Hi I'm Wayne. Welcome to my blog.
I am a true New Englander through and through. I love everything about New England. I especially love discovering new places in New England and sharing my experiences with everyone. I tend to focus on the more unique and lesser known places and things in New England on my blog.
Oh yeah, and I love dogs. I always try to include at least one dog in each of my blog posts.
I discovered my love of photography a couple of years ago. I know, I got a late start. Now, I photograph anything that seems out of the ordinary, interesting, beautiful and/or unique. And I have noticed how every person, place or thing I photograph has a story behind it or him or her. I don't just photograph things or people or animals. I try to get their background, history or as much information as possible to give the subject more context and meaning. It's interesting how one simple photograph can evoke so much.
I am currently using a Nikon D3200 "beginner's camera." Even though there are better cameras on the market, and I will upgrade some time, I love how it functions (usually) and it has served me well.
The great thing about my blog is you don't have to be from New England, or even like New England to like my blog (although I've never met anyone who doesn't). All you have to like is to see and read about new or interesting places and things.
Hopefully, you'll join me on my many adventures in New England!
Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the Salem area
Universally Accessible: No, many of the homes do not have ramps or universally accessible entry
The second home on the Christmas In Salem tour is the Thomas Whittredge House. Thomas Whittredge, a shipmaster from Salem, purchased the land for the home on November 30, 1799. The house was finally built in 1802. The boundaries of the from the original deed have not changed an inch.
Fittingly, this home on Federal Street is built in the original Federal style which was popular from 1780 to 1820. The front facade is most noticeable due to its Doric pilasters elliptical fanlight above the door. Originally, there was a two story stable and a shed and outhouses on the property.
Whittredge was a master mariner who traded in the mid-Atlantic states. He owned two vessels that served as privateers during the war of 1812. He and his wife Sarah, a native of Danvers, were married in 1793. They lived in the home with their 4 children until Thomas’ death in 1829. Sarah lived in the house until 1841 when she transferred the deed to her daughter and son-in-law. The house, which was originally a single family home, was divided into a two-family home around 1885.
During the 1990s, a fire damaged the home. It would not be fully rebuilt until 20 years later.
The home still has its original floors in the fireplace area.
The house was dressed up for the holidays with bow, ribbons and a variety of lights!
If you look closely up this stairwell, you might see a portrait of one of the family members!
And what holiday home would be complete without a poinsettia! The best part were the free treats in the bowl!
Some of the visitors got into the holiday spirit and wore their best headwear for the event!
Parking: There are several parking lots and garages in the Salem area
Universally Accessible: No, many of the homes do not have ramps or universally accessible entry
When you ask most people what they think of when they think of Salem, MA they will most likely reply with something about Halloween and witches. However, Salem has become an all year round attraction. In fact, the Christmas in Salem event has quickly become one of the more popular events in Salem.
Christmas In Salem is a series of guided tours at 13 historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. In these series of posts, I will take you all on these tours and give some observations from my perspective through my photos and the information provided by the informative tour hosts and the literature from this event.
The first home on the Christmas In Salem tour is the Cotting-Smith Assembly House (aka as the Assembly House) on Federal St. This house was used as the headquarters of the tour. People registered for the tour by showing their receipt and, upon registering, were given a handbook with the addresses and writeups for each building.
Built in 1782 as a “Federalist Clubhouse”, the Cotting-Smith Assembly House was used as a ballroom and concert venue as well as a place to host lectures and other events for Salem’s elite. The Marquis de Lafayette was said to have danced in that very house in 1784 and it is said that George Washington dined there in 1789. While the original documentation for the building is not available, it is believed the house was essentially plain and functional in its original state in 1782.
The building was originally funded as a joint stock venture. Once it was rendered obsolete in 1792, Jonathan Waldo, one of the original developers, obtained full ownership. Waldo then sold the house to Samuel Putnam in 1794. Either Waldo or Putnam hired renowned Salem architect and craftsman Samuel_McIntire to remodel it as a private home. McIntire added 4 pillar of iconic pilasters to the second floor facade and a pediment centered above. The Assembly House is said to the the only wooden structure designed by McIntire with a pavilion front. The house was later remodeled during the 1830s or 40s. During this time the Greek Revival portico was added to the front of the house featuring an ornate frieze of carved grape vines by master carpenter Joseph True. The Assembly House, which is now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building acted as the meeting place for visitors to get their handbook of houses to visit and map of all of the buildings on the tour. So, there wasn’t much decor at this particular home. However, I did see some photo worthy things.
Sometimes the little things can tell a lot about a home. For instance, this wallpaper spoke to the trade relations between Salem and other countries. This wallpaper, which shows what looks like a rendition of life and culture of the people of Asia, may have been an example of how the owners traveled to certain parts of Asia. It was not unusual for people to put up wallpaper that reminded them of places they traveled to or traded with.
