Twenty Eight (Concord, NH)

 

 

Concord, New Hampshire, Number 28 (September 20, 2013)

(State House)

Address/Phone/Email/website:

107 North Main Street.

 603-271-2154

Website: State House Visitor's Center

Email: Public Information Administrator

Hours:  Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

My original plan was to go to Montpelier.  Visit the Capitol.  Go to our overnight Evergreen.  Drive to Concord and spend that night with another Evergreener.  Do some touring and go back to Connecticut.  Steve had other ideas.  We got to Montpelier somewhat after four in the afternoon.   Capitol closed.  Museum closed.  Went to Evergreen in Montpelier.  Got to the Capitol early enough to go to the Library to find the Liberty Bell.  See Montpelier “tour” for details.  Any way, we finished Steve’s version of our visit (no museum, which, of course, we seldom do when he is part of the tour).  Skedaddled down I-87 to Concord (only a couple hours drive).  After touring Concord, we went home.  Called the Evergreener to cancel, however.

Senate: 24

House/General Assembly: 400

Architect, Style and Year Built: Completed in 1819, with additions in 1866 and 1910

Building features:
Exterior: Concord granite. Labor provided by “horse thieves and other assorted felons.”  Residents of the local jail/prison

Interior: Very New England.  Very basic.  Local materials used throughout. 

 

 

Grounds:  The smallest acreage that we have seen for a State Capitol.  Called the State House Park. Sixteen statues, monuments and memorials (including the liberty bell.)

1.      Memorial Arch (plan approved by Frederick Law Olmstead of Central Park, NYC fame).  To “commemorate those who served in the nation’s wars” It cost $20,000 and was dedicated July 4, 1892.

2.      The “granite monument” commemorates New Hampshire service personnel killed in WWII  Korea and Viet Nam.  A separate Civil War monument.

3.      A time capsule—placed in 1965—to be opened June 7, 2015.

4.      An assortment of trees, granite plagues.

5.      New Hampshire renowns and heroes:  Marquis de Lafayette, and larger than life statues of Daniel Webster, General John Stark (American Rev. Hero), John Parker Hale (anti-slavery advocate), Commodore George Hamilton Perkins (Civil War), and New Hampshire’s only President Franklin Pierce.

 

Getting there: Easy.  I-87 takes one almost into the downtown area.  Low traffic volume the day we visited.

Parking:  When not in session, parking is generally easily available and often free.  Most of the Capitols I/we have visited have not been in session (summer is a good time).  Meters and/or parking garages are available, but are usually expensive.  ($9.00 for 2 hours in Providence)

Metered up and down Main Street.  Two hour maximum.  Designated meter stations can take Master Card (and maybe other charge cards),  $.75 for two hours.  (This is the first ever that I had a $.75 line item charge on MC.  It made me chuckle.)  When you pay at designated stations, you receive a small card which you place on your dashboard.

Lots of people singing (playing music or other entertainment) on the street with the mandatory place to collect tips.  Made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Entered Union (Number and date):  One of the Original Thirteen Colonies.  Ninth to ratify Constitution. June 21, 1788.

Nicknames: The Granite State

Name:   English. Named after Hampshire County, England             

Motto: Live Free or Die

Cornerstone:  Did not find it

Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper:  “The American eagle, may the shadow of his wings protect every acre of our united continent, and the lightning of his eye flash terror and defeat through the ranks of our enemies” was the toast when the eagle was placed atop of the State House.  Original eagle was made of butternut (wings and head hinged with wooden pegs. Head turned toward left (war). Eight coats of gilding.  There for 138 years (now at the Historical Society)  In 1957 it was replaced with a copper replica (head turned to right for peace). 

The dome is unique.  From the second floor one can peek through the glass and see the inside of the dome.  See picture at top.

Art:  Portraits of New Hampshire governors from time as colony.  There are 200 throughout the building (only 7 women…we found six).  A large mural in the front hall of Pickett's Charge in the Civil War.  Bronzes.  Stained glass.

