An intriguing email arrived from a reader in Florida following a recent history feature. Roger Krieger says he regularly reads the Portsmouth Herald, along with newspapers from the Finger Lakes of NY, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. Roger also reads the Buffalo News, the Tampa Bay Times, the Ocala Star Banner, and his local Citrus County Chronicle.
“It gives me an idea of differing opinions,” he noted. “Each area has some personal connection for me.” It was easy to guess that Roger had been in the military and, with his permission, here’s his story in his own words:
“I was stationed at Pease from 1962 to 1966. Many of the fine old homes today were multiple dwellings for GIs at the time. Just about any fine old house in the area could have been bought for $10,000 or less. My mother, aunt, and uncle drove me to Pease after my leave from basic [training]. We had dinner at Yokens. At the time, they advertised $1 dinners, which really impressed my uncle.
Like most servicemen, I had little money, so we took the base bus into Portsmouth to Jarvis’ Restaurant and walked the town. I enjoyed the history and amazing old structures. I often walked around the fenced area that was called Strawbery Banke and wondered what it was. I watched it develop in its early stages.
I married in 1970 and my wife and I honeymooned in Portsmouth and visited Strawbery Banke. They had a pamphlet listing, I think, 14 historic homes open for tours and we hit them all. My wife had her first lobster at the Fisherman’s Wharf alongside the bridge. We had many more in later years at Warrens. I think it was our fifth anniversary we had dinner at the Rockingham Hotel in The Library. I have to say, it was what memories are made of.
On our honeymoon, we stayed at the Howard Johnson’s on the circle and had our first dinner at an old hangout, The Rosa. As GIs, we would go there when we had a few extra bucks for a great meal at a reasonable price. My wife had clam stew and I had my usual chopped steak. We returned [to Portsmouth] at least once a year until we moved to Florida in ‘88. We have made a few trips back since then.
We learned much from the various people in the historic homes we visited. I think the one I will always remember was the John Paul Jones House. The elderly woman conducting the tour was amazing. She talked about Jones as if she knew him personally and almost as a person she had a romantic interest in. Her presentation was one of the best I have heard in the many homes my wife and I have visited over the last 49 years.
I grew up in Buffalo, an amazing city with super-fine history and buildings. Unfortunately, it took until the turn of the 21st-century to realize it is their history and structures that are part of their heritage and a major attractor for visitors. Buffalo is now benefiting from its history. Unfortunately, many fine buildings were demolished for parking lots and boring new office buildings.
My wife came from a small town outside of Buffalo and her family goes back to Revolutionary times. She has traced her ancestry back so she could join the D.A.R. My mother always enjoyed antiques so we both had an interest in history. We travel with two Golden Retrievers. We got tired of dealing with motels and bought a small motor home.
I believe much of Portsmouth’s current growth is due to its great history and collection of very fine buildings. Every effort should be made to preserve the past. Once gone, it cannot be brought back. Thank you for giving me a chance to reminisce about a great city.”
Copyright 2019 SeacoastNH/ J. Dennis Robinson
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