This is not an original print, though. It is a stylized representation of wallpaper from that time.
While wallpaper may not be in vogue now, it was a treasured possession of the wealthy at the time this house was built.
According to Historic New England, the earliest record of wallpaper in America is in the estate inventory of a Boston stationer in 1700, where “7 quires of painted paper and three reams of painted paper” were listed. But, only one wallpaper in Historic New England’s collection with a history in New England dates back to the 1700s. Like all early references, this was more descriptive of quantity than of design. Only one wallpaper in Historic New England’s collection with a history in New England dates to this early period. This wallpaper was later used to cover a copy book of poetry in 1783.
Initially, paper hangings, as wallpaper was called in the eighteenth century, were only available from stationer and book sellers. Or they could be custom ordered from merchants who specialized in importing luxury goods. Eventually, wall paper could be purchased from upholsterers.
Prior to 1760, only the wealthiest colonists in urban areas in New England could afford wallpaper. Wallpaper was expensive because of the process involved in making it. The rolls the wallpaper was printed on had to be made of individual sheets of paper. These sheets were glued together. Then, they were hand printed with wood blocks, one block for each color of the design.
That is what makes the Christmas In Salem event so interesting. You can learn so much about the history of wallpaper just by touring a historic home!
Please join me on my tours of all of these historic homes!
Just in time for the holiday season, 12 sixteen foot nutcrackers have been placed throughout in Boston’s Downtown Crossing area. But, these are not any regular nutcrackers.
The nutcrackers, which are fashioned with similar attire one would find on an actual nutcracker, have one significant difference…they have animal heads!
The animals for the designs of the nutcrackers were selected by children during a visit with Downtown Boston Alliance President Michael J. Nichols at a local Boston day care center. Some of the animals they suggested using for that statues include an elephant, a bear, an eagle, a duck (specifically a mallard) and a dog among other animals.
Most of the nutcrackers, 7 to be exact, are located on Washington St. For a point of reference, I am showing the statues from the area of Washington St near the Paramount and going up Washington St. I’m including a photo of the Paramount just because, even though it’s arguably one of the most over photographed spot in Boston (I see you Acorn St and Fan Pier).
The first statue is a polar bear. It is located by the Suffolk University Modern Theater (and the Paramount Theater).
This cute little cat is located near the WINDR Museum on Washington St. I don’t like that smile. It looks like he or she got into some cat nip!
This mallard is located near Snipes (467 Washington St). Sometimes it was difficult to get a straight on photo of these statues because cars were parked in front of them. I actually just walked around and waited for the vehicles to move. But, taking a photo from an angle was a better option for this statue because the bill of the duck looks better from an angle.
I found this unicorn on Winter St after I took the next left after the mallard.
Then, I walked back towards Washington St and crossed over to Winter St where I found these 4 statues of a rhino, a horse, an elephant and an eagle near Macy’s (450 Washington St).
Then, I continued back onto Washington St to photograph the remaining statues. I found this deer near the Gap and DSW stores.
Just as an fyi, the attached map is not accurate. The map shows the dog as being at this location.
These 2 statues of a dog and another duck are located at the popular stairs between the TJ Maxx and Old Navy. I liked how the buildings looked in the background.
The last statue I found was of this beer near the Jewelers Building (333 Washington St)
All of the statues are easy to find and accessible to all. And I love the little accessories like the hats and the epaulets on their shoulders! I also appreciate how some of the animals seem to be talking or making faces in some cases. The best part, though, is the lights, of course. While you can view them day or night, the best time to view them is at night when the colors stand out more. However, the features may be easier to see during the daylight hours. But, don’t wait too long to see them. The statues will only be there until Jan. 2, 2025.
Of course, Boston was decked out with Christmas decor during my visit! So, as a bonus, I am adding this photo of one of the stars installed near one of the main streets in the city.
Summary: The Mehla Shriners hosted their annual Feztival of Trees to raise funds for their charitable causes.
Trees were aglow in Springfield at the 2024 Feztival of Trees. As the name suggests, the festival was run by the Melha Shriners.
There were an array of different trees and wreaths to see.
The trees that lit up were fun to watch!
Visitors could enter a raffle for their favorite trees. And there were many to chose from!
Some of my favorite decorations were not traditional trees or not even trees at all like this “ladder tree” and some of the inflatable decorations.
The ornaments and decor were very festive and at times inspiring!
Some of the trees had themes. This tree had a bee theme.
This was a Halloween tree!
And there was this Irish/St Patrick’s Day tree!
