Lives Past Lived Programs

Lives Past Lived is the James House Association’s traveling program presented to other organizations, associations, and to schools and school groups. It is adaptable to all ages above and including six year olds. The program can be performed in its individual parts, or parts can be combined into a single presentation. All Lives Past Lived programs are as historically accurate as possible.

To schedule a “Lives Past Lived” performance contact Skip Webb by telephone (603) 926-3851 or by E-mail skipwebbnh@yahoo.com.

The James Homestead by Skip Webb
This is a presentation about the James House, its construction, its surrounding property, its history and why the homestead is a National Historic Site. The presenter is Skip Webb. He wears 1723 clothing.

Martha Meet Martha by Liz Webb
Martha begins in the year 1858. Joshua James has died from consumption. The scene opens with a tape recording by Atty. Bob Casassa, acting as judge of probate, reading Joshua’s will. Joshua is a remarkable man because he had the foresight to realize his wife’s talents and that she is capable of both owning and managing the farm without oversight from males or encumbrance from a future husband. Joshua leaves her the entire homestead to own and manage as she sees fit, a trust and responsibility rarely given to women during the 19th century.

The scene forwards to 1898. Martha Leavitt James, played by Liz Webb, is sitting in a rocking chair at the end of a long day. She is talking to her deceased husband, informing him about his children, how she managed the farm, and the changes she made to the house. Accustomed to lively exchanges with her husband over the Sunday sermons, she now decides to tell him her decisions. She ends with a statement that she will prepare her will tomorrow.

The scene switches to 1905. Martha has died from consumption. A recording by Atty. Bob Casassa reading Martha’s will is heard. A recording by Sara Casassa reading Martha’s obituary ends the program.

Liz is in period nightgown.

Fannie Fannie by Priscilla Triggs-Weeks
This program, although based on a school in Hampton, New Hampshire and the James family involvement with that school, is of interest to anyone who has attended school. The type school and its history were common in America during the late 19th century.

Skip Webb, portraying Headmaster Sanborn, presents the history of Hampton Academy. He is in an academic gown.

Pat Weeks portrays Fannie, a student writing to her grandmother on graduation day as she reminisces about her life at the academy. The audience attends Fannie’s graduation. Liz Webb portrays Emma, Fannie’s best friend, who is not graduating this year because she is needed to perform farm chores. This is a lively, interesting and educational program.

Pat and Liz are in late 19th century dress. .

An 18th Century Farmer by Skip Webb
farmer Skip describes the life of Benjamin James, from his life as a weaver in Newbury, Massachusetts through his married life as a weaver and farmer. It includes his marriage in 1702 to Susana Smith, his purchase of the James property in Hampton in 1705, his building of the James House in 1723, and what farm life in the house and about the homestead was like in the middle 1700s.

Skip is in 18th century farmer clothes

From Dense Woods To An Historical Landscape by Skip Webb
Skip Webb describes the steps necessary to determine what the landscape was in the past and how to recreate a historically correct landscape today. Skip uses the James House Homestead as an example. It includes a description of the subsurface survey and the above ground landscape research performed on the James House property. It describes how the information from both surveys is currently being used to form an historical landscape.

Skip is in 18th century farmer clothes.