1st New Hampshire Regiment to visit the Col. Paul Wentworth House

ROLLINSFORD—
Are you curious about New Hampshire’s important role in the American Revolution? Want to learn more? During the weekend of Aug. 28-29th, the Colonel Paul Wentworth House located at 47 Water Street in Rollinsford is hosting an encampment of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment, whose members will recreate the lives of Revolutionary War soldiers and their families with military drills and firing demonstrations, campfire cooking, and other authentic activities.
Only a few weeks after war broke out at Lexington and Concord, the 1st New Hampshire Regiment was organized in May 1775 from Rockingham and Hillsborough counties. Under the command of John Stark, its first battle was only a month later at Bunker Hill, one of the bloodiest engagements of the Revolution. During its service, the 1st NH Regiment also served under General Washington during the legendary “Crossing of the Delaware,” fought at the crucial battle of Saratoga in 1777, and survived the deadly winter at Valley Forge.
On Saturday, Aug. 28, the military camp opens to the public by 10 a.m., when visitors will see new recruits mustered into the regiment and local children will also have the opportunity to “enlist” and learn basic military maneuvers from the colonial period. After an authentic lunch, the 1st NH Regiment will conduct an artillery drill and fire their cannon beginning at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., the regiment will recreate a military court-martial for one unlucky soldier! A sham battle, which was used to train new soldiers before they experienced the chaos of combat, will envelop the grounds of the Wentworth House at 4 p.m., and the military camp closes to the public at 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday morning at 9 a.m., a colonial “Church Call” will be held in camp and is open to the public. Recruiting, drill, and firing demonstrations will transport visitors back in time once again, at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. before the regiment strikes camp at 3 p.m.
Guided tours of the Wentworth House will also be offered to the public on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Originally built by Colonel Paul Wentworth at the dawn of the eighteenth century, the impressive structure was moved to Massachusetts during the 1930s and recently made a triumphant return to Rollinsford, where it stands only a short distance from its original site near the Salmon Falls River. Today, the Wentworth House remains one of the finest and historically significant colonial homes in New Hampshire and a local treasure not to be missed. This event is open to the public at no charge thanks to the Association of Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH), which facilitates entertaining and educational programs for all ages at the Wentworth House. For more information on this event and others in the near future, please visit our website www.paulwentworthhouse.org or call 603-742-4747. We look forward to seeing you there!
Photo caption: The 1st NH Regiment will be at an encampment at the Wentworth House in Rollinsford (Courtesy photo)

High Waters

By Chip Schrader
Book Review Editor
Many people might assume the book “Role Models” would be film maker John Waters’ attempt to enter high culture. But, those who are familiar with Waters’ celluloid schlock and guffaw antics know better. Ironically, Waters’ trademark cinema of “bad taste” has been elevated to high culture in many circles.
Waters begins his iconography with meeting the inimitable Johnny Mathis. There are many parallels that Waters draws between himself and Mathis, and many stark differences. While Mathis is only rumored to be a homosexual, Waters has been out for decades. They seem to have an appreciation for art, music, and literature. However, Waters admits he’d be embarrassed to have Mathis look at the books on his bookshelf, or the subject matter of the paintings and photographs he hangs on his walls, and feels his liking of Provincetown might be seen as distasteful to the more discrete Mathis, but then again, maybe not. The contrasts of these two men bring a sense of irony to their meeting for this book.
Tennessee Williams is another off-center icon that Waters has followed. In contrast to Mathis, Waters knows that Williams would be more at home with his sensibilities for the profane and the obscure, but perhaps Waters’ most shocking connection is with former Manson family member Leslie Van Houten.
Waters once had a morbid fanfare for the court trials of the Manson family, and had attended some of the trials. He eventually wrote a letter to Van Houten, and as time came along they became friends. Waters’ moves into the murky territories of innocence and guilt, childhood naiveté and morality with criminal justice. Neither Waters, nor the latter day Van Houten are forgiving or condoning of the murders, nor is there much slack given for her participation. But, Waters pointedly mentions Nazi war criminals had served less time than she, and the brainwashing and fearful environment didn’t seem too different from the Manson commune. To say the least he gets readers thinking in directions we are reluctant to go.
This book seems to have all of the ingredients that Waters tends to combine. Stereotypical people who beautifully fit their stereotypes, filth, wealth, poverty, and people who break every stereotype for their demographic. An example of an anti-stereotype, Waters tells the story of a lesbian burlesque dancer who collected welfare, used drugs and was a registered Republican. Waters loves contradiction just as much as he does simplicity, and it all fits together so well in his work.
As we learn the origin of his pencil mustache, his ill-fitted clothing, his LSD consumption, and his love of oddities and campy kitsch, Baltimore and Hollywood are both three ring circuses and John Waters is the ringmaster, and makes no apologies. As far as his movies go, “Pink Flamingos” is only suitable for the most daring movie goers with its many perverse juxtapositions of humanity while “Serial Mom,” “Hairspray,” “Cecil B. Demented,” and “Pecker” are gems that any filmgoer with an eye for the offbeat would happily devour.
With “Role Models,” John Waters acts as equal parts sociologist, tabloid writer, and peeping Tom without a strain or awkward leap. Like his many films, “Role Models” is a guilty pleasure worthy of a million cringes. Highly Recommended!
Photo caption: The cover of John Waters’ “Role Models” (Amazon.com image)

Dover Transportation Issues: Public Forum

DOVER—
The City of Dover and Transportation Advisory Commission will hold a forum at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, to seek public input on transportation and the City’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The public forum, which will be held in the auditorium at City Hall, allows residents to address the Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) about any issues or problems with transportation and suggest improvements for possible inclusion in the City’s CIP in future years. The forum will also address neighborhood traffic and parking needs, in addition to citywide issues. The meeting is intended to provide TAC with input about transportation and safety issues. City staff will also be in attendance. For more information, contact Bruce Woodruff, City Planner, at 603-516-6008.