A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-20-04....New Hampshire ~ Live Free or Die!

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dutchess, Aquamarine,

We're
"On the Road Again"...

Please join "A Few of FR's Finest" as we make a cyber-visit to another state in this great Union of ours.

Over the past several months each "Finest" hostess has profiled her home state for the Finest Thread. The remaining states are being presented, about one a month, in random order. We hope you are enjoying these visits to our beautiful United States. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would appreciate your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states
we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia 10-17-03 Louisiana 10-22-03 Michigan

11-04-03 South Dakota 11-14-03 California 01-09-04 South Carolina 02-06-04 West Virginia 02-20-04 Oregon 03-09-04 Pennsylvania 03-30-04 Wyoming 04-13-04 Mississippi 04-27-04 Missouri 05-25-04 Indiana 07-21-04 Virginia 08-18-04 Colorado 09-29-04 Idaho

Today we are visiting beautiful and historic New Hampshire, and we salute the FReepers and patriots who call this Fine state home. 131 FReepers proudly fly the New Hampshire flag on their profile page.

Click below to go to the
New Hampshire message board.

This motto was part of a volunteer toast which General John Stark sent to his wartime comrades, in which he declined an invitation to head up a 32nd anniversary reunion of the 1777 Battle of Bennington in Vermont, because of poor health. The toast said in full:

"Live Free Or Die;
Death Is Not The Worst of Evils."
The following year, a similar invitation (also declined) said: "The toast, sir, which you sent us in 1809 will continue to vibrate with unceasing pleasure in our ears, "Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils."

An Abbreviated Timeline of
New Hampshire's History
(Thank you SHG Resources)

17th century

• 1602 - Bartholomew Gosnold explored for English merchants the coast of New England from southern Maine to Buzzards Bay.
• 1614-1616 - Captain John Smith assumed leadership of the colony.
• 1622 -
  • March - King James I grant region between the Salem and Merrimac rivers, under the name of Mariana; to John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges jointly.
  • 1st known European settlement at Piscataqua was founded by a Scottish Gentleman, Mr. David Thomson
• 1623 - Dover, the first permanent settlement, is founded.
• 1629 - November 7 - John Mason alone, receives a grant of that portion of the Province of Maine which lay between the Merrimac and the Piscataqua, under the name of New Hampshire.
• 1641 - Massachusetts Colony gains control of New Hampshire
• 1642 - First school act of Massachusetts; New Hampshire towns included; parents and masters required to teach children reading, citizenship, and religion.
• 1679 - England forms New Hampshire as a separate royal colony.
• 1680 - New Hampshire enacts own first school law requiring schools in all towns of fifty households or more.
• 1690 - The Falkland, a warship, is constructed for the British Navy, creating an industry that remains in Portsmouth until the 1960s.

18th century

• 1717 - John Wentworth becomes lieutenant governor of New Hampshire.
• 1734 - The Great Awakening sweeps through New Hampshire
• 1756 - The New Hampshire Gazette is formed; and was at one time the "oldest newspaper of continuous publication in the United States."
• 1765 - November 1 - Stamp Act of King George III goes into effect.
• 1769 - Founding of Dartmouth College.
• 1774 -
  • First state to declare itself independent from England.
  • Patriots from the local area raid Fort William and Mary and steal the gunpowder stored there. (Incident becomes known as the Powder Raid.)
• 1776 -
  • July-18 - Declaration of Independence is read on July 18 on the state house's western steps.
  • The first independent government from England is established
  • State to adopt a revolutionary constitution.
• 1777 -
  • January 27, Letter to Benjamin Franklin, John Paul Jones arrived in Paris and readiness of Ranger to sail with squadron.
• 1778 - First state to hold a constitutional convention
• 1788 - New Hampshire becomes the 9th state; U.S. Constitution is ratified by New Hampshire at a convention in Exeter.

