Tag Archives: statues

November 27, 2016

The National Monument To The Forefathers (Plymouth, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: November 19, 2016

Location: Pilgrim Memorial State Park, 72 Allerton St., Plymouth, MA

Hours: Sunrise To Sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There is ample parking at the statue and street parking available on Allerton St and on nearby streets

Dog Friendly: Yes

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: Largest solid granite sculpture in the United States,

Web Site: National Monument To The Forefathers

Mostly known for the tourist attractions Plimoth Plantation and Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Massachusetts is home to another lesser known, but no less impressive attraction. In fact, Plymouth is home to one of the largest sculptures in the states.

Clocking in at 81 feet, the National Monument To The Forefathers is the the largest solid granite sculpture in the United States. The granite was quarried in and transported to Plymouth from Hallowell, Maine.

The monument, also known as the Pilgrim Statue, was created by Hammatt Billings, a Boston architect, illustrator and sculptor. Billings would never got to see the sculpture in its final stages. Billings died 15 years into the construction of the monument, or about half the time it took to construct the statue. After Hammat Billings’ death his brother, Joseph, worked with a group of other sculptors to complete the project. Dedicated on August 1, 1889, after 30 years of construction, the sculpture was meant to be a memorial to the Pilgrims who settled in the area.

The memorial has several statues within the memorial itself. Statues representing Liberty, Peace, Tyranny, Education, Wisdom, Youth, Law, Mercy, Justice, and Morality surround the monument. The monument wwas position to face Northeast towards Plymouth Harbor and, perhaps not coincidentally, towards Plymouth, England.

Faith, the statue at the top of the monument, is 36 feet tall and made of solid granite. The Faith statue itself is listed as the 32nd largest statue in the entire United States and its territories. The statue is pointing to heaven with her right hand. In her left hand she is clutching a bible.

True to its description as a monument to the forefathers, all of the names of the passengers of the Mayflower. Recognize any names? Clearly, Massachusetts, as it would be later part of, was not all that progressive jusging by how women were considered “the wife of” the male passengers.

The park offers grand views of the statue and it is said that before all of the construction and the planting of trees in the area many years, you could see the monument from miles away. The park allows for some scenic views of the monument.

The memorial is surrounded by a spacious park and there is lots of room to walk your dog. China, also known as China Doll, a rescued Siberian Husky and Lab mix, was enjoying the park while I was there. She looks so happy!

8 Comments | tags: dog, Massachusetts, memorial, monument, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Plymouth, statues | posted in dog, Massachusetts, monument, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Plymouth, sculpture, statues, Uncategorized

October 18, 2016

Plymouth Lobster Crawl (Plymouth, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates of Visitis: October 8, 2016 & October 16, 2016

Locations: All over Plymouth MA (see attached map for exact locations)

Cost: Free

Parking: There was surprisingly lots of parking, metered and unmetered and several lots in the area (hint – you can park at Jenney Grist Mill for free and hoof it or so I hear)

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: decorative lobsters made out of fiberglass

Web Site: Plymouth Lobster Crawl

Lobster Craw Map: Lobster Crawl Map

The lobsters have come to Plymouth. And they’re everywhere. Well, at least, everywhere in Plymouth.

The “Lobster Crawl” is a great activity, especially for families. There are 29 (26 after some were vandalized and others removed). There is also a handy map to help you locate them. But, even with the map, it is no easy task.

Each lobster is sponsored by a different business or organization and they are painted with their own distinct theme, usually a theme related to the business or organization sponsoring the lobster.

The lobsters are 5 feet high and made of fiberglass, similar to the buoys that are in the harbor. They can weigh up to 150 pounds.

If you haven’t seen them yet or if you are not sure when you will be able to get over to Plymouth to check them out, take your time. The lobsters are expected to remain on display for 2 years.

As you can tell by the map, the lobsters are scattered all over Plymouth. There is only one that is not in walking distance which is the last one I am posting. The backgrounds made the lobsters look even more pretty.

Most, if not all, of the lobsters were painted on both the front and back. I was unable, or unwilling, to photograph both sides of some of these lobsters, though. I have added the corresponding number of the lobster from the map in paranthesis after the description to make it easier to find. I’m not sure how the decision to number the lobster statues was made but they don’t go in order based on location.

If you want to see all or the majority of the lobsters in one day, the best idea is probably to park near Pilgrim Memorial State Park (near Plymouth Rock) and start with the first statue on Water St. Then, you can make basically walk all of Water St and then see the lobsters on the other side of Water St and on the side streets of Main and Court St. , on your way back to your vehicle. You can then drive to the remaining lobster statues.

This is the first lobster on Water St, the main road in Plymouth, MA. There are several accessible on or off a side street from Water St. (I counted 13). This lobster is called “Ed #Endalz” at Pilgrim Memorial State Park. It was created by Mary Johannesen (24).

The lobster pictured above, “”Rocky”, is sponsored, appropriately, by Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway. “Rocky” was created by Kate Vannata. It is also located off Water St, just past Plymouth Rock along the harbor (25).

This lobster, also located off Water St, is sponsored by Plimoth Plantation and is called “Celebrating Living History”. It was made by Vincent Crotty. It is located on State Pier by the Mayflower II (26).

Farther along Water St is “Lu-Sea”. It is sponsored by J.F. Carpenter Construction Corp and was made by Jennifer McCarthy (27).

“Childhood Memories” was sponsored through an anonymous donation, always the best kind. Terry Cole is the artist for this lobster (28).

“Clawdia” is the next lobster statue on Water St. It was made by Andy Driscoll and is sponsored by Wood’s Seafood and Plymouth Cruises (2).

Some of the lobsters are harder to find than others (hence my second trip to find the ones I had missed during my first visit). The next lobster statue, “Louie”, is located on Town Pier. It is sponsored by the Plymouth Bay Lobster Co (3).

The lobster “Bugsby Bibs” is sponsored by Cabbyshack and is located in front of the restaurant at 130 Town Wharf, off Water St. It was created by Chickie Celli and Beatriz Whitehill. Theere is also a cardboard replica of a lobster for people to have their photo taken next to Bugsby (4).

“Ms. Clawmerce” is located by the jetty off Water St. It is sponsored by the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce and it was created by Donna Ann Secour (5).

This is one of my favorites. “Sea Horses” is located along the path to the Ms. Clawmerce statue. It is sponsored by SmartPak and was created by Tamara Tagg. There is a huge piece of driftwood behind it (6).

There were 3 lobster statues located at Nelson Park. However, one of the lobsters was damaged. So, the city decided to remove all of the lobster statues from this venue, at least for the time being. They are listed on the map but they are not there. So, the 7, 8 and 9 numbered lobsters are not available for viewing at this time.

There are more lobsters located on the other side of Water St.

Another one of my favorites, “Luigi The Lobster” is located at 1620 Winery and Wine Bar at the Village Landing Marketplace, 170 Water St. The artist for Luigi is Genevieve Visser (10).

“Rasta Lobstah”, created by Heather Ritchie Casey, is located at The Blue-Eyed Crab Carribbean Grill & Rum Bar. It is also located at the Village Landing Marketplace at 170 Water St (11).

The next closest lobster is probably located at the Plymouth Visitor’s Information Center at 130 Water St. It is the last lobster on or in the vicinity of Water St. It was made by Samantha Shields and it is sponsored by RE/MAX Spectrum (1).

As an aside, I stopped in to the visitor center for some help finding the last lobster ( I tried to do it on my own but the last one is a little complicated). Anyway, they were very helpful and excited to help me. So, they are a great resource to utilize if you do need help.

From the visitor center, you may want to drive, although I walked the entire area. It’s just easier to walk than to find a parking space and getting your bearings all over again (although parking was plentiful when I visited).

From the visitor center, the closest set of statues is S. Park Ave. Hopefully, you won’t run into Kenny on your way.

This lobster statue is called “Grace” and it was created by Kate Wilkins. It is sponsored by WH Cornerstone Investments (12).

“Lobsta Love” is another popular lobster statue, for obvious reasons. The bright colors and designs make it hard to miss. it is located next to ERA Belsito & Associates at 100 Court St. But, it is actually located on the side of the building on Samoset St. It was created by Heidi Mayo and Wendy Reiffeiss (13)

From here, many of the remaining lobster statues are located south on or off Court St and Main St.

“Brewster” is located in front of the Pilgrim Hall Museum (75 Court St). It is sponsored by 1620 Capital LLC and the artist who sculpted it is Andrew P. Linde. Stickers with 1620, the American flag and other historic symbols are stuck to the front and back of the statue (16).

If you continue on Court/Main St, there are a cluster of statues.

“Rocking Lobster” is located on the corner of North and Main St. It was sculpted by Marla Gratta-Pagnani and Monica O’Brien and it is sponsored by King Collision Center. My favorite photo is the one that shows the reaction of the baby in the stroller (17).

“Big Blue” is located on North St, a short distance from the “Rocking Lobster.” It is sponsored AS you can tell by the photos, it is a pretty neighborhood and the older, historic looking homes give a great backdrop for photos. This sculpture is sponsored by Brabo Benefits (18).

“Welcome” is located on Leyden St. It was sculpted by Frances McLaughlin and is sponsored by Plymouth Lions & Leos. You’ll note the map has the 16th and 19th lobster statues switched. They both have lobsteers at each location but they misidentified these two on the map (19).

On Sandwich St (Main turns into Sandwich St) is the destination of the next statue, “Clawdia-Woman Of Gold.” It is appropriately located in front of Verona at 89 Sandwich St. This statue was sculpted by Marion Carlson.(21)

You will find the next two lobsters across the street from Verona on Lincoln St.

Another one of my favorites (as you can probably tell based on all of the photos I took), “Lynx The Lucky Lobster” is located in the parking lot aarea of the Cat Clinic of Plymouth( 80 Sandwich St). I especially like the little paw prints at the base of the sculpture. The lobster is actually on Lincoln St behind the clinic. It was sculpted by Jill Voelker (22).

“Oceanus” by Marissa Scola is also located a little farther down Lincoln St on the other side of the cat clinic at Town Hall (11 Lincoln St). This lobster is sponsored by Kerr Dental Associates. There are 10 hidden toothbrushes on the lobster. I found a few for you. Can you find the rest? (23)

At this point, it is point, it is easiest to drive to the remianing lobsters. After arriving back at your vehicle, you can drive to the Jenney Grist Mill (48 Summer St) where you’ll find the next lobster.

“Claws Monet” by Jeannette Lyons Carney is sponsored by Laurelwood at The Pinehills & Stafford Hill. Stop by the grist mill while you’re there (20).

The next 2 lobsters that are nearby are on Samoset St. You can also stop by these places after you view the other lobster on Samoset St (the “Lobsta Love” lobster). But, I decided to drive to these lobsters. They are very close to each other and if you drive too fast you could easily miss one or both of them.

“Penny” by Jen Connolly is located in front of Cape Auto Body, 53 Samoset St (14).

“Personal Injury Law-bster” is located in front of the Winokur, Serkey & Rosenberg Law Offices at 81 Samoset St. This lobster was created by Cheryl Greenwood. At least they have a sense of humor (15).

The last lobster is not located in walking distance of the other lobsters. In fact, I had to get on the highway and drive a considerable distance to get to it. But, it’s worth the drive if you have 10 or so minutes to spare.

Another very pretty sculpture and display, “Cranberry” is located in front of the Meetinghouse in Redbrook, an A.D. Makepeace Community. It is like a community or complex in and of itself. The address for The Meetinghouse is 1 Greenside Way North. But, I had better luck using their address at 237 Wareham Rd s the other address didn’t work in my GPS.

The remaining lobsters that have been removed because they have been stolen (and recovered) or damaged are from left to right “Cordage”, “Sid-Supporting Independence & Dignity” and “Sir-Loin The Lobster.” They were all located at Nelson Park off Water St.

The days I went lobster hunting were perfect fall days and, yes, there were dogs, as well as lobsters, everywhere.

Harley, a 4 year old Goldendoodle, was visiting the Jenney Grist Mill with his mommy or sister.

Bear is a 6 month old Newfie and he’s already 90 lbs!

Rooney , a 6 year old Chocolate Lab, liked to look out at the harbor.

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8 Comments | tags: art, blog, dogs, fun, lobster crawl, lobsters, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Plymouth, statues, travel | posted in lobster crawl, lobsters, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Plymouth, Uncategorized

July 5, 2016

American Legion Park (Feeding Hills, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: July 3, 2016

Location: 478 Springfield St, Feeding Hills (Agawam), MA

Hours: Open everyday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Time To Allot For Visit: 5-10 minutes

Parking: While there is no designated parking area for the park there is plenty of parking available at the American Legion Post located behind the park and parking is available at the strip mall across the street

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: sculpture, tank, memorial, well manicured grounds

I don’t know about you but I’m really stoked to see that Judas Priest cover band.

But the real attraction on Springfield St in Feeding Hills (a territory in Agawam, MA), is the tank and Freedom Eagle sculpture located in front of “The Tank” American Legion Post 185. The Tank is an eatery/event venue servicing veterans.

The tank is a M-60 tank monument dedicated to all veterans (past, present and future)

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Donated in 2005, the Freedom Eagle shows an eagle soaring through the air, fish clutched tightly in his or her grip

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There is also a memorial from the town of Agawam in remembrance of the people who served during World War I.

Although it is a small park there is a lot to take in and it certainly makes you proud and grateful.

The area is also a common spot for dog walkers. Across the street, we saw a group of four big dogs being walked. This is a group of Bernese Mountain Dogs. The dogs go to the local senior center and visit Alzheimer’s patients as therapy dogs.

From left to right: Roma, Tony and Lena (one of the other dogs was a bit camera shy).

Please connect with me on Facebook to view photos, videos and other posts not included in this blog: New England Nomad

4 Comments | tags: Agawam, dogs, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, monuments, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, statues | posted in Agawam, dogs, Massachusetts, memorials, New England, park, sculpture, statues, Uncategorized, western massachusetts

June 23, 2016

Clipper City Rail Trail (Newburyport, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: June 18, 2016

Location: Off Low St, Newburyport, Massachusetts

Parking: I entered the trail from Low St and free parking is available at Cushing Park on Kent St (2 blocks away from the entrance to the park) and parking was ample there. There are several other trailheads and depending upon where you join the trail there are various parking areas. You can find parking at the local MBTA station on Parker St and some other designated places. it is best to check their website for specific parking areas. You may also find off street parking.

Hours: open everyday, dawn until dusk

Cost: Free

Dog Friendly: Yes

Distance: 1.1 miles each way

Time To Allot: Half an hour to an hour

Highlights: bridges, trails for cycling, running and walking, art, artifacts, flowers, trees, historical and other surprises along the trail.

The Clipper City Rail Trail is not just your ordinary run of the mill paved trail. The 10 foot wide trail which eventually spills out on the Newburyport Harborwalk, is lined with various works of art and other surprises. The great thing about the art and items on the trail is that they have special meaning and represent the people and times of the area.

“Native Fish” by Bob Kimball (2010). The sculpture consists of eleven stainless steel fish mounted on a large granite block wall on the edge of the Rail Trail. The group of fish consist of half a dozen foot-long herring, two three-foot tuna, a five-foot cod and striped bass, and a seven-foot bluefin tuna. The artist, Bob Kimball, is a brick and stone mason who specializes in working with copper, brass, glass and stainless steel. He is based in the state of Washington.

The “Great Blue Heron” piece was also created by Bob Kimball in 2010. It was commissioned in memory of John Soward by his family and friends. According to the plaque placed on the wall the work of art was dedicated to John Soward who lived on the other side of the wall where it is so prominently displayed. The sculpture is based on John’s painting of the great blue heron. John’s painting is below. It’s a pretty accurate rendition.

soward watercolor

Around every corner and stretch of trail there is something interesting or fun to keep your interest peaked. In fact, waiting to see what is next on the trail is enough to keep you going along the trail.

