City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 7 Jul 2022

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From YouTube: 7.7.2022 Cemetery Committee

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7.7.2022 Cemetery Committee

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Recording all right- and it's amazing yeah, um so we um start with a roll call and we'll start with.

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Useless hi sloth brooks speak up into your. Please brooks sue dd forte, eva boyce, sue, polly, jorah.

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uh Corn hollowall city of portsmouth, suzanne woodland, deputy city manager,.

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And we have carrie rubinstein on on the I on online um we're gonna go oh approval of june.

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2Nd minutes do we have a quorum? Oh yeah, one one one. We can't. We count him he's. Probably.

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Not a member one, two three, four five always voting.

A

I don't know, should we wait until the end of the summer and decide if we should.

A

Downgrade it to five I mean people are out because of operations and.

C

And it's summer, it's summer right, so we seem to have a problem. Okay, the minutes will wait. It's not.

C

A big deal: okay, all right. Moving on we're going to talk about point of graves, wall, repairs.

A

I can't remember if I sent this email out, but just to bring you up to speed.

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The south end has a group of people called friends of the south end and they are looking to.

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See what they can do to get the point of grace cemetery.

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Taken care of, but especially the wall, that's down there. They were at a meeting where the mayor.

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And peter rice and other officials were, there was a neighborhood group meeting and it came.

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Up that's where it came up last month, so I received a phone call immediately. The next day.

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From a kathleen bodak, who is, I guess, the chairman of that committee wanting to talk about.

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What can go on with the cemetery because she had found out? There was a cemetery committee.

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And then suzanne several days later, emailed me that peter rice.

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Wanted us to discuss it so here we are. I've done some research.

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Done some research and we're going to do a little presentation about it so.

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We'll do the slide. These are current pictures of the wall. The wall was done in 19.

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um About 40 years ago, so in the late 1900s, this is primarily what they're talking about. So, if you're.

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We're standing here and we're looking at pierce island.

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This is mechanic street. That's the part, we're talking about mechanic street right here.

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There is a little section before them, but, as you can see, it is almost parallel with the road that.

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Wall at one time was four feet tall way back in the day, and it was bricks and the type of bricks.

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That were used were not waterproof. I forgot there was salt bricks which dissolve in in the weather.

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And and water and stuff like that, so I've got four or five pictures, so that would be the.

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Yeah, uh oh that's the very beginning, that's before so that's not too bad and then yep next, one.

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That's the section after it section after it and we'll keep yeah, you can just keep going. Please.

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And so you can see where that whole section is just down to the ground and then we're.

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Going around the curve here so this is that the curve- and you can see the old brick underneath.

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And that is probably not the original brick because there were, as you can see, from around.

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What they decided to do, I'm sorry. I apologize for not having the exact date, but it was.

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About 50 years ago, they filled in what they could, because it was all brick all along there.

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They filled in what they could with any old bricks, and then they put the smell on them. That's meant.

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Over the top of it that was their solution, so I don't believe those are the original bricks.

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Probably not especially since it's a repair spot and everything is cracking. So if we go down a.

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Little bit further along the wall, there's another section again have no idea if it's original, but.

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They're still not the proper bricks for that. Well, you can see next to it. So now we go on next. One.

A

The top along the whole wall is pretty much cracked but they're not moving. It's impossible.

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To knock those over, so kids couldn't go in there and just well. I shouldn't say that, but.

A

Yeah they're gonna adulterate the pool they're, certainly going to run into the cemetery yeah.

D

Oh no, I meant like tipping off the the cement and stuff like that. So and you can see more.

A

Cracks- and I think, there's only one more oh yeah, where it's separated from the patch job they did.

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Years ago and then maybe one more yep another one yeah keep going and then we should see.

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The old pictures- oh yeah- this was down, I think, that's just the back side in from inside this. Yes,.

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I think that's what I did it's around the corner, yeah yeah. We can keep going yeah. Oh that's what I.

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Did thank you. It's been a while and then hopefully the next one is the um that's a picture of the old.

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An old picture of the cemetery nope, that's the last. I got oh really yeah.

A

Well, they were on there, but that's: okay. um The the the old picture shows that uh back in the 1940s.

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That wall, that section was pretty low. At that time the wall was built back in 1840 1845.

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I don't know if there was a wall before then, but that's how old, supposedly this.

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You know that we have pictures of so, um and I do have a really old picture, which.

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I couldn't download of the wall and that section being four feet tall. But after that.

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Most of them have they've been taller than this, but uh never back up to four feet.

A

um So the main concern. um Well, we have an estimate. The estimate back from 2013 was 106 000.

A

To just repair that section of the fence, I have no idea, you know what it would be going forward.

A

Also in that time frame, climate change has played more of a role in everything decisions, but also.

A

The the main concern is what the water table is down there.

A

um Because there's no question that the wall has sunk and it has sunk over the years.

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And from talking to a few people like peter brits, who's in charge of our coastal resilience program.

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I got that right. um All kinds of people have been doing research down in there and definitely the.

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Water table has come up in in years, so strawberry bank right now has done a couple of test pits that.

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They're watching to see how bad their water table is rising over there. I found out today.

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That the master plan that you and I were talking about someone the city did do a master plan. What.

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Three or four years ago, revised the prescott park area right revised it. um I was given thomas.

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Watson watson's name and and said that some test pits may have been done back then that would be.

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Close enough or even at that area to let us know what the water table would be, so I haven't been.

