© 2014 ISHRA Volume 23 Issue 2 Fall 2014 Our mission is to locate, collect, organize, preserve, expand and make available information and knowledge relating to the natural and human history of the Isles of Shoals Case Closed on the 1873 Smuttynose Murders Will be the Subject of our Program Tuesday, November 11, 2014 by J. Dennis Robinson Born in Worcester in 1951, Dennis says that he was always a writer – probably worked out his first essay in the womb – and has sought to press boundaries, advancing his own unique attitude and applying it to whatever comes across his desk. Having written a comic play called “Mr. Cleopatra” in grammar school he secured his first regular position as a journalist in his freshman year in high school with a regular column in the local J. Dennis Robinson, author & historian community newspaper. Immediately evincing his sharp-edged attitude Casual in his attitude regarding attendance he and willingness to “speak truth to authority” he found himself called on nonetheless received straight A’s in English classes, the carpet in the principal’s office for a petulant and very negative his frequent absences were overlooked and he was review that he wrote of the historical novel Johnny Tremain. Those of us nominated to the prestigious international high familiar with this icon of adolescent American historical fiction realize school journalism honor society, Quill and Scroll. that such action was nearly as objectionable as would be doing a take- Dennis says that back then everyone “knew” that down of George Washington, and for this Dennis was threatened with he was going to be a big shot author – fame, money, dire censorship unto death. However, quickly devising an end run movie contracts. “But,” he says,“ I’m not rich and around this obstacle he went on to write whatever he pleased. famous.” However, thanks to his inventiveness, Dennis says that, “As a scrawny sickly kid in public school, any talent for diversification and appetite for hard power source would do,” and he quickly recognized the power of the work the days of working two jobs just to make pen, buying off would-be-bullies by ghosting their overdue essay ends meet are in the distant past. He has been a assignments. He also wrote poems for the school literary magazine, freelance writer since 1973 with over one-thousand songs to attract difficult-to-date girls, covered basketball games for the articles and essays in New England publications statewide daily and edited the school newspaper. and Web sites and is a contributor to The Portsmouth Herald, Early American Life, Foster’s Sunday Citizen and the UNH Magazine In 1996 he launched the Web site SeacoastNH.com which posts content about local and regional history, receiving over a thousand “hits” daily. As an author he has eleven books about American history in print in addition to children’s books including juvenile biographies of Jesse James and Lord Baltimore besides an excursion into “heavy” journalism – a book exploring the history of child labor exploitation in America, Striking Back: The Fight to End Child Labor Exploitation. Nottingham Galley Wreck on Boon Island - 19th Century Lithograph Dennis currently resides in Portsmouth, NH. September Shipwrecks Conference - Page 6 Page 2 ISHRA Newsletter Vol. 23 Issue 2 Letter from the ISHRA Board It was a wonderfully busy summer but fall is upon us and activity on the islands is winding down. The students on Appledore are getting ready to return to mainland This fast-moving season has seen lots of changes in schools, the Smuttynose Stewards are cleaning up and the Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Association. winterizing, and on Star Island the PELs are preparing to We welcomed new Board members: Sue Murphy and leave the island to the birds, and the wind, and the ghosts Cindy Martin, and it is with heavy hearts and gratitude of summers past. that we say goodbye to Board Member and Treasurer As winter arrives we will all be busy with seasonal John Diamond who has served ISHRA in countless ways activities, however on some cold snowy afternoon as you we can only begin to thank him for. John will be stepping thumb through a photo album or a book about the Shoals, down after several years of service and his presence on the or perhaps your eye falls upon the pressed seaweed or Board will be greatly missed. piece of sea glass or pipe stem you left on a windowsill, In late fall Alexandra de Steiguer arrived to keep you will be transported back to a golden summer day at winter watch over the buildings and grounds on Star the Isles of Shoals and you will begin to daydream and Island. At this past Spring Meeting she treated us to an plan your 2015 summer visit. Share those daydreams and awe inspiring look into her