NH Seacoast Sights and Sounds; Funarama?Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom?Marine Memorial?The Beach; Part 1

The. I am going to let you your hopes for New Hampshire seacoast sights and sounds. If you recall your high school geography you probably recall that of all the states in America with a coastline. New Hampshire's is the shortest. Just 18 miles. But it's hard to imagine cramming more character into an 18 mile stretch of sea coast than the honky tonk of

Hampton Beach to the serenity of the Science Center here at Seabrook Station from the elegant mansions that ride to the hub at the harbor of Portsmouth. We're going to see it all tonight. As we meet the people and see the places that make this such a distinctive slice of life. For those of us here in New Hampshire. One of the focal points of Hampton Beach is the casino. There's no gambling there there never has been. But if you check your dictionary you'll see that casino is defined as a place of entertainment and that certainly describes our next stop. You can play pinball here get your picture taken by an ice cream cone eat

lobster and when the sun goes down and up stairs to the old ballroom. This forum is the heart of a casino the heart of the beach really for almost 100 years people young and old have come here for fun. They are. The builders of the ballroom could hardly have imagined how it would be a century later. Back in 1999 the owner of a trolley company decided he needed something more than just the sand in the sea to attract riders so he bought some sand dunes and built the casino. It wasn't long before it was packed in one thousand twenty six The ballroom was expanded to accommodate the crowds. It was the largest the most on a. Ballroom.

Annoyingly. As a kid oh I can hear I can remember all that. I have nothing to have for 5000 people has room dancing on a given night. That's why we were able they were able to attract the Glen Miller's and the dusty brothers and all the big bands because of the size of the ball. It also attracted Rudy Vallee 6000 people came to see him at events which was broadcast coast to coast. Put the casino on the map in between the big name bands. He was dancing to a house band. It was a dime a dance in the early days and three for a quarter. It is said that mothers would come to watch their daughter's dance with likely prospects for marriage. By the 1970s it was estimated that 50000 people had met their mates at the casino. For people who grew up on the beach the memories of those times are deeply passed. And I may be a little kid sitting here all dolled up watching a baby but I almost knew

it was history I almost knew it was something that I'd always take with me. You know just as great when Carol started working summers at the casino drugstore the big bands were gone replaced by rock n roll. It was like the association. Of bucking the Beach Boys. Three Dog Night Little Rascals The Supreme's the Supreme's I waited and Diana Ross downstairs she brought two of praise from me and she caressed and I did. I thought I'll use press the rest of my wife. She had beautiful she was very down to earth she was a really really nice. But the night Jethro Tull played mark the end of the rock and roll era there was a near riot at the casino. They overbooked the room and so they wouldn't but the firemen shut off the number of attendants and the kids got mad and they started storming up the back stairs and climbing in the windows and almost causing a riot I guess they really didn't but it was pretty bad so

John said that's it there's no more rock n roll in this building and that was 1971. The casino has survived more than near riots. It survived storms and two devastating fires. Thank goodness the winds prevailed and went the other way. Divine intervention because the wood in there was all dry. Pat Collins says the casino provides a strong connection to the past. He felt it when he worked in the movie theater next to the ballroom. He'd hear what everyone said were ghosts late at night would stay to clean up and you might hear some organ music and wonder where that came from. You might hear some footsteps not be quite sure exactly where they were coming from whose experiences at the casino were part of the magic that drew him back to the beach to live. Many many good memories. I think we tend to hold on to them and we

sort of gravitate towards the places where good things happened and that's that's clearly what the casino was a place where very good things happen. For the past 22 years the dance floor has been covered with tables and chairs. The music is for listening to night dancing to the big names still come by Carol can't relate. The only group that I know that I know this summer is the fourth seat since I saw my age. And. Now it's a new generation on the old dance floor making memories of their own. While some of us spend our time up stairs dancing the night away at the casino ballroom all those of

us those who love arcade games spend our time down here. The arcade is called Fun a rama. It's been around for more than 40 years now and that's an awful lot of people. You can always tell a serious player. First by the pile of foreigners right here on the ramp. We don't want to lose your momentum when you get a game going well. Also I always hold two balls left handers for counterbalanced. It's an important thing. You may also notice that I'm using the banking method. Among serious players here serious debate about whether this trade on approach is better than the banking. I prefer the banking approach. Here with good reason. My father was left handed and he's the one who taught me how to play. I'd watch him and try and emulate his style but everything was backwards for me. I couldn't do it. The banking method is kind of a crutch are you going to score more and collect more tickets. You know one of the great things about the final lamas that they still have the old fashioned pinball machine. Are you maybe