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Able to get a hold of him, you ask a question sure um what they, whatever they do at prescott park,.

D

How would that affect what we might do it? Doesn't it doesn't? Okay, no we're not a part of prescott.

E

You know exactly-wise, but pardon me, do you mean as an aesthetic and no I I mean how they made.

D

Any work they do to mitigate coastal concerns at prescott park. Oh excuse me, yeah that whole.

A

Area is really one section, and if someone does something to one section, it's going to affect.

A

The other section there's no, but that's way down the line right now: okay, um they haven't.

A

We haven't even done tests so cleon yup, so the prescott park master plan is on the city's website.

C

um So you could certainly look at it, and I know that on monday night there is actually.

C

Going to be a short presentation, I believe from mr watson and I think peter rice on the the work.

C

The first scope of work phase of work under that plan, because we've actually narrowed or shortened.

C

Up that scope of work because of a variety of factors I I would expect that if there is.

C

Data on the water table down there, I'm sure corn could follow up with peter rice because it would.

C

Have been done by our consultants in preparation for this work that they're going to describe.

C

On monday night, so we could probably just double check and see if uh westin and sampson, I think, if.

B

Any of their data applies, I would imagine it would yeah, so we could follow up on that for.

C

For the next round next conversation on it yep, and so you said monday- is the meeting yep.

A

So the city council meeting oh at the city council, meeting okay. um So the real question is um how.

A

What's the best way or I'm looking at, what's the best way to approach this um to find out where we.

A

Should start if we should start all of that that information, so so, let me suggest two things. First,.

C

I don't know if corin's had any conversations with peter rice, yet in terms of some thinking on.

C

Strategies we might want to look at. I know. One thing I talked about with peter rice is.

C

And I think with you, maybe is um susan- is using the resources of this committee to do an l-ship.

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Grant so if we could help with understanding coming up with enough of an estimate that we.

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Could attach it to an l-ship grant and then, as we need to when we go through the cip process.

C

Starting in the fall begin to figure out how much money we might want to the committee might want to.

C

Recommend gets put into that um for for this, do you have any if it's, okay, maybe corn, could weigh.

B

In on anything yeah I mean you know, we just talked about discussing sort of priorities, so I think you.

B

Have a few issues here I think you have like. Can I have you grab the mic that way sure kevin will.

C

Be happier because I think you have the long-term viewpoint, which is how do we protect the cemetery.

B

In the larger span of time and scope of of things, and then you have the more immediate.

B

Issue of how do we just repair this wall to stop it from getting worse, so I think it.

B

Really, there's a couple things there that are going on um and I think it really depends on.

B

L-Chip and funding really as to what direction you go, I mean I obviously you weren't gonna want.

B

To start with figuring out the long-term solution, what what what does that entail? Not that's going.

B

To require way beyond anything I can offer, I mean, that's, that's engineers, archaeologists.

B

No, the more immediate thing is okay, I mean it depends how much funding you have. I mean.

B

You could get somebody to come in and just patch it up for now, pathetic and for for.

B

Preventing any further degradation and then go with your long-term plan from there.

A

Are you up? Are you okay, no I'm getting by well, it's good to see that you're.

A

Recovering from your hip surgery, slowly but surely yeah! um No, I I I agree with you. 100.

A

um And that's largely directed by this committee! What what direction you want to go with that.

B

I would assume right, I I know the um the group the group down there. You know, wants.

A

To be brought up really spiffy and looking great, um my personal opinion is right. Upper.

A

The upper wall I mean- I have no idea how much it would cost just to patch over all of that.

A

It's the lower wall that concerns me and also I spoke to the state archaeologist.

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And um we sort of tossed around ideas and you know the best place. We don't know what we're up against.

A

So, do we want to go for an l-chip for 80 000 match it for 80, spend 160 000 on a wall that may sink.

A

Because we don't know, what's underneath there, what the water table is the issue isn't so much.

A

Of the down in that slope that um if the coffins aren't there anymore, that's okay, it's still a.

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Burial ground, but according to the coastal resil resilience committee it by 2050 it it could have.

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11 feet of water over it. Now I mean that's a big jump from now to 2050, but even if it only had.

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Two feet of water over it most of the time. Do we want to spend that kind of money to repair a wall.

A

To repair a wall also, isn't there a plan for the seawall.

B

As part of the coastal resilience program, so that all has an impact on.

B

If they redo the entire sea wall along prescott park from the state fishing pier all the way down,.

B

That may resolve issues as far as that direct relationship to water as far as rising water. I.

B

Think we can probably see if we can see if there's any data that came in when they did the test pits.

B

And prescott park for the master plan to see if it applies to the entire area yeah and go from.

B

There and I'm sure, they've had some predictions as part of the master plan as to hey. We expect this.

B

Many feet or inches per year for the next 10 20 years and then you know obviously obviously makes.

B

Decisions based on that. Oh absolutely, I'm just throwing all this information out right right.

A

What we have to be wary of is the fact that what might be happening over in prescott park.

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May not have anything to do with what's sitting underneath the cemetery.

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I mean you can have one spot over here that you know as dry as a bone and then right next to.

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It it could be very wet underneath, depending on what's underneath that spot, so not having that g.

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Or technical information you'd still be making a decision, I'm just throwing this out decision.

A

Based on blind information- and they just did some work on um the bait shop- that's there.

F

uh Yeah they have a pump stick. I I think we need to see if the data that they have applies.

B

To the entire area, I mean that that's that's something I could not answer.

