A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day......Sept 26, 07....Massachusetts ~ "The Old Bay State"

Mama_Bear | JustAmy | The Mayor

[Wheelbarrow]

As a person born and raised in Massachusetts (and a historical/government “buff” on the State), I’d like to congratulate you on a most complete and accurate presentation. You might add THAYER ACADEMY in Braintree was founded by Gen. Sylvanus Thayer (first Superintendent of West Point). The first FACTORY in our colonies (now a historical site)was over the Neponset River (so it could get power) between Milton and Dorchester; for years, before new owners more recently closed it, it was the place Bakers Chocolate came from. DR, GODDARD(the rocket man) was a professor at CLARK UNIV. at the time he developed the rocket. HARVARD COLLEGE was written into the (still existing) CONSTITUTION of the State. The FIRST RAILROAD in the colonies ran between a granite quarry in W. Quincy and the Neponset River so blocks could be transported to Charlestown to build the BUNKER HILL MONUMENT; parts of the railroad (iron slabs) still exist as a historical site. Great job on your part Bill

[Lady Jag]

This voice from the Bay State says, "Thank you. Great job!"

[Wheelbarrow]

My father was a “colonial” church architect specializing in restorations; churches, such as this, were often inspirations for churches he designed (I spent many hours w/him as he precisely measured these old treasures). Bil

[DollyCali]

The pressure is on Dutchess.. we can’t let our little sistah GeeBee do NY before we do Ohio..

great table etc Billie.. We see how Lori has done a magnificent job of doing the bulk of the work on these. I recall the last time I wnet to the state sites they were all so informative & fun.

It was interesting too as I recall to see the evolution of HTML & graphic skills with you Lori..

Just got back from 74 year old neighbor’s funeral. He will killed in auto accident on Friday. American success story. 12 years formal education from poor family. Began & developed a major industrial area & manufacturing plant in area.. Nice family. The wrong neighbor met his maker if a vote were to be taken in neighborhood.

[JustAmy]

Happy Warm Fuzzy Massachusetts Wednesday, everyone.

"At the Northern-most tip of Cape Ann lies the colorful seaside village of Rockport. The town is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on three sides with Boston just about 40 miles away. Shops and galleries surround Rockport's charming harbor, which is still home to an active fishing fleet. the town is one of the country's oldest artist colonies, and boasts some of the most widely painted seaside landscapes in the world, including the coastal shack known as Motif #1."

About 15 years ago, a friend and I visited New England. Most of our Massachusetts time was spent in the historical areas of Boston, Concord, Lexington and Salem. I need to plan another trip to visit the beautiful small towns.

[DollyCali]

some of you have met wheelbarrow.. Here are two of his scanned pix from his Honor Flight trip to DC a few weeks ago. He was one of 700 WW2 vets from around USA. They try to have groups every month. The first one is of Bill & Bob Dole & the second of his "tour group" from the Akron/Canton/New Philadelphia area.

[DollyCali]

Hey you!!!!!

so good to see you dropping in. I dont get here as often as I should but it is always nice to see my friends here. This is one of the nice threads where nice folks hang..

[DollyCali]

oh my that candy looks good dita! I get Maple Syrup now & then & guess I have seen the candy.. so the sugar is the candy? I dont do too much specialty shopping.

I went to my first Italian deli/bakery a few weeks ago & was in awe. Brought home all sorts of goodies..

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Amy :) They are such beautiful small towns. I need to do another trip to New England too.

FR is extremely slow right now. Hope it isn't going down.

[GodBlessUSA]

Terrific Pictures. What a wonderful time you all must have had. Congratulations Wheel Barrow. God Bless and thank you for protecting America!

[STARWISE]

Oh my goodness ... this is spectacular!! The history is profound. Thank you for all that hard work about my home state. It's so beautifully done ... outstanding!

Agawam, MA .. my old hometown ... geographical reference.

Capt. Charles Leonard House ~ historical structure on Main St.

"This historic structure dates from 1805 and was admitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

It was originally a tavern on the road from Hartford to points north where stage coaches deposited their tired passengers for overnight rest and refreshment before continuing on the next day with a fresh team of horses.

Restored in 1938, it boasts original fireplaces and woodwork and is furnished with many pieces of authentic furniture, making it well worth a visit in its own right. It now serves as a Community House for the Town of Agawam and, in its present state, offers a room capable of holding 75 people for events of various sorts."

Over the bridge to Springfield, MA

History and Points of Interest

A favorite hangout .. Riverside Amusement Park ..eventually bought and completely upgraded by Six Flags

Interesting history of the The Connecticut Valley ~ Springfield, Agawam, Westfield areas of Western Massachusetts ~ Starts on Pg. 283

~~~~~~~

Thank you again for this lovely page.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Lady Jag :)

[STARWISE]

The front of the Old North Church ... if bricks could talk.

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

Additionally, the Old North Church makes its entrance in the very next stanza:

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the NorthChurch tower as a signal light,
One, if by land, and two, if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm.”

[JustAmy]

"it was the place Bakers Chocolate came from."

This reminds me of a story that I had almost forgotten .... My girlfriend and I arrived at Logan about 10:00pm. After getting directions from the car rental company, we left the airport area and immediately got lost. :)

We saw a security guard so stopped to ask him how to get to our motel. His directions were go past the "old chocolate factory", turn left at the ??? road and the hiway was within 1/2 mile.

We drove for awhile but had no idea if we had seen the old chocolate factory or not. We finally found a phone and called the motel for directions. We arrived between 11:30 and 12:00.

After that, we laughed whenever we couldn't find a certain place and would say, it is just past the old chocolate factory.

Massachusetts and New England was a wonderful experience.

Hopefully I will get back there some day.

[Mama_Bear]

he little town I spent a few days near on that wintry long ago was Williamsburg ... classic little burg it was, too.

I googled Williamsburg and found it is fairly near Pittsfield, where some of my husband's family comes from. Very pretty area!

My family is from a bit further east; Ashland. My was grandmother born in Lynn, my grandfather in Southbridge. My dad's family were Irish immigrants who settled in the Weymouth area. Massachusetts is definitely in my blood. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Oh.....that looks good! Looks like it would melt in your mouth. :-)

[Diver Dave]

Outstanding presentation, Mama Bear.

Been to Massachusetts only one time back in ‘95 when I was a chaparone for a group of high school exchange students. Would loved to have seen more, but we were on a pretty tight schedule.

[JustAmy]

I loved New England! :)

Being a native Californian, I found the small, clean and quaint towns and villages a pleasure to visit.

We visited in October so the leaves had changed or were changing. The villages all had little white churches and were nestled in the rolling hills.

[JustAmy]

Walking the FReedom Trail, took us to many of the historical buildings. We toured the Old North Church and saw Paul Revere’s house.

I’ve forgotten, where is the House of Seven Gables? I think we were on a bus tour of Boston. Darn memory!

[Mama_Bear]

Simply Supurb, Lori!

Thanks, Billie......and WOW what a lot of time you must have put into that map!! I cannot believe that so many states have been profiled. You're right, we really do need to finish them up.

I'd like to have dibs on Illinois and Montana. Wolfie can probably help me some with Illinois, since he has said he knows that state well, and my daughter-in-law is from Montana, so I can get some input from her on her state. I started on Kentucky but never finished it, guess I could finish that one up too. The rest of them I will leave to the other sistahs. :-)