article, the one that was dedicated last summer? Any info you could send me would be so greatly appreciated. thank you!
Emily P Gossman

EDITOR’S REPLY: The bench, last time I saw it, is still near the Sheraton Hotel. I did produce the video on the Daniel Street Reunion with videographer Paul Gould about 20 years ago. It was shot on VHS tape and edited, but pretty crude by modern standards. A copy is available to view at the Portsmouth Public Library. There are, unfortunately, no copies for sale, but it would be a good idea to transfer it to DVD for those who want to see it. Please fill us in one how the city has changed in the last half century after you visit. Don’t worry, except for the loss of the North End and the transformation of Marcy Street, the city is still very much as it was – although real estate rates are up about 1000%.

April 3
THE OLD BREWSTER HOUSE
I enjoyed the picture of the colonial house in the Portsmouth Herald on 3/31/05 but I'm confused by the caption which says that the house was located on the corner of Hanover and Vaughn streets. These streets do not now appear to intersect. Did they at one time?
Ralph Smith

EDITOR’S REPLY: The Vaughan Mall as we now know it, was once a lovely residential street that extended to Hanover Street. That area was commercialized in the early 20^th century and then decimated during urban renewal (see letter above) in the 1950s and 60s. The parking lot of the Parade Mall and the High Hanover lots contained hundreds of homes and outbuildings.

April 2
BEST IN THE EAST
You've got the best web site...easy to navigate and full of valuable Portsmouth related articles.
Marianne Pernold Young

April 1
MORE ON THOSE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS
My name is Ruth and I am from Spain. I’m writing an essay about lighthouses and I’m doing some research also about lighthouses in Maine and Massachusetts. The thing is, I have to find some information and details about the work that lighthouses keepers used to do and because most of lighthouses are automated by now I’m finding it quite difficult.
Ruth Pardal

EDITOR’S REPLY: Your best bet is to go to Jeremy D’Entremont’s web site and and check the HISTORY section of more than 200 New England lighthouses listed there. He offers extraordinary detail on every lighthouse in our region, including lists of the lighthouse keepers and info on their lives. The late Connie Small’s book, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife talks about our local light in its final days before automation. Jeremy has also edited the works of the lighthouse expert Edward Rowe Snow. All of those books are available via Lighthouse Digest, Lighthouse Depot and Amazon.com. And make sure you subscribe to Lighthouse Digest, produced in Wells, Maine, since it is the #1 source of lighthouse keeper info.