aware with the video revolution they run a Waterview things around him. It's kind of like a trip back to my childhood for me. But don't tell my parents I was playing pinball. We were never supposed that might involve. Playing a pinball machine. Is a little bit like marriage you have to figure out what you can get away with. We are. Some people like to shake the machine and get their best advantage but if you go too far. You chill but that's. Symbolic of. The force I guess. You have what I consider to be dream job when I was here. Because to me guys who work in the final round of the pheno heavy ultimate power they get that little point on the stick that they can put into the skeeball machines and play with impunity. Will. Feel. Like a. Foot. Whatever. Oh. Yeah. Here's this better on a rainy day or a sunny day. Lenny. You're the only guy ever beat your brain for it right.

Now by something unknown. GIBSON If you have it. Oh OK. So we've been called as a rank among your finest. The only way. To open the book. And you can pose up for me summed up which was. Perfect. Can I have that blue fish I saw in the window. Sure how but. The and. The I love seafood. And there's nothing else to do not to go to the beach. The Such with the boat. Zoe only.

The owner can ask you to tell me who were here with today. Well our whole family's here and this is my daughter in law Laurie Nan often. And her first little girl 14 months old. Now looking at and looking at your tan I'm assuming that this is not your first day at Hampton Beach with this is our second secondly secondly do you do you come to him to be drawn from. Every year we come family reunion all my other families here and in-laws in the everybody counts. What is the bit you like about your bill. O'REILLY. For the kids it is a little to see you know it's for the little ones and the ride up story isn't. Just a nice family place to be. With your family. Yeah. Yeah and tell me about your sand castle here. I like. You to go.

I want to see if the water can go over that a little more kind of tools did you use to build. Just. To. My hands there. Did you have any help. Yeah. But it was the bottom. When you were. There. OK he's the foreman but the sub contractors of the castle are here with me. Tom DeAngelis where are you from Hudson him for him and where do you come to Hampton Beach for you obviously brought the whole crowd with you. Well one of these nice hot weather and sun shine and so if you're going to come to the beach for a few days and enjoy the water in the the sand castles. And you bring the kids are you concerned about them maybe consuming a little too much beach sand or. Oh no no. I think it's a pretty good she pretty much stays in the family. I always go in the water with him. You know he's a really good swimmer. But the water is never warm here is it. Let's be honest it's pretty cold. And we have a pool. But we still like to come to the ocean.

As you can see thousands and thousands of people come to Hampton beach every day throughout the summer to enjoy the sand in the sand. But in the midst of all of this activity there's a little known spot that's set aside for quiet reflection. Great softy when we since. It's with us. These are the words inscribed on the base of the New Hampshire we mourn the lady as she is known to locals here in Hampton. This statue wonders thousands who died in many different wars and were lost or buried at sea. But it is really the story of one father's quest to remember his fallen son. In 1941 the Downs family of Manchester sent their only son to war.

Captain William Downes spent World War Two in the South Pacific. After a long tour of duty he was headed Stateside on a troop ship when he became ill and died on May 25th 1945. MT down there you'd see. Thousands of miles away from his parents his wife. And a young daughter whom he had never seen. Back in Manchester William Downes began a long series of correspondence with Washington. You want to government to provide a gravestone for a song. And others who have been buried say he wanted to place the marker in a cemetery. It would be a place for this fatherhood. The government refused his request as well as his suggestion for national mourning to be constructed in Washington. You know like the government saying no you can't have why don't we have a copy of a letter from Senator Brigitte where he had to impart that information to Mr. Downs. And I'm sure after he read that.