 



1st of the Portraits of a Woman
Civil Nurse and Heroine
No name is given in brochure

 

Tours:  Web site states guided tours, but we did not find that to be true on the day we visited.  Self guided only.

Quarter:

 Old Man of the Mountain, nine stars
Captions: "Old Man of the Mountain", "Live Free or Die"
Old Man of the Mountain collapsed May 2003.

Liberty Bell:  Each state and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell.  Each bell is numbered.  Missouri seems to have two—one of which is located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO, given by the city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence.  My guess would be that this choice was made as Truman was President at the time of the gifting.  The second one was given to the State of Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).

http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/exhibits/statebells/index.htm

The fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories to thank the United States for its part in France’s liberation.  The settings were funded in part by a savings bond drive that was devised to promote the sale of savings bond.

The replica bells are often located outside on the grounds of the capitol complex; some states have placed them inside the capitol building; some states have located them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some states don’t seem to have a clue where it is.  

Each bell is numbered.  There does not seem to be rhyme or reason as to the numbering system.

New Hampshire’s bell is located in the State House Park (#42).  Easy to find and see

 

Special/personal note:

My favorite part of New Hampshire History

American Revolution:  Colonel/General John Stark (this battle led to his promotion to Brigadier General) led his men to a decisive victory to win at the Battle of Bennington. Part of the Saratoga campaign, August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, NY, about 10 miles from Bennington, VT.  When an appeal came from the residents of the New Hampshire Grants for protection (a disputed area between New York and the Vermont Republic), Stark raised 1,500 New Hampshire Militiamen in the space of six days, more than ten percent of New Hampshire's male population over the age of sixteen.^[ A rebel force of 2,000 men, primarily composed of these New Hampshire men and some Massachusetts militia, reinforced by Colonel Seth Warner’s Vermont Republic Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne's army led by Lt Co Friedrich Baum, supported by additional men under Lt Colonel Heinrich von Breymann--a mixed force of 700 dismounted Bruswick dragoons, Canadians, Loyalists, and Indians. Baum was sent to raid Bennington area for horses, draft animals, and other supplies. Believing the town to be only lightly defended, Burgoyne and Baum were unaware that Stark militia were stationed there. After a rain-caused standoff, Stark's men enveloped Baum's position, taking many prisoners, and killing Baum. Reinforcements for both sides arrived as Stark and his men were mopping up. The battle restarted, with Warner and Stark driving away Breymann's reinforcements with heavy casualties, reducing Burgoyne’s army by almost 1,000 men, Indian support largely abandoned him, and deprived him of needed supplies such as cavalry and draft horses and food--all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual Saratoga surrender.

 

It is said that John Stark said to his men, "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow."
 
Steve had an ancestor (a New Hampshire man) that fought under Stark at Bennington.

A couple of legends that came from the battle which may or may not be true (I like to believe that they are);

The Bennington Flag: The flag is believed by some that it flew at this battle.  Some other sources believe it is incorrectly identified as having flown there.  I prefer to think it was flown there, as the other part of this legend is that when Elizabeth, better known as Molly, Stark heard of the Continental Congress resolve, “that the flag would have thirteen alternating red and white stripes, a field of blue with thirteen stars,” she went to work and designed the Bennington Flag.  This flag started and ended with white rather than red (seven white, six red stripes).  The stars also have seven points.  These stars provide a crescent over the number 76.  Washington is said to prefer six stripes.  Further legend says the women in Philadelphia working on what has become known as the Betsy Ross Flag did not want to do all the extra sewing that a six pointed star would have created.  So, they made it five points.  Whatever the truth, standard rules were eventually presented by Congressional resolve.


 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bennington

Museum/Historical Society/Heritage:  Did not visit

What’s unique—claims to fame:

1.       Claims to the oldest statehouse in which the legislature still sits in its original chambers. (See  Vermont’s claim)

2.       “Live Free or Die” is attributed to John Stark.

3.       New Hampshire holds the first Presidential primary.  A win here is often results in a precursor of the general election

4.       The Secretary of State’s office houses a collection of photos of various Presidential Primaries.

5.       New Hampshire apparently is a WOMEN’S WORLD.

A.            The 2008 elections resulted in women holding a majority, 13 of the 24 seats, in the New Hampshire Senate, a first for any legislative body in the United States.

B.            In the 2010 midterm elections, Kelly Ayotte was elected U.S. senator.

C.            In the 2012 New Hampshire became the first state in U.S. history to elect an all-female    federal delegation: Representatives Carol Shea Porter and Ann McLane Kuster joining U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte.  Further, the state elected its second female governor: Maggie Hassan.

6.       Fourth largest legislative body in English speaking countries.  Most Representatives are retirees or are actively working in their daily jobs.  They earn $200 per two year term (plus mileage).

7.       And the fourth smallest state Senate.  Members also receive $200.  The Senate furnishing date from 1942.

8.    Legislators do not have offices.  All "work" is done at his/her desk.

9.       Hall of Flags

A.            A variety of Flags from various wars in which they participated:  Civil War, Spanish American, National Guard units from duty on the Mexican border, World War I, World War II, and Viet Nam, small New Hampshire flags carried to the moon in Apollo Eleven and Fourteen.

B.            Moon rock and portrait of native son and first astronaut--Alan Shepard.

C.            Roll of Honor of men and women who died in WWI.

D.            Medal of Honor recipients are honored by a plaque in front of the Roll of Hon

 

Twenty Seven (Montpelier, Vermont)

All photos taken by “Molly” unless otherwise stated

 

 

Montpelier, VT Number 27 (State House)

Address/Phone/Email/website:

115 State St,

802-828-2228

http://www.vermont.gov

Name:  French—Green Mountain

Hours:  Monday—Friday 8:00 am to 4:00pm, closed state holidays

Senate:  30

House/General Assembly:  General Assembly--150

Architect, Style and Year Built, Cost: Part Greek Revival/Part Renaissance Revival.  This is the third Capitol Building—the first was torn down as it had become too small and obsolete.  The second—designed by architect Ammi Young and built in 1836 at a cost of $132,000--mostly burned.  The front portico and partial walls, however, were saved and is the entrance to the current building (1859) ($150,000).

 

Additions in 1888, 1900, 1987

 

Supreme Court and Library were moved to separate buildings in 1919.

 

Building features:

Exterior:  Barre (Vermont) Granite.  The quarry was ten miles away.  It took a team of four horses and yoke of oxen (two) eighteen hours to deliver a load of granite and return.  The number of trips was not disclosed

Interior:  Thirty black walnut desks and chairs used by Senate.  Senate is green; House, red.

 

Elaborate chandeliers/gasoliers were designed for the Chambers (some replacement has taken place, but mostly original in design)

 

Special:  During the American Civil War, Vermont sent more than 34,000 men into United States service. Almost 5,200 Vermonters, 15 percent, were killed or mortally wounded in action or died of disease, a higher percentage than any other state.

 

