This Forgotten Diploma at a New England Goodwill Led to a Fascinating Piece of Local History

You really never know what kind of history is hiding in a thrift store and one local just found proof of that at a Goodwill.

Local resident Bren Jennings recently found a diploma that appeared to have been accidentally donated to Goodwill. The name on it? William Groves Dinning III.

William Groves Dinning III Diploma via Bren Jennings

Jennings says, "I occasionally browse around Goodwill as kind of a pastime... There's always something there you can tell was part of an estate. I find those items moving because I just think people are so interesting and I love getting to see little pieces from their lives."

She continued, "Last Saturday I saw the diploma on the shelf and I shared it to my Instagram story as an interesting artifact since it's kind of an odd thing to donate."

Rather than simply scrolling past it, her sister decided to do a little digging after spotting the diploma on social media. A quick Google search of the name revealed that this seemingly ordinary piece of paper was actually tied to a fascinating chapter of New England’s maritime history.

The name led them to a Points East Magazine story called “No greater love . . .” which chronicles the incredible history of a local boat owner and his decades-long relationship with a classic Hinckley sailboat.

Originally from Arkansas, Groves "settled in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area" in 1976, "sailing an Ensign, a J/24 and a Pearson 34 and, as they say, the rest was history."

According to his incredible story, the owner purchased the 1957 Hinckley Pilot 35 in 1999 and spent years restoring it before sailing along the Maine coast. The boat eventually changed hands, only to be tracked down years later in rough condition. He bought it back and restored it once again, eventually renaming her My Girl. The boat even made her way back to the New Hampshire Seacoast.

Groves was "a lifetime honorary member of the Kittery Point Yacht Club and was instrumental in the establishment of sailing classes for underprivileged children."

For those of us who call the Seacoast home, the story feels especially close to home. Boating isn't just a pastime along the Seacoast, it’s woven into the culture and history of our coastal communities. From marinas and boatyards to fishing, sailing and recreational boating, the water has always been a huge part of life here.

Now, a diploma connected to that story has resurfaced in one of the most unexpected places: a Goodwill donation pile.

It’s a pretty great reminder that you never know what you might uncover while thrifting. One person’s forgotten donation could be another person’s connection to a piece of local history.

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And now I have to wonder: where is My Girl today? Is she still somewhere along the New England coast, carrying a little more history with her?