He just I've got to do something else then you know. Undaunted. Bill Downes look closer to home. He sought help from William Loeb the editor of the state's largest newspaper. All the staff and editorial writers they really pushed it in the paper. You know you get people interested. In 1050 downs convinced governor Sherman Adams to create the New Hampshire Marine Memorial Commission. Over the next four years money was raised and several locations were considered before deciding on the area across from the Ashworth hotel at Hampton Beach. Many people submitted designs but the one chosen came from a conquered artist. The state's most talented I dos was Alice cause grove at the time she worked for the Department of Economic Development. And she was the one that did chop of granite which at the time had this key places and I know the New Hampshire and her design was accepted unanimously.

For her scale model. The sculptor worked with her to create the sensitive face which is the lady's most stunning feature. In the summer. The fourth one block of New Hampshire granted at once from granite quarry in Concord. Italian artist Vin Chen's Oh Adriaan he then shaped the stone he carefully removes some 17 tons of the granite using point by point measurements and a plaster cast of the statue. Part of the original cast can be seen today at the Tuck museum in Hampton. Was dedicated to me. Thirty one thousand fifty seven was the downes dream had become a reality. A person who has lost a loved one. Oftentimes. The interview had a. Force that said I must. And they can carry this through to an ending which was absolutely beautiful.

What began with one man became a permanent place to remember many sons and daughters. The memorial lists the names of more than two hundred forty eight New Hampshire people whose lives were lost in the service of their country. Their bodies buried at sea. To this day it remains the only memorial of its kind in the United States. It's very very important to know that your lock on will not be forgotten. And I. Can kind of. Help you work through your grieving. So here the lady stands looking seaward me a peaceful place in this bustling seaside resort. The artist Alice cause growth perhaps describes her best

as she looks across the waters. She asks that the winds and waters be gentle as a mother who covers her sleeping child at night. Rove returned to New Hampshire seacoast sights and sounds in a few months. Rabbi. Welcome back to New Hampshire's seacoast sights and sounds. One of my favorite

sounds at the beach is the sound of laughter especially when it's my nieces and my nephews enjoying the water. My family's been coming here for longer than I can remember because according to my dad his mom once owned a hotel in Hampton center. It was a rooming house and she only rented her rooms to young waitresses. You can imagine what my father had such an affinity for this place. Rubbed off on all of us. So join me now as we continue our journey from North Beach all the way up. To 50. Here in the area known as Little boy's head just a stone's throw from the sea there were dozen small shingle buildings known simply as the fish houses. If you ask around about these landmarks people will point you in the direction of Bob southward who still owns the pair of hosers his grandfather bought some

fishermen applied to the selectmen of the town of Northampton to build a road to the fish out. Sell at least some of these buildings were here and they do you know the need for it appears as though. In the old days there and I'm talking about the eighteen hundreds. The fish were very plentiful off here and so are the lobster. And the fishermen would come down here and would build a little house. Now these houses used to change hands. Sometimes. With just a handshake. Other times far as much as $10. They were built by fisherman not carpenters but they sure were built to last. The corners are all triangulated. So that in case of a storm the ocean comes out. And it hits the front of the house pretty well but it doesn't collapse it at all. It simply moves the fish out off its foundation into the road

or more than that into the end of the marsh. In a recent storm one of the fish eyes is a little bit away from here. Ended up in the middle of us 1A. There was no damage whatsoever and the glasses weren't even thrown off the shelves. They just jacked up Modo back. Two hundred years ago fishermen stored their nets and Dorry's here. The next obvious question is What are they used for today. We don't use them of anything. It's a place to have a small party or are it's a place where the kids can sleep over at night or something of that nature. I think we have a fortune to own these fish as it is. I really do I like them and I. Sell are pleased at all the people who buy fish sizes because they don't change them too much they

just use the same architecture and everything and it looks just great. And we all get along very nicely done here. And I think we're just plain lucky to have them. Artists have painted them. Writers have no doubt wax poetic about these rough hewn reminders of seafaring days gone by. Ask Bob Southworth if he shares this romantic notion of a link with the past and he's apt to answer with a smile. Yeah I guess so. Problem is I'm a pastor too I'm 80 some odd years old and if there's a link there yeah I guess so it's probably pretty strong. Thanks. A visit to the

seacoast is really a sensual thing. The smells in particular and it's not just the smell of the sea air. So many other aromas we associate with the beach whether it's fried dough or popcorn or cotton candy. To the clam flats at low tide. That first breath of cold air when the wind changes and comes off the water. Something that never leaves you. Very early in my life I came to the conclusion that the bravest person in the world was the first person had a

lobster. I'm reminded of that every summer when I come back to the beach because it's something we all see. We see the boats going out and plying their way to the sea. But we never get the chance to find out what happens on those boats. What life is like for a lobsterman. Let's find out. Meet Arthur splain. The man to nor around Ryan Harbor. After all he's been watching here for more than 30 years. Today I set out with Harkness first made my Kozlovsky to learn a little bit about your work. This lobster business is. Not going to go. Well I've had a boat since I was 10 years old and.