One particular themed tree stood out. “Snacking Around the Christmas Tree” was decorated by Ed Lyons in memory of his wife of 49 years. A variety of snacks such as M&M’s, Lay’s potato chips and Frito’s (his wife especially liked chips) hung from the tree. Ed used to jokingly call them “stinky snacks” because of their strong odors!
The Ornament Lady was taking orders for handmade ornaments…unless you wanted a Yankees ornament!
Mr. and Mrs. Clause stopped by to make sure everyone was still on the “nice” list! But, don’t worry if you’re not on the list! You still have a few more weeks to get on the list!
All of the proceeds generated from the event went to the Mehla Shriners to assist with their charitable endeavors!
Parking: There are a limited amount of parking spaces (about 5 total spots)
Universally Accessible: Yes
Summary: Each year at Christmas time, the First Harbor Company anchors a lit up Christmas tree in Marblehead Harbor.
For some people Christmas season begins right after they finish their last serving of sweet potatoes. I know…yuck!
But for me, Christmas time starts when the First Harbor Company drops anchor on their Christmas tree dinghy in Marblehead Bay. The First Harbor Company makes a variety of hand made products such as wreaths, leashes and buoys. They also sell other products such as books and prints. The dinghy is owned by Tom and Samantha Peach. They decorate the tree and launch it from the launching area at the Little Harbor Company.
I planned my arrival early in the morning before the sunrise to get photos that would accentuate the lights on the tree. I loved how peaceful the water seemed.
I used the other boats and buoys in the harbor to give perspective and frame the photo.
As the sun began to rise, the colors made the landscape so pretty. The pink, black and blue colors in the clouds gave both a warming and ominous feeling.
During my previous visits, the lights on the tree usually went out shortly after the sun rise. But, during this visit the lights stayed on well past sunrise. Although, they do not stay on for most of the day light hours.
If you do plan on seeing the tree in all its splendor, keep in mind parking is limited and because there are trailers and boats sometimes parked near the parking area, it can be hard to find parking there. I parked on the side of the access road at the entrance to avoid being stuck in the narrow parking spots.
Summary: Performers entertained visitors with gravity defying acts, fire breathing and other jaw dropping tricks!
Fiery frights awaited all at this year’s Phantoms By Firelight event at Old Sturbridge Village.
An array of performers, dare devils and acrobats entertained countless visitors last month at Old Sturbridge Village.
Perhaps this event should have been titled, “don’t try this at home.”
The family friendly event included card tricks by Magnus The Magnificent.
There were also games like this World Scramble game. Can you guess the phrase hidden in this world scramble?
After all the fun and games, it was off to the Village Common to watch Alexander the Upside Down Man.
The feats of strength by Andrew were very impressive!
Whew! I got sore and tired just watching Alexander!
Next on the list of things I’ll never be able to do was the rope climbing extraordinaire Philomena.
But, before the show got started, the ring master got the crowd pumped up for the event!
After all that climbing, Philomena took a well deserved rest!
After the show, I was able to take a photo of the star of the show!
As the evening wore on and darkness fell upon the village, The performers kept everyone warm and entertained! Ignatius and Anastasia, aka the Masters Of The Flame, kept everyone enthralled with their fiery tricks! I liked the contrast of the agility and graceful of Philomena and the pure rock and roll daredevil action of Ignatius and Anastasia!
After that breath taking display, it was on to the Cyrkus Vampyr Finale Ultimo. As the name would seem to suggest, this was the finale of the evening.
This performance included some awesome acrobatics and more fun with fire!
There were also additional shows at the event. In the spirit of the Halloween season, there were some macabre events like this re-enactment and info session about wakes. This event was both respectful and informative.
There was a lot of differences from wakes during the early 1800s. For instance, during the early 1800s, which is the time frame Old Sturbridge Village is based, people didn’t take visitors for wakes. People’s wakes were very different. People mourned and reflected on their own. A casket with a mannequin represented how the people would mourn.
The lighting and decor added to the atmosphere of the event.
The performers at the event were not the only people who dressed up! Some of the visitors also wore costumes or other decorative items.
In addition to all of the performances, there was a Clues & Candy game where they had to collect stamps to complete a picture. The lucky ones who completed the tasks were rewarded with a treat pick up! There were also demonstrations of casket making, musicians and spooking story telling!
Despite all of the fire and death defying acrobats (or maybe because of it), the Phantoms By Firelight event was a big hit with both old young!
Location: College Highway, Southwick, MA (2 hours southwest of Boston, MA, 30 minutes northwest of Hartford, CT)
Cost: Free
Parking: Free parking was available at some of the local establishments including the shopping center on College Highway
Universally Accessible: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Summary: Horses, cows, dogs, chickens and even a few people marched in the 6th annual animal parade to raise funds for the Polverari-Southwick Animal Shelter.
