The Baldwin Family of Pittsburg, Coos County, New Hampshire

Posted on 6 November, 2015 by Janice Brown
Baldwin's Store in Pittsburg, NH, one of Justus Baldwin's early ventures, later run by his son Frank.

Baldwin’s Store in Pittsburg, NH, one of Justus Baldwin’s merchant ventures, later run by his son Frank Baldwin.

It would be a sad event if the Baldwin family of Pittsburg New Hampshire were only remembered for their trained deer. Though owning performing deer that jumped through hoops was an interesting part of this family’s history, they had a much earlier and influential history in the town of Pittsburg, in the northern-most region of the state.

Following its brief existence as the Indian Stream Republic, and the resolution of the Canadian-American border, the town of Pittsburg, New Hampshire was incorporated in the November 1840 session of the New Hampshire legislature. The boundary line was officially recognized in 1842 with the signing of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire’s Most Celebrated Artist: Exeter’s Elizabeth Jane (Gardner) Bouguereau (1837-1922)

Posted on 2 November, 2015 by Janice Brown
Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau

Elizabeth (Gardner) Bouguereau

Elizabeth (Gardner) Bouguereau was one of the most celebrated women painters in the world. She was born in Exeter New Hampshire in the old colonial home of the Gardners, near the square. She attended the public and private schools of the town, and attended Lasell Seminary (a member of the class of 1856). There she studied drawing and painting.

After her graduation from Lasell she was one of the principals of the newly founded Worcester Academy of the Fine Arts, along with Miss M.Immogene Robinson. The school was dedicated in August of 1858 and by 1859 it focused on fine arts, classical literature and languages (English, French and German). Continue reading →

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A 2015 New Hampshire Halloween

Posted on 31 October, 2015 by Janice Brown

halloween cracker victorianWhen you have been alive for longer than a half-century, you tend to have plenty of  memories. Halloween used to be one of my very favorite days.  But then I grew up in a time when celebrating that holiday was less worrisome and more playful.

While growing up in the early 1950s, costumes were always home-made, as were the goody bags we carried.  Each child had the responsibility to think up a character and then to find all the costume pieces, or make the props from every day items. We were sailors, and nurses, paupers and princesses. A few of us were even monsters, though that was not the majority.  No one worried that their children might be kidnapped, or that someone would give out harmful candy.  The worst treat might be an apple instead of a candy bar.  Once you got home, we would spread the candy out like a blanket and swap with our siblings for the preferred sweets. Continue reading →

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Ghastly and Ghostly Halloween Stories Gleaned from Old New Hampshire Newspapers

Posted on 29 October, 2015 by Janice Brown

With Halloween quickly approaching in the Granite State, many thoughts turn to ghouls,

A ghoul, from "The Giant Crab and Other Old Tales from India," by W. H. D. Rouse, 1897

A ghoul, from “The Giant Crab and Other Old Tales from India,” by W. H. D. Rouse, 1897

ghost, skeletons, and everything haunted or creepy.  This need to scare ourselves silly is not a modern day occurrence.  In looking back to the ancient newspapers, reporting strange happenings were probably more prevalent–evidence of the early “sensationalism” of the press to increase subscriptions.

In a prior year I wrote about Haunted Houses in New Hampshire and nearby places.  I have also written about strange hauntings, body snatchings, haunted New Hampshire history, and really bad poetry.   Here is a link to a recap of them all.  Meanwhile, I hope you will enjoy the strange, and sometimes gruesome humor in the following real stories gleaned from New Hampshire newspapers. Continue reading →

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Ezra T. Rumery: Carpenter of Strafford, New Hampshire (1805-1865)

Posted on 25 October, 2015 by Janice Brown
Rumery ET watermarked

Ezra T. Rumery (1805-1865)

 

Ezra T. Rumery was born in Effingham, New Hampshire, and lived in Strafford County New Hampshire, locations that is to this day, are still very much rural.  He was a carpenter, and his son (and namesake) apprenticed with him to learn the trade. Carpentry in the Civil War years could cover everything from house building to ship building.

Ezra’s ancestors were from Maine, and for at least a few generations, none of them lived too far from the sea.  He died in May of 1865, a month after the end of the Civil War, of consumption. Continue reading →

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