Simply Somersworth: History, including Somersworth s, repeats itself fosters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fosters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Simply Somersworth: Grand Army Republic was city s first veterans group
Jenne Holmes
When we think of veterans organizations. we generally think of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), but they were not the first veterans organizations in the USA. That honor would fall, at least in this part of the country, to the Grand Army Republic (GAR).
The GAR was formed in Illinois on April 6, 1866. The organization had three primary objectives at its inception: Fraternity, charity and loyalty. Each of which was fulfilled as the Union soldiers who had served in the Civil War returned home.
Simply Somersworth: Author Stephen King s connections to Somersworth fosters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fosters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Simply Somersworth: The third dimension of Somersworth high schools
Jenne Holmes
I hope everyone had a pleasant Mother s Day this past Sunday and found a way to connect with that all important person in all our lives. So last week I wrote about the first two high schools in Somersworth and I promised to return to the subject this week and talk about school building number three.
Unlike the other two high schools, that would be located in the same place where Hilltop apartments can be found today, our third high school required a new building plot as well as some extensive planning. That planning would begin in 1948 when Mayor Romeo St. Laurent would form a 12-person committee to examine the needs, wants and possible sites for such a project.
I often find myself walking past the Somersworth Veterans Memorial, which is located in Stein Park on Main Street and thinking about those who are or who have served over the years. One of the stones in the park is dedicated to the crews of the USS Somersworth and for many years could be found in the park that bears its name. That park is located at the end of Main and Market streets. The Veterans Commission decided that it would be more fitting to have the stone placed in the Veterans park and that is exactly where it is today.