New Hampshire’s Plethora of Pinnacles

Posted on 16 November, 2020 by Janice Brown

Sketch of a New Hampshire prominence from The mountains of New Hampshire;, 1949. Internet Archive

Pinnacles appear to be very popular in New Hampshire. A pinnacle is defined as a high, pointed piece of rock or lofty peak. There are several such places but how do they differ from mountains or hills? They generally seem to have extremely rocky summits, and are often not tall enough to be deemed a mountain.

[Editor’s Note:  Most geologists classify a mountain as a land form that rises at least 2,000 feet (609.6 meters) or more above its surrounding area. But this is not a sure and hard rule, and it differs in other countries.] Continue reading →

Posted in Boulders and Profiles, History, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Veterans Day 2020

Posted on 11 November, 2020 by Janice Brown

This year, due to the COVID epidemic, many gatherings and parades will not be happening (at least I hope that people have the correct mindset to not create events that will spread this deadly flu).  In the past I’ve written several articles about the history of Veterans Day.

To all veterans who read this story, THANK YOU for your service. 

New Hampshire in WWI: ARMISTICE

New Hampshire Veterans Day and Its Heroes

Ten Essential Tasks for U.S. Genealogists on Veterans Day

 

Posted in Current Events, Holidays, Military of New Hampshire | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Not New Hampshire: Tired of Politics

Posted on 4 November, 2020 by Janice Brown

I ask my blog followers to simply read this article in its entirety before coming to any conclusions. Explanations on the source of this article, and a bit of the history, can be found immediately following. History often repeats itself. That which we think is unique to us and our current events, may not be.

TIRED OF POLITICS
Every day, and from all parties, we hear the remark, “I wish election was over, I’m tired of politics.” Nor are we astonished at it. For it has been politics at breakfast, politics at dinner, politics at supper, politics in the parlor, politics everywhere. The thing has been carried to an absurdity. It has affected business, soured old friendships, and even sown dissensions in families. Well may it be said, “I am tired of politics.” People see also that much of what they read about politics in newspapers, and hear from stump speakers is either false in fact or sophistical in argument, and very frequently both. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Tidbits: More Ghostly and Mystical Halloween Traditions

Posted on 30 October, 2020 by Janice Brown

George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “The ghostly gathering.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-9838-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

“The following extract from an English book of antiquities and popular customs, gives a very interesting account of the ancient manner of celebrating the day or rather night. The celebration of the day has somewhat died out but there are doubtless many in Nashua who will tonight, in some small way, take note of the fact that it is Halloween.

There is perhaps no night in the year which the popular imagination has stamped with a more peculiar character than the evening of the 31st of October, known as All Hallow’s Eve, or Hallowe’en. It is clearly a relic of pagan times for there is nothing in the church observance of the Day of All Saints to have originated such extraordinary notions as are connected with this celebrated festival, or such remarkable practices as those by which it is distinguished. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Glossary: Pounce

Posted on 28 October, 2020 by Janice Brown

Photograph of a Pounce Box, circa 1789-1793, used by Paine Wingage (1739-1838) of Stratham NH. Gift of Dana Wingate Baker. New Hampshire Historical Society Online Catalog. Used with Permission.

“Wafers stain’d with motley hue,
Ye low, black, white, red, and blue;
Wax that holds the strongest paper,
Wax to burn in rolls or taper;
Folding knives to fit your hand,
Rulers, pounce and shining sand…” Excerpt of advertisement poem from New-Hampshire Spy newspaper, 17 June 1788, Portsmouth NH, page 64.

I was recently browsing the New Hampshire Historical Society’s Collection Catalog (online) when I came across an interesting photograph of an artifact– a “Pounce Box.” It was a surprising find for me, in that I had no idea of what it was, or how it was used. Continue reading →

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