B

I don't know because if it stops at um the pierce island road, then that's not going to help the.

F

And that's even the cemetery in the prescott park yeah. No, I mean this is all information.

A

That has to be gathered, there's no, it's not an easy thing to do, and I even looked into.

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What the procedure is, if we wanted to do some test borings to find out what the sea level or the.

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Water table is right there at the cemetery. It can be done um sure you know it wouldn't.

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Be cheap necessarily, but it it can. That is something down the line if we want to do.

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It's available to be done out there and it will be regulated through the department of justice.

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Because they're in charge of all cemetery trustees, so anything that's going to be done.

A

In the cemetery like that has to be approved or go through, the department of justice.

B

I mean, I think it can't hurt for you to get some estimates for basic repair. I mean michael griffin.

B

Has the crew that's in his cemetery all the time fixing that wall? Maybe you start with something.

B

As simple as hey, what would it take to patch this thing up to prevent any further degradation and.

B

To sort of make it more visually appealing because I think any major rehab of any wall down there is.

B

It's going to have a big number on it, oh yeah, so maybe we kind of do balls simultaneously. Maybe we.

B

Like maybe, we can dig into getting some prices for basic repairs and then work on this other.

B

Large scale thing obviously piece piece by piece: could we go back just to a couple pictures or oh.

A

Sure I was just trying to make sure you know we had carrie so.

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Yeah back the other way, so that big gaps that like up in this area, you know that's the high section.

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So are we talking about securing the top? Obviously, that would be a major. uh You know that would be.

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On the list, what I'd like to know is when we go down further, do we want to see we secure the.

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Tops back on, um I guess it's the other way. Sorry yeah, like like those kinds of things, do we want to.

A

You know is that what I should be looking for estimates for yeah. I would talk to the folks that.

B

Do it and just show them what we have and say what are your recommendations? I mean, what do you think.

B

Here, for for aesthetic, and also for slowing down the deterioration of the wall yeah, they might say.

B

Hey the best thing to do here is to take this cap off chisel back. This coating replace the you know.

B

I don't know I'm not I'm not, but I would start with that. For sure I mean if you just watch these.

B

This crew that he's had down there, that it depends on the section they're working on. Sometimes they.

B

Take the whole cap right off and sometimes they get to a section. You see they're just.

B

You know repairing in a minor way, so I think their their eye could their expertise would be certainly.

B

Needed for that yeah those gentlemen are from italy, yeah yeah, that's right! They're from italy,.

F

Were the friends of the south end like specific on what they wanted like? No, they just they just want.

F

It fixed yeah, I mean I haven't, we didn't get into that with kathleen, but I mean all you have to do.

A

Is look at the wall and when it comes closer she said they would be glad when I get estimates or if.

A

We get to that point, you know they. A couple of them would come and point out what they.

A

Want or would like yeah I'm gonna? I think corn has the right recommendations here in terms of.

C

Do this, you know uh two ten two paths which is one is: what can we do to slow down the deterioration.

C

And get some estimates for that because that may be enough.

C

In itself alone, to you know, be a nice good, l-chip request to slow down the deterioration and.

C

Data is being collected by strawberry bank and we can look at.

C

Do we need something more site-specific, in which case it's that process, to figure out what that.

C

Would cost maybe we could get some grant monies or maybe we could find some monies if there's.

C

Other work going on at strawberry bank to kind of tag on with them, um because they've already got.

C

Sort of the setup so to speak. um So I I think it's the two pieces and then you know get.

C

Some more information on kind of seeing how the pieces fit together in terms of what's being done.

C

Over the long term, because it's a long plan for prescott park and how that fits in um so I.

C

I do think the multi-pronged approach makes a lot of sense and and he's right, mike griffin's got a.

C

Good crew out there who's been doing work and if mike can bring him over and say hey, could you give.

C

Us an estimate for slowing down the deterioration. What could we do yeah? Well, I don't know if it's.

B

Worth bringing in peter brits just to sort of get in on the conversation because he might have a.

B

Way better idea of how all this entire area is going to tie together. So I don't know it seems.

B

Like a multi-committee sort of approach as to how all of these things are going to work together,.

B

Yeah right, I actually spoke to him today and um he told me where the maps were and he.

A

He's the one that suggested I um go see about the the master plan, but no he's more than willing. I.

A

You know down the line yeah because you know you change one major thing and it changes the.

A

Other, but we're not close to that yet because they he didn't know when the test pits were.

A

Going to be done for the city and that kind of thing, so he said it depended on the master plan.

A

So but he is in the loop, so get some more information for the next meeting and see what the.

C

Schedule is for test pits whether we could, without close enough or whether we need to consider.

C

Doing something closer or in the I can dig into that yeah and and by the way, the state.

A

Archaeologists worked on a job out in the midwest and their town, which was bigger than ours. They.

A

Just let one of their graveyards go under the water, oh wow, with notation that it was there, but.

A

This was mother nature, and this is like I'm not suggesting that I'm just throwing it out there in.

A

All these conversations there's a lot of different views on which way to go. So I have a question.

E

Now is there some sort of rule that says that the cemetery has to have a wall? No.

A

Not that I know if you can't build within 25 feet of a wall of a cemetery, but.

A

No, but I, over in the past year when I've spoken to cemetery restoration, people about.

A

The whole cemetery, not just most of them, try to go back, try to find old pictures.

A

Or descriptions of what the cemetery was a hundred years ago or whatever and most.

