PORTSMOUTH– As Portsmouth celebrates its 400^th anniversary of European settlement, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day 2023 commemorates one of the key moments in the history of the city – and the state.

In 2010, the New Hampshire Legislature unanimously passed legislation designating Sept. 5, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day, recognizing the importance of the 1905 Treaty proceedings in New Hampshire history and the role of citizen diplomacy in ensuring the success of the peace conference. Each year since then, the governor of New Hampshire has issued a Proclamation calling on all New Hampshire citizens “to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities commemorating this important part of New Hampshire history.” On Sept. 5, 1905 – 118 years ago – Portsmouth celebrated by ringing bells throughout the city. The Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum continues that tradition.

On Tuesday Sept. 5, 2023, the celebration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day and NH citizen diplomacy takes place in Market Square (in front of Piscataqua Savings Bank, 15 Pleasant St.), starting at 3:30 p.m.. Mayor Deaglan McEachern will read the 2023 Governor’s Proclamation and letters are expected from New Hampshire Senators Hassan and Shaheen, Representative Chris Pappas and Representative Ann McLane Kuster, whose great grandfather John McLane was governor of New Hampshire and host to the 1905 peace conference.

At 3:47 p.m., Portsmouth Naval Shipyard sounds a memorial salute at the exact moment the Treaty was signed in 1905 and, on that cue, the bells of Portsmouth ring. The public is welcome to participate in the bellringing ceremony at the Treaty historic marker outside the Piscataqua Savings Bank and Judge Calvin Page memorial (15 Pleasant St.).

This year is also the 117^th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Theodore Roosevelt for organizing the peace conference that ended the Russo-Japanese War. Details on Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize and an authentic replica of the Prize are displayed in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit at the John Paul Jones House Museum along with an expanded exhibit of artifacts collected to tell the history of “Diplomats in Portsmouth” since 1713.

“As Portsmouth contemplates its 400^th anniversary at the same time that Russian history plays out across the news every night, more people are becoming interested in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty,” commented Charles B. Doleac, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum chair and senior partner at Boynton, Waldron, Doleac Woodman & Scott. “Several new locations across the state have become Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial Cherry Tree sites, including schools in Auburn and Windham because of their interest in the story of citizen diplomacy that played out here in 1905. The involvement of local people significantly contributed to the favorable outcome of the negotiations that earned President Theodore Roosevelt the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize.”

Participating in the bellringing are:

·  Middle Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth

·  Christ Episcopal Church, Portsmouth

·  North Congregational Church, Portsmouth

·  First Congregational Church, Portsmouth

·  Second Christian United Church, Kittery

·  St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth

·  Unitarian Universalist (South) Church, Portsmouth

·  First United Methodist Church, Portsmouth

·  Temple Israel, Portsmouth (sounding the shofar)

·  New Castle Congregational Church

·  Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion (Commission), Portsmouth

·  Wentworth By the Sea Hotel, New Castle (where the Russian and Japanese diplomats stayed)

·  Portsmouth Historical Society John Paul Jones House (Portsmouth Peace Treaty and "Diplomats in Portsmouth" exhibits)

Portsmouth's Sister City of Nichinan, Japan (birthplace of Baron Komura, lead Japanese negotiator) will conduct a bellringing with their Mayor Sakita and the Nichinan Gakuen Jr-Sr High School sister school. Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial cherry tree sites in Dublin, Hanover, Lancaster, Meredith, Manchester and Milford NH also traditionally participate in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day commemoration. For more information, visit PortsmouthPeaceTreaty.org

CAPTION: Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day bellringing in Market Square on September 5, 2022 with Mayor McEachern, Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum chair Charles B. Doleac, Assistant Mayor Kelly, Councilor Moreau and other members of the public.