A Convivial Social Feed

Yikes! 🥶🧊 We hope you are all warm and safe over the next few days.

With this generational brutally cold weather upon us, we didn't wanna waffle too long looking in the archives to keep warm...Yes, breakfast puns in the afternoon. The cold affects us all differently.🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️🧇

On a lithograph trade card, this little waffle girl (❤️) advertises what we imagine as the warmth and comfort one could receive from the Magee Grand cook stove manufactured by Magee Furnace Co. The stove was distributed locally by W. E. Paul, a plumbing and heating store on Market Street (seen here).

The Magee Furnace Co. was located in Boston, New York, and Chicago, and the company was "Manufacturers of Highest Grades Heating and Cooking Apparatus." The cover illustration of the girl with waffles was copyrighted in 1893 by G. H. Buek & Co. Lith. N.Y. [E 0614A.]

A native of Kittery, Willard E. Paul (1862-1926) established his heating store in 1893 on the corner of Market and Bow streets, which he operated for over 35 years.

In October 1926, the Portsmouth Herald described Paul as one of the most popular Portsmouth merchants, who possessed "genial manners and jovial spirits." The paper complimented him as a "hustler" who had been a traveling salesman before his brick and mortar business. At the time, Paul was suffering from a long illness; however, the newspaper reported he was improving and would be seen in public soon. Unfortunately, he died within the month.

Today, the building is known as 85-89 Market, home to Macro Polo and Bliss Boutique. There must be something in the bricks because just like W. E. Paul's Macro Polo has been around for decades.🪄✨️

[PS0829_02]

Again, please stay safe and warm, and if you can, eat waffles like a little Victorian Leslie Knope (even tho we know the character's stance on libraries👀). Happy Weekend!🙃☺️

#marketstreet #wepauls #waffles #legomyhistory #mageestoves #tradecards #ephemera #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #portsmouthnh #nh #maine #seacoast❤ ...

Time to squeeze in a bit of Portsmouth history.🤏😬⏳️

Pictured is the apparent last days of a residence at 95 Middle Street in 1932. The building was tucked between the Oracle House, at right, which was then on the corner of Court Street, and the Granite State Fire Insurance Company, at left, which was built on the corner of State Street in 1924. #throwbackthursday

During the demolition, you might notice the man in the attic window.🔎

According to the Portsmouth Herald, 95 Middle was on a list of condemned buildings from the city building inspector's report in 1932. On November 8, 1932, the newspaper reported the demolition of the Stella Webster house on Middle Street next to the Granite State Fire Insurance Company was complete.

In the early to mid-1800s, Sandyman B. Marden (1794-1864) and his family owned the property. A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Marden married Elizabeth M. Parker (1798-1881) on Jan. 30, 1820, in Newburyport, MA. The couple had seven children. For many years, Marden was an expressman / mail driver between Portsmouth and Concord via Exeter, Epping and Pembroke. Later, he was an expressman between Portsmouth and Exeter.📬

At some point, real estate developer Benjamin F. Webster (1824-1916) owned the entire corner between State, Middle & Court streets. This shouldn't be surprising since Webster owned the most real estate in Portsmouth at the time of his death.

Born in Epsom, he came to Portsmouth at age 17, where he was apprenticed to Benjamin North, a local carpenter. Webster flourished as a building contractor. He was part of a syndicate that rebuilt the Congress Block after its destruction by fire on November 30, 1865. He also built the Kearsarge Hotel, the Cabot Street School, remodeled three churches, and constructed many of Portsmouth's notable Victorian residences including his impressive Broad Street home. He also was an Athenaeum Proprietor.

After his death, his daughter Stella Webster (1854-1952) sold off all the property.

[Film negatives, PS1260]

#middlestreet #demolition #sandymanmarden #benjaminfwebster #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #portsmouthnh #nh #Maine #seacoast❤ ...

Flying in for #nationalbirdday 🦅

Did you know before the Great Bay Wildlife Refuge, there was another bird and animal sanctuary in Newington?🐦

Here children are feeding waterfowl along a freshwater pond while it appears their mothers and others look on from the road at Holden's Wild Fish and Game Preserve between the old Dover Road and Piscataqua River in Newington, NH.