A

Historians go back to whatever they can find and leave it at that. So I do know that this has had a.

A

Fence, at least since the middle of the 1800s yeah a wall around it so and it may have been different.

A

Kinds of walls even before then, but there there's always been and part of the reason, is because.

A

The cows used to pass through their back in the 1600s so um yeah, so it's always had. We could add.

A

Some cows, no, if we want to make it really authentic. Oh we could do that for the 400.

A

Wouldn't that get everybody's goat? No just joking! You know you can also with the moose plate, grant.

D

um Under some circumstances, you could not that you can combine it with l chip, but you can.

D

Under certain circumstances, you can apply for both and um you know l-chip you need the the commission.

A

And you can there are ways to take that moose plate grant and use that as a matching fund. And I.

D

Think that's an important thing when you're doing a big project like this, um and I would I really.

D

Would be surprised if strawberry bank wasn't a real help when I first came to portsmouth, I rented.

D

There and it the the basements, were always under water in a bad rain. You would go out in the big.

D

Field and the water, you know it took two days for it to to be absorbed so, and I know they were on it.

D

Even years ago I haven't lived there in years, so I don't know what they've done, but I think they.

D

Would be a good resource yeah? Absolutely I I just got their person's name. I put a phone call into.

A

Rodney rollins. I think it is yeah, so um rodney roland right, yeah, right yeah. I know rodney well.

D

Yeah he's a good guy. Oh you do cool yeah. I put a phone call in because that was also from peter.

A

Where it's to give rodney a phone call and see what what was going on with them and they've.

A

Always had problems because that's filled in, I know himself yeah, that's true. Does anybody.

A

Else have any questions for morning, or so he can go home and get ready for tomorrow.

E

Now, tomorrow, we're just going to have a tank of water there, so you don't have soldering yeah. That.

B

I have is, I just can't put it down there: it's just a giant eyesore, so yeah, that's fine! I'm.

B

Working on maybe something for next season, we need to build something where we could.

B

Put a tank down there, um the big issue is, we can't go in with equipment, so anything heavy.

B

No, I can't drive a loader, for example, into the cemetery, so whatever it is, would need to be more.

B

Out near the street, because I couldn't get in past headstones, to put it anywhere or we'd have to get.

B

It in by hand and then fill it, so what I have now is not appropriate for down there, but I can.

B

Certainly, work on how many gallons do you think you're using per session? um We have any idea 100.

B

200 I mean the buckets are what five five gallon buckets, maybe a hundred but okay, that would be.

B

So I'm working on something, but it's not ready yet, but I'll have the water truck there. I was gonna.

E

Say if you put it in towards the back, and maybe you can take your hose over the fence and fill.

E

It that way, yeah it's just getting that structure there so yeah we we're I'll work on it, but in the.

B

Meantime I have somebody that'll, be there with the truck again and bring all the materials down.

A

And it's worked really well yeah, you know and um we do have people coming from the elks to.

A

Help this time so do you need parking signs blockage at all for or is it worked out pretty.

B

Well, because no one's complaining okay, so we won't worry about that yeah! Okay, you are released.

B

Thank you. Thank you good to see everybody so much. Thank you. Thank you.

A

Okay, so we've covered that so real quick along with that in the email I sent kathleen bodak.

A

um Of the friends of the south end has offered for the group they would sponsor one or even two.

A

Cleaning parties for point of graves, so um I had said to her that um I would bring it to you guys.

A

And that I would anticipate it would be just like north cemetery, we would supply all the.

A

Cleaning materials and the instruction and then they're going to supply all the people to do it.

A

So if oh, we can't vote on it, though, can we uh um right how many right we've got one more three, four.

C

Five, six six of us, I think, we're one short: aren't we yeah it's seven. Is anybody on zoom uh yeah, but.

C

You need seven in person, you have to be in person, yeah yeah yeah, that's not. I didn't make a law.

C

Once you have the quorum in person, then everyone can vote if there are other.

A

But I can still investigate and see what a good schedule for them is. um I would assume.

A

They would want to do it on a weekend too. We can get one of our saturdays. um We can do that.

E

I would recommend that we kind of get more specific in the areas we're cleaning.

E

Because of north or yeah of the north, because there are some areas towards the back.

E

Yeah that I I went in just because I was locating certain trays and cleaned them myself, but there.

E

Are some that need really need attention? Yeah, and maybe we can do it in clusters, just kind of.

E

Well, that's what we've been doing. Essentially, we started the first, the second meeting we did.

A

Behind two down to the tunes and then some people started over here in front of it and michael and.

A

The other people did and did that section over there, so the last section up front would be.

A

By the line that goes into union union so, depending on how many people show up.

A

A group can go down there and then we can start up at the top of the hill and start going down.

A

Behind it so yeah, if it's a hot day, would be a good location, because it's a nice tree in there.

E

Yeah yeah, it's nicely a great weekend. Yeah it's supposed to be a good day. So do anybody have any.

A

Questions about the offer made by the friends of the south end that was very generous. They.

A

Wanted to be a part of it, so what I will do is, I will just look at. I will meet with her.

A

And find out what their idea is and what their time frame is. And then let us all know- and we.

A

Can vote on it to to include them yeah? So it's great timing, yeah, perfect um update on founde.

A

And grants um the moose plate was accepted. Let's get either ahead.

A

After all, my my little warp there um so that's in and we got to notice that it was accepted. Did you.

