Remembering Grandparents Day 2015: Clarence Leroy Webster (1882-1969)

Posted on 13 September, 2015 by Janice Brown
Tin-type photograph of Clarence L. Webster circa 1882

Tin-type photograph of Clarence L. Webster circa 1882

National Grandparents Day falls each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The creation of this recognition day was a labor of love for Mrs. Marian Lucille (Herndon) McQuade of West Virginia. In the past I’ve focused on my grandmothers, so this time I am writing about the only grandfather that I actually knew.

“Gramp,” as I called him, was born Clarence Leroy Webster in Canisteo, Steuben County, New York in 1882 to Isaac and Anna Lee (Smith) Webster. His mother died when he was 6 years old. His father remarried when he was 12 years old, and within a few years, while still of a tender age, he was pretty much shown the door and told to fend for himself. Continue reading →

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NH Tidbits: The History of Chicken Tenders

Posted on 9 September, 2015 by Janice Brown
PHOTOGRAPH © Dbvirago | Dreamstime.com - Chicken Strips With Hot Pepper Sauce Photo

PHOTOGRAPH © Dbvirago | Dreamstime.com – Chicken Strips With Hot Pepper Sauce Photo

I beg my regular blog followers to forgive me for delving into such a light-battered topic.  After writing an article on the origin of fried clams, a reader asked me if the Puritan Back Room restaurant of Manchester, NH invented chicken tenders. As you know I try to write truthfully, even if it my story dispels long-held myths dear to the hearts of New Hampshirites [or New Hampshiremen and women].

The item or product in question is described as thin strips of coated, fried chicken. The same item has been called by various names, including chicken tenders, chicken fingers, chicken strips, chicken tempura, and chicken nuggets (in the smaller rounded size). The problem with researching this topic is due to both semantics and preparation. Continue reading →

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The Father of Labor Day: Manchester New Hampshire’s George McGuire aka Maguire (1857-1913)

Posted on 5 September, 2015 by Janice Brown
photo george Mcquire from Van Den Berghe 1 watermarked

Photograph of George McGuire’s tombstone in Piscataquog Cemetery, Manchester NH, courtesy of Pat Van Den Berghe

The tombstone of George McGuire sits in Manchester, New Hampshire’s Piscataquog Cemetery on Bowman Street with the engraving “Father of Labor Day.”  Several newspapers throughout the United States, dated in November of 1913, announced with headlines: FATHER OF LABOR DAY IS DEAD, referring to this George McGuire. This same George McGuire (aka Maguire) was active in the cigar labor union, and  was more than once appointed chairman of the Labor Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts.  And yet two other McGuires are given the honor of being called the “official” founder of Labor Day. Continue reading →

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Not New Hampshire: Henry Prince Nourse, 4th Great Grandson of Rebecca (Town) Nurse

Posted on 3 September, 2015 by Janice Brown
NURSE Henry Prince watermarked

Henry Prince Nourse of Salem MA (1862-1928). This photograph is dated to the 1870-80s.

A handsome young man named Henry Prince Nourse stares out from this lovely tin-type photograph.He was not from New Hampshire, but the pose was charming enough that I bought it, to write about him.

“He did not fall far from the tree,” as the saying goes, as he was born in 1862 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, the son of Aaron and Harriet Matilda (Kimball) Nourse.  He was also the 4th great-grandson of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse who was murdered, after being convicted of witchcraft, during the so-called “Salem Witchcraft Trials.”

Continue reading →

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Temperance and the Good Templars in Manchester New Hampshire

Posted on 1 September, 2015 by Janice Brown

Merrimac Good Templars watermarkedI came across a curious Victorian invitation card, that I share with you now.  It shows a pensive-looking, blond woman, cloaked on a winter’s night. The card reads: “Compliments of Merrimack Lodge, No. 5, I.O G.T. Valentine Party, Feb. 14, ’87.” Following some research it is apparent that this notecard was generated in 1887 by the International Order of Good Templars, specifically the Merrimack Lodge, which was located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Continue reading →

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