2018: The 10th Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge

Posted on 1 November, 2018 by Janice Brown

A great colonial fireplace with hearth stone. Photograph by J.W. Brown

As the New England leaves turn crimson and the wind blows cold, Genealogy Blogger thoughts turn to poetry. At least Bill West of “West in New England” suggests that they should. In his explanatory blog post he states the what, why and how of his poetry challenge. Please join in if you take a fancy to it. The entire list will be published on Bill’s blog on Thanksgiving Day, Nov 22, 2018.  As a teaser, here is my post for 2016: The 8th Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire’s Ghosts, Goblins and Halloween Stories

Posted on 31 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Happy Halloween. 

This article is a recap of earlier stories that help you to learn more about Halloween and New Hampshire’s Haunted Places. The antique Victorian Postcards below are copyright free. Feel free to use or reuse them.  The witch photograph is mine using Photofunia to create it.

Continue reading →

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A Londonderry NH Haunted House: The Ghost That Banged At the Door

Posted on 30 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Portion of 1892 map of Londonderry NH showing the location of the “M. Morse Estate.”

Somewhere in Londonderry New Hampshire, along “the road leading from Nashua to Derry Depot” reportedly is a haunted house. In 1882 the old Barker Farm was owned by one Moody Morse who put it up for sale, because reportedly he’d been unable to keep it rented for long. George C. Butler of Pelham purchased the place in 1882, and almost immediately he became aware of a ghostly presence. At least this is what the newspapers claimed. Continue reading →

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Poem: A Ghost Story

Posted on 29 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Just a prohibitively pithy poem about periodic dyspathy in time for Halloween.

A GHOST STORY.

“Out of their dark abodes
I have roused up the screech-owls.

 

Through the rents
Of the gray mouldering walls they
are fled out,

Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Groton

Posted on 28 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Old Postcard Greeting from Groton NH. Property of J.W. Brown.

Groton is a small, bucolic town in Grafton County New Hampshire that includes the village of North Groton. Groton had about 250+ permanent residents during the WWI era (ranging from 319 people in 1910 to 199 by 1920). Of these less than 2% percentage of their population was sent to service (this was not unusual among the smallest towns, and really the majority of NH towns provided the same amount). Not all the young men who left for military service would return–Napoleon Houle and Fred Arthur Marshall being two.

My personal thanks to Elizabeth Jesperson of the Groton Cemetery Committee, and Kathy Sobetzer of the Groton Historical Society for going above and beyond to help me to write this article.  In addition Elizabeth graciously provided some of the photographs you see here. Continue reading →

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