7 , - - d- ISHRA. NEWSLETTER Isles of Shoals Historical and Research Association Volume 3 Number 1 March 1994 BUSINESS MEETING The ISHRA Fall Meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. on statements of account and with the analysis of ex- Tuesday, November 9, 1993 at the Seacoast Scie~ce penses.The Treasurer's report was accepted asread. Center, Odiorne State Park, in Rye, New Hampshire. There were 70 members and 4 visitors present. Committee Reports The meeting opened with a welcome extended . Publications Committee by Steve Miller, the Center's Prowam Di.r~c:t0r.Steve Janice Warren announced that Tricia Miller, a mem- gave a brief overview of the vaned acnvmes of the ber of the committee and the person who produced Center and indicated the need for volunteers to theluly 1993 newsletter, has kindly offered to do the - assist staff members in carrying out their missions. same for the next newsletter. Members were asked to Before proceeding with the business me~ting, submit items for inclusion in the next issue .of the members were treated to a videotape presentation of newsletter. It is hoped that members will share items liThe Ballad of Louis Wagner." The film described of interest or the results of any Shoals-related research the 1873 murders of Anethe and Karen Christensen they have carried out. The committee would like to on Smuttynose Island. It was set to the music com- produce a publication, in addition to the newsletter, posed and sung by John Perrault and had been pro- that would contain more extensive researchreports or duced by Gary Samson of the UNH Media Center- literary efforts. Members who are interested in pre- senting Shoals-related programs to the general public secretary's Report were urged to join the ISHRA SpeakersBureau. Donna Titus had prepared photocopies of her report of the Annual meeting in May, 1993. These were dis- Collections Committee tributed to. the members present and, subsequently, Nancy Noble reported that committee members were accepted with one minor correction. have held two meetings. Topics for consideration have included the following: Treasurer's Report • The discussions currently underway to transferthe Lyman Rutledge Isles of Shoals Collection to the Paul Sadler, Jr. reported that as of October 31,1993, Portsmouth Athenaeum and the possibility of hav- 120 individuals had renewed their memberships in ing the Athenaeum serve as the central depository ISHRA and 57 new members had joined since our for other Shoals material and collections. last meeting in May. Approximately 80 members had • Increased efforts to obtain oral histories. Several not renewed. We have one Institutional member and have already been conducted and members were our first Junior member. [At the time of this mailing, urged to suggest the names of other individuals there are 68 new members, including two Junior who might be willing to be interviewed. and two Institutional, and renewed individual 142 • The efforts of Ed Rutledge in compiling a data- members. Some 67 have not renewed their member- base of Shoalsiana sources and how best to dis- lncome from all sources is $4,913.35. Expenses ships.l seminate this information. to date: $3,405.30. The balance on hand is $1,508.05. An audit of the financial statements of ISHRA Program Committee through October 29, 1993, was carried out by Bob Peter Lamb reported on the ISHRNStar Island week- Hochstetler. It was found that the income was quick- end, September 10-12, 1993. Twenty-eight members ly deposited and expenses accounted for. All monies attended, leaving for Star from Portsmouth on 5:00 were balanced with the Bank of New Hampshire p.m. on Friday the l Oth and returning on Sunday the n......•'1...... March 1994 ISHRA Newsletter 12th in the afternoon. On Saturday evening, John NEW BUSINESS Hatch presented a slide show on art, including his own, done at the Shoals. Later that evening, Kate and Proposed amendments to the ISHRA bylaws were Richard Stanley (aka the "Bigelow Bighters") enter- included in the meeting announcement that was tained the group with music. The following day, John sent to all members. The amendments were: Hatch led the group to various sites on Star that he • To expand the membership of the Board of had used as subjects for his paintings. Later that day, Directors by adding the immediate Past President a flotilla of rowboats went over to Smuttynose for a as a voting member and the chairpersons of all brief visit. All were impressed with the renovation of committees and all other Past Presidents as non- the Haley cottage that John MacKenzie had carried voting, ex officio members. out over the last four summers and with the -eoalr • That committee appointments shall be for two work done by Richard and Kate