New Smuttynose Island Exhibit Reveals Hidden History

(photo courtesy Portsmouth Marine Society)

PORTSMOUTH –

The long-buried secrets of Smuttynose Island are revealed this summer in a surprising new exhibit at Discover Portsmouth, the city’s new downtown visitor center. “Under the Isles of Shoals” features artifacts unearthed in recent years by archaeology professor Nathan Hamilton and his students. Hamilton created the exhibit with historian J. Dennis Robinson who has written a companion book about the historic “dig” that continues this summer at the Isles of Shoals. The exhibit is free to the public and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from May through August 31.

 “If you think you know the Isles of Shoals, think again,” says Maryellen Burke, executive director of Discover Portsmouth. The 1810-era brick buildings, formerly the city library, have just undergone a $1 million renovation. “Dr. Hamilton’s research is literally rewriting history,” Burke says, “and you can only see it here.”

While legend claimed, for example, that Native Americans did not visit the Isles of Shoals 10 miles out to sea from Portsmouth, Hamilton’s researchers discovered six prehistoric occupations dating as far back as 6,000 years ago. Working from the Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore Island, Hamilton’s diggers also found evidence of an ancient tavern littered with thousands of clay pipe fragments dating to the 1620s. Archaeologists also turned up the remains of “great cod” that once weighed 120 pounds.

“We explore the same two acres of Smuttynose Island through five very different periods of time,” says co-curator Robinson. Once a thriving “fish factory” with hundreds of men in the late 1600s, Robinson says, the island was all but abandoned during the American Revolution.  Then in the early 1800s Smuttynose was the site of the first major hotel at the Isles of Shoals, ushering in the seacoast tourism industry that continues today.

Signed copies of Robinson’s book Under the Isles of Shoals: Archaeology & Discovery on Smuttynose Island will be available in the Discover Center gift shop. The colorful new book published by the Portsmouth Marine Society features over 180 photographs and illustrations in 176 pages.

In addition to historic artifacts, the book and exhibit feature five original illustrations by seacoast artist Bill Paarlberg. The exhibit also includes multiple slide presentations, scientific charts, a video of the diggers at work, and what Robinson calls “cool big stuff for kids.” The large objects on display include a dugout and a birch bark canoe, reconstructed “fish flakes” used to dry Atlantic cod, and a replica of the porch of the 1846 Mid-Ocean House of Entertainment that once stood on Smuttynose Island.

“You can have your picture taken at an ancient island hotel without leaving the building,” Burke says. “And you might even see a famous Smuttynose murder weapon if you look closely.”

Visitors can view Indian stone tools, rare coins, imported ceramics, early glassware, and the bones of fish and animals. Evidence shows that original settlers ate a wide variety of birds including loon, gull, duck, hawk, and the now-extinct “great auk,” a flightless bird related to the puffin. Remains of seashells from Smuttynose may help unlock the traffic patterns of colonial shipping and offer clues to global climate change. 

Sponsors of the exhibit include Smuttynose Brewing Company, SeacoastNH.com, Optima Bank, Shoals Marine Lab, Treehouse Toys, CleareyePhoto.com, Speedpro Imaging, Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, Martha Fuller Clark and Jeff Clark, Island Cruises, Independent Archaeological Consulting and Portsmouth Harbor Cruises.

The exhibit is a production of the Portsmouth Historical Society that also owns and operates the John Paul Jones House Museum nearby. The visitor center is located at the corner of Middle and Islington streets downtown. For more information on group tours, special events, and lectures contact Discover Portsmouth at 603-436-8433 or visit www.PortsmouthHistory.org.

Seven Historic Homes Open Doors for Free

PORTSMOUTH - For more than one hundred years, Historic New England has served as the region's storyteller, opening its doors to share four centuries of New England home and family life.  Historic New England celebrates the 2012 season by welcoming visitors free of charge to seven historic sites in the Piscataqua region of New Hampshire and Maine on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3. 