A

Get you got to notice that it was no? No, I mean accepted for consideration, consideration right.

D

They tell us in september right right, but I mean we got this. I thought everything was okay and they.

D

Didn't throw it in the trash so right, yeah, exactly okay, that's important! That's! Okay! Yeah! Yes, it's.

D

Still on somebody's desk yeah, that's good good. It was a good job, I'm very optimistic about that. Yeah.

A

So um the certified local government, which could also play into this.

A

Climate problem at point of grace, um I meet with nick an intern next thursday, and so we're.

A

Real close to finishing that up, there's about four or five things that need to be checked.

A

Off that we, the city, doesn't quite meet their little things, which nick wants to incorporate.

A

Into the procedures of the planning anyway, so I meet with him um if those four or five things.

A

Are taken care of within the next month? The deadline is the end of september. He will submit.

A

Us to be approved and when we are again that opens up not just grants, but it also opens up access.

A

To archaeologists- and whoever else is, is a great big long list, so I also found out that.

A

Preserve america is a program that we belong to and we are listed on the national site as.

A

A preserve america city, which means again it they offered various grants. So maybe this fall week.

A

We'll get more information on it and then decide which ones to apply for through them. So.

A

um I think there was one more: no, that was a that was preserve america. So, and I don't.

A

Know carrie, did you have any luck finding any new possibilities, not not so much love? Can you hear me.

F

Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, that's great! Okay! Okay, great um I mean we have. We pursued the d.a.r.

A

No, no, I can do that, though, since I'm now a dar person, so I know we have to have sponsorship by a.

A

Dar person so I'll find somebody on dar that might want to do it because they've they know I'm doing.

A

Cemetery, you know we have a cemetery community, so they've offered their help. So I will put that on.

A

My list to speak to the head of the d.a.r, okay um and the 1772 foundation is another possibility, but.

F

You know it would have to be for 2023, and basically this year letters of inquiry had to be.

F

In by december 21 december 1st 2021, so I imagine the timing would be similar if they would consider.

F

Doing a cemetery we'd have to get something a letter of inquiry by the december 1st, probably.

F

And then invited applicants will be noted by december 17th, and that was last year again and.

F

Then applications would be due in february of 2023, so you know the timing is really long. Long.

F

Range but right um it's something: does anybody have any relationship with the people there.

F

Where are they 1772 um there? Let me see, I have that someplace. I thought I did.

F

I don't can't put my finger on it, but I will look for it. It's new hampshire, though right. It's, oh.

F

It's new hampshire and it's mary anthony executive director. I have her email, so I I could just write.

F

And ask I mean I: I don't want to duplicate anything, but if nobody has a relationship with her.

F

I could just write and say: hey, you know. We're on this committee is that some area that you.

F

Would consider funding? Oh, that would be great yeah great. That would be great okay yeah! I just.

F

I just want to duplicate it and we'll see, but you know I guess hopefully I'll hear from you.

D

Carrie by any chance did you see what these applications look like.

D

You know, are they complex? Are you know, are they 10 pages two pages or you good question? I've.

F

Looked at so many things right now: okay, sure that I looked at theirs. I can look.

F

This one, I think, is probably not as bad as some of the for good. Okay, thanks national, the national.

F

Foundations, like the national trust for historic preservation, I mean it just seemed like you know,.

F

You're you're starting your own country or something to you know that is true. Yeah.

F

And I didn't know if we were a member of that organization that, yes, we are because that's what.

A

Preserve america is linked to so when they send newsletters, which I can start sending to everybody.

A

I just started receiving them. I can forward on the newsletter to everybody.

A

It it that's, who preserve america is linked to so. Okay, I don't know which came first but yeah. They.

F

Have national um trust, preservation, funds, small grants from 2500 to 5 000 and they have rolling.

F

Deadlines for applications february, june and october- that might be something we could if.

F

We remember we could give it a try and um no, I thought this one was kind of interesting, also.

F

Through the national historic trust, they have peter h, brink leadership fund and they give.

F

Grants of up to twenty five hundred dollars for professional development, mentoring, um which you.

F

Know it'd be great to have somebody who was really really experienced with this stuff kind of helping.

F

Us so that's I mean it's a little off the not you know not direct, but it could be helpful.

F

um So that's kind of all. I have right now I'll keep going down this rabbit hole but and I'll.

F

Try to get in touch with this woman at 1772.. um I wish I had more to say it. I think that's good.

F

Yeah, so a good start, no, that that's good. It takes a long time flipping through the internet and all.

A

The sites to find anything, that's even relative, so yeah, that's a lot of information. Yeah yeah.

F

Okay, well I'll continue to pursue it, and um we should probably then, if we're members of this.

F

National trust really I'll see if I can get copies of what their grant applications look like and.

F

Also, the 1772., okay and I'll I'll send everybody a copy of the latest newsletter. I just it would.

F

Be great yeah so, and so when you say we're members, does that mean the towns remember? Well, I I think.

A

What it means is um yes, the town because I saw stephanie secord sent me the application and.

A

I didn't go through all of it, it just um it's like the certified local government. You just.

A

Meet all these criteria that you're historic and you're doing these things. In that thing,.

A

And so then, once they accept you, you get that label um and you get listed on the national site.

A

So it's like being on any registry, if you that means you've been okayed, so it sort of eliminates.

A

Some of the steps that you have to go through, I think, to get the grants or you're sorry pre.

A

Approved so um the only other thing I would add is that you know they have on one of these sites.