19th century

• 1800 - Portsmouth Navy Yard is established.
• 1808 - State capital is established in Concord.
• 1809 -
  • Portsmouth Academy is opened.
  • Fort Constitution explosion during an Independence Day celebration badly damaged the Captain's House and killed 14 people.
• 1812 - Portsmouth's foreign trade is destroyed as a result of the embargo enacted during the War of 1812.
• 1833 - The first U.S. public library is founded in Peterborough.
• 1835 -
  • March - Twenty-eight white students and fourteen black students commence classes at the newly established Noyes Academy in Canaan, New Hampshire.
  • August 10, 1835 - White residents of Canaan, New Hampshire, with the help of residents of neighboring towns and "nearly one hundred yoke of oxen," forcibly remove Noyes Academy from its foundation.
• 1853 - Franklin Pierce of Hillsboro becomes the 14th U.S. President.
• 1869 - First mountain climbing cog railroad (Mt. Washington).
• 1890 - Lucy Swallow and Delia Brown become the first female students of University of New Hampshire.

20th century

• 1909 - First credit association in the nation chartered (St. Mary's Bank Credit Union).
• 1913 - The General Court Passes an act to provide for the election of delegates to the National Convention by direct vote of the people. The primary date is set for the third Tuesday in May.
• 1915 - The primary is moved to the second Tuesday in March to coincide with Town Meeting Day.
• 1916 - New Hampshire holds its first primary.
• 1923 - The University of New Hampshire established.
• 1938 - First aerial passenger tramway in North America (Cannon Mtn).
• 1939 - May 24, USS SQUALUS (SS-192) Submarine Disaster
• 1945 - WW2 German U-Boats surrender in Portsmouth.
• 1997- Portsmouth is chosen by Money magazine as the fifth best place in the nation to live.

And, on May 3rd, 2003, New Hampshire's beloved emblem; the colossal profile of natural granite high atop a sheer cliff in the White Mountains, known as "The Old Man of the Mountain", without warning collapsed, smashing below into a thousand nameless fragments.

Daniel Webster once said, ..."Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men."

New Hampshire's Governor Benson has declared May 3rd as "Old Man of the Mountain Day", stating, "From its mountainous perch, the Old Man has stood for centuries as a testament to the steadfastness of New Hampshire's Yankee character and the resolve of its people. This rugged yet beautiful monument fit the character of the pioneers who founded this state, the immigrants who built it, and the spirit of those who live here today. It was the ultimate symbol of those who would "Live Free or Die." And while that symbol may have fallen, that spirit still remains." -- Governor Craig Benson

Read more about New Hampshire's
state emblem HERE.

"Autumn creeps gently upon New Hampshire and all eyes are on the Great North Woods, New Hampshire's most northern tier. For it is here that nature begins her quest to dress New Hampshire for autumn. During September, the first hint of color interrupts the lush greenery of this sparsely populated area. By the end of the month, the woods are ablaze in gold, orange, and red foliage. And so the process begins as the colors slowly spill southward into the White Mountain region, progressing down through the Lakes and Seacoasts Regions to the east and over to the Dartmouth and Monadnock regions that hug the Vermont border, until finally splashing across the Merrimack Valley region.

If ever the state were to declare official seasonal aromas, autumn's would be the scent of apples and cinnamon fresh baked from the oven. The promise of pies, crisps, and baked apples, lures shoppers to the farm stands where the supply of apple filled baskets seems inexhaustible.

Still others choose to pick their own. Some armed with poles to snatch the fruit from atop the tree and all with baskets to carry their tasty treasures home, the apple pickers head out to the orchards, by foot or by courtesy of a horse drawn or tractor drawn hayride.

Agricultural fairs, festivals, and other harvest time celebrations across the state provide plenty to do and see. Getting there can be half the fun as autumn at the height of foliage season gives new meaning to "going for a drive." A stop in Pittsburg's Moose Alley in the hopes of spying one of the great creatures against autumn's vibrant backdrop, the spectacular painted vistas of the White Mountains from the Kancamagus Highway, the panoply of colors all along Rte 89 ending in the lovely little college town of Hanover, or a drive up the coast with a stop to walk the tree lined streets of Exeter are just a few of the enticements that draw tourists and natives alike to the roads of New Hampshire.

