Jumanji

Posted on 22 February, 2008 by Janice Brown

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Poem: Our Home Jubilee," by Lucinda J. Gregg

Posted on 22 February, 2008 by Janice Brown

The 150th anniversary of the settlement of Londonderry, New Hampshire was celebrated in 1869 as a “Jubilee.” The weather was spectacular. Addresses were delivered by Ex-Lieutenant Patterson who was president of the day, along with Horace Greeley, of New York, along with other notable politicians and educators. This poem, written by Lucinda J. Gregg was read by Rev. J.T. McCollom. An oration was delivered by Hon. Charles H. Bell, of Exeter NH, then president of the New Hampshire Historical Society.

Let Nutfield today sound its merriest notes!
Let the hills and vales catch the strain as it floats!
Ring out the loud echoes from mountain to sea,
And rejoice in the day of our glad Jubilee!

From the East, from the North, from the prairies afar,
From the Pine Tree domains, to the southern Lone Star,
We wanderers come to the cherished home-fold
TO unite in one song for the bright days of old.

A song for the true, and a song for the brave,
Who came from afar o'er the easterly wave:
One song for the lake on whose beautiful shore,
Their wanderings ended, they worshipped of yore.

Today we will sing of the brown homes they made,
Where earnest hands toiled, and where loving hearts prayed;
And the home for the Sabbath, just over the way,
The sacred old church, that's one hundred today.

In our jubilant song comes a sadder refrain;–
For the forms of the fathers we see not again.
In their green-covered houses on yonder white hill,
With the marble doors locked, they are sleeping so still!

In that glorious day when the sleepers arise
When together we go to our home in the skies
It is then we shall know–but oh! never till then–
How much we all owe to these brave, faithful men.

Adown the long years comes a noble array;
Ah! many are found on Fame's roll-call today.
From these valleys and hills has an army of worth,
Of talent and trust, gone to bless the wide earth.

Of those left at home, there is many a name,
All heroic, all noble, unspoken by Fame:–
One sigh for the dead–for the living, one song!
God bless the loved home-land that claims all the throng!

Then hail to old Derry! its lake and its lea,
Its beautiful stream winding down to the sea,
Its wondrous old trees with the evergreen crest,
Its fine, fertile lands, slping green to the west!

All hail to old Nutfield! whose broader expanse
Our forefathers claimed as the years did advance;
We always shall love thee, wherever we roam,
And breathe our a prayer for our earliest home.

But Time's speeding onward; how soon in its flight
Will it bear us afar and away out of sight!
How few, on another centennial day,
Will return and talk over the years spend away!

But we hope, oh! we hope, when our earth-day is done,
When our tent's taken down at life's last setting sun,
On the Plains all immortal, with glory untold,
We shall sing of the days that can never grow old.

Janice

**PARTIAL GENEALOGY OF THE GREGG FAMILY**

Benjamin F. Gregg, b. abt 1801/1802 in NH [“of Derry NH”]; m. 12 Dec 1833 to Lucy Jane Danforth, dau of Simeon and Nancy (Craigie) Danforth. She b. 16 Aug 1807 in Derry NH. He was a justice of the peace.
———————
U.S. Census > 1850 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Rockingham > Derry
Benj. F. Gregg 49 M Carpenter 1000 NH [b abt 1801 NH]
Lucy J. Gregg 43 F NH
Adaline F. Gregg 15 F NH
Lucinda J. Gregg 13 F NH
Alonso J. Gregg 10 M NH
Washington F. Gregg 3 M NH
————
U.S. Census > 1860 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Rockingham > Windham
Lucinda J. Gregg 22 F Teacher NH
[boarding in home of Martha Major, retired widow
————-
U.S. Census > 1870 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Rockingham > Derry
Gregg, Benjamin F. 68 M W Carpenter 1500/200 NH
Gregg, Lucy J. 62 F W Keeping House NH
Gregg, Lucinda J. 32 F W without occupation NH
———————
U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 22 > District 1495 > Academy of Notre Dame, New England Hospital
Gregg, Lucinda, Patient W F 63 Single NH — — Bible Reader
———————
 U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 9 > District 1391 > Boarding House on Park Street
Gregg, Lucinda J. Lodger, NH NH NH Own Income
———————
Children of Benjamin F. & Lucy J. (Danforth) Gregg:
1. Adeline Danforth Gregg, b. 26 June 1835; m. 12 Aug 1860 Charles F. Wheeler; 6 ch
2. Lucinda Jane Gregg, b. 18 Aug 1837
3. Alonzo Jarvis Gregg, b. 24 March 1840; in 1870 living in Derry NH with wife Ann [?Field] (age 27 b NH) and children Minnie (age 6) and Arthur (age 4).
4. Frank Washington Gregg, b. 26 June 1847