Acting for a living I've only been doing it for the last 10 years but. I don't have a lot to do every year since I was 10 years old. And it's quite a quite a unique business obviously. You have to get a lot to do with. God. The independency of last spring. It's a challenge and. It depended on the weather I would say that's probably the most challenging part about it is that we had a bad storm that could wipe you out. But you have to start over again which is you know it's happened before. The one thing I don't do that a lot of these guys do is fish in the winter time. I usually quit in the middle of into January and the other guys should say some of them go out all winter long and they go out 20 miles or 30 miles and out into real deep water because a lot is moved out there in the winter time and it's a tough living it and you know you're out there and it's five degrees of zero and ice builds up on the boat. Fortunately I quit before that before I have to do that and you know those guys that do it

I've had my house. How tough they they work but it is dangerous it is. We obviously see all kinds of things while we're out here. We've seen killer whales and giant turtles and all kinds of things so it makes it interesting it's not just the day by day that he did it to be something you know. On a nice day it's a fun business. You get a sense that people appreciate what you do for work are largely unaware of what goes into hauling lockers. One neat thing about this business is a lot of people appreciate a lot of people like to come over and ask you about it just like you're here today and it's some satisfaction that a lot of people got a lot of fun with us and it's fun to see them coming and gauge a lot of his and and and a lot of his which we like to make people do some work if they go out with us. But there's a lot of sad satisfaction I see in that because a lot of people do enjoy it and the more that we have people learn about what we're doing I think it's great for the industry. I know it's hard holding Arthur your daughter home waiting for you waiting for you at the dock is that important to you to grow up in this kind

of an atmosphere. I think so it's. Well I grew up here and I think I turned out alright. But. It is a great atmosphere and we're fortunate enough so that when you're at the beach they can walk to the beach and enjoy the ocean which you know obviously it's a beautiful place. And yeah I hope you know we can live here and I hope they can grow up you know I think it is a terrific show and I think you could see that just by what's around us. You are terrific sponsor beautiful to see. We are at New York point the very birthplace of New Hampshire. This site was once home to

Native American tribes and later in the 16 hundreds it became the site of the first European settlement in New Hampshire. In later years during World War Two in fact this became home to Fort Dearborn which was established to protect the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Today it's the site of Odeo in Point State Park and the seacoast Science Center. Hands on an environmental educational center to help teach children the importance of the marine habitat and life on the sea coast. Here we are at the seacoast Science Center and the Science Center is just six and a half years old as a year round green Education Center Visitor Center here in Point State Park. We've got a lot of people doing the type tours coastal installation tours the wild flower walks in the park. We've got a great park to work in with great cultural history and a very diverse Natural History. What is this part of a yarn is known as the drought forest and here along the coast

anywhere from thirty two hundred years ago to forty six hundred years ago this was a coastal forest it's kind of hard to imagine that now with the beach here but this area was covered with forest and right in front of us here is the base of one of the trees. You can see radiating from the center where that stump is or what's left of the stump. The root system of course now it's covered with some of the rock weeds the marine algae as they grow here and some snails. But in this area you can find anywhere from 30 to 40 stumps. I've been out here on days with a little bit lower tide and some of these trees you can actually see the rings of the trees the growth rings so you can actually date bit the tree when it when it it basically was drowned in and perished in the rising sea level river. Pretty low tide out there which is good for you guys because you get to see way down to the red zone and that's where a

lot of the sea stars are going to be living. So you're going to start seeing crabs and about the Browns. We have two different kinds of crabs out there. Green crabs we have rock crabs. Crowd can hurt you if you guys can't your finger like the bigger they get there the harder their pension. Teacher Now that I come off a little pitchy in the mouth. Yes I know Iraq I mean this is that last go to your home is part of the Odeon homestead audience first moved here in 16 60 Johnno During was a fisherman at the Isel shoals and he

