Rubber Bands

Posted on 24 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Posted in History | Leave a comment

Charles Dunham Parker

Posted on 23 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Posted in History | Leave a comment

A New Hampshire Easter Medly

Posted on 23 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Happy Easter Everyone!

Even though it may not feel like Spring, a few days ago on March 20th, the vernal equinox occurred, ushering in this new season. While growing up in New Hampshire, Easter was the date that we officially recognized Spring had arrived, even if we had a light dusting of snow on our Easter bonnets.

To personally celebrate this event, I’ve collected blog articles from past years relating to Spring. Enjoy!

Janice

-Bill West: Not Only Does He Now Have 49 Ways To Use a Flutaphone, He Also Writes About Easter–

-Not New Hampshire: Roscoe E. Rodda, Inventor of Peeps (1862-aft 1930)–

–New Hampshire’s Haruspices of Spring–

-Poem: “Spring,” by Kathi Webster–

-Tulips – Spring is Coming to New Hampshire–

-Easter-themed stories at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi–

-Easter mentioned at Smoky Mountain Family Historian–

-Easter on Ancestories–

-Easter at Destination: Austin Family–

–Welcome Spring! at kinexxions–

Posted in Current Events, Genealogy, History | 2 Comments

Easter Census Whacking

Posted on 21 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Taking my queue from Randy Seaver's “Census Whacking” series, I've decided to celebrate Easter in a new way.  In addition to the more religious symbols, chicks and bunnies are often what we think of as being connected with this spring holiday.

Among some of the interesting names found in the United States Census:

Carry Chick–in 1900 living in Somerville MA, a NH native
Carrie I. Chick–in 1900 living in Madison, Carroll County, New Hampshire
Ima I. Chick–not a New Hampshire native, but cute nonetheless, in 1920 living in Laguna, California
Isreal Chick–as opposed to a fake one? In 1810 living in Hinsdale, Cheshire Co. NH
(Actually Thomas Chick, the immigrant ancestor, was b. abt 1641 in Devon England, and removed to the American Colonies, where he married and died in Kittery, York Co., Maine.)

North Carolina appears to be the most Easterish state… in 1910 I found both an Easter Bunny and an Easter Lilly living there.

And last, but certainly not least….

Am Easter–in 1860 living in Plymouth, Grafton County, NH [I suspect this should be “Ann”, however the census taker clearly wrote “Am”]

Chris Dunham of The Genealogue recently posted his own version of census whacking.

Janice

-New Hampshire Census Whacking-

Posted in Humor | Leave a comment

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