F

uh New hampshire, historical, something or other, so they have a link to ideas for.

F

Helpful hints for preservation projects. I think you've, probably seen it new hampshire division.

F

Of historical resources, yeah um and- and I mean it just has like advice, and I think some of it's.

F

Pretty good- and I think maybe soon you read it because you're doing a lot of this stuff.

F

um It says before chasing dollars, try building awareness and appreciation for the project.

F

Some successful strategies include small and large group brainstorming media campaigns to spread the.

F

Word of an ad-hoc group's intention holding an open house consulting municipal boards and.

F

Commissions, outreach to other community groups and thinking of new ways to solve all dilemmas, so they.

F

Say really, you know build build a lot of thought. Try to build buzz before you start asking for.

F

Money which I feel like that's what we're doing right, yeah, absolutely yeah yeah, um and they they.

F

Recommend things like bake sales, community suppers yard sales, 5k runway online, fundraiser.

F

And then I thought it says: inquire with local banks and your communities, trustee of trust.

F

Funds to see if there are other local sources for funding, which sounds like good advice, yeah.

A

Yeah we started looking into that a little bit, but until um we have more of a definite plan.

A

You know it's a little too soon to ask for 5000 or 10 000. Without specifically saying do you want to.

A

You know support this project of rebuilding all the iron fences in itself on ourselves.

F

But yes right yeah! No, it's all, but I think I think, though, what we're doing and really.

F

With your leadership at the you know, the co-chairs leadership is.

F

Is beginning to build some of that buzz, and I mean I saw stephanie's.

F

Newsletter this week uh it's got stuff in it again. So, okay, anyway, that's it. That's all.

A

Good, it's nice to see an outside, I mean not outside, but.

A

That you've right information and we sort of following those guidelines so.

A

And I think is that's why the cleaning was the best or a good opportunity, because I get a lot.

A

Of phone calls or emails and stuff or talk out in the community, about oh, the cemetery committee and.

A

It's we're getting out there, so you know cemetery committee at the elks, I'm known as cemetery sue, so.

A

That's good bad or indifferent, but they certainly know where my loyalties lie. So uh yeah.

A

So anyway, we've been together in less than a year. Oh yeah, no.

A

I think I know yeah, I don't know I I think we're really out there with your leadership. No we're.

A

We're out there for sure I mean we got a letter from new zealand or australia about headstones, so.

A

um It's way out there: okay! Well, thank you for all that information and real quick about the 400s. Oh.

E

Sorry, a couple of meetings ago, there was mention of some grant that had to be originated from the.

E

Historic district commission right: what can you give me more information on that? That's the one.

A

That nicholas cracknell is working on, it's called certified local government and what that does is.

A

We have to meet a whole bunch of criteria as the historic district does, or the committee and.

A

Once we've met all those criteria, then we become a certified local government which opens the door to.

A

Grants publications, free publications, um training, access to archaeologists and and money grants too.

A

I mean it's a great big list of things, and so um when I went to meet with nick three or four months.

A

Ago um he decided that it was worthwhile because couple people on his committee were after him too.

A

So um once he read over all of the um it's like a 35 page, not application, but a manual.

A

And things like that, he realized that the city does most of those procedures and that some that.

A

We don't really should be implemented about how they track information, how much more education.

A

Probably people should have, and so that's what I'll meet with him next week, so the intern.

A

So um that's all I I mean you can go on new hampshire, historic preservation and look up.

A

Certified local government and we'll give you probably a hundred pages of.

A

The various things that make us eligible- we also belong to two districts too. We have.

A

The state district- and we also have a national district, which I don't know what that's called.

A

But we have more than one map, mr historic district map for the city.

E

Does anybody know where jim garvin is these days he used to be the division of historical resources.

A

I haven't seen his name, so I I don't know I've only spoken to um the archaeologists.

A

And a couple of the women that sponsor or work with the grants he would be a.

E

Storehouse of knowledge for for stuff like this, because he was in the uh he was in.

E

The division of new hampshire, where historic resources for years, jim garvin, g-a-r-v-I-n, yeah.

E

And I saw him he's local, I I don't think he's an immediate local, but I I saw him.

E

Sometime in the last six or nine months, it seems to me I don't know what brought him.

E

Here but uh yeah I it'd have been a long long time, since I I saw him, but when I was on the.

E

Save the old state house committee- oh and he he was- uh he was a member of that committee and.

E

And you know it's as I say he uh probably has a wealth of knowledge. Oh, that is it.

A

Yeah I I will. I will inquire. um I know since we've started this project even back in september.

A

A lot of people that were around when 2013 was taking place in the assessments and repairs a.

A

Lot of those people have retired, so he may have been in that yeah yep, definitely of retirement age.

A

Well, any leads are good leads and I ask questions all the time so.

A

You never know where you're going to get an answer that you might need. So, yes, yeah just.

C

Doing a courtesy of google, um it looks like maybe he's in pembroke new hampshire, um so I can follow.

C

Up with you sue- and um it looks like this may be the gentleman that you're referring to so.

A

Okay, and thank you, we I I love all all hints, are welcome that way. You never know.

F

Networking is what it's all about you know, um so d is going to cover the 400th for us.

F

Yes, so we did get our application in. I've asked for confirmation that they received it and.

F

I haven't heard back um so that's like kind of the first step and the second step is to put in.

F

Like an agreement that we want to be on the program and and co-brand and.

F

Haven't found who to give that to so because I'm not hearing back from them, so I don't know.

