HAMPTON -- Members of the Hampton Heritage Commission recently visited the c. 1888 home of Franklin and Diane Knowles in recognition of the couple's newly-installed Hampton Heritage marker.

Located at 52 Little River Road, the home is situated in the area once known as "Blakeville" [Ed. Blakeville was the present area on Mill Road between Ann's Lane and Watson's Lane. Also the present Barbour Road (formerly "Black Swamp Road") and White's Lane (formerly "Jonty's Lane")], so named for the many members of the Blake and Godfrey families that lived in the vicinity.

Diane grew up in the home, and during the course of her research to obtain the marker she relied on family history, deeds and other documents and information that she had gathered.

She discovered that the home was originally built by Everett L. Godfrey around 1888 and was both his residence and his cobbler shop. Franklin discovered a great deal about the original workmanship of the house while installing new windows and doing other updates. The home features the original granite foundation and wide floorboards that were common in homes of that age.

In fact, during her investigation Diane discovered that the home next door was also built by a Godfrey, possibly the brother of Everett. That seems to have sparked more curiosity; Diane said she is considering asking her neighbor if she can do the research on that home as well.

The 12"x16" white, hand-painted marker that now hangs on the Knowles' home is part of a program designed to recognize home 50 years or older as an important part of the unique heritage of Hampton. Each marker has a green pine tree centered under the peak, a reference to the Native American phrase Winnacunnet ("Beautiful Place of Pines," as Hampton was first known). The date the house was built, and the words "Hampton Heritage Commission" are painted under the tree.

The markers are $62 each; $7 goes for shipping and handling while the remainder is for the marker itself; the Heritage Commission gets no profit from sales of the markers.

Those interested in applying for a marker are required to fill out an application and supply specific documents, namely a completed structure survey form, plot plans from the town assessor's office and a copy of the earliest known deed for the property.

The structure survey asks for a detailed description of the applicant's home, including the number of stories, the type of foundation, information about specific features (windows, roof and chimneys) and any other details the applicant can supply.

Franklin and Diane Knowles said that they enjoy living in 130-year-old home and knowing about the past inhabitants. Residents who would like to explore their own home's history may obtain Heritage Commission marker applications at the Lane Memorial Library on Academy Avenue; the Hampton Historical Society/ Tuck Museum on Park Avenue; and the Hampton town office building on Winnacunnet Road. For more information call Maryanne McAden of the Hampton Heritage Commission at (603) 944-0280.