Marek 1860s, Adventures of a Deaf-Mute in the White Mountains, Concord, Henniker, Pembroke, SOURCE=HHS, weather, William B. Swett

Swett 2: Concord Train Station

1865: In which we meet a colorful local character…

Marek 1860s, 39th MA, Civil War, Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, Henniker, Massachusetts, medicine, SOURCE=HHS

Colby 7: Just in Case

1862: You're in the army now.

Marek 1890s, cows, dogs, food, Henniker, SOURCE=HHS

Peculiar Calf (Henniker)

1894:  Quality journalism in an age of miracles.

Marek 1860s, 39th MA, Civil War, Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, dentistry, food, Henniker, Massachusetts, SOURCE=HHS

Colby 6: A Critical Inspection of the Teeth

1862: The 39th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment has high standards for its recruits…

Marek 1600-1699, colonial, cows, death, guest artist, Hampton, seacoast, witches

Goody Cole, Witch of Hampton (Guest Post)

Here's one from the COMICS WORKSHOP archives -- an old mini-comic by Emma (grade 4) starring the only NH woman ever to be convicted of witchcraft: Notice how Emma works in her own brand of humor to dramatize the basic facts of Cole's life. Read an outline of this NH history unit HERE. MORE: Witches! … Continue reading Goody Cole, Witch of Hampton (Guest Post)

Marek 1860s, Civil War, Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, food, Henniker, Massachusetts, Reference Links, SOURCE=HHS

Colby 3: Woburn

1861-2: Colby finds work at an unfamiliar Massachusetts town…

Marek 1780s, constitution, education, NH State Comicstitution, science, SOURCE=NH.gov

NH Constitution Article 83 (Part 1): Encouragement of Literature, &c.

Important roles of education, literacy, & the arts in democracy:

Marek 1600s, dogs, encounter & exploration, forestry, Journal of Martin Pring, seacoast

Pring 15 ~ Final Fire

1603: The dogs save the fort, communications break down, and the expedition heads for home in this EXCITING CONCLUSION of Martin Pring’s Journal!

Marek 1780s, forestry, Henniker, horses, SOURCE=Cogswell

Plummer’s Willow (Henniker)

We all start small and grow from there... This story makes me look differently at all the giant trees around me. They're living connections with the days of our great-great-grandparents! Cogswell says Joseph Plummer Sr. and his wife Jane "moved to this town immediately after the close of the Revolution..." [which would've been the early … Continue reading Plummer’s Willow (Henniker)

Marek 1760s, bear, colonial, Dublin, SOURCE=Leonard+Seward

The Old Bear (Dublin)

No sense complaining about the food... << BEFORE: Fox chase! NEXT: Bears in the cornfield >>

Marek 1860s, Civil War, Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, education, food, Henniker, SOURCE=HHS

Colby 1: When the War Broke Out

1861: Freeman Colby (of Henniker) needs a break from the rigors of teaching… so he enlists to fight in the Civil War!

Marek 1700-1799, fox, hunting, Piscataquog, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Fox Chase (Weare)

This snowy tale from Little's history falls somewhere between "hunting story" and "dream"... << BEFORE: Chasing moose NEXT: Nice Bear >> As with so many of his hunting tales, Little supplies no specific date for this anecdote; we'll file it under 1700-1799 because it's included in hunting stories from the "early times". 13 February 1767

Marek 1770s, colonial, Henniker, hunting, moose, Piscataquog, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Moose Chase (Weare)

If I've learned one thing from reading old hunting stories, it's this: These guys were HUNGRY. << BEFORE: Wolves around a fire NEXT: Fox chase >> This has the flavor of a tall tale that grew a bit in the telling, but who can say for certain?  Such are the delights of collecting oral history … Continue reading Moose Chase (Weare)

Marek 1770s, colonial, Henniker, hunting, SOURCE=Cogswell, wolves

Wolves Around a Fire (Henniker)

Early settlers in Henniker come up with an efficient way to reduce a predator population. << BEFORE: Rabbit attack! NEXT: Moose attack! >>

Marek hunting, rabbit, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Bunny Hugs (Weare)

WARNING: It's not as cute as it looks. << BEFORE: "Rabbit" stew ... NEXT: Wolves around a fire >> You can learn a lot from reading the old hunting stories in these town histories. For example, if a bunny ever tries to hug you, keep your distance!

Marek 1800-1899, cats, hunting, rabbit, SOURCE=Little, Weare

“Rabbit” Stew (Weare)

"The boys" cook up a clever plan to secure some cider from (and play a culinary joke on) Mrs. Wadleigh... << BEFORE: Hunting raccoon ... NEXT: Snuggling bunnies >> Great greasy gut-strings, some of these animal tales are downright ghastly!  What an unsatisfying joke; "in bad taste," you might even say... On the other hand, … Continue reading “Rabbit” Stew (Weare)

Marek 1880s, dogs, hunting, raccoon, SOURCE=Little, Weare

Raccoon Hunting (Weare)

What's this secret "fluid bait" ingredient that all the "coon hunters" swear by? NEXT: "The boys" catch a "rabbit" >> In honor of The Dog catching her first weasel this past week, I've been tracking down some old hunting stories from Little's History of Weare, NH (1888)...

Marek 1760s, colonial, firewood, religion, sabbath, Weare

Elder Hovey’s Sabbath (Weare)

Even religious law can have loopholes...   MORE: Posts about the "SABBATH" >> Every time I work on sabbath day stories from old NH, it reminds me of weekends in Slovakia, where everybody works to finish up chores on Saturday, and then Sunday is strictly reserved for visiting with family. Does this story remind YOU … Continue reading Elder Hovey’s Sabbath (Weare)

Marek 1600s, dogs, encounter & exploration, Journal of Martin Pring, seacoast

Pring 14 ~ Two Shots

Pring’s last ship fires the first warning shots of a coming conflict …

Marek 1760s, colonial, deer, hunting, moose, pigs, SOURCE=Little, Weare, weather

Winter of 1761-1762 (Weare)

One settler family receives a surprise visitor during a particularly harsh winter in early Weare...   NEXT: The only way to travel >>  

Marek 1810s, education, Henniker, SOURCE=Cogswell, weather

Cold Friday (Henniker, 1810)

A severe cold snap means opportunity for this punctual young lady... I happened to visit the Henniker Historical Society on the day I was drawing this piece, and mentioned the anecdote to them.  Their eyes lit up, and they ushered me into the museum gallery to view Rebecca's attendance medal, still shiny & bright 200+ … Continue reading Cold Friday (Henniker, 1810)

Marek 1750s, cows, death, dogs, French + Indian Wars, Keene, milk, SOURCE=Griffin

Milk of War (Keene)

The fort's surrounded, but the babies need milk... What's to be done?! << BEFORE: John Colony (Biographical Sketch) ... Although Griffin's account specifies neither location nor date for this story, we categorize it under Keene (Colony's ultimate home) and 1750s (Colony served in the French & Indian War 1755-1760).

Marek 1600s, encounter & exploration, harvest, herbs, Journal of Martin Pring, seacoast

Pring 13 ~ Sassafras Harvest

Things go quickly awry when Pring’s men exhaust the local supply of sassafras…

Marek 1810s, forestry, harvest, Keene, SOURCE=Griffin

Live Free and Draw Wood (Keene, c.1812)

An example of how NH town governments kept costs low 200 years ago: the annual minister's firewood bee! Communities often provided for these services explicitly, in the contracts they voted on and signed to set aside an official "minister's wood lot" and to "settle" a minister in town.  Families also had the option of paying money towards the … Continue reading Live Free and Draw Wood (Keene, c.1812)