F

Do they have an office actually in no okay? Well I'll keep I'll keep digging, but we did.

F

Get it in before the um deadline of june 30th, so um yeah and besides that we just.

F

Have to get our act together and decide what we want to do um their website is, I don't know if.

A

You all had a chance to view it, so yeah is up and going and most of the stuff on there.

A

It says tentative they have some outlines of definite things. They're gonna do.

A

But there's plenty of room- and I haven't seen- maybe one other group has.

A

Offered up something on a regular basis, but um no one else so we're not behind. As far as.

A

If we want to put again one week or one day or what have you so we can push that down.

A

The road a little bit at this time, so so we won't stay late. um Does anybody have any suggestions or.

A

Or thoughts or just wait until we is everything happening during day hours or are there, because I.

E

Mean doing like a ghost tour in the cemeteries or grove stories? Oh yeah, we could do any of that. Yeah.

A

Yeah, you should visit the website yeah I'll. Look that up it's from january 1st.

A

It starts with the new year celebration, and it goes right through to the next new year.

A

Celebration and they're open to everything and and on there it says you know you can.

A

Do movies whatever day night, whatever fit? I don't know how I mean if you submit, I don't.

A

Know the process, if they might say no but they're, certainly open to all kinds of ideas they didn't.

A

Specify you know that you had to be approved, or what have you right? I assumed we would have to be.

A

Or anybody would have to be so yeah and there are a lot of old. Are you into ghost tours? I haven't.

E

Been to the ones in portsmouth, but I've done some in like edinburgh and new orleans, like you.

E

Know very haunted cities which are always fun to kind of you get the little spooky little history.

E

Yeah, and if you, if you want to look up again in that um there have been ghost.

A

Tours over the last 15 to 20 years and they're still listed online. If you, google,.

E

There's a couple couple: companies or there's a woman who does some in portsmouth and then I.

E

Know the woman who owns pick wicks. They have like their own kind of ghost tour thing that they do.

E

Yeah yeah roxy, is it roxy, I don't know. Are you off the top of my head, her name's someplace, okay,.

C

Sue, uh did you see the email from mr marginson in terms of yes, okay, yeah um and don donald.

A

Looked up- and I think I don't know he talked to you kerry but looked up the various militias.

A

And wasn't very um positive about it because I it was just an email, so I haven't had a chance to.

A

Talk to him more that he he found a brief history about uh which militia is it that was at fort.

A

Constitution, personal, I am [ __ ] on second new hampshire right, um so he did some research on that.

A

And some other militias and encampments and didn't come back with anything that was really.

A

Worth reporting at this point in time he just wanted to. Let us know that he had.

A

Done the research his concern is, you know, make sure that we got a good group. If we did it.

A

To get a good group in here, so we wouldn't be embarrassed and the other thing is: do we really.

A

Want to present that kind of, um I don't think you call entertainment, but that historical perspective.

A

During the 400th, so that was one of his concerns too so, um but he's going to be at the next meeting.

A

So he can talk more and he'll probably have more information for us too. So he mentioned.

A

Your name carrie, did you talk to him or donald? Oh, what's his name don marcinson.

A

About the encampments and things the militia, no, okay, that's all right! I may have misread.

F

That's okay, but it's it's a good point that we really need to vet. You know like any group that.

C

We're gonna have come in and just make sure it's not political or.

F

You know what I mean that it's just gonna represent first and second, new hampshire, regiments.

E

Are not political they're, just people that dress in error, clothing and.

E

They just reenact and the last one that that just happened wasn't for constitution.

E

And they they like going there because they can fire muskets and they even they fire a cannon.

E

A couple of times so, but which is something that you can't do uh anything closer to the.

E

Downtown sorry, what are they reenacting, they're reenacting, a lot of the battles, they're reenacting.

E

Mostly um anything that is related with for constitution, which means the raid that happened.

E

There in 1774 definition, any sort of warm battle is political in nature. So I mean then.

E

Yeah, but it's this is the history of this area. You know, you know if you're saying you.

E

Don't want something political, the battles of war are political yeah, it doesn't and.

F

And I don't know how cemeteries and militias other than there might be dead militia members in.

F

Cemetery- I don't see so I don't really don't see the connection so much if you do like um either.

E

A reenactment or just give them um to bring on to honor those people who are in the different.

E

Cemeteries that were part of the original militias, then they will have they. They have a.

E

Better a good occasion for them to be there right, but yeah is um we they're gonna be doing it again.

E

In december, because um going to get hopefully we're going to get that date on the calendar.

E

The date of the raider for william and marion for constitution, so this is going to be like a a year.

E

A yearly kind of observance if the weather allows it um and what date are they reenacting.

F

So like, if it's before 1776, then it's pro america, it's not really political.

F

I don't know yeah they all pro america in 1770. This happened in 1774, and um so I really don't.

E

See it as a political anything as long as you are representing the americans, and not the british.

F

I haven't talked to him personally. I haven't talked to him personally, but.

F

I think he was saying that the the name of different militia groups has now been used for.

F

Other political stuff, so um my personal opinion is, I don't think you need to worry.

E

Well, I don't think we need to worry either I mean first new hampshire militia.

E

Is associated with john stark all right if anybody has any other issue other than that.

E

Maybe we can have a conversation, but first new hampshire, regiment militia, john stark.

A

Yes, that is true and I think well, you know we'll talk more. I mean we don't have to decide today.

