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 NINTH year.

READ FEBRUARY Reader Mail   

March 17
CINEMA WARS
I wanted to ask you if you otherwise enjoyed the new Regal Cinemas, but  then I imagined that was like someone asking Mrs. Lincoln how she enjoyed the play.
Jack in Derry 

March 16
SORRY, NO MORE ON TOSCAN
I am seeking information about a prominent man , Vice Consul from France , Jean Joseph Marie Toscan approx. in the years 1781 - 1805 or earlier.
in searching for more information about John.. I found your site, and there was a page that had listings of names of two of his sons.  They were on some captain's certificate listing.?? Mersidor Toscan was one, and the other can't remember now, but anyway, I wondered if you would have anything more about him or his children, because he was the French Vice consul from France for New Hampshire and made many trips at sea back and forth to France. I have a Gr.,Gr.,Gr. Grandfather John Tuscan b. 1787.  Jean Joseph Toscan has been referred to as John Tuscan in the Lancaster Coos county History. 
Sally Foster, Solon, Maine.

March 15
CLICKABLE NH FIRSTS
If you want to have some fun click on this website and relearn your New Hampshire history courtesy of the Granite State Ambassadors:
Capt John R. Wheeler USN/Ret, Zephyrhills, FL


March 14
HANOVER IS OVER THERE
I am in possession of two pictures (c 1800s) of a two story wood fame home with two chimneys. One picture is of the house and the other picture is of the same house on fire. The only info on the back of one picture is "The Beehive, opposite Spring St., Hanover Centre".  I am curious to know if this home was in Hanover, NH..
Melinda Garland

EDITOR’S REPLY: Sorry, we’re seacoast oriented, but check the historical society in Hanover and the Dartmouth special collections. (info attached)   

March 11
WHO BULT RYE BREAKWATER?
When was the breakwater built along Ocean Ave in Rye and North Hampton and who built it?
Arthur Stevens

REPLY FROM ALEX HERLIHY AT RYE HISTORICAL: Italian stone masons from the Boston area built the sea wall when that stretch of Ocean Boulevard (not avenue) was being built c. 1906. The masons camped in shacks a bit inland off South Road. Herbie Drake of Rye, in his 80's now, remembered his father, Abbot Drake owner of the Drake House, telling him about these masons; Abbot was about 18 in 1906. Another point -- if the inquiry is about the big piles of natural stones -- they are "shingle stones". Some of them got washed up in storms and others were piled up to act as break water; the Italians built the formal wall that stretches from the sharp corner south to the little homes near the North Hampton line and then continues in North Hapmton near that very sharp dangerous curve by the mansions. Visit Rye Historical web site. 

March 10
BRITISH BACKLASH (sic)
why america always copy us? theres only one portsmouth and thats south coast england!! i know USA is known as englands children but cant you think for yourselves in'it?
wayne pompey in the UK

EDITOR’S REPLY: Sorry? Couldn’t quite understand your English. 

March 9
LOST IN NEW CASTLE
Hello.  I was wondering if you could help me re-locate a spot I stumbled across last summer.  We were driving from Derry up to York to see Nubble Light and got off Rt 93 looking for a more scenic route.  I don't remember the name of the park we ended up at but I would love to find it again.  If I remember correctly, it wasn't too far from the highway.  It was sort of a circular shaped park.  There was a man collecting an entrance fee ($3. I think).  As you go in,  you drive to the right and go around the big circle back to the entrance.  I believe there was a cemetary on the left as we entered the park.  There was a wedding going on on the grass about a quarter of the way around the circle and there was some kind of playground in the center I believe.  The best thing about this park (and the reason I want to find it again) is that I remember we could see 2 or 3 lighthouses right off the coast.  I'm a lighthouse lover and want to go there again.  I believe this park was somewhere between Portsmouth and York, ME.  Does this sound familiar at all?  Can you tell me what the name (and location) of this park is? Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Diane Mahoney

EDITOR’S REPLY: That is New Castle Common or Great Island Common on Route 1B, a loop that runs from Rye to Portsmouth over what is technically an island. From there you can see Portsmouth Harbor Light (NH), Whaleback (ME) and White Island Light (NH/Isles of Shoals). Jane Porter’s new book FRIENDLY EDIFACES (see our BOOK section)  is the most detailed account of the history of all three. Our site contains hundreds of pages and photos of New Castle and the nearby lighthouse. (more links sent to reader).