A reception room is dedicated to the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown/Winchester, Virginia, October 19, 1864.  A decisive victory for the Union.  Sheridan v. Early. (I am a Cedar Creek decedent.  My Great Grandfather fought at this battle (Samuel S. Pyatt) with the 13^th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the XIX Corps). No Northern state, however, was more energetic in support of the Union cause in the Civil War, and Vermonters strongly favored Lincoln over Vermont-born Stephen Douglas. One of the most bizarre incidents of the war was the Confederate raid on Saint Albans the same day the battle of Cedar Creek was being fought.  “The nucleus of Sheridan's army was General Wright's three-division VI Corps, up from the Army of the Potomac. By now it was worn and tired and badly in need of a rest. In the Vermont brigade, where "the regiments were organized somewhat on the town meeting plan, and the men were rather deferred to on occasion by the officers," discipline was relaxed, "and camp life on the whole," wrote the brigade historian, "was of the easiest possible description."  A battle fought September 19 put the Vermonters in an heroic view as they retook ground lost.  They were under the command of Colonel Stephen Thomas.  Then came Early’s lose at Fisher’s Hill also in September.  October 19 caught the Union army off guard. The VI went at it again.  The Eight Vermont lost three color bearers who were wounded during the battle; but each time one of his fellows dashed forward to take his place, and the flags were saved. Out of 164 men of the regiment engaged that day, 110 were killed or wounded.  In addition to the Eighth were the men of the Vermont Brigade, composed entirely of Vermont men and including in its number many men of future prominence in the State: governors, judges, congressmen, and state senators. The only brigade in the Army of the Potomac distinctively and permanently known by the name of its state--the Vermont Brigade.  It consisted of the Second Vermont, the Third, the understrength Fourth, attached to the Third; the Fifth, the Sixth, and the Eleventh.  The Tenth was also present with its Colonel earning the Medal of Honor.  And, we must not forget the 1^st Vermont Cavalry. Time and again the Brigade had provided the base around which the division had stiffened and emerged victorious. “Don’t run, men, until the Vermonters do.”  For further details, check the web-sites. 

There are some wonderful stories regarding the Vermont men.

Standing in that room brought about an eerie feeling.  Really made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.  It felt as though G-Granddad, Sam, was standing next to me.  Standing in that room brought me close to tears.

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/us/vermont-history.html#ixzz2lFbtLlPM 

http://vermonthistory.org/journal/cw/Vermonters_at_Cedar_Creek_vol33.pdf

Getting there:  I-91 to I-89.  Easy to get there.  Not a lot of traffic in the Capitol area (but downtown proper is a mess)

Parking:  When not in session, parking is generally easily available and often free.  Most of the Capitols I/we have visited have not been in session (summer is a good time).  Meters and/or parking garages are available, but are usually expensive.  ($9.00 for 2 hours in Providence)

Parking by meter.  Two hour maximum.

Entered Union (Number and date):  Vermont, like Texas, was a "Republic" before achieving statehood.  Vermont's star (and stripe) were added with Kentucky’s, May 1st, 1795. Two stars and stripes were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792).  This was the official US flag for the next for 23 years--the only official flag in our history that carried more than thirteen stripes (for the original colonies/states).  It would come to be the flag that Francis Scott Key saw at Fort McHenry when he penned his poem that would become our National Anthem…the Original “Star Spangled Banner.”

http://www.usflag.org/the.15.star.flag.html

Nicknames:  Green Mountain State

Motto: Freedom and Unity

Cornerstone:  Did not find; possibly hidden by new additions

Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper:  Neo-classical gold-leafed dome topped by Ceres (Agriculture).  The dome has “no interior expression.” The original topper was removed in 1938 as it was rotting.  Eighty-seven year old Sergeant-at-Arms Dwight Dwinell whittled a new head.   A crew of janitors whittled a new body of Ponderosa Pine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art:  Portrait of Washington saved from fire.  Portraits of renown Vermonters:  Admiral Dewy, Charles Clark, Presidents Chester Arthur and Calvin Coolidge.

Montpelier Born Admiral Dewey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “steam radiator” coverings are cast iron “gilt-bronze.”  These were decorative means of disguising the radiators.

 

 

 

Bronze bust of Lincoln.

Ornamental plasterwork adorns the ceiling of the Chambers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cedar Creek Room has a beautiful mural of the Battle of Cedar Creek with the Heater House in the middle.   The Heater House still stands proudly on the battlefield today.  Mrs. Heater lost two sons in the Confederate army, but she was originally from Pennsylvania and a strong Union supporter.  The mural is huge and covers the entire South wall.  Also, portraits of various Cedar Creek Heroes line the rest of the room.  The room had originally been the library, but in 1888 became a reception room.  The room was restored to a later period than the rest of the building.  Elaborate stenciling on the walls.  Bent brass gasoliers.  Oriental inspired carpet.