A

And I think it's a good point that we need to fit right, but also we all look at things a little bit.

A

Differently, so um when it gets down to what we really want to do and um yeah maybe put in the.

E

Word colonial militia, so people don't think there is a modern militia. Oh yeah, right right.

A

And we yeah and we haven't voted on anything yet, but it's certainly um I guess it's just a really.

A

Good example, we all look at things differently, so right and it's worth talking about and.

A

For which sue is talking about real quick? Is that we're in the city of portsmouth, unofficial battle.

A

With boston about who had the first right actual activity in the revolutionary war, it was yes.

A

No, I mean it's just a friendly rivalry and it again it just gets all that information.

A

Out to the world that we really were the beginning of this research and and.

E

We did all the research we did all the documentations firsthand testimony from.

E

People that were at the battle and he's like yeah yeah we qualify for that. So okay, so july night.

A

Saturday, as I said, um I did a a notice with the elks that went in their newsletter and everything.

A

And I have received inquiries back so hopefully there will be quite a few elks there to help us.

A

So same time same place, 8 30 to noon, be there any amount of time you can be. There uh bring a friend.

A

An attorney yeah, no someone should bring a friend bring your grandmother. Whatever sue. Do you need.

C

More copies of the release form: do you need us to have a stack of plenty of 30 of them? So um then.

A

And I covered the part um south end. Anybody else have anything they want to bring up real, quick.

E

I I'm sorry go ahead and go when is sue going to do another cemetery tour anytime. You guys want to.

E

I've been on her chores, oh yeah, I mean she's going to be part of the 400s. No no question about.

A

It so yeah I may just post something in one of the portsmouth websites. You know the non-official ones.

E

And just do something on a saturday and sunday coming up and she's going to dress as lady langdon.

A

So after her name, lady langdon she'll have her hat this time. That sounds too british to tory.

A

And you think us americans have a little class there.

A

All right now, you totally knocked me off my thought.

D

I wanted to bring something up, but I also don't want to go overtime so I'll try to be quick.

D

I was thinking about you know getting ourselves out a little more.

D

And I simultaneously was looking at a you know. My daughter sends out these christmas cards with the.

D

Kids on them, you know they're about this science they're like.

D

um Well, you know when you walk up the stairs here and there are there's a.

D

A thing- and it has different: um oh the seacoast, yeah, yeah and- and it has you.

D

Know go to see this thing, or that thing and the things are always about this high and this wide.

D

And sometimes when you stop at uh at state-run places, they'll have.

D

These brochure-type things that you can pick up, so I started to think about how.

D

How easy it would be to create something like that with cemetery, a few cemetery pictures and say easy.

D

Access from you know, market square and put in some pictures of north cemetery and the point of graves.

D

And that kind of thing and as you know, I said to my daughter: how much do you pay for those.

D

Christmas cards and she said next to nothing, so I thought oh that's good, but um but I wondered about.

D

That and I wondered if it was anything anyone here would be interested in pursuing. I thought they.

D

Were something that we could put in the hotels down there? uh Maybe the restaurants and that.

D

And they may say, oh, I have to ask corporate, but I would say well we're your neighbors over there.

D

We're trying to make the place look, good and etc, etc. I can't imagine it would be too.

D

Terribly expensive, but then I thought does this: does this conflict with any charter or anything.

D

We have with the city with the 400 committee not want to see us do something like that. I'm.

D

Just thinking again, some kind of brochure, but just one a two-sided, heavy paper thing.

F

To leave in different places right like yep, yes right so many places have them yeah suzanne. So.

C

So I think that's a very interesting idea and I think sean clancy, who is our.

C

Economic development director, um because he has relationships with the businesses so.

C

um And certainly at the library there are a number of places where right besides here and um you know.

C

You know at the senior center like there's, certainly a number of places.

C

And I'm wondering about using that qr code that would take them direct to the website, which has.

C

The donate button on it, I wonder if you could put the qr code on yeah, I'm sure you could so.

C

Maybe one- and I have since, if I have you- follow up with stephanie c cord okay about this idea and.

C

I'll catch up with her and let her know that you know shawn might be a good resource. If, if we can.

C

Get this done and what's shawn's last name clancy. So the only thing I will put out there that I know.

A

Is that stand that's out there unless it's changed is owned by a company, and you have to go through.

A

Them to place anything in there, I don't doubt it. No, I mean I don't know, but I mean that might be.

D

A roadblock you could call, uh you know the motels and they would say well, we have to ask corporate.

D

We can't just no it's almost like the library where it's but yeah, it's a city, school yeah,.

C

Discover the portsmouth center all the historic houses right there are so many business owners.

D

That, I think, are pro city and want to do. You know want to do what they can so yeah all right. So.

D

um Should I contact stephanie, or would you rather do that you can't I'll shoot just.

C

Give me you know 12 hours, look at him more than that, but and I will shoot stephanie and nobody.

C

Expected it to contact and she can kind of noodle this out with you.

C

Okay, I know her, so you know because she remembers every bank when I was there so yep when we met.

D

Before that would be great okay, yeah and your 12 hours would expire on monday right.

C

I make dexter on the way home while I'm driving and putting syrian any other last minute. Here's.

A

That here's it everybody set all right. So I can say: oh you have to make a motion. Well, no because.

A

We're not taking any emotions, but so these these will be I'm not going to learn these. These will.

C

Be meeting notes, meeting notes we we are now officially unofficial close. Thank you. Everybody.

A