March 8
HOUSE OF THE LORD
THANK YOU!   THANK YOU!!  for the House of the Lord photo! You don't know how timely that was for me! Methodism has been in Portsmouth since 1792, but the church was not officially organized until April 27, 1808. We will be celebrating our anniversary next year, and I am head of the anniversary committee. In my research I had just recently (past week or two) discovered that in 1808 we were meeting in the Hutching House on Washington St., under Rev. George Pickering, with 52 members. My next task was to contact Strawbery Banke for information about the House, but you beat me to it! How unfortunate that it was torn down. At some point after 1808, we moved to a building called the Cameneum on Vaughan St., I'm sure that is no longer standing. In 1828 we built what is now Temple Israel on State St., then our current church on Miller Ave. in 1912. So, as you can see, this photo has a lot of meaning for our congregation. Thank you so much!
Evelyn Laux  

March 7
LEAR FAMILY CHECKING IN
Dear Dennis -    OUR WHOLE FAMILY IS ENJOYING YOUR NEW BOOK (Wentworth by the Sea) WHICH OUR GRANDDAUGHTER ORDERED AND YOU GRACIOUSLY SIGNED.  YOU DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE RESEARCH, PICTURES, ETC. THANK YOU SO MUCH.  IT WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR LIBRARY.     WE ARE THE LEARS YOU WERE SO KIND TO HELP WITH THE LEAR REUNION IN PORTSMOUTH AND TOUR OR THE LEAR HOME ON HUNKING ST.   A FEW YEAR AGO.  THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYING!!
Florence and Harry Lear 

March 6
KIMBALL’S STORE GOOD OLD DAYS
Mr. Robinson, how perfectly delightful to find your photo of the employees at Kimball's in the Herald this morning!  And to see the faces of the ladies that waited on me in those days.  These ladies were kind enough to save out dresses or outfits they thought I might be interested in.  They certainly knew their customers! You brought back lots of memories.  Keep up the good work.
Thanks,  Sandy Smith 

March 5
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER REPLY
You are just so perceptive in thinking of the survival of the "early ones".   It does boggle the mind how they survived.   I have an insight about the weather then...."Wool!"   Thinsulate and Goretex aside,   I have lived a long life with that fabric and that was a very efficient cloth for all seasons.   Was not scratchy in the early days as the lanolin could not be removed with soaps of the time.  Snowbound was my favorite poem many years ago. Out of favor today but so many of us grew up in the "extended family"  and it seemed so typical, linking the storm to life on the farm.  I was going to read it at my Grandmother's funeral in 1976 but unfortunately was having a picnic lunch with her 100 year old cousin in Wyoming and missed the event.
I think that was appropriate. Thanks for so many topics that seem to stir my interest!
Don Cady

March 4
DID THEY EVER REBUILD THE RANGER?
Hello!  I have been trying to find some information on the ship the Ranger, and I've been unable to do so, as the ranger foundation website and phone number seem to be old.  Is the ship still in existence?  I'm interested in photographing it for a film. Thank you so much!
HBO's John Adams Research Dept

EDITOR’S REPLY:  The project died for lack of funds and effective management. It’s a shame. As one of the nation’s first important shipbuilding towns, Portsmouth truly needs a tall ship. For more on the RANGER and John Paul Jones CLICK HERE.

March 3
LIGHTHOUSE LETTER (sic)
I Love Lighthouses, your Lighthouse I wish to see more of it often. thus I
Request if i can recive any free broshers, etc
Gregory in Orlando, FL 

March 2
ARTIFACT FOUND
Hello, I was recently camping in Hudson, NH and upon picking up to leave I believe I found an ancient stong gouge, it is very similar to the picture on your site but has less of an indent. I would like to know if anyone knows anything about these types of artifacts. I have pictures if interested,
Thank you for your time, Nathan

EDITOR’S REPLY: There is no end of information available on these items that have been studied by archaeologists for more than half a century. Simply searching the web for the item is a good start, or contact your local archaeological society or university archaeology department. There are books on Indian artifacts in the library and, when you get deeper into the topic, publications, monographs, and reports from archeological magazines. You can contact the NH Archaeological Society if you are in NH or visit the Sagent Museum in Manchester that has a large collection or any of dozens of Native American museums in New England, hundreds across the country.