winter world at the Isles of make those plans with your fellow Shoalers at the Shoals. Alexandra shared many of her photographs from November 11th Membership Meeting or at the January 25th her new book Small Island, Big Picture - Winters of Solitude Winter Social. Teach an Artist to See, allowing us to glimpse a time and place very few of us will ever have the opportunity to see. Many non-winter visitors do continue to explore th Star Island via the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company’s 4 ANNUAL ISHRA WINTER SOCIAL Day Visit and Walking Tour Cruises. ISHRA’s own Star Sunday January 25, 2015 Island History Docents continue to lead the very popular from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. First Congregational Church one hour walking history tours. Jim Rock took over the of Kittery Point Docent Program this past summer and was able to expand it to cover every trip without fail. As summer’s golden haze fades to autumn crispness Congratulations to Jim and his dedicated History and winter’s crystal white don’t let your Shoaler friends Docents. and family drift too far away. Come together again at The June Conference, “Changes in the Sea: Marine ISHRA’s 4th Annual Winter Social. If the past three years Science Discoveries” was a great success. Conferees are any indication it will be another unique and fun filled enjoyed educational lectures, artistic activities, a whale ISHRA event. and bird watch trip, boating and island exploration, as Mark your calendar – January 25, 2015 from 1:00 to well as the company of cherished friends and time spent 3:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Kittery contemplating Gosport Harbor from the comfort of a Point. favorite rocker on the porch of the Oceanic Hotel. Bring your favorite side dish, appetizer, beverage, or ISHRA member Jean Stefanik applied for, and was dessert for the pot luck luncheon, the seafood chowder is approved for a grant to purchase four kayaks, paddles, on us. Most important, don’t forget your photo albums, and life jackets. Thanks to her efforts the boats were Shoals memorabilia, and memories to share. donated this past June to the Star Island Corporation and This year ISHRA will also include a surprise were in almost constant use during the summer. fundraiser to benefit ISHRA Conferences, Speakers, and This year also saw the 400th Anniversary of the Social Events. Captain John Smith Map of New England. Historic reenactments and educational exhibits organized on Star Island celebrated this notable moment in time and the ISHRA Media Contacts Isles of Shoals place in it. Cassie Stymiest The ISHRA Newsletter is Produced ISHRA Webmaster and Edited by Richard Stanley [email protected] [email protected] Vol. 23 Issue 2 ISHRA Newsletter Page 3 Financial Changes in the Wind 2014 ISHRA June Conference Changes in the Sea and Marine Science Discoveries ISHRA’s mission has been and remains a commitment to locate, collect, organize, preserve, The 2014 ISHRA June Conference was a resounding success as expand and make available information and friends old and new gathered on Star Island to explore the “Changes knowledge relating to the natural and human in the Sea and Marine Science Discoveries” on and around the Isles history of the Isles of Shoals. of Shoals. Speakers from the Shoals Marine Lab, the University of Since its inception ISHRA has been able to Maine, and our own ISHRA President Dr. Nathan Hamilton serve this mandate with uncompromising pride, entertained and educated twenty-five happy conferees as we and enthusiasm. However, as economic times traveled through fourteen thousand years of natural and cultural change we are faced with the reality that we history at the Isles of Shoals. Walking tours brought to life the must keep in step with them. It has become geology, marine wildlife and flora and fauna of the islands. Amy apparent to the members of ISHRA’s Board of Cook pointed out often unnoticed photo opportunities, focusing our Directors that if we are to continue to provide attention on many things which surprised even the most veteran the same level of service and opportunities to our Shoaler. members, and all students of Isles of Shoals Creativity flourished under the talented guidance of Amy Cook History, we must increase and diversify our and Gretchen Gudefin as we learned about, collected, and pressed financial base. seaweed and worked polymer clay into replicas of ancient ivory and We have therefore determined that this will bone, producing wonderful souvenirs of our time together on Star best be accomplished with a small increase in Island. membership dues as well as a more focused effort Quiet time was devoted to socializing in gatherings at several in other forms of creative fundraising.