While in New Hampshire, we stayed in Rochester with my Uncle Bob and my Aunt Susan. On Monday of our trip though, we headed to New Market, where my dad grew up...
The part of town where he lived (and all of his relative lived as well) is called New Village.
In fact, that's the house where he grew up (it's a two family dwelling with a house on either side - his grandparents lived on the opposite side, and anytime he wanted to visit them, he'd just go through the basement to get to their house).
To get to his cousin, Tim's house, all he had to do was cross through a couple of yards.
Tim's mom (my great aunt, Sophia) still lives there.
And after a short walk from New Village, we got to see where my dad and Tim used to swim and fish.
And then we went out to lunch with my Dad's best friend from school, Bruce (Bruce lived next-door to Tim, and started a band, called the Spectras, which eventually became quite popular in New Hampshire).
And then we started tramping around downtown New Market (which is a surprisingly busy little town with the University of New Hampshire just a few miles down the road).
My Cousin Tim told a really great story about launching an enormous snowball down that flight of stairs in the background once when he was a kid.
That's the school my dad attended 4th through 6th grade at.
I was totally delighted to see my grandfather's name on a war memorial in the middle of town. (If you've been here for awhile, you might remember hearing about my grandfather who passed away back in 2007).
And then I went on a four-mile run through New Market while everyone hung out at the bar.
And then my sister and I grabbed a coffee.
And then we met up at the Old School House for dinner and drinks with with Tim's sister, Jayne, and his son, Nate.
Twas' such a fun night out with the Russell's that a Designated Driver (me) was in order.
Love meeting your New Hampshire family. So happy for your Dad.
Posted by: Judy Webb | October 26, 2015 at 06:28 AM
What a great documentation of your time together in the "old stomping grounds". Especially loved seeing the expressions on your dad's face. You chose a perfect time of year....wonderful memories for you all.
Posted by: janel | October 26, 2015 at 06:37 AM
Love that picture of you with your dad and sister on the sidewalk!
Posted by: jm | October 26, 2015 at 06:29 PM
Karen this trip is so wonderful...........for you to really understand where your Dad grew up and the stories to school to fishing in the creek....what a wonderful thing for you to do while your Dad is here telling all the stories himself...this trip will be one of your most treasured...great photos. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
Posted by: Kathy | October 26, 2015 at 06:31 PM
Looks like you had such a fun trip. I LOVE the old buildings. I wonder if your dad has an east coast accent like my husband Bob has still after all these years living on the "left" coast.
Posted by: Cheryl | October 26, 2015 at 07:33 PM
What a great bunch of memories for your dad!
Posted by: Kelli Williams | October 27, 2015 at 04:16 PM
I'm curious about all those Pelletier's that are listed on the war memorial....
Posted by: Juli Pelletier | November 02, 2015 at 08:35 AM