Merrimack New Hampshire Goes Seismic

Posted on 6 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

You would not think of bucolic Merrimack, New Hampshire as being in the epicenter of

The public seismograph at the Merrimack (NH) Public Library. Photo courtesy of the library.

The public seismograph at the Merrimack (NH) Public Library. Photo courtesy of the library.

earthquakes–but it is now, sort of.  The town’s public library now (as of April 4, 2014) owns New Hampshire’s first and only public seismograph.  The Merrimack Public Library is also the first library to participate in the Boston College Educational Seismology Project (BC-ESP).

Because of the generosity of many donors, the library has completely paid for this project. I stopped in to make my own donation, and get a personal tour.

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Manchester NH Casualty of Vietnam War: Colonel Gerald R. Helmich (1931-1969)

Posted on 5 May, 2014 by Janice Brown
Photograph of Gerald J. Helmich recognition plaque, located in Manchester NH at the corners of -- and -- Streets. Copyright of Martin Miccio for the City of Manchester, and used here with permission.

Photograph of Gerald R. Helmich recognition plaque, located in Manchester NH at the corners of Second and West Hancock Streets. Copyright of Martin Miccio for the City of Manchester, and used here with permission.

A plaque near the Queen City Bridge, on the SW corner of Second & West Hancock Streets, in Manchester, New Hampshire reads: “COL. GERALD R. HELMICH. Born November 17, 1931. MIA November 12, 1969. Vietnam Pilot USAF. ” On Memorial Day 1999, the city of Manchester erected a memorial plaque to Colonel Helmich.

Many pass by the marker, probably wondering about Colonel Hemlich. His story is long overdue.  It is mostly due to a friend, Donn R. Inglis, that we remember “Jerry” today in this way.

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Manchester NH Civic Leader and Officer Candidate: S/Sgt. John J. Sullivan (1907-1942)

Posted on 3 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

On 4 April 1950 an ordinance was passed “establishing John J. Sullivan Square in

Photograph of John J. Sullivan recognition plaque, located in Manchester NH at the corners of Massabesic Street and Valley Street. Copyright of Martin Miccio for the City of Manchester, and used here with permission.

Photograph of John J. Sullivan recognition
plaque, located in Manchester NH at the corners
of Massabesic Street and Spruce Street.
Copyright of Martin Miccio for the City of Manchester,
and used here with permission.

East Manchester… where Massabesic Street and Spruce Street intersects,” and was signed by Mayor Josaphat T. Benoit.   John J. Sullivan did not die in battle, as many of the other square honorees did.  However his overall service to the City of Manchester, and the sudden tragedy of his death at the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston, shocked and saddened many city residents.

His plaque reads: “”S/SGT. JOHN J. SULLIVAN. BORN FEB. 26, 1907. DIED NOV. 29, 1942. MEMBER 165th QUARTERMASTER CO. AVIATION U.S. ARMY.”
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New Hampshire’s First to Die during Korean War: Manchester’s PFC Roger B. Cote (1930-1950)

Posted on 1 May, 2014 by Janice Brown

In March of 1951, Mayor Josaphat T. Benoit and Board of Alderman passed an ordinance,

Photograph of Roger B. Cote recognition plaque, located in Manchester NH at the corners of Massabesic Street and Valley Street. Copyright of Martin Miccio for the City of Manchester, and used here with permission.

Photograph of Roger B. Cote recognition plaque, located in Manchester NH at the corners of Massabesic Street and Valley Street. Copyright of Martin Miccio for the City of Manchester, and used here with permission.

as follows: “That the Square located in East Manchester where Valley Street and Massabesic Street intersects, be officially designated and known on all official records and maps of the City of Manchester as “Roger B. Cote Square.”  A metal sign was created as part of the ongoing “Military Squares” recognition. On June 17, 1951 the marker was placed, and a city-sponsored ceremony held with family present.

The sign reads: “PFC ROGER B. COTE. Born August 4, 1930. Killed in Korea Sept 1, 1950.”  I have been honored to be able to speak with members of Roger’s family who still live in the Manchester area, who gave me additional insight into Roger’s life and death.  I would like to especially thank Roger’s sister Rita (Cote) Brunelle who provided me with his photograph, and his brother Arnold and  cousin Raymond Cote for sharing remembrances.

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Manchester New Hampshire’s Military Squares and other Memorials

Posted on 29 April, 2014 by Janice Brown

Whether you walk, or drive through Manchester New Hampshire’s neighborhoods, it is impossible to not become aware of the many statues, markers and commemoratives (such as named parks or buildings) dedicated to its military heroes. With Memorial Day (May 26, 2014) quickly approaching, it is timely for me to focus on some of these.

Who shall chide us, if we in like spirit set apart one day in every year to twine our wreaths for our dead who died in battle; died not for aggrandizement by aggressive warfare; but for the preservation of national life and liberty? Who shall chide us if we pause one hour in a year to read the inscriptions on their monuments, or to drop a tear upon “nameless” graves? Not because we love them more than the rest of our dead, but because we also love the land for which they died. [Memorial Day Oration, City Hall, Dover NH by Rev. Leander S. Coan, May 26, 1876].

Stark Cemetery at Manchester NH's Stark Park. Photograph by Janice W. Brown

Stark Cemetery at Manchester NH’s Stark Park. Photograph by Janice W. Brown

Besides the larger statues and monuments, there are a number of smaller plaques that have been placed in “squares” or on public plots of land within the city limits of Manchester, New Hampshire, that we can call “Military Squares.”

In order to fully document them, first it is necessary to list them, which I will try to do with this story. If you are aware of others, or are aware of Manchester men and women who have lost their lives while in military service, please contact me, or leave a message here.
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Posted in History, Military of New Hampshire, Military Squares, N.H. Historical Markers, New Hampshire Men | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments