Monthly Archives: December 2016

2017 — New Hampshire’s Hourglass Has Turned

The hourglass has turned; the last few sands That marked the Old Year now have slipped away, And in his outstretched hand the New Year holds The future of a twelvemonth’s span. Then hail New Year! We bid thee welcome. … Continue reading

Posted in History, Poetry, Really Old News | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Farm Boy Who Built New Hampshire’s Only Silver Industry: Concord’s William Butler Durgin (1833-1905)

William B. Durgin’s silver flatware and serving pieces are today still very much collectible and in demand. During the company’s heyday his Fairfax silver pattern was the leading one in the entire United States. But William Butler Durgin was not … Continue reading

Posted in Genealogy, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

New Hampshire Christmas Gifts and Events of 100 Years Ago (1916)

In December of 1916, one hundred years ago, the Portsmouth (NH) Herald offered tidbits of local information along with advertisements for Christmas gifts and food. These offerings are a window into New Hampshire’s past.

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Faces of Warren Plummer & Eliza Ann (Pease) Tenney of New Hampshire and Vermont

The faces of Eliza Ann Pease and her second husband, Warren Plummer Tenney, peer out from worn and speckled photographs. These are gem-sized pictures, designed to be inserted into jewelry, that managed to remain in their paper wrappers, and were … Continue reading

Posted in Genealogy, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blog Caroling: This Time of Year

My dear friend fM’s favorite holiday tradition (she says) is Blog Caroling.  I suspect that her ritual of dressing up in flannel jammies with hot toddy in hand are as important as the musical production. Last year I presented a … Continue reading

Posted in Carnivals and Memes, History, Holidays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments