Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 23 Winter St, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
Update – some of these photos may look familiar to you if you have been reading this series of posts. I mistakenly posted photos of this home (the Samuel Roberts House) in my previous post for the William Roberts House (there are too many Roberts homes in Salem!) In any event, I have updated that post with the correct photos which you can find at this link: Christmas In Salem 2023 Part 4 – The Williams Roberts House (Updated). Trust me, you’ll want to check it out!
The Samuel Roberts House on Winter Street is the fifth stop on the Christmas In Salem tour. The Greek Revival home with vertical flashboard plasters was built in 1827. A wide frieze with two-part architrave and modillions (an ornate bracket, more horizontal in shape and less imposing than a corbel if that helps) wrap around the house. The entrance, which was decorated beautifully for the holidays is covered with louvered panels and is capped by a semicircular transom.
Samuel Roberts, who was a mason by trade, built the the home 1827 and immediately deed the house to his son Nehemiah Roberts, a mariner. Nehemiah, who died at sea in 1841, sold the home to his brother David in 1835. David, who was a Harvard graduate and lawyer, would go on to have an illustrious career as a state representative in 1833 and mayor pf Salem from 1866-1867. The house remained in the Roberts family until 1912 when it was sold to Dr. Martin Field who was considered one of the leading surgeons in the North Shore of Massachusetts.
You can see that before you even enter the home the home and property was decorated with a tasteful touch. Based on the many beautiful plants around and inside the property, it may not be surprising to know the The Salem Garden Club decorated the house for the event.
The interior of the house kept up with the plant and horticultural theme. It was just as pretty and festive.
The house has some really interesting decor. I am always fascinated by the fancy decor and architecture of these historic homes, especially their walls and ceilings. I thought this was a very interesting type of decor in the ceiling.
In the dining area there was a very interesting lighting fixture. Believe it or not, this ornate chandelier does not turn on. It was never set up to have any current sent to it. Instead, the home owners use candles to light the room.
You may notice the wallpaper has an interesting pattern. The home owners wanted the wallpaper to show places they like to visit such as France and Africa I believe so they could still feel like they’re traveling even though they’re in their dining room.
As we entered the kitchen area, we found something interesting and unusual. This stove. It’s always on. Always.
The visitors on this tour wore their own holiday best! This nice lady was wearing very decorative glasses for the tour.
So, we’ve made it half way through the 2023 Christmas In Salem tour! I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour so far and I hope you join me on the second leg of the tour!
Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 21 Washington Square North, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
Welcome back to the Christmas In Salem tour! I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season!
Not all of the historic homes on the Christmas In Salem tour are obvious. One could walk by this house and not realize they are walking past a house so rich with history and decorated so beautifully. To the uninformed, it may look like just another house.
Right from the entrance to the home, you can see the Christmas decor.
Built in 1837, the Captain Nathaniel Weston House is a Greek Revival style home. It was in the Weston family until the turn of the (20th) century. Before the new owners purchased the home, it had been used as a single family home, a doctor’s office and a hotel. It is now being used as a multi family home.
The wooden structure still holds much of the charm of its earlier days.
The house was renovated and restored by Seger Architects on 2020 and was awarded a Historic Salem Inc Preservation Award. And it’s easy to see why. It was simple yet tasteful and elegant in its design and decor.
Rumor has it, that artwork above is a classic. But, that is yet to be confirmed.
We were only allowed access to the first floor. But, there was some more decor outside.
Make sure to follow me on my tour and as we move on to the next historic home.
In the meantime, you can follow me on Facebook and at Instagram at new.england.nomad_
You can also post and view photos from all over New England at my Facebook photography group at: Photographers Of New England
Date Of Event: December 2, 2023 (event is held annually the first weekend of Dec)
Location: 24 St. Peter St, Salem, MA
Cost: Tickets for Christmas in Salem are available online at www.historicsalem.org at a cost of $40 for non-Historic Salem, Inc. members and $35 for HSI members. Tickets purchased the day of the tour are $45. Tour tickets including the Friday night candle-lit preview are $120 for non-HSI members and $100 for members of Historic Salem, Inc. Christmas in Salem proceeds support the preservation mission of Historic Salem, Inc.
Hours: Sat & Sun 10-4
Parking: there are several parking lots and metered street parking throughout the city.
Summary: The Christmas In Salem event consists of a tour of historic homes and buildings in Salem, MA. Each year, home owners and building management open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse into what these historic homes look like and what stories they may have.
If you’ve traveled to Salem, MA, you’ve undoubtedly passed by the historic St. Peter’s-San Pedro Episcopal Church. Yet, you may not know it’s secret history.
As luck would have it, this church was the first stop of the Christmas In Salem event. An annual event for the 44 years, Christmas In Salem showcases historical homes and buildings which are tastefully decorated for the tours. The homes and buildings also display historical and seasonable appropriate items. Tour guides inform the visitors of the historical significance and background of each building.
Because of all of the information disseminated at this event and the number of photos taken, I have decided to break this event up into a series of posts. There were 10 houses on this tour. So, there will be 10 posts for this event. I hope you join me on this tour of some of the most historical and beautiful buildings in Salem, MA!
St. Peter’s Church was established on St. Peter’s Day, June 29th, 1733, on land given by Phillip English and was built by parishioners and their slaves. From then it has grown and changed dramatically. The present church, which is constructed of Cape Ann granite, is our second church building and replaced the original yellow wooden church exactly 100 years later, on June 29th, 1833.
Although this church was built in 1873 from Cape Ann granite sourced from Rockport, MA, the St. Peter’s-San Pedro Episcopal Church, the history of the church in other forms, stretches back to St. Peter’s Day, June 29, 1733. The current church, which has 1733 pews, is said to have been constructed by parishioners and enslaved Africans according to the historical guide for this event. But, a different church in this location existed back to 1733. In fact, the original church at the location is said to have been a small wooden church built in 1733. It was demolished and the current church was built in 1833.
There are many stories and facts within the walls of this church. For instance, the bells of the church, which were being repaired during my visit, have rung for every President of the United States. It is the oldest bell in the United States.
Another interesting fact about the construction of the church is these stained glass windows. The stained glass windows are the original windows. Yes, according to the tour guide, these windows are 190 years old.
Also, the organ you may see on the balcony in the background of these photos is Salem’s first organ acquired in 1743. It is said Puritans were alarmed by these Earth shattering advancements. Imagine what they would think of TikTok.
Another interesting historical fact about this church has nothing to do with religion. Written by Salem native Nathaniel Bowditch, American Practical Navigator which was first published in 1867, is still said to be on every Naval vessel to this day. It also acts as good cure for insomnia. Fun fact: the ferry which some of you reading this may have used to travel from Salem to Boston’s Long Wharf, is also know as the Nathaniel Bowditch.
Some of the more interesting stories and facts about this church and the changes that have occurred dealt with some of the policies of the church.
Before the break of the colonies from the British government and before the church found its current location, it was required for the church to say a prayer for the British crown. This did not go over well as one could imagine during and after the American Revolution. However, while some loyalist ministers fled to Nova Scotia and other parts, some loyalist ministers still wished to say this prayer. You will see in the photo below it was actually scribbled over in the prayer books and replaced with a prayer for the state of Massachusetts and the new country called the United States of America.
The church was not without its conflict and strife, however. Because of the harassment many of the parishioners felt by loyalists, some of the patriots would spit upon the loyalists from the balcony and rocks were sometimes thrown at the church because of its support of the British government.
There was an also a pew (which the tour guide is standing in) was dedicated to the British crown. This tradition was stopped of course after the American Revolution. But, as a lark, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick sat in the pew during a service. The photos below show some of the items which were on display at the church throughout the years.
There are certainly many more facts and stories from this church. But, it would take up the whole day and time was of the essence if I was able to make it to all of the houses for this event.
As I was leaving, I noticed how the church was decorated tastefully for the event. There was also a band playing Christmas tunes in the basement. I could have stayed there all day listening to their melodies. But, there were many more stops for the Christmas In Salem event.
You can’t throw a rock, or a bagel for that matter, in Massachusetts without hitting a Dunkin Donuts. But, among all of these coffee shops, there’s a special one in Quincy, MA.
Like many successful companies, the Dunkin’ Donuts franchise had humble beginnings.
The origins of what would become Dunkin’ Donuts began during World War II when a shipyard worker decided to provide food options for his co-workers. William Rosenberg, a worker at the Fore River Shipyard based on the Quincy and Weymouth areas, noticed there weren’t many eating options for his coworkers and himself at the time. While this is far from the case now, Quincy did not have a wide variety of dining options.
Initially, William opened the “Industrial Luncheon Services” with a $1,000 loan and another $1,500 start up money. “Industrial Luncheon Services” was a a food truck that sold sandwiches, coffee, doughnuts, and other snacks.
William noticed that at least 50% of the food and drinks he sold were doughnuts and coffee. So, William decided to start a food business that focused on these foods and renamed his business “Open Kettle.”
Eventually, in 1950, William would open a brick and mortar store at its current location, 543 Southern Artery. After noticing many of his customers dunked their doughnuts in their coffee, William changed the name of his shop to “Dunkin’ Donuts.”
While many of the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee shops updated their decor and designs, the Dunkin’ Donuts on Southern Artery went in another direction. In December, 2011, the shop was “retro-renovated” to honor its original look.
From the original outside design to the indoor decor, the shop on Southern Artery transformed to a coffee shop from back in time.
The interior of the Dunkin’ Donuts has a mural of a photo of the original Dunkin Donuts and a display of the various logos the company has used over the years.
While the logos, design, dining options and decor may have changed at many of the coffee shops, one things remain clear; New Englanders still love their Dunkin’ Donuts.
Summary: Built in 1810, Old Scituate Light is the 11th lighthouse lit in Massachusetts. The lighthouse is on the registry of historic landmarks in Massachusetts and is reportedly open for tours during certain periods of time during the year (see link above for more info). A rock jetty and rocky beachhead is a popular spot for sunrise watchers and tourists. The lighthouse has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s.
New England has no shortage of lighthouses and breath taking views of seascapes. In fact, due to the plethora of beautiful destinations along the water, some destinations seem to get overlooked. Old Lighthouse in Scituate, MA, is one of these overlooked destinations.
Built in 1810 for $4,000, Old Scituate Light played an important, but little known, role in the War Of 1812. After observing two British barges approaching the Scituate harbor, Abigail and Rebecca Bates, the daughters of the original keeper of the lighthouse (Simeon Bates) hid among a cluster of cedar trees which were once prominent in the area and played their fife and drum in an attempt to ward off the would be attackers. The two girls created such a loud din the barges were said to have retreated fearing an army was preparing for their attack. Their efforts are said to have saved Scituate from being sacked as there was, in reality, no standing army ready for a British attack. The girls went on to become known as the “American Army of Two.”
The 25 foot lighthouse (70 feet above sea level) has a natural/emplaced foundation. The light is a replicated lantern and the keeper does stay in the attached home. A bell, perhaps more for decor than function, stands outside the housekeeper’s residence. The lighthouse keeper is a teacher at nearby Marshfield High School.
There is also a memorial dedicated to the grounding of the Etrusco and the rescue efforts from that accident. On March 16, 1956, the ship came aground at Cedar Point during the St. Patrick’s Day Blizzard (it is New England after all). After the grounding of the freighter, five Scituate residents (all members of Scituate’s Civil Defense Communications Team) sprang into action and, despite blizzard conditions, kept in communication with the Coast Guard, providing key details and information to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard would eventually rescue all 30 men from the grounded ship.
The surrounding grounds of the lighthouse provide for great photo opportunities.
The highlight of the lighthouse and the surrounding area is the beautiful views it offers which are especially spectacular during sunrise and sunset
As I was about to pack up and head to my next destination, I noticed this group of painted rocks with hopeful messages. Many of them seemed to have a special personal meaning. But, I think we call can derive some inspiration from their messages.
Highlights, historic home, character actors, guided tours
Summary: The Paul Revere House offers guided tours of the historic home. A special visitor stopped by during my visit.
Photography is not allowed inside the Paul Revere House (which makes it particularly hard to post about my visit there). However, there was a special guest during my visit.
One of Paul’s besties, John Adams, happened to be visiting while I was there. John regaled the crowd (don’t they look enthralled?) with his stories of his colorful past and his disdain for the British and French.
John also read a letter from his friend Benjamin Franklin.
But, before too long, John checked his watch and he told us it was time to leave.
Although I could not photograph inside the building, I did get some photos of the exterior of the building.
Paul Revere bought the he two story building, which was built in 1680, in 1770 . It has four rooms and ninety percent of the structure, two doors, three window frames, and portions of the flooring, foundation, inner wall material and raftering are original. The rooms have furniture and furnishings that look similar to those from that era. There are staff members in the houses who give a historical background of the house.
People come from all over to visit the house. These two visitors came all the way from Illinois!
Rumor has it there may be another special guest there next Saturday (Sep[. 28)!
Summary: An annual event that allow s visitors to tour the inside of historic homes throughout the historic Salem, MA, area
How many times have walked by the many historic homes of Salem, MA, and wondered what they look like on the inside?
The Christmas In Salem event in Salem, MA (held annually the first weekend of Dec) lets you see for yourself.
The 39th annual self-guided tour, which began at the House Of The Seven Gables, included tours of 15 homes. Some of the homes featured on the tour are historic buildings run by the park service, some are actual home residences. Tickets can be purchased on the day you visit, or (and I highly recommend it) you can purchase your tickets in advance online. There is also a trolley that can take you to some of the homes.
One of the perks of the tour was the photography policy was relaxed and photography was allowed at most of the homes and buildings, even in buildings where photography is not usually allowed (namely, the House of the Seven Gables). In fact, it is one of the reasons I finally made it to the House of the Seven Gables. They usually don’t allow photography in that building.
As there are so many buildings included in the tour (15 in total, but only 11 that allowed photography), I will give a brief description and background of each building with links for additional information when available. I took a variety of photos from each building, depending on the size and beauty of the building.
As mentioned above, there are 15 homes or buildings (with a “bonus” second tour of your favorite home or building). You may also split up your visits so that you can go on 2 separate days rather than trying to visit all of the homes or buildings in one day. I will list all of the homes and buildings in the order they are listed on the tour map you are given when you check in at the House of the Seven Gables.
House Of The Seven Gables (houses 1 and 2 on the tour)
The House Of Seven Gables has always been one of my favorite historic homes in all of new England. I have always loved the narrow, almost secret passageways and its history.
The House of the Seven Gables has The verse written on the wall in the first photo is from Hawthorne’s work The Marble Faun. Some of the tour guides, such as the woman shown in the final photograph, read holiday stories or or other related works. The woman shown in the portrait is Susanna Ingersoll, Hawthorne’s cousin.
There was also a Christmas tree in one of the rooms at the home. Fun fact (except for those alive at the time): Christmas was banned by the Puritans in the MA colony from 1647 until 1681. Rather than being a time for celebration and festivity that included some of the pagan origins associated with the holiday, the Puritans thought the holiday should be a time for fasting and humiliation. Another fun fact: the first Christmas tree, similar to the tree shown below, in America is said to have been in the home of Cambridge resident and Harvard College professor Charles Follen in 1835.
There was a wine tasting area, as well as a place to view the food and toys of this era. The food shown below on the far right of the table is a common delicacy of that time, cod.
The outside of the House of the Seven Gables is as pretty as the interior.
Another fun fact: Although he visited his relatives at the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion (aka House of the Seven Gables), Nathaniel Hawthorne never lived in the house. He was born on Union Street. But, it may not seem that way when you visit. The Union Street house where Hawthorne was born was purchased by The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association and moved to the museum campus in 1958.
This building, located a short walk from the Salem Witch Museum at 14 Mall St, is one of the homes where Hawthorne lived in Salem. This building is not included on the tour.
The third home on the tour, the Captain William Lane House, and the fourth home, the Josiah Getchell House, did not allow photography.
The fifth home of the tour was the Thomas Mogoun House, 58 Derby St. As you will notice from the photos from the homes and buildings in the photos is that while they do have the original, or close to the original frame and structure, they were indeed more contemporary inside, unfortunately. I was hoping to see rustic beds with hay instead of mattresses. No such luck.
One of the more serene and peaceful places on the tour was the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church at 64 Forrester St. A choir of men and women were singing traditional Christmas songs (not contemporary or radio songs of course). I really could have stayed and just listened to them because of their beautiful voices. I didn’t take any photos inside of the church and this is actually a photo I took of the church from 2015 when I first began my blog.
The seventh home on the tour was the Ives-Webb-Whipple House at 1 Forrester St. This house, which was built originally in 1760, was being shown and is still on the market.
The house was staged very tastefully.
The Captain John Hodges House at 81 Essex St was the 8th home on the tour.
The 9th home on the tour was the Richard Manning House located at 10 1/2 Herbert St.
The 10th building on the tour was the Immaculate Conception Church at 15 Hawthorne Blvd. Although there was some pretty and interesting architecture and decor in the church, I didn’t take any photos there.
The 11th building on the tour, the Captain Simon Forrester House at, 188 Derby St, and the 12th home, the Benjamin W. Crowninshield House at 180 Derby St, did not allow photography.
Another building I had walked past countless times without visiting until this year (I stopped in during the summer and hope to post that shoot…someday) is the 13th building on the tour, the Salem Custom House at 176 Derby St. Interestingly, Nathaniel Hawthorne worked here for some time. He worked on a little book you may have heard of during his tenure there.
The 14th home on the tour, The Derby House at 168 Derby St was not available for tours during my visit.
The 15th and last home on the tour was the Captain Edward Allen Mansion House at 125 Derby St.
Not all of the historic homes are available for tours and the particular homes that are available for tours may change from year to year. Since many of the homes are fairly small to average size and only so many people can enter a home at one time, the wait can be long to get into some houses. But the homes are all located near each other and the map lists them in a way that is makes them easy to find. I was able to hit each home in about 4 to 5 hours. If you’re not in the Christmas Spirit, the mix of historical background and Christmas decor is sure to get you into it!
Mon – Thurs:
10 am – 9 pm
10 am – 7 pm (Winter) Fri – Sat:
10 am – 9 pm Sun:
11 am – 7 pm
Noon – 6 pm (Winter)
Cost: Free
Parking:
There are several parking garages in the area and some street parking. There are also several routes to take on the MBTA to get there. Parking, transportation and driving directions can be found here.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: shopping, family friendly activities, dining, statues, historical
Fall has descended upon New England. Big time. It seemed like it was just last week that I was sweating in 80 degree weather. Probably because it was. Yes fall seems to come with a thud. But, it also means sweater weather and foliage. So, it’s a fair trade off as far as I’m concerned.
In an attempt to play catch up before the very busy fall season, I am trying to post as many photo shoots from the summer as I transition into fall.
This particular photo shoot was from Faneuil Hall, the most visited marketplace in Boston. It is a mix of art, history, entertainment, commerce and more.
Faneuil Hall has a long and storied history. Since 1743, Faneuil Hall has served as a market and meeting place. One of the more famous stops on Boston’s Freedom Trail, it has been called the “Cradle Of Liberty.”
Faneuil Hall has two major buildings at the sight. The first one, Faneuil Hall Marketplace mostly sells wares from a variety of top name shops.
Located behind Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market serves up a variety of foods. From Thai to tacos, Quincy Market has pretty much any type of food you can imagine. I prefer Quincy Market naturally.
Fanueil Hall Marketplace has a variety of statues on their premises. One of the first statues you may see depending on which way you travel to the marketplace is the statue of former mayor Kevin Hagan White.
One of the lesser known, or at least less talked about mayors of Boston, Kevin White served as mayor during a pivotal time in Boston’s history. The 51st mayor of Boston, Kevin White may be one of the least talked about mayors (particularly in a positive sense), yet he has a very interesting story and he governed Boston during a very tumultuous time. Elected at the age of 38, Mayor White would hold office from 1968 until 1984 (so much for term limits). During his time as mayor, White would govern during the racially divisive era of school busing. Tensions about his handling of busing and race relations in the city during this time so much that his critics derisively called him, “Kevin Black.” Race relations have always been a blemish on our past and Mayor White had his difficulties in this realm. But, he also governed during a time of immense growth and development for the city. The fact that White isn’t well known positively or negatively shows he was a steady hand during a difficult time.
A bronze statue was dedicated to Mayor White on November 1, 2006. The statue, sculpted by Pablo Eduardo, shows Kevin White walking down the street.
The over-sized statue of White is meant to suggest he was a “larger than life” mayor. He does have some pretty big shoes to fill.
There are quotes from Mayor White’s inaugurations inscribed on the grounds.
There are other statues at Faneuil Hall. In front of Faneuil Hall, at the entrance to the marketplace is a statue of politician and activist Samuel Adams.
The bronze statue was sculpted by Miss Ann Whitney in 1876 (although it was erected initially in 1880).
There are several inscriptions on each of the four panels that read as follows: ‘Samuel Adams 1722-1803 – A Patriot – He organized the Revolution, and signed the Declaration of Independence. Governor – A True Leader of the People. Erected A. D. 1880, from a fund bequeathed to the city of Boston by Jonathan Phillips. A statesman, incorruptible and fearless.’
The pedestal for the bronze statue is ten feet high. The statue sits upon a polished Quincy granite base and cap and a lower nine-feet square base of unpolished Quincy Granite.
In stark contrast to Mayor White, Mayor Michael Curley was not overlooked nor was he without his share of notoriety. Curley was re-elected while under indictment for mail fraud which he would eventually be convicted of in 1947 (he would later receive a full pardon for this and an earlier conviction in 1904 by President Truman). He even technically remained mayor while in prison (his position was served by City Clerk John B Hynes while he was locked up).
Despite all of his escapades, Curley was a beloved mayor and was often thought of as a warrior for the working class.
Technically, these statues are across the street from Faneuil Hall Marketplace and not technically on the grounds of the marketplace.
This statue is sure to be less controversial. At least in New England.
Clutching a cigar (from his tradition of lighting a cigar when he thought his team had the game won before the final buzzer) and a book in another hand, Red Auerbach sits proudly on the walkway in Faneuil Hall Marketplace. A plaque espouses his accomplishments.
Two other Boston sports figures are memorialized at Faneuil Hall. Bronze sneakers of “Legend” Larry Bird, Hall of Fame Forward and 3 time NBA MVP for the Boston Celtics, and Bill Rodgers, a 4 time Boston Marathon winner (including 3 in a row from 1978-1980) and former American record holder for running the Boston Marathon (2:09:27 or a 4:56 average mile – not too shabby).
There are also a variety of family friendly activities at Faneuil Hall. Over the years, Fanueil Hall has transformed itself from just a shopping center and tourist hub to a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can have fun.
Each weekend during the summer they have special family friendly events such as puppet shows.
There are chess tables set up for people to test their skills. There is even a Chess Blitz Tournament for more skilled players to compete against other worthy opponents. I’m definitely not on that level.
Of course, the biggest attractions at Faneuil Hall are the stores and historical tours. Scores of stores line the cobblestone walkways. When it gets busier in the day, especially during the summer and holidays, the narrow walkways can get crowded.
With the pretty flowers and tall buildings, the best part of Faneuil Hall may be the views.
Part of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market is home to dozens of restaurants and food takeout establishments. There are no shops in that building. They only serve up food and beverages. There are also areas to eat your food and people watch. Signs from old businesses from that area.
There is also a piano. But, this is no ordinary piano. It is a piano from the Play Me I’m Yours piano playing program from 2016. As an aside, I sometimes cringe when I look at my older posts. I didn’t use photoshop and I posted way too may photos of the very same thing (even more than I post in my current blog posts). But, I’ve also noticed I wrote more than I do now and I am trying to add more commentary, especially as a way to include facts and context to the photos.
During my visit there was an exhibit of old colonial style clothing and rifles. There are a lot of these types of exhibits, particularly during the summer and patriotic holidays.
Fanueil Hall is chock full of history. One could post a series of blog posts aboutthe history of the buildings and the area and still not do it justice. One nugget I am aware of is about a grasshopper. Specifically, this grasshopper.
There are many stories about this grasshopper weathervane. One tour guide mentioned it played a role in identifying patriots rather than loyalists.
Another story holds that that Shem Drowne, a wealthy merchant who had been discouraged by his many failures in colonial New England, was inspired by a grasshopper. Contemplating his losses and failures, Drowne laid down in a field where he saw a boy chasing a grasshopper. He and the boy became friends and when he later met the boy’s parents they adopted him thus enabling him to live a more prosperous life. The grasshopper was meant to commemorate a turning point in his life. The truth may be much less interesting and exciting.
According to this article, the grasshopper simply was a sign of commerce. Since Faneuil Hall Marketplace was on the shore (the area has changed a but over the years) and it was visible to ships coming ashore it gave a clear signal they were open for business. I think this is most likely the true story behind the grasshopper.
Dogs are also welcome at Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
This cutie had her eyelashes done for her trip to the marketplace. You might be able to see her lashes better in the second photo.
Below is a video of a quick walk-through of Quincy Market. The foods smell as good as they look!
There are also lots of entertainers and shows at Faneuil Hall during the warmer seasons. The Flying Hawaiian Show is one of these shows. She is amazingly talented and such a great entertainer!
Location: 33 Lothrop St, Beverly, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)
Hours: Open daily sunrise to sunset
Parking: On street parking is available but limited. I did not see a parking lot at or near the beach.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, certain areas are handicapped accessible. The beach is accessible through a paved walkway to the right of the beach.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: scenic, boating and other water activities, historical memorials, fishing, wildlife
History, beauty and recreation await you at Independence Park.
The picturesque park offers scenic views and benches to sit.
Although the bench and path at the park are pretty and provide beautiful views, they do not lead to the beach.
I don’t usually take artistic license with the photos I take. But as I was editing this photo, I noticed how the red really stood out in the boat at the front of the group of boats.
Although it may be possible to get to the beach from the path by the benches, a fence and rocky area prevent easy access to the beach.
There are entrances to beach are a short jaunt to the right and left of the monuments at the park. And, to the right of the park is a paved walkway to the beach.
The beach offers beautiful views, a clean beach area and a jetty to fish off. Rumor has it striped bass (“stripers”) are abundant in the area.
There are a lot of birds and other wildlife at the beach.
The beach is a popular spot for paddle boarders, surfers and boaters.
If you’re in the area and you want to try paddle boarding, kayaking or even winter paddling or snow shoeing during the winter, try Coast To Coast Paddle. Aaron, seen in the photo below, was getting ready to take a few paddlers out while I was taking photographs.
As the name would suggest, Independence Park is more than just a haven for sun seekers and paddle boarders. It also has a rich history.
One of the plaques at the park states that in 1775 the first authorized armed ship, The Hanna, set sail in those waters to capture British vessels. Just standing in an area that played such a pivotal role in our history is pretty freegin cool when you think about it.
There are also cannons, monuments and flags on the grounds of the park.
The park is dog friendly and there were quite a few dogs at the beach while I was there.
Below are just a few of the cute dogs I saw during my visit.
Koa (on the left) is a 3 month old mixed breed dog. Frank (on the right) is a Golden Retriever.
Polly is a 13 year old mixed breed dog.
Willow is a 4 month old Englisg Cream Golden Retriever.
(Oliver) Twist is a 5 year old Schnauzer Cairn Terrier mix (aka Carnauzer).
Highlights: Items and people in costume from various eras
Hello fellow bloggers and readers, I have been out of commission for a while due to a back injury. But, I am recovering and I should be back to my normal blogging schedule soon. Thank you for your support and I look forward to posting more of my adventures!
The Eastern State Exposition Center in West Springfield. MA, was in a time warp the last weekend of February.
The Northeast Reenactors (formerly the New England Reenactors) descended upon the Big E to show off their attire, sell their era-appropriate merchandise and celebrate the days of yore.
There were reenactors of every era in costume at the fair.
While there were reenactors from every time period, there were quite a lot of Vietnam War era reenactors.
The weapon in this photo, an M29 Mortar, is still used today, with some slight modifications. If you never thought you would ever use geometry, think again. The trajectory of the projectiles use a lot of geometry and other mathematical formulas to direct the mortars accurately. Also, it took five people, yes five people, to operator (the squad leader, the gunner, the assistant gunner, first ammunition bear and the second ammunition bearer). One of the projectiles can be seen to the right of the M 29.
There were also vendors selling their wares. Many of the products being sold were home made replicas of the items of previous eras.
There were also various displays of the popular attire, books and other items from the various eras.
Check out the cameras used during the Vietnam era. Maybe I should consider trading in for one.
It was such a big event, even two presidents showed up.
President Madison
And, of course, President Lincoln.
If all that wasn’t enough, there was also entertainment at the reenactors fair. Singers performed a variety of songs from the past.
Below is a video of one of the talented performers.
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New England Nomad 