New Hampshire’s Post Road and Post Office History

Posted on 8 July, 2014 by Janice Brown

Today much of our communication is transmitted electronically. It was only a few decades ago that all of our correspondence, documents, and bills were delivered by human hand to our doorsteps. In colonial America, post roads influenced what people knew about current events, and houses along this road were considered prime real estate.  By ‘post road, ‘ I mean those byways specifically designated for the delivery of  mail or correspondence.

These roads were different from those of the New Hampshire turnpike system that I have written about previously.  The history of New Hampshire’s (and America’s) post roads is older than that of the United States Post Office.   Continue reading →

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When Windham NH Toasted the Fourth of July in 1825

Posted on 4 July, 2014 by Janice Brown

Re-enactment Rev battleOn Monday the 49th Anniversary of American Independence was celebrated at Windham with the usual demonstrations of joy, gratitude, and festivity. In consequence of the unfavorable weather in the forenoon many who had intended to join in the celebration were prevented.

But having cleared up about noon–a large assembly had collected by one o’clock P.M. from that and the neighboring towns. A procession was formed and conducted to the meeting house by Capt. Perkins A. Hodge, Marshal of the day–The exercised were–the declaration of Independence read by Samuel Armor Esq.–Prayer by The Rev. Samuel Harris–Oration by Isaac McGaw Esq. Ode composed for the occasion by the “Rustic Bard” and sung by the choir belonging to Windham.

Continue reading →

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Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient: Piermont NH’s Nathaniel Churchill Barker (1836-1904)

Posted on 2 July, 2014 by Janice Brown
A sketch of Sergeant Nathaniel C. Barker from Boston Herald (Boston MA), Thursday, October 14, 1897, page 9.

A sketch of Sergeant Nathaniel C. Barker from Boston Herald (Boston MA) in 1897, when he received his Medal of Honor.

The town of Piermont is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding this year (2014).   According to the Gazeteer of Grafton County NH by Hamilton Child, in 1880 Piermont had a population of 752 souls. By 2010 it had only 38 more residents for a total of 790.

Nathaniel Churchill Barker was born in that tiny New Hampshire town on 28 September 1836, the son of carpenter, Samuel Barker and his wife Sally Jackson. He received at least a basic education in the local schools before his family moved to Manchester, NH, evidenced by the diaries that he kept during the Civil War. Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded to date, 1522 were awarded during the American Civil War. One of these recipients was Nathaniel C. Barker.  Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Glossary: Steeplejack (and Steeplejill)

Posted on 29 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

A chance encounter with a blog story about a Baltimore Steeplejack suddenly raised my

DETAIL OF CUPOLA - South Meeting House, Meeting House Hill, facing Marcy Street, Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH; HABS, Library of Congress.

DETAIL OF CUPOLA – South Meeting House, Meeting House Hill, facing Marcy Street, Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH; HABS, Library of Congress.

awareness of an interesting New England occupation–a steeplejack.  And yes, I know steeples can be found outside of the northeast, but we probably have more per capita. If you think of the typical, quintessential New Hampshire town, in your mind’s eye you envision at least one white church spire.

From the moment that the first church steeple was erected in New Hampshire, so came the need for men to repair or replace them.  It was dangerous work in a day without cranes or sturdy metal ladders.  Continue reading →

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Manchester NH’s Hot Dog Kings: The Schoenland Family

Posted on 25 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

Today we still know it as frankfurter, dog, hotdog, frank, sausage, wiener, pig in a blanket, bowwow, or wiener-wurst. Growing up in Manchester, New Hampshire, and in

W.F. Schonland & Son's building on Blaine Street in Manchester NH, circa 1950. Photo by Peter C. Used with permission.

W.F. Schonland & Son building on Blaine Street in Manchester NH, circa 1950. Photo by Pete Caikauskas Sr. Used with permission of family (Dave Caikauskas).

many other parts of New England, we also called them Schonland’s franks.  Even though they are now produced and sold by Kayem Foods who purchased the brand in 1987, their products still have the family name of Schonland on the package.

The Schonland hotdog itself is probably better known than the actual people who first produced it.  The Kayem history states that Schonland franks and sausages “have graced” our tables since 1883. That is the date when the Schonland company was officially created.  But the expertise in curing and making sausage and hotdogs goes back to Germany before 1855. Continue reading →

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