Travel ten miles and be transported through three centuries of New England’s history.  Discover Jackson House, the oldest surviving wooden frame home in New Hampshire, stop by Hamilton House to see its murals depicting Piscataqua’s glittering past, visit Rundlet-May House to find out what an early 1800’s high-tech kitchen looked like, and tour Lost Gardens of New England inside the Gov. John Langdon House, then step outside and enjoy the perennial flower beds and rose and grape arbor.

These seven house museums offer free tours on June 2 and June 3, 2012. All tours are first-come, first-served. Tours will begin at 11 a.m. and the last tour will start at 4 p.m.

New Hampshire:

Gilman Garrison House, Exeter, 1709

Jackson House, Portsmouth, 1664

Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, 1784

Rundlet-May House, Portsmouth, 1807

Maine:

Hamilton House, South Berwick, c. 1785

Sarah Orne Jewett House, South Berwick, 1774

Sayward-Wheeler House, York harbor, c. 1718

More information on Historic New England’s Open House can be found by visiting www.historicnewengland.org and click on Open House under the Events tab. 

Partnership created to conserve water and reduce pollution

PORTSMOUTH - Hodgson Brook Restoration Project and Great Bay Community College has partnered with the Great American Rain Barrel Company to offer rain barrels to area residents at a discount to help conserve water, reduce pollution and save homeowners money. 

Each UV protected polyethylene rain barrel is manufactured in the USA from a recycled shipping drum that stands 39" tall by 24" wide and weighs 20 lbs. empty with a wall thickness of 3/16", resulting in a rigid, heavy duty rain barrel that will last virtually forever. The barrel comes complete with overflow fittings, drain plug, screw on cover, and a threaded spigot with a choice of two ports to use with either a watering can or a garden hose. The rain barrel arrives with simple instructions for fast and easy installation.  The Great American Rain Barrel is offered in three colors; Forest Green, Earth Brown or Nantucket Gray at the low cost of $68 versus the retail price of $119.

To take advantage of this program discount please go to: www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com  and order under the Hodgson Brook Community Program link. Or email info@tgarb.com  or call (800)251-2352.

 Deadline for ordering is 5 p.m. on May 25 and orders can be picked up at Great Bay Community College on Friday, June 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. or Saturday morning June 2  between 9 to 11 a.m.

Why use rain barrels? Rain barrels reduce runoff.  Rain landing on rooftops, driveways and roads can pick up and carry pollutants into local streams and rivers. Over time this takes a toll on the fragile ecosystems that our native plant and animal communities are dependent on. Water shortage is also a growing global concern.  In New England residential water usage can increase as much as 60 percent during the spring, summer and fall seasons from outdoor watering needs such as watering gardens, lawns, filling pools and, washing cars. Barrels can offset that usage; saving homeowner’s money and helping our local communities manage water supplies. 

Funding for this project is provided in part by a Watershed Assistance Grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services with Clean Water Act Section 319 funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and through partnerships with Great Bay Community College, the city of Portsmouth and the University of New Hampshire. Additional support comes through generous donations from the Port Inn, Tighe & Bond Engineering, Newmarket International   and Rolling Green Nursery.  The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation acts as fiscal agent for the Hodgson Brook Project. (courtesy photo)

Old North End on Digital Display at Portsmouth Public Library

By Timothy Gillis

PORTSMOUTH –

May is Preservation Month, and central to the celebration is the North End project, a combined effort of the Portsmouth Public Library, the Portsmouth Athenaeum, and the Seacoast Lodge #2303 of the Sons of Italy. The partners will present their efforts to the public on May 21, at 7 p.m. in the Levenson Room of the library. They hope to show the public how to make their way around the project's website, www.portsmouthexhibits.org.

Representatives from the project will give a talk about their collection of images and personal stories from the section of town known as the North End, and the Hill.