Douglas Armsden photographed these images for the article "Bird and Animal Eden" featured in the December 1950-issue of The Shoreliner magazine.

The little boy squatting is John J. Hassett III, and the two blonde older boys are the Hodsdon brothers, John, center, and Tommy, holding the bag of chips. At center is "Billy" the swan.🦢

On the bridge, the little boy dressed as a cowboy is Dennis Clark of Rockhill Avenue. The three women are unidentified, but they are assumed to be the mothers of the children: Nancy Badger Hodsdon, Marjorie Hassett, and Mrs. Clark.

We cropped the first photo to see the people.🔍

In the 4th image, William Young (1917-2008) feeds the waterfowl.

"As soon as William Young of Newington appeared with the pail of grain, all the ducks and geese shot across the pond from the farther side with amazing speed," according to the article caption.💨🦆

"Mr. Young takes care of all the livestock on the preserve. It is estimated that just to feed the ducks and geese on the pond and the fish in it, the cost approaches four dollars a day."

The article mentions the preserve between the old Dover Road and Great Bay surrounding the property of John E. Holden's oil business. Holden (1893-1964), the Newington Fire Chief, owned the Atlantic Terminal Sales Corp., now C. H. Sprague off Shattuck Way (formerly Old Dover Road) on the shores of the Piscataqua River in Newington. From aerial mapping, the two ponds (upper or freshwater and lower or tidal) still appear to exist as wetlands on the property.

[PS1340]

#newingtonnh #holdenspreserve #olddoverroad #douglasarmsden #shoreliner #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #portsmouthnh #nh #Maine #seacoast❤ ...

Happy New Year!🎆✨️

Since 1986, Portsmouth has been part of First Night Alliance, according to Pro Portsmouth @pro_portsmouth, the local non-profit organization that runs the annual event.

In the archives, we look back at a few First Night Portsmouths.

Here a giant "First Night 89" snowman stands atop a bank during First Night Portsmouth. If you look closely at the top, you'll see Frosty's head and corncob pipe.⛄️

Do you remember the snowman?

It seems not all were fans. The scribbled caption below the press photograph described it as a "stupid, horrible, 20 ft. snowman on bank."😬

In the second photo, Pro Portsmouth Executive Director Lisa Dennison poses next to the posters for First Night Portsmouth, 1988.

Both photos are from the Portsmouth Press Photograph Collection. The Portsmouth Press was a local newspaper established in 1987 and published by a subsidiary of Ottaway Newspapers Inc. It began with a morning edition twice a week, and the final edition was Sept 16, 1993.

The photographer for the snowman is only identified by his/her initials: RHK. If you know the newspaper staffer's full name let us know in the comments.

[P0031_0206 & P0031_0204]

Cheers to everyone celebrating another First Night Portsmouth tonight! 🥂🎇

#happynewyear #happy2023 #firstnightportsmouth #proportsmouth #portsmouthpress #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #portsmouthnh #nh #seacoast❤ ...

Happy Winter-ish!❄️🤔🥴🌧

With the heavy rain coinciding with the astronomical high tide, the seacoast area on Friday is under a coastal flood warning.☔️

Over sixty years ago, the region experienced a similar storm right around the holidays, only then delivering over a foot of snow. Yes, snow. Winter—hold the ish.❄️

On December 29, 1959, the Portsmouth Herald reported the Seacoast had received its first big snowstorm dumping 14 inches, starting from the day before through 10:30 a.m. that morning. In addition to the snow, there were strong winds and tides that were 2 to 3 feet above normal conditions.🌊

The Associated Press stated that the storm had the highest tide in 108 years – 14.3 feet – bringing up to seven feet of sea water onto some streets and flooding the first floor of many homes. Communities within 30 miles of the Greater Boston area received the brunt of the devastation.

According to the Herald, "the higher than normal tide flooded the Pickering, Ceres, and South Mill streets areas in Portsmouth, and in New Castle [the flooding] covered the Route 1B causeway and Sandy Beach."

Pictured here was the aftermath of the storm along South Mill Street in the city's South End. The sign advertised "Betty's Kitchen," which offered pizza.

