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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The Nurse from Milton Mills, New Hampshire: Flora N. Runnels (1866-1960)

Posted on 31 August, 2015 by Janice Brown
Written on the back of the photograph: "Flora n. Runnels, Milton Mills, Strafford Co., N.H."

Written on the back of the photograph: “Flora n. Runnels, Milton Mills, Strafford Co., N.H.”

She has a fairly plain face, intelligent dark eyes, curly hair. She wears the pinstriped frock of a nurse over her dark dress. Her collar is tightly and demurely closed with a pin.  The name of the woman in the photograph is Flora N. Runnels.  I should also add here that it turns out (yes again!) that she is a cousin, albeit distant, from me.

I would have liked to learn more about her, but information is lean. She was born in Acton Maine, and by 1880 she was 13 years old and living in Milton Mills, New Hampshire with her parents Isaac and Mary along with several siblings. Census records show that she graduated from high school, not a small feat for women of her time in a farm family. Possibly she took classes or courses for nursing, but sometimes women became adept by watching other women. Continue reading →

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