The Celebrated Ventriloquist and Professor of Legerdemain & Namesake of Potter Place, New Hampshire: Richard Potter (1783-1835)

Posted on 31 October, 2016 by Janice Brown
Graphic from "Crisis" (1910) by William E.B. Du Bois, NY, page 126

Graphic from “Crisis” (1910) by
William E.B. Du Bois, NY, page 126 on the Internet Archive.

I was reading a 1968 article in the Nashua Telegraph about how Potter Place, New Hampshire is reportedly haunted.  I suppose anywhere mankind has lived and died is haunted–Potter Place not less so.

Besides, the official New Hampshire state marker #54 unequivocally states that Richard Potter was a “19th Century master of the Black Arts.”  Does this mean he really performed black magic, or was he, instead, a black man who performed regular magic?  I believe the latter. It just goes to show you that you can’t trust those state markers.

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Posted in Haunted New Hampshire, History, N.H. Historical Markers, NH Persons of Color, R.I.P, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ghostly, Spine-Chilling Halloween Tales and Yarns from New Hampshire

Posted on 30 October, 2016 by Janice Brown

Victorian halloween postcard

In the past I have shared many stories at Cow Hampshire  of weird, supernatural, eerie, and down-right weird occurrences. Here is a compilation of the best ones.

A 2015 New Hampshire Halloween – Halloween poetry et al

Ghastly and Ghostly Halloween Stories Gleaned from Old New Hampshire Newspapers (2015)

New Hampshire’s Haunted Halloween History
New Hampshire Customs and Games for Halloween in 1916

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Posted in Current Events, Haunted New Hampshire, Holidays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

100 Years Ago Halloween Was Husband Hunting Day

Posted on 29 October, 2016 by Janice Brown

Victorian halloween card witch cat appleThe traditions of Halloween have changed a great deal over the centuries. From pagan celebrations to Christian holy days, and from a day of pranks and carousing to kiddies trick-or-treating, October 31st has meant many different things to people.

At the turn of the 20th Century (i.e. 1900), what is little known is that Halloween was almost as popular as Valentine’s Day for unmarried women to locate their future husband. Food was often connected to the divining process. Don’t believe me. Read it for yourself, as I present stories written 109 years ago today. Continue reading →

Posted in Haunted New Hampshire, History, Really Old News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Hampshire Tidbits: A History of Blossom Hill Cemetery, Concord

Posted on 28 October, 2016 by Janice Brown
A sketch of Blossom Hill Cemetery from the History of Concord NH by Lyford.

A sketch of Blossom Hill Cemetery from the History of Concord NH by Lyford, et al.

Concord’s very first burial ground was the Old North Cemetery, established in 1730. Though Concord had other cemeteries, Blossom Hill was only the second one created close to the down town area.[1]

The early history of Blossom Hill, as referenced in “Religious services and address of William L. Foster, at the Consecration of Blossom Hill Cemetery, Friday, July 13, 1860″ describes the location that was purchased “for the sum of $4,500. It contains just thirty acres. Its general shape is that of a tolerably well defined Parallelogram. It has a pleasing variety of surface–of hill, and plain, and valley. It consists in part of forest, and in part of open lawn, and is watered by a beautiful stream of pure water.” About 12 years later elm trees were planted on the south avenue by the cemetery committee.

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Posted in History, NH Tidbits, R.I.P, Structures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

New Hampshire WWI Military: The Soldier’s Comfort Kit

Posted on 27 October, 2016 by Janice Brown
Advertising for a Soldier's Kit on 11 November 1918

Advertising for a Soldier’s Kit in a newspaper published on 11 November 1918.

The people of New Hampshire have had their own vocabulary from the get-go. From drinking at a ‘bubbler,’ to catching ‘hornpout,’ there is often at least one word that sticks out in conversation as strange to out-of-staters. During World War I while most of the country created “soldier’s kits,” the women’s groups of New Hampshire made “comfort kits.”

In my research on the soldiers and nurses of this war, I came across these terms fairly often: soldier’s kit or soldier’s kit sack. But only in a few places, besides New Hampshire did I see the same package regularly called “comfort kits.” (Newcastle PA, Hagerstown MD, Yuma AZ, and several places in IN are a few of the other exceptions). Continue reading →

Posted in History, Military of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Women, NH WW1 Military | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments