New Hampshire Missing Places: Camp Otter in Pittsburg, Coos County

View of Camp Otter from the water, from an old post card, Pittsburg, NH

View of Camp Otter from the water, from an old post card, Pittsburg, NH

“Every once in a while it is nice to get away . . . from the discontent of big cities and tramp through the mountains, gun in hand, with none but the birds, the trees, the fallen leaves, the lilt of trickling streams and the strange noises that only a forest can produce for companions.

This place is within a stone’s throw of the Canadian border, up beyond the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. Here hills roll in great waves, receding into the blue haze of distance. Down in the valleys are lakes of the purest water. Upon the peaks winter has already donned its white caps of snow. Through the valleys the wind whistles and bites, even through flannel shirt, red undies, two sweaters and hunting coat.”

These words were written in 1939 by the famed Boake Carter, [printed in The Ogden Standard-Examiner] national news commentator and writer, about a trip he made to the  town of Pittsburg, New Hampshire.  He stayed at Camp Otter, and he describes his adventure, with hunting guide, “Long Tom” Currier as follows:

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A Child of The Civil War: Nettie Dimond of Manchester NH (1864-1916)

Gem sized tin type photograph of Nettie Dimond of Manchester NH

Gem sized tin type photograph of Nettie Dimond of Manchester NH

The sweet face of Nettie Alberta Dimond looks out from the delicate, gem-sized tintype photograph. In her arms she holds a doll, probably one considered a China doll, with a glazed porcelain china head.  Unglazed dolls were called Parian dolls. Most China dolls had molded painted hair, as Nettie’s doll does. Continue reading

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New Hampshire Tidbits: Manners and Customs of Olden Time [1760s]

A colonial kitchen fireplace. From "Colonial Life in New Hampshire," by

A colonial kitchen fireplace. From “Colonial Life in New Hampshire,” by James H. Fassett, 1899.

It may be amusing and entertaining to have some account of the customs and manner of living, of the people, sixty-five, seventy, and seventy-five years ago [i.e. 1760’s]. As to what took place in sea-port towns, and places which had a dense population, I can give no account; but in the town where I was brought up, (which I suppose was not materially different from the general state of other country towns) I will attempt to describe. Continue reading

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The face of Claremont New Hampshire’s Mary Farrar Jones (1789-1879)

Mary Farrar Jones of Barre MA and Claremont NH

Mary Farrar Jones of Barre MA and Claremont NH

Mary Farrar Jones gazes out at you from the photograph. It was taken at the Stephen Piper Photography Studio in Manchester, New Hampshire, between 1866 and 1879, when she died. (The Piper photography studio opened in 1866 and continued until 1887). She wears a well made post-Civil War dress, with a cameo at her throat. Her hat seems to be that style worn starting in 1858 and later.

She would have been between 77 and 90 years of age, depending on the exact date of the photograph. Her face is greatly wrinkled, and her expression placid. Her dress may have been black, as it seems dark, but it could also have been brown or a dark blue or green. Her husband, Ezra Jones died in 1841. Normally black mourning clothes would be worn for a full two years following the death of a spouse, however it could also be worn longer. Her dress, if black, would have been typical of a mourning dress worn at that time.  Her waist was small, indicative of her wearing a corset.

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Concord New Hampshire’s Odd Fellows’ Home now Presidential Oaks

Mattie and Clarence Webster of Reeds Ferry, NH as I remember them.

Mattie and Clarence Webster of Reeds Ferry, NH as I remember them. She was a school teacher, and he was station agent and telegraph operator for the B&M Railroad in Merrimack NH.

I have a personal connection to Presidential Oaks located at 200 Pleasant Street in Concord, New Hampshire–my grandfather, Clarence Webster, died there in 1969.  It was called the Odd Fellows’ Home back then, and he was really happy to be able to live there in his last years. At that time the residents were mostly Odd Fellows like himself.  He felt very connected to that organization, and to his “Brothers.” He made sure we knew how wonderful the staff there were to him.

The building that he resided in was the newer (current) one.  There have been two completely different ‘home’complexes–one built and dedicated in June of 1887, and a second one dedicated in June of 1932 when the first had become outdated and outgrown.  Gramp proudly said that he had contributed funds through his local I.O.O.F to help build the place.  Continue reading

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