Manchester New Hampshire Physician, Civic Leader and Politician: Zatae L. (Longsdorff) Straw (1866-1955)

Posted on 19 March, 2008 by Janice Brown
Dr. Zatae L. Straw

Dr. Zatae L. Straw, likeness from “The Granite Monthly”

Zatae Leola (Longsdorff) Straw, M.D. was a strong, outspoken woman who experienced many “firsts” in her life.  She was a trend-setter and role-model for other women of her age.  The daughter of a physician, she was born in 1866 in Pennsylvania, and died in 1955 in Manchester, New Hampshire. She was the first female graduate of Dickinson College in 1887. While at Dickinson, she was the first woman to win the Pierson Oratorial prize.She loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter. She encouraged walking as a healthy pastime, and in March of 1927 walked 18 miles between Manchester and Concord NH to attend a legislative meeting–covering the distance in four hours. Continue reading →

Posted in New Hampshire Politics, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cow Hampshire: Celebrating My Second Anniversary

Posted on 17 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

There are many ways to celebrate an anniversary. In this particular case no champagne will be sipped, no cake and ice cream devoured, and no candles lit.  There are however always gifts to be exchanged.   

At least every other day for the past two years, I have posted articles about people, places and events in New Hampshire history. Although it has been suggested that I redirect this energy to writing books instead, I continue to give freely of my time and research to my readers throughout the world (my gift to you).

And in return, I daily am reminded how small the world really is, how closely related we all are to each other (your gift to me).  I have also learned that history has a tendency to repeat itself.

During the past two years the number of blog visitors has grown exponentially. Sitemeter reported that 8,291 unique visitors read Cow Hampshire in January of 2008. Just a year ago (January 2007) this site had 3,610 unique visits. Both then and now about 80% of the visitors are brand new to Cow Hampshire.

A keyword search using the Google search engine is the most popular method of arriving here.  Between 11 AM and 8 PM is the most popular time to visit.

The top three (all-time most popular) articles viewed this year were:
– Francestown New Hampshire Motorcycle Inventor: Sylvester Howard Roper (1823-1896)
– Webster New Hampshire Author and Illustrator: Tashua Tudor aka Starling (Burgess) McCready (1915-living)
– Gilmanton New Hampshire Serial Killer: Herman Webster Mudgett (1861-1896)

Since Cow Hampshire's inception in March of 2006, 827 articles have been posted, 335 photographs shared, and 1518 comments added.   I want to acknowledge (and thank) those who read and comment on my articles, as you help me to discover additional information about the topic, and what subjects people find interesting (or not).

The cow in my banner has worn 11 outfits this year with the following themes: irish, spring, thanksgiving, beach-goer, wintry day, vote, Christmas, new years, Halloween, valentine, and nekkid flagwaver. 

“I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home. ” (Groucho Marx)

Janice

-Cow Hampshire: Celebrating One Year of Blogging About New Hampshire-

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Hanover NH: Death by Sponge in 1851

Posted on 15 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Foreign Body In The Trachea– In July last, Mr. J.A. Dobie, of Hanover NH while making an application to his throat by means of a sponge, lost his hold upon it and drew it into his trachea.

It could be perceived that the sponge moved from the bifurcation of the bronchi to the larynx. The dyspnea at times excessive, occasionally disappeared entirely.  A tracheotomy was performed by Prof. Dixi Crosby, and the sponge removed.

The patient died within forty-eight hours after the operation. The sponge is described as being about two inches long by one wide, and about half an inch in thickness–a size which we should have supposed would entirely preclude its passing through a healthy larynx–(and such the patient's is said to have been) or after reaching the trachea, would have prevented it from moving.

From “The New Hampshire Journal of Medicine,” Published 1851, G. Parker Lyon, page 88.
New Hampshire

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Raising Your Pint to St. Patrick…

Posted on 13 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

2012_Irish_FlagIf you are called Liam, Patrick, Kathleen or Sheila, or have a surname like Ryan, Gallagher, Grady or Mannion;

If you wear your Irish pride, a shamrock on your lapel,  or a spud around your neck;

If the words pub, claddagh, and leprechaun, roll easily off your tongue;

If you were ever an altar boy, said your rosary, or carried holy water wid ya;

If you prefer a cuppa (tea), raising your pint, or Irish whiskey;

If you know St. Patrick’s story of driven snakes, or mournful tales of famine houses and emigrant wakes;

If you’ve ever used the words banshee, conundrum, blarney, or hooligan; or not.

If even a wee bit of your spirit is lively; if you like to tell tall tales; or if you simply like the color green….

Then You are officially Irish.

“Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day (in advance!)**

Janice

P.S. This greeting is posted as my submission to the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture.

P.P.S. **Did anyone else notice how the customary day was changed this year?  Normally St. Patrick’s Day falls on March 17th each year. This year it was changed to March 15th by the Roman Catholic Church to avoid conflict with Holy Monday that falls on 3/17.

And if you are wondering about the identities of the Irish dancers in the video….
they are myself, fM of Footnote Maven, Charlotte of Apple’s Tree, Jasia of Creative Gene, and Terry of Hill Country of Monroe County Mississippi.

 

Posted in Carnivals and Memes, Current Events, Irish in New Hampshire, Personal History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sugaring: A Sweet Educational Journey at the Remick Museum!

Posted on 12 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

The Remick Museum's annual Maple Sugaring special event will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2008, from 1-4pm in Tamworth, New Hampshire. 

The festivities will begin promptly at 1pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Remick Museum Sugar House, located on Great Hill Road, lead by Tamworth Selectman, Willie Farnum.

Come inside the sugar house to see and smell the maple sugaring process, as John Dyrenforth, Remick Museum Trustee and long-time maple producer, leads a team of volunteers and staff to operate the new evaporator.  Sample maple treats, such as sugar-on-snow, maple candy, 4 grades of maple syrup, and sap. Take a tractor-drawn wagon ride to the sugar bush, and view demonstrations of Native American, Colonial, and backyard boiler “sugaring off” methods.

The Remick Museum Farm House & Visitor's Center will feature exhibits on the life of maple trees, tapping trees, collecting sap, and boiling down. Learn how the process was first introduced to early European settlers by Native Americans. View the living quarters of Dr. Edwin Crafts Remick, the country doctor who owned the property, and see exhibits on the agricultural way of life in New Hampshire from 1790 to the present. There will be craft making activities for children.  Admission is $5.00 per person.

For more information contact:

Robin M. Tagliaferri Ferreira
Development Officer
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm
58 Cleveland Hill Rd, P O Box 250
Tamworth, NH 03886
800-686-6117
pr@remickmuseum.org
www.remickmuseum.org
 
Photograph: Museum Interpreter, Virginia Taylor, prepares a sampling of maple sugar treats in the new sugar house, with a funnel of sweet smelling steam in the background. Pickles are used in between samplings to clean the palette of excess sugar. Property of the Remick Museum, used with permission.

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Also see: -March Maple Madness-

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