New Hampshire Missing Places: Lone Star Ranch, Reeds Ferry

Posted on 2 August, 2019 by Janice Brown

Circa 1947 photograph of the entrance to Lone Star Ranch, Reeds Ferry NH. Courtesy of Don Levesque. Used with permission.

What: Lone Star Ranch was a rustic, outdoor summer-autumn entertainment venue located in Reeds Ferry (Merrimack) New Hampshire. [When the weather got colder they would hold indoor “barn dances.” ] It focused on Country & Western, and Hillbilly music, comedy and related events.  In addition at various times during its existence, picnic tables, horse back riding, concessions, and games were offered. When the weather was wet or cold there was a ranch house (barn) that was used.

Lone Star Ranch existed from 1938-1983–a span of over 45 years. The entertainers booked for these shows were a mix of local, national, and international renown. Continue reading →

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WW2 Veteran, Business Owner, Amateur Boxer of Manchester NH, the Polish Flash: Jan Zacharko aka John Harko (1906-1997)

Posted on 26 July, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of John Harko from the Boston (MA) Herald newspaper of 24 January 1925.

Manchester New Hampshire has long been a city built by immigrants. From the early settlers to the mill workers, most of them arrived to the area only a generation or two from an ancestor from another continent. In the very early 20th century there was an influx of people from eastern and middle European countries. Between 1901 and 1910 it is estimated that Austrians were one of the ten most significant immigrant groups in the United States.

One of these families that arrived during this time, was that of John Harko. His name at immigration was Jan Zacharko, born 1 January 1906 in “Debromil, Austria.” Today this is Dobrómyl, a city in Staryi Sambir Raion, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, located about 5 kilometers away from Poland’s border. His petition to become a citizen states that he entered the US on the S S Chemitz, North German Lloyd Line ship on 24 August 1907. At that time he used the name Jan Zacharko, and it was stated that his permanent residence was to be Galveston Texas. He had arrived as a baby not quite 2 years old, with his parents, John & Anna (Hnatio) Zacharko [Editor’s note: his marriage record states his parents names were John & Mary (Poltak) Zacharko]. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Artist and Forestry Education Supporter: Ruth Emeline Farrington of Manchester (1907-1970)

Posted on 20 July, 2019 by Janice Brown

Ruth E. Farrington’s photograph from the 1930 Smith College yearbook.

Ruth E. Farrington’s name is one fairly well known to Forestry students at the University of New Hampshire.  But how much do they, and we, actually know about this talented, educated woman who funded forestry-related scholarships, conferences and educational trips that continue to this day? Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Missing Places: The Whittier Pine of Center Harbor

Posted on 15 July, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of the Whittier Pine on Sunset Hill, Center Harbor, NH. Granite State Monthly magazine, v.30. 1901: Jan.-June. HathiTrust

It had been called the Whittier Pine.  The famed poet John Greenleaf Whittier had his own personal name for this great tree–Wood Giant.  It was located on land near the Sturtevant Farm on Route 25B/Dane Road, Center Harbor NH.

[Editor’s note: in my original posting of this story, in error I combined this tree’s history with that of the Sturtevant Pine, that is entirely a different tree; see comments by Karen Ponton and my thanks to her for the correction.]

Continue reading →

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The Grieving Gold Star Mother Statue — Stanton Plaza at Manchester New Hampshire

Posted on 10 July, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Grieving Gold Star Mother statue at its dedication in Manchester NH during May of 2011. Photograph courtesy of Chris Forkey. Used with permission.

One of Manchester New Hampshire’s more recent statues, and one of the few that honors women, can be found in Stanton Plaza, on the southwest corner of Pleasant Street and Elm, opposite Veterans Park. Called the Grieving Gold Star Mother, it depicts a sorrowful World War II mother with a single tear on her cheek, who had just learned her child had died while in service to their country. She is leaning against a small table that holds a bouquet of flowers and a photograph; her other hand is clutching a telegram that carried the news.

It would be impossible to tell the history of this statue without beginning with a bit of history about its location.  The plaza on which the Grieving Gold Star Mother statue now sits was designated between 1985-1987 to honor three time Mayor Charles R. Stanton (served 1970-1971 and 1975-1981) who was also General Manager of the Manchester Transit Authority. Charles R. Stanton died in May 1985 at the age of 56. Continue reading →

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