Manchester NH’s Casualty of D-Day: Sgt. T/4 Charles William Blanchard (1922-1944)

Posted on 3 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

It is estimated that 2,500 Americans and 3,000 other Allied troops died on D-Day,”

Charles W. Blanchard as a young man. Photograph property of Judith Hardy, his great-niece, used with her permission.

Charles W. Blanchard as a young man. Photograph property of Judith Hardy, his grand-niece, used with her permission.

according to the D-Day Museum. Among them was a 21-year old Manchester man, Charles William Blanchard.

He was the only son of Harry Dwight & Agnes (Johnson) Blanchard, born 18 August 1922 in Manchester, Hillsborough Co., NH.  He grew up at 139 Knowlton Street (1930) and at 121 Oakdale Avenue (1940+). He attended local Manchester schools and was a high school graduate (probably of Central High School). Charles W. Blanchard enlisted on 6 November 1942 and was inducted into the U.S. Army on the 20th of the same month. He was assigned to HQ Company 175th Infantry. Continue reading →

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WW2 Army Yankee Division Casualty in France: PFC James H. Basquil (1922-1944)

Posted on 2 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

James H. Basquil was born 12 January 1922 in Manchester New Hampshire to Irish

Photograph of James H. Basquil (1922-1944)

Photograph of James H. Basquil (1922-1944), son of James & Nora (Kelley) Basquil.

immigrants, James & Nora (Kelley) Basquil.  His father James had been born in Couty Mayo Ireland, and arrived in America about 1911.  James met, then married Nora Kelley in Manchester in 1916. They both became naturalized citizens of the United States and began to raise a family.

When James was born, the family was living at 398 Cedar Street [which is only a few blocks from Sheehan-Basquil Park]. Tragedy struck the Basquil family when his mother Nora died suddenly, on the day after Christmas in 1926–James was only 4 years old.  The children were placed in orphanages, at least for a while.  In 1930 James Basquil, along with his brothers Lewis and Edward can be found in St. Joseph’s Boy’s Home in Manchester, while his sister is at St. Patrick’s Orphanage.  By 1940 the Basquil children were back living with their father James at 335 Lake Avenue. The then 18-yearo-old James H. Basquil had completed four years of high school at St. Joseph’s, and was listed as being a “NH Arts & Crafts Student NYA School Project.” [The NYA was a federal program to provide youth with employment]. Continue reading →

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U.S. Airmail Service Casualty: Manchester NH’s 2nd Lieut. Jean Donat Grenier (1909-1934)

Posted on 30 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

Jean Donat Grenier was born in  November 24 1909 in Manchester, New Hampshire,

2nd Lieut Jean Donat Grenier, photograph credited to the United States Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Alabama; reel B2243. (Thank you Tom Hildreth)

2nd Lieut Jean Donat Grenier, photograph credited to the United States Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Alabama; reel B2243. (Thank you Tom Hildreth)

the son of Canadian immigrants, Alphonse and Ursula Nora (Gadbois) Grenier. He grew up at 302 Cartier Street, and then later 370 Rimmon Street, receiving an elementary education at Hevey School.  He graduated from West High School in 1926, and went on to attend the University of New Hampshire, where he was active in sports.

He was an acclaimed boxer at UNH, winning most bouts during three years of varsity competition, fighting in the 160-pound class.  He was elected co-captain of the boxing team under Coach Pal Reed, with his brother Jacques (who was later director of athletics at Middletown, CT).  While at UNH Jean Grenier held the state amateur boxing championship in the 160-pound class, and earned three boxing letters at UNH for the years 1928, 1929 and 1930. Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, History, Military of New Hampshire, Military Squares, New Hampshire Aviation, New Hampshire Men | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Not New Hampshire: Italian-born Sculptor, Joseph Arthur Coletti (1898-1973)

Posted on 28 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

Cow Hampshire readers may be surprised to see me writing about someone who was neither born nor lived in the State of New Hampshire. On occasion I happen across a

Passport photograph of Joseph A. Coletti in 1923.

Passport photograph of Joseph A. Coletti in 1923.

name or event that ties into a story that I am writing, and believe that if I am curious to learn more, that others also will. Such is the case with the artist sculptor by the name of Joseph Arthur Coletti.

His connection to New Hampshire, is through the statue of Ferdinand Gagnon at Lafayette Park in Manchester, which he created. I will be posting addition links to more of his works later in this story. It is his only work located here (in New Hampshire).
Continue reading →

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Manchester New Hampshire’s Lafayette Park

Posted on 27 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

The first mention of Manchester, New Hampshire’s Lafayette Park, can be found in the

Likeness from The Life of General Lafayette, Marquis of France, General in the U.S. Army, Etc. Etc., by P.C. Headley, New York and Auburn, Miller Orton & Mulligan, NY, 1855

Likeness of Lafayette from “The Life of General Lafayette, Marquis of France, General in the U.S. Army, Etc. Etc.,” by P.C. Headley, New York and Auburn, Miller Orton & Mulligan, NY, 1855

1903 Receipts and Expenditures of the City of Manchester (NH), when it is stated: “Extensive improvements were made at Lafayette Park which came into possession of the city through the generosity of the Amoskeag Manufacturing company. Edgestones were set, gutters paved and concrete walks laid on the sides of the park and a commencement made in grading the same. Total amount expended $1,000.00.” Lafayette Park is located on the west side of the city near the current day Catholic Medical Center (formerly called Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital).

In 1824 and 1825 when Lafayette revisited the United States, he spent a brief time in New Hampshire, but did not visit this park.  I have found some references that infer that he visited Manchester during his second visit to the Amoskeag Tavern, however I could not find any primary evidence of same.

Continue reading →

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