The speakers will include Tom Hardiman, director of Portsmouth Athenaeum, Valerie Capodelupo Koloshey, and Judy Capobianco from the Lodge, and Sherm Pridham, retired city librarian who is leading their digital efforts as a volunteer. The group will speak about the project and demonstrate how to use the Athenaeum's website to explore the digital exhibit.
Last October, for Italian National Heritage month, Koloshey said she wanted to do displays of photographs at local libraries. She went to Portsmouth Library, the Portsmouth Athenaeum, and the Portsmouth Historical Society. They had next-to nothing, she said. “I decided to gather photos and stories. It's not just the homes that were lost, but a way of life too.”
The homes she refers to were those that were condemned in 1966, as part of the city’s Urban Renewal Plan. The homes were bought by imminent domain, in 1969, and then demolished in 1969 and 1970.
Phase 1 of the project is the call for photos and keepsakes of the North End. That part has been largely successful, with many images pouring in. They have not collected keepsakes or artifacts yet, Koloshey said, and the collection of images goes on, with at least 200 more expected.

Phase 2 is the videotaping of the personal stories of folks who lived in North End. “We will interview them, and hope to do so in their homes, as many of them are elderly,” Koloshey said.

The interview process starts with the same basic questions - family name, where they are from in Italy, what they did to earn their living in the North End. “We start with similar questions, but then give them leeway to tell their own stories,” Koloshey said. “We have hundreds of photos coming in.”
Phase 3 is the website. “We try to combine with Portsmouth Public Library so we don't duplicate efforts,” said Tom Hardiman,
“Because urban renewal in the 1960’s was done with federal money, new developments have to go through a 106 Review, which requires archaeological testing,” Hardiman said. “There are extra costs associated with that. If they find anything, it could slow down or derail the project.”
The old North End neighborhood had Italian markets, bakeries, cobbler shops, and restaurants, he said. Then an A & P came in, then the Portwalk Hotel and Condo. “When a Sheraton hotel was built in the 1980's, there was an extensive archaeological dig. The hotel incorporates little exhibits in the hotel from the 18th century,” he said.
“First large-scale project for the Athenaeum that is all digital," Hardiman said. “So we're able to scan the photos and give the originals back to the families.” (photo by Tim Gillis)

Spanish Students Earn Medals in National Exams

HAMPTON FALLS -

Congratulations to all the students from Heronfield Academy who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2012 National Spanish Examinations.

Students from Heronfield Academy earned a total of 6 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals along with 13 honorable mentions.  “Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with 143,641 students participating in 2012.” At Heronfield Academy this year, a total of 45 students took the test and 26 scored above the fifty percentile in the country.

Students from Heronfield Academy have a history of high achievement on these exams since opening in 2007. Spanish is taught daily at Heronfield Academy to grades 6, 7 and 8. Grammar and vocabulary are acquired through reading, writing, speaking and listening using cultural themes from Latin America and Spain. A high school student text, Asi Sedice, and short novels are used in the program. Upon leaving Heronfield Academy, most students place into 3rd year Honors Spanish classes in high school.

The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. (courtesy photo)

Renaissance Faire Celebrates Historic Ages

KINGSTON –

For two weekends in the middle of May, the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire  transports the beautiful Three Maples Farm in Kingston back to a magical time. The faire kicked off last weekend, and will be held again this weekend, May 19-20, from 10 to 5 p.m. each day at 9 Thorne Road, in Kingston.  Your family can come and enjoy the sights and sounds of medieval and renaissance times, including such activities as knight fights, known as live steel fighting, wandering minstrels, court jesters, jugglers, and even belly-dancers. Or just relax and have tea with the Queen. There are lots of food and drink items  to enjoy, or shop for period costumes and garb.

