Bulkie – bread roll native to New England

Posted on 7 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

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New Hampshire’s Missing Places: Peyton Place

Posted on 6 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

I sometimes wonder how many tourists have visited New Hampshire looking for Peyton Place…

only to realize it does not exist… or at least not by that name.

In 1956 the Gilmanton area of New Hampshire was made warily famous, [actually infamous at the time], thanks to Grace Metalious, author of the then-scandalous book “Peyton Place“.  It was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than a year, although condemned by ministers and most literary critics. Reportedly, Metalious never recovered from her sudden notoriety– Her marriage fell apart, her three children were harassed, and she received hate mail and threats. Continue reading →

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Grace Metalious – author of Peyton Place

Posted on 6 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

See article about her and additional photographs.

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New Hampshire Glossary: Flax

Posted on 5 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

flax – a plant used to make thread, and (once woven) a cloth called linen.

Example of Flax, photograph copyright Janice W. Brown

In colonial times the New Hampshire colonists mostly used cotton and flax for weaving because the English would not send them sheep or wool. They could get one cotton crop each fall. Flax was harvested in the summer. Women and girls spun wool and flax so that it could be woven into fabric or knitted into socks, hats, scarves, and mittens. They sometimes brought yarn to weavers to have cloth woven and they used the cloth to make clothing and sacks. Continue reading →

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Hetchel from early 1800s

Posted on 5 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

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