Boaters, bicyclists, and hikers, find that the end of summer is not the end of their passion. They have a few more weeks to enjoy their sports - in a much prettier and more invigorating setting, under October's bright blue skies. Enjoying the season can be as simple as stepping outside and going for a walk because there isn't a place in New Hampshire - city, town, or country road - that isn't spectacular in autumn.

As October draws to an end, the leaves that adorned the trees fall prey to the winds. They cover the ground, crackling underfoot. Children's shrieks of delight are heard as they jump into piles of leaves. Still, the foliage has not stopped adorning the country side, although, now it does so in secret - stuffed into a cast off pair of pants, shirt, and pillowcase; they make the stuffing for the man sitting on the front porch among the corn stalks, pumpkins, and gourds awaiting Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Don't lament the passing of summer, because in New Hampshire, the best is yet to come!"---Christina Coruth

There is so much more to say about this beautiful state, I can't possibly cover it all, so I will leave that to our New Hampshire FReepers. Please tell us what you love about your state and why you are proud to be a New Hampshirite.




In closing I am posting a graphic of a very special place in New Hampshire; Newfound Lake. As a small child I recall visiting my grandparents at this lake where they had a summer home. Wonderful memories of this beautiful place!

And thank you to the following websites
for providing information and graphics.
Autumn in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Colonial History
The New Hampshire Almanac
Old Man of the Mountain

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-18-04 Military Monday 10-19-04 Girly Man (Real Men don't wear lipstick)

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or
.45Man at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

CLICK

[Billie]

How about just apple pie for dinner? Fruit is good for you. ;-)

Hey, that's right! And of course ice cream gives us calcium (doesn't it - I mean, it's milk, right!). There you go - building strong bones and eating healthy. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Hey, that's right! And of course ice cream gives us calcium (doesn't it - I mean, it's milk, right!). There you go - building strong bones and eating healthy. :)

Works for me!

[Diver Dave]

Works for me!

me too!

Ice cream... another one of my major food groups.

Could you make mine ala mode? :)

[Billie]

Your ice cream sundaes are mouthwatering! I like my apple pie ala mode, too! Here, dig in! The apple pie is cooling in the window. You bring the ice cream, Dave. :)

[Billie]

YooHooooo - 'Mom' got some apples from New Hampshire for a fresh apple pie, but she knew how much you liked pineapple, so here's one for you, too. :)

[Billie]

New Hampshire apple pie and beautiful fall colors ping.

Group Hug

[Mama_Bear]

Awwwwwww..........how cute!! What a happy little group we ar!

[Billie]

Aren't they cute?! I forgot I had them and just uploaded them and a few other little cuties this afternoon.

Have to go run some errands. Thanks again for all these lovely cyber tours, Lori. I haven't counted, but are we getting close to halfway yet? :)

[jwfiv]

Thank you, Mrs. Bear ... a really super-beautiful presentation all the way through ... just love your design sense ... )

Rainy day dream away greeting to all the Finest in Freeperville.

[Mama_Bear]

a really super-beautiful presentation all the way through ...

Thank you, JohnnyFox.

just love your design sense ... )

Wow....coming from you, that is high praise, indeed. Thank you soooo much.

Rainy day dream away greeting to all the Finest in Freeperville.

Same to you, FRiend. We are having some wild and wooly weather here in the Central Valley, just heard that a tornado was spotted in Tulare County. Yikes! And me without a basement!

[dansangel]

I just took this test. It only takes a few minutes and is very interesting. It shows which candidate you *really* support and how your answers measure up to those of others that have taken the test:

http://www.BushKerryTest.com

BTW, I scored 66 points for President Bush and 3 points for sKerry. Wonder how *that* happened.......will have to go back over my answers to see where I went wrong. :-(

[Mama_Bear]

I haven't counted, but are we getting close to halfway yet? :)

Today is the 27th state! The 28th if we include DC. Yep, more that half way through them.

