After our hot and cold harbor boat ride, we were back on dry land and ready to see the Strawberry Banke Museum across town. We were a little bit sad because the actual museum didn't open up for another two weeks, but the grounds were still open for you to stroll through.
Chase House, one of the homes in the Strawberry Banke Museum, was built around 1762 by John Underwood. The Georgian home changed hands a few times before being sold to Stephen Chase in 1799. It remained in his family until 1881 when George Chase (Stephen's grandson) bought it and donated it as an orphanage which was in use until the early 1900s. You can actually (normally) visit inside the homes for a glimpse into Portsmouth lift over the past several centuries. This one is furnished in the style of the very early 1800s. Too bad we couldn't go in! (We tried to peek in the windows though!)
But you CAN run around the grounds, which are really pretty. This goof is running around in front of some apple trees (which I'm told are Paradise Apples.)
Todd, being silly as usual under the apple tree.
From the gardens at the Aldrich House, you can see the Shapiro House and it's stable across the "street." It was built in 1795 by Dr. John Jackson but the more notable owners were Abraham and Sarah Shapiro and their daughter Mollie. Abraham and Sarah were Jews born in Russia, so this house focuses on that time period when there were many immigrants in the area.
I spy a garden! We discovered the pretty garden behind the Aldrich House and spent a little time there.
Oh-so-pretty with all of the colors and the brick walkway.
The Aldrich House was where Thomas Bailey Aldrich lived with his grandfather from 1849 to 1852. He later went on to become editor of the important literary magazine The Atlantic Monthly. He counted Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Mark Twain among his friends. In 1865, he moved to Boston and as the Strawberry Banke Museum website explains, "It was shortly after the move to Boston that Aldrich began to record some thoughts on his own child hood. The result was The Story of a Bad Boy, a fictionalized recollection of adventures and impressions of his years spent in Portsmouth at his grandfather's house on Court Street. Aldrich's Bad Boy is significant as the first realistic treatment of a boy in American literature. It had great influence on other writers including the author's close friend Mark Twain, who six years later wrote a similar story about a similar boy, also named Tom."
These guys were staying cool under the canopy of vines on the trellis.
Natalie got her own professional photoshoot in the gardens. She's behind the daisies.
Oh why hello. I didn't see you there. You caught me mending my fences, one of the many things we do here in the Aldrich family garden.
Todd and I particularly liked the Ethnobotanical Herb Garden in front of the Cotton Tenant House from 1836. Although not original, it featured plants/herbs from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
The Peacock House, while a private dwelling was one of my favorites because it showed you the extent of each expansion on the house. First built in 1821, it was then expanded in 1880, and then again in 1940.
We walked down "Atkinson Street" past the Jones House (from 1790, on the right) which was getting some renovations.
APPARENTLY there was a high school graduation going on here, so the kids made the representatives from the class of 1990 and 1994 pose for a picture. PLEASE notice the sneaky little face behind us!
We walked back down Atkinson toward State Street and noticed this sign outside of the Pitt Tavern. John Stavers opened the tavern in 1750 (known then as the Earl of Halifax Hotel and Tavern), but it was long suspected that his loyalties were with England. When a man named Mark Noble tried to chop down the important tavern sign, John's slave James nearly killed him by hitting him over the head with an ax and knocking him unconscious. Only... it was John who was arrested for the beat down! He was released a few days later, but because people were unsure of John's loyalties, the tavern was eventually renamed "Pitt Tavern," which was named for William Pitt. Pitt was Britain's youngest prime minister who believed the American colonies were justified in their fight against Britain and once declared, "You cannot conquer the Americans!"
Being Hamilton buffs, we wanted to visit the tavern because the Marquis de Lafayette visited here in 1782, as did George Washington in 1789.
Well, that's one happy hour that won't be happening!
The Clematis were out across the street from the Pitt Tavern, looking pretty in purple.
That's about all the heat and history we could handle for the day, so we headed back to the hotel to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning. Some of us (errrr, both of us) fell asleep at some point between the first and second period.
But we rallied for the third period and so did the Bolts, suppressing a comeback and beating the Florida Panthers 6-4. They also took a 3-1 lead in this, the first round of the playoffs. We went down to catch all the action at TJs on Daniel Street.
Oh but wait! They're also running the Belmont Stakes today! Don't worry. My boy Steve Kornacki is gonna give you all the mathematical probabilities in his khaki pants! Essential Quality won. Todd and I did not pick him with the $5 we used to place bets on the Twin Spires app. Oh well, next time!
Alright, the Bolts have won, the Belmont Stakes are over, and now it's time to fetch the kids and go grab some dinner at the Portsmouth Brewery!
Portsmouth Brewery has been around since at least the early 1890s. However, this particular Portsmouth Brewery only dates back to 1991 when it was opened by the people who founded Smuttynose. This was the first brewpub and craft brewery in New Hampshire.
After dinner at Portsmouth Brewery, we went to Izzy's for some soft serve (Grant) and ice cream (Natalie)!
Todd and I didn't get any ice cream, so I took a picture of our feet.
After ice cream, we went back to the hotel so the kids could shower and get settled in before Todd and I went down the street for a drink by the water at Old Ferry Landing.
(Me panicking inside: No masks, no masks, no masks, no masks....)
There were a couple of ladies sitting near us, and we thought that we accidentally stole these seats from them (that maybe they wanted to sit right on the water instead of next to the bar) but they didn't want to move. Instead, they took our picture for us!
Because of Covid (I think?), Old Ferry Landing closed at like, 9 pm so we had to leave. I have no idea what I am doing here on Commercial Alley, but I'm sure I'm telling Todd to snap to it, because I need a cold beverage in this heat! Or maybe I thought "Corks and Curds - Purveyors of Fine Wine and Cheese" was a funny name for a store!
Todd and I actually went back to TJs but couldn't get in because of Covid restrictions on capacity. No worries, because we could still sit outside (which we preferred anyway). We didn't stay long, but it was really fun to people watch again!
In the morning, before we left Portsmouth to head home, we stopped by Colby's for some breakfast.
I wasn't as wild about the lemon pancakes as I thought I would be. I think the whipped cream was too runny, and it would have been better with the salted whipped butter that we had at the Friendly Toast.
But I will give major kudos for this - at least they really did write down for the kitchen that someone at our table had a peanut allergy!
As we left Colby's, I spotted a German flag!
Next time, I'm totally coming back here to Kaffee Volnsolln for some coffee! You mean I don't have to fly all the way over the ocean to enter Europe? I can just stop in here? No passport needed?
Until next time, Portsmouth! You're a real gem!
No comments:
Post a Comment