Lifelong resident Alvah C. Card (1913-1988) captured the flooding from the South Mill Pond Bridge. Alvah lived several houses down at 466 Marcy Street, and he worked for the Portsmouth Water Department for 40 years. He also volunteered for the Portsmouth Fire Department for 24 years, and he was a Proprietor (member) of the Athenaeum for 37 years.

[Alvah C. Card Slide Collection, P0054_0011]

We hope everyone is safe tomorrow.

And for those who like the snow, we have three (or four 😳) months, so hold tight, it's New England.

#southend #southmillstreet #flooding #winter #AlvahCard #slides #collectpreserveshare📖
#localhistory #portsmouthnh
#nh #Maine #seacoast❤ #soontobesnowcoast ...

While it's not a "hang out on the rooftop" kinda day along the Seacoast, we wouldn't mind borrowing that blanket and staying under the covers.🌧😣🌨

Ella Pray Stover Walker (1873-1950) appears to be crocheting a blanket on the rooftop of 16 Pleasant Street, known as the Glebe Building (among other names) in Portsmouth. In the background are the Congress Block and other Congress Street buildings.

Her husband Dr. William A. Walker (1879-1938) was a chiropodist in Portsmouth for 30 years, and he worked out of their home / office at 16 Pleasant Street. The couple was married in Portsmouth on Dec. 16, 1922 (100 years ago today #OTD). It was William's third marriage and Ella's second.

In 1936, the Walkers moved permanently to their summer home in Greenland, a farm known as Squash Ridge. William continued his practice at his office on Pleasant Street. We included a photo of the farm believed to still be standing off Post Road. #farmhousefriday

A few years after William's death, Ella sold the farm and returned to Portsmouth to live at the Home for Aged Women on Deer Street.

We're also including a wintery view of Market Square from the Walkers' perch in the Glebe Building. We shared this image a few years ago, but we are fascinated by the changing locations of the Christmas tree, and we think about this location often.❄️🎄

The Portsmouth Historical Society manuscript collection includes Ella's "Diary of a Country Woman or Day After Day at Squash Ridge, 1940-1941," as well as her scrapbooks and recipe book.

[Portsmouth Historical Society Photograph Collection, P0018_0405.]

#walkerfamily #pleasantstreet #greenlandnh #marketsquare #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #portsmouthnh #nh #Maine #seacoast❤ ...

Here's hoping we all get a holiday lift as we head into the weekend.🎄😊

Commercial photographer Douglas Armsden of Kittery Point captured these scenes as workers raised the Christmas tree with ropes & ladders into the middle of the Market Square rotary.💪🌲

On Saturday, Dec. 4, 1954, the front page of the Portsmouth Herald featured a similar tree-raising photo by Armsden with the following caption:

"Up it goes -- The big Christmas tree in Market Square was hoisted into place this week for the holiday season. It will be lit tomorrow and, with the rest of the downtown holiday lighting, will be illuminated every night until New Year's."

"Santa Claus is coming to town— that's for sure," the Herald reported. "The Chamber of Commerce retail board has found a willing volunteer to impersonate Santa in tomorrow's parade through downtown streets for the youngsters of Portsmouth.

"The man in a bright, red suit, behind the bushy, white beard, will be John R. Wiggin of 110 Chapel Street. Seated beside him in the parade, taking the part of Mrs. Santa Claus, will be Miss Helen L. Kelly, secretary of the chamber."🎅🤶

Those overhead Christmas lights must have been a sight in the Square!😍

Okay, but we know you're wondering about the rotary, roundabout, whatabout traffic circle in Market Square.

A little over two years later, in April 1956, the City of Portsmouth announced a new downtown traffic pattern as a "radical departure from the existing setup."

Presented as a trial-basis, the pattern utilized one-way street sections & channelization islands or diverters to improve congestion. And regardless of the trial outcome, the rotary would be removed as the newspaper described it as a long-term source of "traffic tie-ups."

But motorists would still be going roundabout...sort of.

"The heart of the system drawn up by the traffic engineers," the Herald wrote, "centers around the utilization of the area bounded by Daniel, Penhallow, Bow and Market streets as a giant traffic circle."

This traffic pattern is not the same as today's.

[P15.429]

#marketsquare #Christmastree #DouglasArmsden #rotary #collectpreserveshare📖 #localhistory #portsmouthnh #nh #Maine #seacoast❤ ...