After this two weekend event, a portion of the proceeds will go to some great charities. This year the main charity is the New Hampshire Food Bank. NHRF is also raising money for First Star Tonight through their popular Wench & Lad Auction. First Start Tonight provides support for terminally-ill children, young adults and their families in the New Hampshire area. So, not only will you have a great time, you are also helping to contribute to fantastic charities. Tickets for this event are: $12.50 for adults, $8 for kids from ages 5 -12.  Kids age 4 and under will be free. For more information, please see the website at www.nhrenfaire.com. (courtesy photo)

Ride to Remember Chief Maloney and Other Officers

EPPING –

There will be a charity motorcycle ride in memory of Chief Michael Maloney and in honor of the other officers involved in the police shootings in Greenland, on May 20. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. , and the ride begins at 10 a.m. It starts at American Legion Post 51, Calef Hwy-Rt 125, in Epping. It ends in Stratham Hill Park, Rt 33 , in Stratham, around noontime.

The cost: is $20 per rider, $10 per passenger. All money raised will be donated to the

Police Relief Associations & the Chief Michael Maloney Trust.  If interested in volunteering or donating, contact the organizers via facebook or call Sue at 603-679-5190. (courtesy photo)

1st Annual Women’s Living Expo

PORTSMOUTH—

JEM Events is proud to announce its first annual Women’s Living Expo on Saturday, May 19. This event is designed for women-owned businesses and businesses that cater to women and will include health and wellness exhibits, healthy living, beauty, home décor, private readings, fantastic prizes, raffles, auction items and much more.

Admission is free. Come have a chair massage, visit a skin care specialist or have a private reading. The expo will cater to women of all ages and will benefit a great organization - BreastCancerStories.org and their MyBreastCancerSupport.org.

This is the first of its kind in the seacoast area, showcasing women-owned businesses and businesses catering to women and their specialties. People are encouraged to bring their checkbooks and credit cards to take advantage of the great deals and services available at the event. “We have an amazing range of products and services available to us by women, for women in this area,” says event coordinator Jan Merkley.

“These companies range from small in-home businesses to mid-sized companies, and to larger corporations. Seeing them all in one place opens our eyes to the choices which are right at our fingertips - but not always obvious here in the Seacoast.” But there’s much more to the Expo. Merkley also wants families to understand that it’s also a fun event that benefits a great organization so it has something for everyone. “We are honored to have been chosen as the recipient for this extraordinary event,” says Wendy McCoole, executive director for BreastCancerStories.org and MyBreastCancerSupport.org.

Women will enjoy speaking with skin care specialists, looking at beautiful jewelry, purses, wallets, and totes, candles, chocolate fondue dipping parties and many other surprises. There are also many businesses that have generously donated items or services toward the raffles and silent auctions.

This event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Campus, 100 Campus Drive, in Portsmouth.

Free Admission for Moms on Mother’s Day at Children’s Museum

DOVER-

In honor of Mother’s Day, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is offering free admission for all mothers and grandmothers on Sunday, May 13, from 12 to 5 p.m. There will also be a special creative beading activity for children who visit on Mother’s Day. Kids can make a sparkly bracelet or necklace to give as a gift to the special woman in their lives. This activity is included with paid admission ($9 each for children and adults) and free for Children’s Museum members. Dads and grandfathers will get their turn to play free on Father’s Day, June 17.

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of custom-created exhibits for hands-on family learning. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators to develop relevant programming and provide access for all. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at 603-742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org. (courtesy photo)

Historical Hampton Walk, Past and Present

HAMPTON –

The first of three historical walks of 2012 will take place Saturday, May 19, at 1 p.m. with Betty Moore and Karen Raynes taking you down memory lane in Hampton. This new walk will be about the past & present business community in Hampton. We will tour seven businesses; look into the corners and walk the creaky floors of buildings that remains vibrant after 112 years. We will hear about some lingering ghosts, who bought what in the general store and check out a still busy tavern. Meet in the High Street parking lot at 1 p.m. Reservations are requested by calling the Tuck Museum at 603-929-0781. A $10 per person fee insures future walks. Brochure of the walk is included. This is a great way to get to know your town. Sponsored by the Hampton Historical Society & the Tuck Museum. (courtesy photo)

