Greetings from Annapolis
I'm on the first leg of what has become my annual spring southern tour, stopping in at Annapolis for a few days. I love Annapolis, so I visit here every other year or so, but generally during my spring break in March when the historic houses I want to see are not open yet.…
I'm still mad at Timothy Pickering's slow-walking the Salem Militia, rendering it a no-show at Lexington and Concord. Plus TWO tavern stops. streetsofsalem.com/2025/04/14/s...
I’d Rather Read Poetry
Over the past few weeks Salem residents have learned that our city will become the site of yet another dark attraction, styled a museum of course, an establishment that seems even worse than the last arrival in terms of tackiness, kitschiness, darkness, and removal from…
it's beautiful. I love all of your finds!
Excited to be giving this talk on our book Salem's Centuries at the State Library of Massachusetts during its 200th anniversary year and Salem's 400th.
Naval History is so Competitive
On either side of Salem, Beverly and Marblehead have a longstanding rivalry as to which is the birthplace of the U.S. Navy: the Hannah, owned by John Glover of Marblehead and the first ship to be commissioned for warfare by General George Washington, set sail from…
Personal Declarations
I would love to hear about Revolutionary exhibitions, programs and events sheduled for your area in this 250th anniversary year: 1776 is certainly alive and well in the Boston area! Since I'm on sabbatical, I've been able to attend quite a few happenings, and my favorite…
Remembering the Ladies: Two Talks in Salem
A promotional post today: I've got to events coming up at the end of this week and the beginning of next on women's history in Salem for the close of Women's History Month. Both are free and all are welcome. The first is on Saturday at Old Town Hall, and…
Camilla Days
Nineteenth-century monied New Englanders loved camillas and living embodiments of their desire exist at the Lyman Estate greenhouses of Historic New England, which hosts "Camilla Days" in February and March when these old trees are in bloom. Somehow I miss this event every year, but…
Trolley Goals
I came across this book entitled The Trolley and the Lady (1908) and thought, wow, great, this is going to be a great exploration of turn-of-the-century "transportation liberation" from the perspective of a liberated woman! But I should have known, as it was written by a man (William…
The Last Week in February
Well, it's been quite a winter here in eastern Massachusetts, and last week was quite a week, so I think I'm going to take a break from topical posting and just present the week that was. It started with a blizzard, and even though it is now March 1, as I am typing I see…
Good luck today digging out!
Did you really have 38 inches in Providence? That's epic. 24 inches here in Salem on top of our existing 2 feet.
A Major Revolutionary Engraver
So many untold revolutionary stories in Salem's history. SO MANY. I started thinking about Joseph Hiller, a soldier (Major, in fact), watchmaker, engraver, and Collector of the Port of Salem and Beverly, last week and put together a little visual sketch of his life,…
Perfect!
Was Andrew Jackson a Welcome Guest in Salem in 1833?
Here I am with another Presidents' Day post which I shall begin with my usual rant about Presidents' Day: if you merge them all (or Washington and Lincoln) into one day of remembrance you're going to forget some singular details. Not a fan of…
Oh my goodness, so creepy.
Anti-First AND -Second amendments---that's an unusual combination!
Knox Sunday
I know, there was a big football game yesterday, and I watched half of it at an actual party but the day was reserved for Col. Henry Knox. I've been watching online as commemorations of Knox's Noble Train of Artillery moved across large swaths of New York and Massachusetts on its way…
Ha! Of course....
I am so worried that all of the amazing 250 projects and initiatives that have been undertaken at the local and state level will be overwhelmed by stuff like this.
And his own food! Who brings their own food to Italy? If he did nothing else awful, that would be enough to indict him.
Thank you, @genbird8.bsky.social!
There is indeed! My colleagues at Salem State and I just published a book for Salem's 400th this year with a whole chapter on the Revolution--it had never been written! 1692 conquers all in Salem.
Learned so much from your book!
The Problem with Sugar
I have either written, edited, or read all of the essays that make up Salem's Centuries many times over these past three years as they have taken shape but now that they're all together in a published book I read them again last week, as I wanted to see how the book held up,…
You can paid---$50---to watch it in Boston, but you must stay for the entire film.
I got to write about Hugh Peter in our new book Salem's Centuries---a rather dramatic bio because of his connection to King Charles' execution #otd. Salem's fourth pastor became "Salem's Regicide" (the news that the King hadn't been executed didn't reach New England until June).
OMG, thanks for sharing!
Absolutely, well said.