Around Portsmouth, New Hampshire

2005

As you drive around Portsmouth, you are surrounded by early American history
mixed with the modern world. 35 years ago, the town had a rough waterfront
district and was a town looking toward improving its image and its physical
beauty and to attract a greater share of the tourist industry. Today, any part
of Portsmouth is safe to walk in the wee hours and, in the summer, the downtown
streets, including the waterfront, are bustling until past midnight every day
of the week.

New Castle is a quaint village on the Atlantic border of Portsmouth. It has many old homes and
it feels like the entire town is beautiful beachfront property along the Piscataqua
river as it flows out of the harbor to the Atlantic.

Scroll down for a few pictures.

The North Church as seen from High Street, downtown Portsmouth.

The Metro, a local eatery. They win the New England "Clam Chowder" festival regularly.

The North Church again. Many of America's founding fathers worshipped here.

The North Church at night. New Years Eve, 2003.

A sidewalk cafe on the village square. Strangely enough, at this corner (in
front of the cafe & across the street at the church), motorcyclist, yuppies,
leather-clad body pierced young people, and regular town folk all hang out
in peaceful harmony.

The North Chruch, taken from the sidewalk cafe, New Years Eve 2003.

In the other direction, Market Street leading to the waterfront.

Gilley's Hotdog Stand. Gilley was denied a permit to operate on the town square
so, everyday, he would park his stand on the square and the police would give him
a ticket. He paid the fine and repeated this the next day. After all, a couple of bucks
rent to be on the square was a good deal. He got so many tickets, he made the
Guinness Book of Records for the most parking tickets. After years of this, they
allowed him to park his stand permanently just off the square where it is today.

Bow Street, the old rough & tough waterfront years back. Today, it houses some
very nice restaurants with waterfront patios and leads to Ceres Street, the
promenade street of Portsmouth. Every evening they are full of people walking,
eating ice cream, or having late dinner.

Portsmouth is a working harbor and these are the "draft horses". Everyone that
has ever visited Portsmouth has a picture of them.

Portsmouth is across the river from Maine and that means "Lobster". Here is a
local lobster house from many years back.

A working lobster pier.

The lobster boats up close.

In an old community, you have old graveyards. This one dates to the late 1500s.

Sign on the front of one of an old home, circa 1680, in New Castle.

Another New Castle home, circa 1647.

The sign for the above home.

A newer model, circa 1760.

The U.S. Navy prison (now condemned) at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It was
once the Navy's prison for all sailors and marines east of the Mississippi.

More pictures will be added soon.

Top of the Page Back to the Home Page