“Wishbone” by James Irving (2010) is an interactive statue crafted by the Vermont based artist. And, yes, you can sit on the seat there!

“Steam Loco” by Scott Kessel and Matt Niland (2010). Kessel and Niland, both from Middletown, CT, created this play locomotive train to resemble the locomotives of the time. It is a magnetic interactive destination for young children and their families.

The 19th century granite blocks pictured above once supported the Old Railroad Bridge Embankment at the Merrimack River (a mile or so from their current location). The blocks were relocated during the building of the rail trail. They are purposefully displayed in a star pattern.

There also a couple of bridges along the trail.

Unfortunately, some of the works of art have either been vandalized or disturbed by nature. As I often say, this is why we can’t have nice things.This work of art “Will He” by Simon LaRochelle, based out of Quebec, is supposed to have a bicycle wheel in between the two slabs of limestone. See the actual sculpture below.

Will He

Some surprises along the trail are less artistic than others.

“Torrential Flight” an aluminum sculpture by Brian Russell (2010) from Tennessee.

“Eclipse” by Rob Lorenson (2010) is a stainless steel. Rob is based in Middleborough, Massachusetts.

Rob has two sculptures on the trail. Closer to the harborwalk at the end of the trail stands his sculpture “Brushstrokes” a red powder coated aluminum

Newburyport purchased a horse sculpture called “Clyde” from artist Jamie Burnes based out of Weston, Massachusetts and Santa Fe, Mexico. Jamie specializes in making sculptures of horses, bulls and other land based animals. Originally displayed on the waterfront as part of the sculpture park, Clyde is made of corten weathering steel and black locust wood and was made specifically for the trail.

“Sparrows” by Dale Rodgers (2011) based in Haverhill, Massachusetts. “Sparrows” is a 16-foot corten weathering steel sculpture of two sparrows, naturally.

“G-Swirl” by Dale Rogers (his second sculpture on the trail) (2010) is a scaled up stainless steel abstract sculpture.

“Peace Offering” (2012) is not just a bronze sculpture. It is actually a bench by Michael Alfano of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The bench acts as a functional bench featuring a dove, in which the tail becomes the head of a hawk and the wings become hands that invite two people to sit down and discuss their differences. The sculpture, which now sits at the harborwalk, down a flight of stairs from the rail trail, was purchased by Newburyport for the Rail Trail, in bronze. There are also additional castings of the sculptures. One of the additional castings was a gift of the 2012 Hopkinton High School graduates and is still at the high school.

Many of the models and structures are relevant to the history of the area like this rail. The rail on the bridge is from the original rail trail that was in place during the train wreck on May 23, 1873. The accident was due to a misplaced switch that forced a freight train onto a dead end side track. Interestingly, no one was injured during the accident (the two passengers- a fireman and an engineer – jumped out of the train before it crashed) and the train was back on the track two days later. But, it became famous, in part because many of the onlookers and the aforementioned engineer and fireman requested their photo be taken at the wreck. The trail is also popular with skate and long boarders as you can see in the final photo.

At the end of the southern most side of the trail is “Archway”by Mark Richey Woodworking. The archway, made of white oak, leads to the commuter train, fittingly, at the end of the rail trail.

There are also several well manicured and cared for plants, trees, graffiti and grassy areas on the trail.

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As an added bonus (I know some of you who will really appreciate this), there is a pathway cut through the trees and brush to an ice cream shop with a handy sign to point the way.

There was also a PanMass Challenge when I was visiting. The bike ride is actually a 5 mile loop that ends at the harborwalk.

With its long, wide trails and grassy areas, the Clipper Rail Trail is a great place to walk your dog. Rufus, a 5 year old sheepdoodle, enjoyed the cloudless, sunny day on the trail.

And Savannah, a 4 year old Lab mix, took a break to pose for me.

14 Comments | tags: attractions, dogs, Historical, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, parks, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, sculptures, statues | posted in dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, trail, Uncategorized

May 22, 2016

Battery Park (Burlington, VT)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: May 13, 2016

Location: 1 North Ave, Burlington, VT

Open: 365 days a year, 24 hours

Cost: Free

Parking: Off street parking when it is available

Located along a busy stretch of roadway in Burlington, Vermont, Battery Park may be best known for its place in the history of American warfare.