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Temple New Hampshire Celebrates A Bicenquinquagennial

Posted on 20 February, 2008 by Janice Brown

In 2008 Temple

New Hampshire residents

are celebrating their Bicenquinquagennial.  This event is connected

with the year 1758 when European settlers first arrived in the area (rather

than their year of incorporation which was 1768).  Temple has celebrated its centennial through

the years — 1858, 1908, 1958, and now it is planning its biggest bash for the

250th anniversary. 

The events will be a delightful combination of modern day projects, and

programs of yester-year (such as an ice cream social, and artillery

demonstration). For updates, please

visit their web site. Don't forget to put these on your calendar!  Temple is located in the lovely Monadnock region of New Hampshire.

.Temple 250th Birthday Celebration Events

Calendar.

1. “QM” Kick-off and Valentine Dance–Sat. Feb. 16, 2008

Sponsor: Temple Recreation Committee        

Description: 6:00 p.m. @ Temple

Town Hall. Music,

karaoke, cupcakes & punch followed by Valentines Dance from 8:00 – 12 mid.

w Over Easy Band. Free of charge, BYOB, refreshments, raffle, proceeds to

benefit the 250th celebration.

2. “Founding of Temple”–Tues.

March 4, 2008

Sponsor: Temple Historical Society

Description:  7:00 p.m. @ Temple

Town Hall. Dartmouth

Professor Emeritus Jere Daniell will visit Temple to present “Town Founding in NH:

The Special Case of Temple.” An expert on New England and the American colonial

period, Daniell is the author of several books about New

England, including Colonial N.H.: A History. The program is made

possible in part by the New Hampshire Council for the Humanities.

3. Historical Society Annual Meeting–Tues. April 15, 2008

Sponsor: Temple Historical Society  

 

Description:  7:00 p.m. @ Temple

Town Hall. Short films

about Temple’s

past, including rare footage from the town’s 200th anniversary in 1958.

4. Flower Planting–Spring 2008

Sponsor: QM Committee          

     

Description: A garden will be planted in commemoration of the town birthday.

5. Temple ½ Marathon and 4

Mile Walk–Sat. April 26, 2008

Sponsor: Friends of Temple

Town Hall

Description:  9:00 a.m. @ Town Common. Registration and race beginning @

10:00.

Debut of town banner with new logo.

6. Temple Memorial Day–Sun. June 1, 2008

Sponsor: Ex-Servicemen’s Club    

Description: 10:00 a.m. church service @ Temple Congregational Church followed

by Memorial Day parade @ 12 noon, speeches, wreath hangings, and taps.

Temple Band plays on the Common @ 2:00 p.m.

 

The Historical Society will present “Temple Spirits”

with local residents taking the parts of various 18th-century village

personages in a “ghostly reenactment” of their lives. That event will

take place the graves themselves, in Temple's

Old Burying Ground before the band concert.

7. Summer Reading Program–June – Aug. 2008

Sponsor: Mansfield Library

Description: Beginning in late June, the summer reading program for school aged

kids will include activities and reading that focus on Temple through the past

250 years and end in early August.  

