WWI Hero of Manchester New Hampshire: Frederick Parker Perkins (1897-1941)

Posted on 26 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Croix De Guerre

Frederick Parker Perkins is twice a hero.  He served twice during World War I, first in an American ambulance company before the United States entered the war, and again in Headquarters Company, 77th Field Artillery, 4th Division with the United States Army.

In this second service he saw action at some of the major battles of that terrible war: Marne-Aisne, Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives.  He was also (probably) the first New Hampshire man to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre during WWI for bravery under fire while driving an ambulance in 1917. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Newmarket

Posted on 25 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Old postcard of Moonlight Bridge, Newmarket NH and a horse-drawn carriage

Though small in population, the town of Newmarket New Hampshire contributed between 4-5% of its total population to military service. The remaining citizens each participated in some way, either through careful rationing, home gardens, holding fund raisers, making contributions to the Red Cross and Liberty Bonds, or by supporting patriotic events.

On 11 June 1918 R.W. Husband, State Historian, Secretary of the Committee on Public Safety notified the local historians of new honor families in New Hampshire. An honor family is one which has three or more men in the military service. Newmarket led this week with three families–Mrs. James Sharples of Newmarket had four sons in the service, Mrs. Jeremiah St. Hilaire of Newmarket had three sons in the services, as had Mrs. Leon Deauteuil of Newmarket. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Jaffrey

Posted on 23 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Photograph of “Buddies” memorial monument in Jaffrey NH, from the Boston Globe Newspaper of 1930.

There are many who write about the famed ‘Buddies’ monument in Jaffrey New Hampshire. It stands 16 feet tall and was carved from a single block of stone by sculptor Virgo “Viggo” Brandt-Ericksen. But no one seems to known much about, or at least write about, those actually honored by the memorial.

Thankfully I had help from a friend, Richard S. Marsh, a talented photographer who gives freely of his time and talent. I recommend that visitors to the lovely town of Jaffrey should stop by the Public Library. Garrett Brinton and the Jaffrey Public Library Director, Julie M. Perrin, both were helpful in my quest to learn more about the war veterans. The “Buddies” monument is only steps away from the front door of their building. The monument is located at 21 NH-124 (Main Street) in Jaffrey NH. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Tidbits: The Geddes’ Great Pumpkin and Other Really Big Fruit

Posted on 22 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “We fancy men are individuals; so are pumpkins; but every pumpkin in the field goes through every point of pumpkin history.”

His words are the truth.  Starting from a pumpkin seed, every pumpkin plant grows into a pumpkin sprout. As the sprout matures, the yellow flowers turn into small green pumpkins. These miniature fruit grow and turn orange. This all happens 90-120 days after planting. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Moultonborough

Posted on 20 October, 2018 by Janice Brown

The Moultonborough NH WWI monument sits in front of the Library.

Moultonborough New Hampshire’s WWI monument today sits in front of the Moultonborough Library at 4 Holland Street where it was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1931. Jane Rice of the Historical Society aptly describes the local history of Memorial Day and the exercises that day in Moultonborough NH.  It was not entirely unusual for a New Hampshire town to wait so long to create a monument.  It was a traumatizing time, and funds were lean in the smaller villages. Continue reading →

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