Manchester NH’s Harriman Park Namesake: WW1 Casualty 2nd Lieut. Lynn Harold Harriman (1892-1918)

Posted on 25 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

Harriman Park is located at the corners of Hall Street and Lake Avenue.  The park was

View of Harriman Park in Manchester, New Hampshire

View of Harriman Park in Manchester, New Hampshire

originally smaller and called Wilson Road Square. In June of 1905 the City Council voted to purchase adjacent land from Emma S. Richards. In February of 1906 the same Council voted that this new land would be added to the former land as a public park and the same kept for ornament and recreation. The Council also voted to rename the park East Side Park. Continue reading →

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Manchester NH’s First Casualty of WW1: Pvt. Henry John Sweeney (1897-1918)

Posted on 24 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

Henry J. Sweeney is a name fairly well known to many of the citizens of Manchester,

Bust of Pvt. Henry J. Sweeney in Manchester NH's Sweeney Park

Bust of Pvt. Henry J. Sweeney in Manchester NH’s Sweeney Park

New Hampshire.  The Henry J. Sweeney Post (American Legion) is active in the city, and the park of the same name on Manchester’s west side (South Main Street) is well kept and popular.

What most people don’t realize is that Henry John Sweeney grew up very close to the park the bears his name–first at 89 Fourth  Street (1902-1907) and then in the large tenement building at 74 Clinton Street.  (1908-1911).  The family did not move to the Douglas Street address until 1914. Continue reading →

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Manchester New Hampshire: Veterans Park and Monuments

Posted on 23 May, 2014 by Janice Brown
Civil War Soldier's Monument from old postcard, Manchester NH

Civil War Soldier’s Monument from old
postcard, located at Veterans Park (now called)
in Manchester NH

Manchester New Hampshire’s VETERANS PARK is located at Elm and Merrimack Streets. Originally named Park Square, it was called Merrimack Park in 1859 and was the scene of a fireman’s muster. At that time the square contained an artificial pond that was supplied water via a culvert from “Mile Brook” on Oak Hill (the pond was later filled in).  It was also known as Merrimack Common and Merrimack Square.  In 1879 when a Civil War monument was finalized, the area was often called Monument Square. Continue reading →

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Manchester New Hampshire’s Pulaski Park: Honoring Brig. General Casimir Polaski

Posted on 23 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

On the 22nd of September 1933, the lovely park formerly known as Tremont Common,

Postcard of Pulaski equestrian statue, Manchester New Hampshire.

Postcard of Pulaski equestrian statue, Manchester New Hampshire.

located between Pine and Union Streets, was officially renamed Pulaski Park. Several petitions had been drawn previously, and the project had the approval of Manchester’s significant Polish-American population. Pulaski refers to of course, Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolution, and one of the most highly recognized heroes of that time.

On October 12, 1933 dedication ceremonies were arranged, and took place with about 2,000 Polish-American residents in attendance. City officials, school children and military bands made the day a special one, with a dance following at the Cocoanut Grove ballroom. Continue reading →

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Manchester NH’s Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient: Sgt. Henry F.W. Little (1842-1907)

Posted on 22 May, 2014 by Janice Brown
Photograph of Henry F.W. Little during wartime, from "The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion," by Henry F.W. Little.

Photograph of Henry F.W. Little during wartime, from “The
Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion,” by Henry F.W. Little.

Henry F. W. Little (June 27, 1842 – February 7, 1907) was a Sergeant in the 7th New Hampshire Infantry, Union Army, and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. The citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States of America, [then Ulysses S. Grant] in the name of Congress,takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Henry F. W. Little, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on September, 1864, while serving with Company D, 7th New Hampshire Infantry, in action at Richmond, Virginia, for gallantry on the skirmish line.
General Orders: Date of Issue: January 14, 1870
Action Date: September, 1864
Service: Army
Rank: Sergeant
Company: Company D
Division: 7th New Hampshire Infantry Continue reading →

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