Stanley on years with the opportunity for reappointment to Rosamond Thaxter's cottage. additional terms. The consensus of the participants was that it was an enjoyable weekend and well worth repeating next • Changing the dates of the May and November year. If it is possible for us to fit into the Star Island meetings from the first to the second Tuesday of schedule next year, we plan to announce to the entire each of these months. membership so that all may have an opportunity to The amendments were approved unanimously by consider attending. the members present. OTHER BUSINESS Smuttynose Ranger Program Edith, stating that the presence of the Rangers on Edith Pierson described another successful Ranger island and staying in the Haley cottage was vital for program this last summer. There were Rangers con- its protection from vandalism. tinually on the island except for a few weekends Edith brought sign-up sheets for those interested in when the weather was bad. Several things were staying on Smuttynose next summer. She asked that accomplished, including the repl·acement of the sign those signing up indicate whether they wished to serve on the Spanish as Rangers or simply to camp on the island. It was 9.~··; Sailor's Graves noted that, in addition to providing a presence on the monument, addi- island to deter any vandalism and working to improve tional work on the premises, the Rangers performed an important the Thaxter cot- public information role for visitors to the island. tage by Richard One final announcement was that Smuttyrose (or and Kate Stanley, Smuttyrows, depending on how you look at it) the development of canoe that Edith allowed Rangers to use for trans- designated area portation between Smuttynose and Star, had disap- for the use of peared. We were urged to keep our eyes open for it. boaters who had The canoe will be greatly missed if not found, as it is dogs on board, essential for ferrying gear and for trips tp Star to mowing of lawns, obtain water and ice. clearing of the Haley graveyard Smuttynose Ranger's log and several trails, Janice Warren announced that copies of the Rangers' preparation of Log for summer 1993 could be obtained from her at a three campsites cost of $3.00 (the cost of photocopying). away from the cottage area, poison ivy control, and clearing of the foundation of the Mid-Ocean House. White Island Project The restoration of the Haley cottage has been There were no residents on White Island during sum- completed by John MacKenzie and it is beautiful. mer 1993. Wilbur LaPage, Director of the Division of During the winter, John plans to build some period Parks and Recreation for New Hampshire, has furniture for use in the cottage. John had written to received an extension of the lease on the cottage. He ISHRA Newsletter March 1994 hopes to have several residents on island next sum- The Program' mer for shorter periods. The matter of support for the residents has been resolved with the development of Peter lamb introduced Faye Labanaris, a residentof a contract for a boat to provide this support. Dover, New Hampshire, and a new ISHRA member. It is still not clear how residents will deal with Faye gave a presentation on the quilt she had made power and light requirements. The Coast Guard entitled "A Tribute to Celia Thaxter," Her impressive refurbished the cottage when they were out on the accomplishment is an artistic interpretation of the island during the summer of 1992 installing the life and poetry . solar power system for the lighthouse. The electric of Celia, "\': I 'j)'.i i .: . \ .i' I" stove, refrigerator, cistern water pump, and electric , I, \ 'J. \. toilet were operated by a large diesel generator /W;:"/'Z~(d./Jjj{(~·#"".;'~rV:.' I I· that was brought to the island and ~//7b' II: r r: :'./ -''II I placed outside the entrance to #.;. the cottage. If it is to remain r there, the question is whether a \ resident will be permitted, or able, to operate it. The original plan had \ "-.:\IU~.. been to replace the electric stove ..\.. ..;, ''!!Iii.; and refrigerator with propane-operated '~\:.\.'~li appliances. How this will be resolved remains to be seen..: I. ~'\'II''"",'1/"1." Edith Pierson commented that work- \.~ men had been on the island a few days before and were replacing the boat ramp. This should make landing on the island much easier. Audubon Society Trip Bob Hochstetler announced a trip on Sunday Dec- using the for- ember 19, 1993 aboard the new Universty of New mat of a Baltimore Hampshire vessel R/V Gulf Challenger. The itinerary Album Quilt. This type includes the York ledges, Boon Island, and Star of quilt is one in which Island. He also announced that the R/V lere Chase each block tells a story, and she chose themes from was to be sold at auction.