History link to the community

by Katie Benway
HippoPress.com

Following the winding road of history is never easy, but the Rev. Dr. Vera Wingate has stayed on its trail, fitting together some of Manchester's most complicated historical elements.

Wingate first delved into the Queen City's rich history when she was a doctoral student. As reverend of the South End's Protestant Bethany Chapel, Wingate scouted for a project that would allow her to bring the church and community together.

History, she discovered, was that link.

Throughout the centuries, the area around Brown Avenue has given rise to dozens of communities. Native Americans, colonial settlers, mill workers and now, city dwellers have all lived on the banks of the Merrimack River, Pine Island Pond and Cohas Brook.

Wingate discovered the trail of this piece of history and not only made it her doctoral project but has now committed her time and effort to telling the stories of decades past.

As part of her effort, Wingate, along with the aid of countless Bethany Chapel parishioners and local experts, produced an hour-long documentary entitled "Spirit on the Cohas." It outlines several chunks of Manchester history beginning with the Native Americans who once inhabited the banks of the Merrimack and the colonial settlers, including John Goff, whose family name lives on today in the form of Highland Goffes Falls Elementary School, Goffes Falls Road and other lanmarks.

Wingate's most recent endeavor is "Spirit on the Cohas II," another documentary that explores Goff's home, The Elms, the WWII army air base that once existed at the airport, and the 70-year stint of the Pine Island Amusement park.

"This project seemed to be laid upon us by God," explains Wingate. "The church was poor, at the end of a dead end street, and people didn't know we were here."

Though the chapel still sits at the end of Newbury Street, a dead end just before the Manchester airport, the community that surrounds it has increasingly lent its support to the church and become aware of the efforts of its parishioners.

The Molly Stark chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has been involved in a portion of Wingate's project that highlights the Moore Cemetery.
Created in the early 1800s, the Moore Cemetery (also known as the Brown Avenue cemetery and the Goffes Falls cemetery) has since slipped into the landscape. Many don't know that it exists, seated on the hill near the 4-H center on Brown Ave., but its history is rich and links together many of the early colonial settlers.

The Moore family are direct descendants of the Goff family. In fact, John Goff's two daughters married Moore brothers. Samuel Moore and Rebecca (Goff) Moore are buried in the cemetery along with a few dozen of their descendants. Unfortunately, the condition of the cemetery is decrepit and many of the gravestones are broken or missing, something that doesn't sit well with Wingate.

"I went in 1999 and found Samuel's and Rebecca's grave sites," says Wingate. "But when I went back in 2001 they were gone, completely missing."

In remembrance of the city's history, Wingate is pushing for some fencing to mark the cemetery and for help in refacing some of the grave sites. Along with the DAR, Wingate is exploring options associated with cemetery clean up and repair. The effort, however, has yet to get off the ground.

Meanwhile, Wingate remains dedicated to exploring and communicating the history of the area, including that associated with the Moore cemetery. With the aid of local history buffs, experts, and with the talents of her parishioners, she says that history will have a voice.
For more information about the project, contact the Rev. Dr. Vera Wingate at 645-6399.

Katie Benway can be reached at: hippo@hippopress.com