About

I have been writing about Windham history for more years than I would like to admit. Over the years, I have uncovered many fascinating facts about the people and places in this New Hampshire town. I have decided to publish my writing online so that more people can enjoy the history of this unique place. Hopefully, this will become a resource for people searching for both the history of Windham and the details of their ancestors who once lived here.

scan0034The history of a place is like a mystery novel and a historian has to piece together scant resources and evidence to produce a narrative that tells the story of what makes that place unique. Take the picture shown on this page. It shows three workman, who were employees of Seavey Saw Mill at Windham Junction. A wonderful photograph of workingmen at the turn of the twentieth century. Now here is the rest of the story, shortly after the photograph was taken, one of these men would die in a brutal way, when he would accidentally fall and be cut to pieces by the giant rotary saw in the mill. Historic photographs capture a moment in time, and then time and history move on. That’s what makes history so fascinating for me and I hope I can share that enthusiasm with you.

15 thoughts on “About”

  1. HI Brad, I never knew this writing existed. The easy way you write how Windham once was and can never be again. I have always enjoyed listening to your Mom talk about people and places here in Windham, of which some I knew but most I didn’t. But, she never told me to read the history of a family here in town. I’m glad I stumbled upon this and will pass it along for others to enjoy. Thank you, Marilyn

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    • Was that when it was know as Club Mirimar. I have some pictures I will be posting in a few weeks. It was rumored it was a Speak-easy for awhile during prohibition. The interior of the place when it was Club Mirimar shows it being quite a swanky place.

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      • Hi Brad! Thank you for highlighting our family farms history.
        I go there from time to time. I’m surprised that there hasn’t been a house built were ours was. I was also surprised to see one built where the manure pile was by the barn lol.
        There’s isn’t a house where the cow sank in the quicksand either.
        Do you remember my mom riding a horse to center school one day with a monkey riding a pony?
        Heidi Vayens Houghton

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  4. My family from Lawrence Ma spent multiple summer seasons at Dinsmore Shores in the mid 1960’s; some of the happiest and most formative years of our youth.
    I recall Ginger the friendly mutt,( think I spotted her on the porch with George Sr), Cleo, (the basset hound), Sylvester( quack-quack), Brad and Gardner,( the local boys), the huge tire tube that beached in front of our cottage, the raft from which we launched ourselves, with abandon, from the tube, into the air first and then the lake. Most importantly we had lots of playmates, (many returning each summer season) for shared fun.
    I also recall seeing George Sr, always in motion with his scythe up at the top of the road; in awe at the Dinsmore sleek “speed boat”, the “boat parade” and all its regalia; soft ball with the campers; waterskiing, fishing and row boating; the old fashioned well and pump with ice cold water and a smell I will never forget; the muffled excitement of the Duncan’s Beach goers in the distance.
    So glad I unexpectedly surfed into this site to jog my memory for detail and revisit a wonderful, wholesome, more simple time of life, 50+ years ago. Thanks for the memories Dinsmore Shores!
    Kathy Higgins (brothers-Jim and Tom)(Parents-Helen and Jim)

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    • Hi Brad,
      Thanks for your response. I had forgotten about Paula as MCP! Sharon and I lost contact after I went off to college initially. I know she had 1 child at our last contact , so many years ago now.

      All 3 of us are now retired: Jim-electrical engineer fo the FCC; Tom-a postal
      inspector; and me, Nurse Practitioner for the VA 35 yrs.

      I hope “Marion and Junie” are well? (My parents would both be over 100 today and recall yours were much younger than ours). As for Gardner, he was one of my first crushes as a pre-teen!

      My husband Bill and I travel in a motor home and are traveling from Yellowstone to Crater Lake currently. We spend the winter in Tucson.

      Stay well and continue your stewardship as the Windham NH historian!

      Best regards,
      KH-D

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  5. Hi Kathy Higgins,

    Thanks so much for writing. Yes it really was a different time then! Things were a lot simpler. People actually liked each other and got along and could enjoy time together. Their were affordable places for people to spend vacations. And I also will always remember summers hanging out. “Hokie” and Ann and the horse shoe marathons fueled on Budweiser. Learning what borsch was. Dark Shadows. Pig Latin. Paula winning Miss Cobbett’s Pond. I’m convinced I met my wife at Ackerman’s Ballroom, that night,and again twenty of so years later. She doesn’t believe me. You know, I rented your camp from my dad for two summers before they were torn down for condos. That was a great porch! Is Jim still telling his tales? What about Tom.

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  6. Hi Kathy Higgins,

    Thanks so much for writing. Yes it really was a different time then! Things were a lot simpler. People actually liked each other and got along and could enjoy time together. There were affordable places for people to spend vacations. And I also will always remember summers hanging out. “Hokie” and Ann, your Dad and the horse shoe marathons fueled on Budweiser. Learning what borsch was. Dark Shadows. Pig Latin. Paula winning Miss Cobbett’s Pond. I’m convinced I met my wife at Ackerman’s Ballroom, that night,and again twenty of so years later. She doesn’t believe me. You know, I rented your camp from my dad for two summers before they were torn down for condos. That was a great porch! Is Jim still telling his tales? What about Tom.

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  7. Brad – I’m researching the history of the Mt. Washington Railway where my dad (Jitney) ran steam trains for 18 summers (1950-1967) trying to compile a comprehensive employee roster. I have discovered a remarkable Windham native, Miss Mattie A. Clarke. She became the manager of the Summit House/Tip Top House in the late 19th/early 20th Century for the Barron Company and head housekeeper at the Hotel Ormond in Florida during the winter. I’m writing to see if you have any information about Miss Clarke or any images of her. Or whether you can point me towards resources that might add to her story in my manuscript. Thanks & Rgds, Tim Lewis. I’m also interested in learning about any other Cog Railway workers who might have come from Windham.

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  8. Brad – I am a relative of Judith Love who played at the Windham Playhouse in the 1940’s Did you have any information on her?

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