Regatta Race to be held Sunday at Dover Point

By Sydney Jarrard
DOVER POINT -
The Great Bay Yacht Club is hosting its annual Spring Laser Regatta at Dover Point on Sunday, May 6. Proudly declaring itself “the most unpretentious yacht club in New England,” the GBYC has its roots in deep in the Seacoast and has many fierce competitors gearing up for the big race day.
The history of the Great Bay Yacht Club extends back more than half a century, beginning with a group of friends who simply loved to race boats. In the 1940s, New Hampshire native Ned McIntosh was living in Panama, and found himself busy with a boat-making hobby. This wasn’t his first time discovering his love for making boats – he built his first one at just ten years old.
Upon returning to New Hampshire, a friend suggested that McIntosh make a couple of boats for the two to race in. Before long, more and more requests were coming in for these inexpensive, well-constructed boats, which had been nicknamed “MerryMacs” because of Ned’s cheerful disposition, matched with his last name.
McIntosh and his friends began racing regularly, holding scheduled competitions on Sunday afternoons by 1954. They called themselves a “club,” and by 1958 decided to make it official by registering as a nonprofit with the state. Soon after, the club purchased a space to build docks, buildings, lockers, and porches to watch races from. Despite the lack of funding, the club came together over time, with nearly all the work being done by volunteers.
The club now boasts fifty members, who are part of the most welcoming boating club around. “The main idea for the club is just to get out there and sail,” says June Pinkham, treasurer of the club. “It’s a bunch of hardy sailors who love to get together and talk about boats and sailing.”
On May 6, the Hilton State Park in Dover will be teeming with sailors, spectators, and sailing enthusiasts for the Laser Regatta. Regattas, which are simply organized series of races, follow many rules and procedures for the safety of sailors, and this one in particular falls under the guise of The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the Laser Class Rules (ILCA), the NA Masters Rules, as well as the Notice of Race (put out by the Piscataqua Sailing Association), and the issued Sailing Instructions (SI).
In short, about twenty-five racers (depending on the weather) of all ages will launch laser sailboats at the State of New Hampshire Ramp in Hilton Park, and in a designated area of the river, race upstream. “These sailors are fierce competitors, and it’s impressive to watch their maneuvers as they race up the challenging Piscataqua currents,” says Pinkham.
Laser sailboats are lightweight fiberglass boats that are generally raced by one person, and are an extremely popular boat because of the size, portability, and storage capabilities, with the mast being in two pieces. Beyond the laser boat, it’s really about skill. “It’s one-design racing so people can only tune up their boat to a very limited amount. Anyone who doesn’t have a leak or a stretched out sail has a chance of beating the next person over, based on where you place yourself in the boat or where you have the sail and the rudder. It becomes a real game of skill and some people just know how to do it,” says Wally Johnson, a former GBYC commodore and current race committee support group member.
Racers of all skill level, from beginners to experts, will be participating. The racers will compete in five races throughout the day, and have the option of throwing out their lowest score so only the highest four are tallied, which can really help the final count. Johnson explains, “The boats are quite tippy and on a windy day, you can have a gear problem or a line get tangled and go over.” The low score resulting from capsizing can change the race’s outcome.
All laser racers begin the race at the same time and start racing into the wind, which means they have to decide the best way to sail to the destination point, about ¼ mile away. “The number one rule is don’t hit anyone else, even if you have the right of way,” says Johnson. “The next rule is to know the rules and exercise them. The important thing to know is that the rules are made to avoid collisions.” Racers will work within the guidelines to reach the destination point safely – and quickly.
The Great Bay Yacht Club regattas have drawn the interest of racers from all over New England, and several regatta racers have sailed in the Olympic trial events in Cape Cod. Because of the warm welcome of the club, people keep returning to these events. “It’s generally a fun time,” says Johnson. “We’re an old small boat club and that’s why we feel we have an obligation to promote sailing in the river and we try to have one or two regattas a year.”
Arguably, the most fun to be had on May 6 isn’t watching the race, but enjoying the cookout and awards ceremony after the competition. Friends, family, and racers will enjoy some great food and share stories about past races, and ultimately find out the winner of the day’s festivities. Says Johnson, “People will go home happy, or they’ll go home mad, but by the time they’ve had a hamburger and a glass of beer, they put away their animosities – until the next race.”