Parades usually feature people as the main participants. However, the Farm Parade in Southwick, MA, is a little different. Animals were the main attraction at this parade. Officials projected that 75 to 100 animals of all kinds were expected at the parade.
The parade was free for all who came to watch. But, there was a $20 fee to enter the parade. The proceeds went to help the Polverari-Southwick Animal Shelter.
The Powder Mill School marching band provided the musical entertainment for the event.
Another big attraction of the parade were the tractors, cars and other modes of transportation in the parade.
Since the parade was just before Halloween, there were lots of people dressed up and some of the vehicles were also decorated for the season!
But, out of all of the vehicles in the parade, the ones posted below are my favorites.
What fun it must have been to ride around in your own mini tractor or vehicle.
The people who went to the parade weren’t left out of the fun! As you may have noticed in the photo above, some of the people on the vehicles threw candy and beads to the onlookers!
Although it wasn’t required, some of the visitors dressed up for the event!
The farm parade has been growing in size over the years and I look forward to seeing what the following years have in store!
Summary: The zombies took over Salem, MA, earlier this month!
Zombies of all shapes, sizes and ages gathered in Salem, MA, to feast upon some of the brains of the city folk. They originally planned to go to Washington, DC. But, they would have gone hungry.
All of the zombies, monsters and other ghouls met up at Salem Commons for some photo opportunities. From prom queens to fear leaders, the costumes were as creative as they were scary!
Some of the zombies got tired even before the walk began.
Eventually, the zombies lumbered their way through downtown Salem. Over the years, the walk has really grown in popularity. hundreds if not thousands of people lined the streets, many of them recording the walkers on their cellphones. And the zombies didn’t disappoint. They moaned, leaned into the cameras and shuffled their way through the streets. I love how they get into the spirit of the event!
In some of the photos, you may notice the participants were given buttons that state “I Survived the Zombie Walk!”…or did they? We may never know.
Despite all the moaning, shrieking and close calls with the zombies, the city survived the zombie walk just fine. This time.
The zombie in the video below usually brings his laboratory experiment with him each year!
It’s official! Spooky season has come to Salem, MA!
To usher in the Halloween season, Salem, MA, recently held their 42nd Haunted Happenings Grand Parade! But, even before the parade began, there was plenty to photograph. The sun set just as the parade was getting underway providing some beautiful photo opportunities.
It wasn’t just the parade marchers who got dressed up for the event! These spectators were also dressed up!
A variety of aliens, dinosaurs, pirates and an assortment of other ghoulish characters marched or drove in the festive event!
The theme of the parade this year was “Our Time On Earth.” and some parade floats had decoration reflecting this theme.
Parade participants spend a lot of time and effort preparing their floats for the parade. Some of these floats and vehicles were weeks or months in the making. These vehicles and floats of all kinds, some with interesting passengers, were decorated for the event.
But, not all of the participants were in vehicles or floats. Some of the characters walked or used other modes of transportation to get around.
You may have noticed some Halloween pails in some of the photos. During the parade, some of the people marching in the parade would pass out candy or just give high fives!
As if all that wasn’t enough below is some video from the parade!
Location: Salem Commons , North Washington Square, Salem, MA (35 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)
Cost: Free
Dog Friendly: Yes
Universally Accessible: Yes
Summary: Salem Commons transformed into the days of the 1920s for a very special event.
It was a swinging good time last weekend at Salem Commons.
For the past 6 years, the Salem community Neighborhood Association has hosted the Vintage Lawn Party. The party included dancing, antique cars, music and vendors selling all things vintage.
On my way to the event, I noticed this sky writer. Only in Salem!
While dressing up for the event is not required, it is encouraged and appreciated! Many people came dressed up in their best vintage wear! In fact, it seems like each year more guests decide to don their best attire. I used some special settings such as black and white and sepia to give some of the photos an old timey feel.
Annie and the Fur Traders kept the people dancing with their swinging sounds.
And, of course, there was dancing.
If dancing isn’t your thing, there were some cool cars to check out. In previous years, there was only one or two cars at the party. But, over time as word about the party spread, more and more cars began to show up. I love the curves, shape and sleekness of the cars.
This 1966 Excalibur has a special connection to Salem. It was the very same car used in the Bewitched episodes filmed in Salem, MA. The owner of the vehicle, “Sid” posed with his car.
Below is a photo of the very same car from the Bewitched episode filmed in 1970.
There were also lawn games for everyone to enjoy. Although it may seem like a new sensation, cornhole has existed since the 1880s in different forms.
Croquet, another game that has been around since the 1800s, was also a popular game played by both the young and old.
This 5 year old is quite the croquet prodigy.
There were a number of merchants selling everything from clothing, art ceramics and everything in between.
After a long day of partying and dancing, this pooch was all partied out!
New England Nomad 