moved here to what is now known as Point State Park. The name coming from the family this was the last home that the audience building was built in eighteen hundreds by ships carpenters. The graveyard is both marked in unmarked grave stones and the tales go and stories go that there are many of the earliest settlers in this area were buried here and some of these unmarked stones. Were here at the site of the graves family former state and the rock wall is what's left of this area. The home was here within the rock boundaries it was called grey rocks. It was quite a lavish home a 10 rooms and two baths. But represents a period of time here in New York when all of the land was privately own and with some very lavish estates along the coast of New Hampshire. And most of what you see today are these rock walls and foundations. Hi. How are you guys doing.

All right have a good day. When you find it. Everything was a crab. Yes day period basically ended with. The. Military taking the land to build for Dearborn to protect the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard which is just around the corner here. This land was taken by the military and this is one of the sites this is battery seaman and this is where two 16 inch guns were in place and these guns were capable of firing a shell that weighed nearly a time just over a time and they were able to fire that shell about 25 miles. They had warned and notified everyone in the area that they were going to test fire these guns once the installation was complete. And of course these guns were massive These were big guns and when they fired it was quite a repercussion. So the Wentworth motel her hotel is just just over the other side here little harbor just through these trees. Can't be more than half a mile away so they have coordinated this

large effort got everyone in the communities notified they had military personnel in the hotel opening all the windows taking all the pictures off the wall so that with the repercussion of the shell firing they would break windows and knock these pictures off the wall so there was some big delay going on with the actual firing and miscommunication as the story goes a lot of the windows were closed the pictures were rehung and then the guns were fired. But the roadways the rock wall there's Gardens there's all kinds of things of historical significance as you walk through the park which just make it there's always a surprise around the corner. It looks like a boat or something like a run or something and. You know what put it on her to try to bring it up and I find you think I'm getting away.

With It. You know last stop for the day. We're going to meet the men who work with the New Hampshire seacoast. At the static war room. On the Memorial Bridge. Stevens is the bridge superintendent. It's quite a thing. It's it's. It's it's the bridge is operated by three people one operator two big tenders.

In the summer months from May 15th through September 15th we make openings on a half hour an hour. This time of year will be 20 25 minutes a day. Thanks. But if you're someone who doesn't like heights or bridges this is not the place to be. Trust me when I tell you we can go a hundred twenty nine feet and then we have to shuttle right now in what case what kind of vessel requires a bridge to go up one hundred twenty nine feet. We have cable ship. We have to take his tank as they would request. They don't have to request it. We automatically go to the top. Thomas late in coming in it's a cruise ship that regularly visits our shows are headed right back into the harbor in Portsmouth right now going to make docking about 5:00 p.m. and we take it up pretty high to

let the late get through. We're here with I mean for Lee who most of you may know as a former mayor of Portsmouth New Hampshire but you have more of a historical distinction involving this bridge don't you. I am a native here and when I was old I cut the ribbon. One of many Britons but the first ribbon I ever was when we had this formally dedicated between Maine and New Hampshire and I cut the ribbon to open that. I don't know 75 years ago I was 5 years old and people who went worked at the shipyard went through by fairies in the morning and carried that line to get the ferry right down here when it passed. It was dedicated at the time to the sailors and soldiers of World War 1. And that's what it says on both sides of the May side sense with the

mainsail was and Saul Gerson and the camp says no chance of Maine and New Hampshire soldiers and sailors and then that really brings us down still you know a few years ago but I think that's a it's a mammal instead a case and I hope it always fails. Now I'm a guy from Northfield comes all the way to Portsmouth to work every day or something about the sea coast that you like. Well I would not be other than not being too smart or I really I really did not really enjoy coming down. From ot a few times and watch it go up and down and watch it. Over the course of all my life I've never rolled up on the road to really. Really appreciate it. Very very rough time in this one the way.

We love it. And if you're looking for the best you pretty good might ever. Want to thank you for joining us right up here. We hope you enjoyed this look at a very unique slice of the granite state New Hampshire Public Television it's our job to bring you these people these places that make this so special. And we hope you'll support us in our efforts by becoming a member of New Hampshire Public Television.