Jim Splaine: RE-SCHEDULED: Walk Through North Cemetery NEXT Sat.

Because of possibly wet grounds this Saturday, we're re-scheduling the North Cemetery walk to Saturday, May 3rd, at 11:00 AM.  At that time we'll meet at the  North Cemetery off Maplewood Avenue with Sue Polidura, a Portsmouth resident who is very knowledgeable about that historic burying ground.  

We'll start at 11 a.m. near the marker toward the left end of the cemetery.  And again, because of the nature of the cemetery, the tour depends on weather, and in the event of rain or wet conditions we will need to re-schedule to yet another latter date.   

The tour is open to anyone -- young and older -- who wants to come along.  We guarantee not to discuss current-day politics, focusing instead of the era of over 200 years ago.  We'll consider how to help continue to protect, preserve, and feature this very special part of Portsmouth.   

Few communities in America have such amazing history in their downtown.  Begun in 1751, the cemetery has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, and is the resting place of leaders of the Revolutionary War, and other early Portsmouth citizens.   

William Whipple, who signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Woodbury Langdon, a delegate to the U.S. Continental Congress, and his brother John Langdon, an early N.H. Governor and U.S. Senator, are among the notables resting there. 

I went to the cemetery many times in my young years of growing up just across the street on Deer Street, and it remains as fascinating to me today as so long ago.  Join us then!