New Hampshire’s First Female Aviator, Well-Known Photographer and Philanthropist: Bernice Blake Perry (1905-1996)

Posted on 28 March, 2013 by Janice Brown

Bernice Gertrude Blake was born in Manchester, New Hampshire

Bernice Blake Perry, aviator, Photographer and Philanthropist; photograph courtesy of the NH Charitable Foundation at http://tinyurl.com/csr947g

Bernice Blake Perry, aviator,
photographer and philanthropist;
Photograph courtesy of, and used with
permission of, the NH Charitable Foundation.
  http://tinyurl.com/csr947g

on 2 March 1905,  one of four children born to Edward C. & Gertrude (Hurd) Blake.  Her father was an English-Canadian immigrant who had founded Blake’s Creamery, originally as a milk delivery business.  By the time Bernice was born, her father was well on his way to becoming successful.

Throughout her life, Bernice explored her interests and pushed the envelope of experiences beyond the normal for women of her time.
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New Hampshire Glossary: Skylarking and Watermelon Frolics

Posted on 23 March, 2013 by Janice Brown

“Clowning around, acting up, horsing around, showing off, showboating” — all of these are terms that probably bring energetic pranks to mind.  While researching the “Squog” section of

Illustration by M.T. Ross as found in "Mother Earth's Children: The Frolic of the Fruits and Vegetables," by Elizabeth Gordon.

Illustration by M.T. Ross as found in “Mother Earth’s Children: The Frolic of the Fruits and Vegetables,” by Elizabeth Gordon.

Manchester, New Hampshire, I came across a sad newspaper notice about one George Lambert, age 17, who drowned while swimming with friends.  The description of his behavior just prior to his death

was that of “skylarking.”

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New Hampshire’s Irish Myths and Legends

Posted on 15 March, 2013 by Janice Brown

I grew up in a New Hampshire household where St. Patrick’s Day

Engraving of an stereotypical Irishman from "Irish Wonders," by D.R. McAnally Jr., originally published prior to 1909

Engraving of an stereotypical Irishman from “Irish Wonders,” by D.R. McAnally Jr., originally published prior to 1909

and my Irish heritage was held in high esteem.  God forbid that I

should not wear green on March 17th. And it was entirely a ‘mortal sin’ if I wore anything close to a crimson or orange shade.
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North Conway New Hampshire Actor and Producer: Gordon A. Clapp (1948-still living)

Posted on 13 March, 2013 by Janice Brown

A native of North Conway, and coming from a family well-known there, Gordon A. Clapp has acted in television, theatre and movies.

Gordon Clapp as Robert Frost performing in This Verse Business. Photo by Meghan Moore, located at The New England Theatre Geek Blog at http://www.netheatregeek.com/2011/10/30/this-verse-business-the-road-less-traveled-of-frosts-poetry/

Gordon Clapp as Robert Frost performing in This Verse Business. Photo by Meghan Moore, located at The New England Theatre Geek Blog at http://www.netheatregeek.com/2011/10/30/this-verse-business-the-road-less-traveled-of-frosts-poetry/

He has also executive produced and starred in three short films. He has gleaned both American awards [Emmy award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series NYPD Blue, and a Tony-nomination] and Canadian awards [Dora Moore Award nomination for Best Actor, and a Gemini Award].

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New Hampshire: Late 19th Century Facts About Footwear

Posted on 7 March, 2013 by Janice Brown

FACTS ABOUT FOOTWEAR
Fashions changed; and “the whirligig of time” brings about many other things besides “revenges.” The sharply pointed toes of some of our ancestors will be along immediately.

Engraving from Concord [N.H.] and Its Attractions. Strangers' Guide to the Leading Business Houses, (1881-1885) page 45

Engraving from Concord [N.H.] and Its Attractions. Strangers’ Guide to the Leading Business Houses, (1881-1885) page 45

Perhaps crimson rosettes and silver buckles will follow; perhaps the black velvet embroidered boots of a few hundred years ago; perhaps scarlet heels such as the great, the immortal Fox, was dowdy enough to wear; who knows?
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