8.  Independence Day–Fri. July 4, 2008

Sponsor: Temple Recreation

Committee

Description: 10:00 a.m. @ Temple

Center. Kids Patriotic

Parade with decorated bikes ending at the Temple Ball

field for games and contests. Food and other activities provided by the Temple

Fire Dept.

Sponsor: Quarter Millennium Committee

Description:  4:00 p.m. @ Temple.

QM Parade featuring Temple Town Band, Milford Fife and Drum, bands, horses,

special guests and ending at the Common with the 6 pm Temple Band concert and

the Ladies Aide Ice Cream Social.

9.   Temple

Colonial Days–Sat. Sept. 20,

2008

Sponsor: QM Committee            

     

Description: 10:00 a.m. @ Temple

Common. Drills and

exhibitions by the Lafayette Artillery, demonstrations and exhibits of colonial

day traditional arts.

                               

 

3:00 p.m. @ Temple.

Evolution of  Transportation beginning at Wheelands garage and ending at

the Temple Elementary School.Vehicles representing every decade of the 1900’s

led by horse drawn buggies will parade through the town and be on display at

the school.

5:00 p.m. @ Temple

Elementary School. All

town banquet prepared and served by Niki McGettigan and the PTO and school

children. Delicious homemade soups, breads, casseroles, and salads, topped off

with a special celebratory dessert.

7:00 p.m. @ Temple

Elementary School. Contra

Dance featuring Frank Woodward as caller, his band New Boston Fancy, and other

musicians are invited to play.

10. Temple Harvest Festival–Sun. Sept. 21, 2008

Sponsor: Village Green Committee

Description: 10:00 a.m. @ Temple

Common. Beginning with a

pancake breakfast at the Fellowship Hall by the Souhegan Lions Club @ 8:00

a.m., the fun begins with music, crafters, raffles, games, food, and special

events and presentations commemorating the town’s 250th birthday celebration.

The day ends with the Temple

Band concert from 2:00 –

4:00 p.m.        

           

See you there!
Janice

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Non-Fiction Meme

Posted on 19 February, 2008 by Janice Brown

I've been tagged by Bill West of West in New England, to participate in a Non-Fiction Meme.

Question: What issues/topic interests you most–non-fiction, i.e, cooking, knitting, stitching, thereare infinite topics that has nothing to do with novels?

Answer: I enjoy reading topics about real history, architecture, House & Garden, and Food & Wine.

*****

Question: Would you like to review books concerning those?

Answer: No. I don't bother to read book reviews, as I would rather make up my own mind about whether a book is worth reading or not. I almost never look at “Best-Seller” lists.

*****

Question: Would you like to be paid or do it as interest or hobby? Tell reasons for what ever you choose.

Answer: I wouldn't review books, even for pay. See response in previous question for reasons.

*****

Question: If you have already done something like this, link it to your post.

Answer:  Been there, haven't done that, no T-shirt.

*****

Rather than tagging 10 others, if you are reading this and would like to participate, please do so, and link back this article.  Since MY own responses to this meme are a bit sparse, you may want to also read Lori Thornton's meme responses, to get a better idea of how to answer these questions.

Janice

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New Hampshire Slanguage: Spiffy

Posted on 18 February, 2008 by Janice Brown

The word spiffy is an American English slang word that has been in use at least as early as 1853, when it is first recorded in a letter written by the artist Dante Gabriel Rosetti to describe the frame of his water color painting.

In the Glasgow Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) of 27 January 1860, a letter regarding volunteers and veterans mentions, “They’ve a notion that we like to come out spiffy in our uniforms, and think that our ball practice is just for fancy-ball work.”

In 1863 the Freeman’s Journal of Dublin Ireland, speaks of “one of the most “spiffy” things imaginable to see the appearance the gallant fellow presented…”

So why am I calling this a New Hampshire term?  Because I’ve heard it used numerous times in New England, but never by someone outside of New England.

Continue reading →

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