Photo caption: Sailors vie for top prize (courtesy photo)

Antique Experts Offer Appraisals in Exeter

EXETER -
Are there treasures sitting in your attic? What about that china doll from Great Aunt Tillie or Uncle Waldo’s collection of duck decoys? Learn what your special items may be worth at the American Independence Museum’s “What’s in your Attic? Antique Appraisal Day” on May 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will be held at historic Folsom Tavern, located at 164 Water Street in Exeter. Proceeds will benefit the educational programs of the American Independence Museum.
The event honors the 1985 discovery of a rare Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence that was found in the attic of the Ladd-Gilman House, c. 1721. The discovery of the 25th copy, of a possible 200 printed by John Dunlap in Philadelphia on the night of July 4, 1776, led to the museum’s creation in 1991.
“The treasure in the museum’s attic turned out to be a rare piece of American history. This event gives people the chance to discover the value and importance of their own items,” said Gail Nessell Colglazier, the museum’s executive director.
The Seacoast experts offering valuations on art, antiques, and collectibles are Caroline French, from Caroline French Antiques in Dover, Devin Moisan, also of Dover, Daniel Olmstead from Newfields, and Exeter’s John Segal of A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words. French’s specialty is jewelry and silver; Moisan and Olmstead have expertise in many areas such as furniture, dolls, guns, instruments, watches, tools, political items, bottles, Americana, and more. John Segal’s focus will be on books.
Interested parties are encouraged to bring up to five items or photographs of large items. The appraisers will verbally issue a valuation of the item and offer care tips as well. Individuals may have five items appraised for $20 or one item for $5.
Sponsors of the event are The Slater Wealth Management Group-Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Foy Insurance Group, and The Hanover Insurance Group.
The American Independence Museum, a nonprofit comprised of the Ladd-Gilman House and Folsom Tavern, is located at One Governor’s Lane in Exeter. Tours are offered seasonally from May 16 to October 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; group tours, programs and lectures, as well as the popular American Independence Festival, held on July 21 this year, round out the museum’s commitment to compelling historical education for all ages. (courtesy photo)

Discovery Center’s Opening Weekend

STRATHAM -
Make it a special day on May 5 or May 6 by visiting the Great Bay Discovery Center and at the same time stop by the annual art show. The Center is celebrating its 2012 opening season by welcoming thirty artists who will be exhibiting and selling re-imaged art and fine crafts. An exhibit of children’s art will be held in the Exhibit Room of the Discovery Center. Both the art show and the Center are free and there will also be a chance to visit the Special Collections room that opened last June.
The Center has a touch tank where you can pick up live horseshoe crabs and learn about the flounder, lobster and shellfish and other fish in the tank. There are hands-on exhibits for children and adults as well as outdoor features such as play boats, waterfront and boardwalk. It is the educational facility for the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and is funded by NOAA and administered by NH Fish and Game. The Center is open from May through September; Wednesdays – Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and in October weekends only. The grounds are open year round from dawn to dusk.
The art show is co-hosted by the Reserve and its friends group, the Great Bay Stewards. There will be sculpture, mobiles, jewelry, wooden items, decorative pieces and much more as well as a lot of raffle items. Thirty percent of all sales will be donated to the educational programs at the Center which serve over 5000 children a year. The artists’ reception is Friday evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The Center is located right off Route 33 in Stratham at 89 Depot Road. For more information about the Center and its programs, art show or friends group, please check our website at www.greatbay.org or www.greatbaystewards.org or call us at 603-778-0015.