Looking foward to your Hawaii and dutchess' Ohio. :-)

[dansangel]

((((((((BILLIE)))))))))

:-)

[dutchess]

I'm sure you are having some nice fall color in Ohio about now.

Hi again...yes central Ohio is really really pretty. Had hoped to take a few pics to post but between work plus its overcast and rainy..maybe later this week. Also, was in Michigan this weekend closing the folks place down...talk about awesome colors.

Ours won't come until about the middle of next month although a few of the trees are just starting to turn

I did not realize that the colors would change in California. Guess I alway thought that to be a north/central/east coast thing. Think I need to go back and do the cybertour of Calif. again!..and yes... :o) I need to get working on Ohio. Maybe my inspiration will be when Ohio wins the election for our president! Again..lovely thread today! ((((lori))))

[Mama_Bear]

LOL!! I really screwed up somewhere along the line too! I scored 63 points for President George W. Bush and 5 points for Senator John Kerry.

I checked how my answers compared to others who took the survey and on all except one question I was with the majority. Now, considering that, how can Kerry possibly get elected when he is on the wrong side of EVERY issue?.....actually he is on ALL sides of every issue, which is even scarier. :-(

[Mama_Bear]

I did not realize that the colors would change in California.

Well, the palm trees don't change color, LOL. No, CA isn't known for it's autumn foliage, we're more known for our wildflowers in the foothills, but we do have some fall color here in the Central Valley. Mainly because people have planted trees that turn colors, like the chinese pistachio and the liquid amber. I don't know that these trees are indigenous to this area, but there are enough of them around town to actually remind me of New England for a couple weeks in late November.

[dansangel]

Now, considering that, how can Kerry possibly get elected when he is on the wrong side of EVERY issue?.....actually he is on ALL sides of every issue, which is even scarier. :-(

A very good question in my estimation. I'm just hoping that we are the "silent majority" - and a BIG majority, at that. And, when all is said and done, we are going to send a very clear message to the other side - that we will *NOT* under any circumstances, tolerate their balderdash any longer.

We don't have to whine, pout and pick fights like *they* do. I pray that our message will come through like a stealth bomber! :-)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

030902-C-3948H-510 New York City, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2004) – A U.S. Coast Guard Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) conducts a Homeland Security patrol near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Rigid hull inflatable boats are deep-V glass-reinforced plastic hulls to which a multi-compartment buoyancy tube is attached. They are powered by either a gasoline outboard motor or an inboard/outboard diesel engine. The RHIB can be easily deployed from a cutter and its portability and ruggedness allow it to be used across many Coast Guard mission areas. U.S. Coast Guard Photo (RELEASED)

041018-N-0841E-297 Pacific Ocean (Oct. 18, 2004) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) cruises through the early morning waters of the Pacific Ocean. Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Oscar Espinoza (RELEASED)

041018-N-0841E-439 Pacific Ocean (Oct. 18, 2004) - An MH-60R Strikehawk assigned to the "Scorpions" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four Nine (HSL-49), picks up cargo aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) during a vertical replenishment with the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Ford and embarked HSL-49 are on a scheduled deployment with Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Oscar Espinoza (RELEASED)

PASSAGE KEY ISLAND, Fla. -- Airman 1st Class Ed Howell prepares explosive charges Oct. 13 to destroy a World War II-era M46 photoflash bomb found here. He is assigned to the explosive ordnance disposal team at nearby MacDill Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Hohn)

[Aquamarine]

Just wanted to add that I went through New Hampshire on the way back from a trip to Quebec with my family many years ago and it was storybook beautiful. Would love to go back someday.

[deadhead]

Lovely thread, Mama_Bear. New Hampshire is a beautiful state. My SIL's folks live there. A few years ago, they walked out the door to find a visitor...LOL, a moose. Found pic below on google, this is not the actual moose :-)