 



The portion of the mural showing the Heater House

The skylight in this room is a beautiful stained glass motif.  According to our guide, the story behind it is that  apparently in one of the renovations the skylight had been removed and stored in a burlap sack in the attic. The open area closed in and made to look like a ceiling.  In the not too distant past, the sack was discovered.  An expert in leaded stained glass was hired.  The skylight was “rebuilt.”  To everyone’s surprise, most of the pieces were intact.  Several, however, had to be pieced together.  If one looks closely, one can see the cracks.  But, more important, one can view this beautiful artwork and the excellent skill of a master of restoration.

 

See Special Section regarding Cedar Creek

Artifacts galore. 

Statue of Ethan Allen in the front portico.  The original marble had been damaged by weather and the elements.  It has been recast.

Tours:  Self Guided or Tour Guide on the half hour 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Mon-Fri and Sat 11:00 am to 2:30pm--July through mid-October.  Since we stayed with an Evergreener in Montpelier, they suggested we talk to Francis in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.  He was the one who stamped our book.  It was before 10:00.  For a change, we were going to wait for the guide.  Francis said one was starting at the moment and that we could join it.  The tour starts on the front steps (portico).  We went out to find a tour guide with one person.  It turned out that the person was her sister, and she was going to give her a “private” tour.  She was, however, very gracious and allowed us to tag along.  We eventually had to drop off due to parking meter restraints.

Quarter: 

Maple trees with sap buckets, Camel's Hump Mountain
Caption: "Freedom and Unity"

Liberty Bell:  Each state and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell.  Each bell is numbered.  Missouri seems to have two—one of which is located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO, given by the city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence.  My guess would be that this choice was made as Truman was President at the time of the gifting.  The second one was given to the State of Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).

http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/exhibits/statebells/index.htm

The fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories to thank the United States for its part in France’s liberation.  They were funded by a savings bond drive.

The replica bells are often located outside on the grounds of the capitol complex; some states have placed them inside the capitol building; some states have located them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some states don’t seem to have a clue where it is. 

Each bell is numbered.  There does not seem to be rhyme or reason as to the numbering system.

Vermont’s bell is located in the foyer inside the building of the State Library Building (next door to the Capitol).  (#45)

 

 

Museum/Historical Society/Heritage:  As Steve was with me, we did not visit the museum

What’s unique/Claims to Fame :

1.       State has second lowest population (after Wyoming).

2.    The smallest Capitol City in America in area.

3.       The smallest population for any Capital city.

4.       Only New England State without ocean.

5.       No one but a governor (past or present) can sit in the governor’s chair aka “The Constitution Chair” as it was carved from timbers of the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”).

 

 

 

6.   A lamp on the governor’s desk is a “nude.”  When Conservatives (Republicans) are in power, it is sometimes removed to storage.

    

7.       Claims that the Chambers are the oldest legislative in their original condition in the US.  (See NH’s claim)

8.       Vermont’s own Calvin Coolidge was administered the oath of Presidential office by his father at his father’s home in Plymouth, Vermont, on the death of President Warren G. Harding.  His father John was a Notary Public.

9.       Verbal claim is that it is the only Capitol East of the Mississippi without metal detectors (They need to talk to their neighbor, New Hampshire—one does not have to pass through metal detectors to enter the building there either.).  They actually thought they were the ONLY capitol without metal detectors, but I enlightened them that there were several in the Northern Plains States.  At this point the gentlemen to whom I was talking changed it to “East of Mississippi.”

10.   The General Assembly is notable for being the only state legislature in the United States with a significant third party presence. Six members, or 4%, of the House and 3 Senators, or 10% are members of parties other than Democrat or Republican

Much of the Information comes from a pamphlet entitled “A Walk through Vermont’s Historic State House”