Battery Park was named for the artillery stationed there by American forces during the War Of 1812. On August 13, 1813, American gunners at that location, aided by the naval ship the USS President, successfully defended their position against an attack by a British squadron led by Lt Colonel John Murray.

Since then, the park, which was established in 1870, has taken on a more artistic and more peaceful ambiance.

Statues, memorials and other works of art are scattered along the sidewalk and grass off North Avenue.

This statue was made by the renown sculpture Peter Wolf Toth. Toth specializes in sculptures of Native American people. He has sculpted dozens of statues and has one statue in each of the 50 states in the U.S. as well as in other countries. This statue above is a monument to Gray Lock’s War veteran chief Gray Lock. The statue, carved of wood, was dedicated June 22, 1984.

At first glance, this tree may seem rather nondescript, just a tree in a sea of other trees. But, this is no ordinary tree. his tree was planted in memory of the September 11 terorist attacks.

Another monument at Battery Park is dedicated to Worker’s Memorial Day (April 28th) which has been designated by the AFL-CIO to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe jobs.

There are also these unique structures which I still haven’t figured out.

Lake Champlain provides the perfect the backdrop to the park.

The monuments and statues do not end there. In the background of the park you can see what have been described “winged monkeys” (from the Wizard Of Oz film). To really get good photographs of these figures you have to be closer to Champlain College. The figures are actually on top of some of the buildings in the area of the school’s campus. But, you can see the distinct figures of some of the characters. Specifically, it looks like the witch’s guards to me. I didn’t have the time or energy at that point to (I started traveling and photographing at 7 and it was close to 6 on this day when I photographed Battery Park). But, it’s also fun trying to see the hidden statues.

Rudyard Kipling is said to have noted that Battery Park has one of the two finest sunsets in the world. As the photos demonstrate, I was unfortunately not able to photograph the sunset this particular evening due to the rain and clouds.

In addition to these statues and monuments, there is a statue dedicated to American Civil War General William W. Wells and other local luminaries.

There is also a playground area at the end of the park with swings and slides.

Dogs love Battery Park too. Gus, a 2 and a half year old, Great Pyranese

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9 Comments | tags: dogs, memorilas, monuments, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, statues, trees, Vermont | posted in dog, memorials, monuments, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, statues, trees, Uncategorized, Vermont

May 9, 2016

Wilcox Park (Westerly, RI)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: April 30, 2016

Location: 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI

Cost: Free

Hours: Open from dawn to 9 p.m., 365 days a year

Parking: There is not a designated parking lot for Wilcox Park. But, you should be able to find off street parking.

Wilcox Park is not your average park. In fact, it is unique in many different ways. One thing that makes Wilcox Park unique is that it is not part of the DCR or any other city or governmental body. Wilcox Park is privately operated by the Westerly Public Library’s Board of Trustees. The library, located on the grounds of the park, and a group of volunteers help keep the grounds clean and orderly. They rely on donations and fundraisers.

Westerly Library is attached to the park at the entrance. The library’s beautiful architecture of the building is both artful yet modest. It complements the beauty of the park and seems right in place. There are also benches for visitors to unwind and perhaps read a book from the library’s collection.

There are also a number of statues in the grounds of the library.

As you entered the park, one of the first statues you will see is the statue of Christopher Columbus sculpted by Ciriaco (or “Charles” as he was commonly known as) Pizzano in 1949. Originally from Avellino, Italy, Pizzano was living in Medford, Massachusetts, when he decided to sculpt this statue, appropriately, out of Westerly granite.

The inscription reads:

CRISTOFORO COLOMBO
INTREPID ITALIAN EXPLORER
WHO LINKED THE OLD WORLD OF
OUR FATHERS TO THE NEW WORLD
OF OUR SONS

On the back of the pedestal:

DEDICATED
BY
THE CITIZENS
OF
WESTERLY AND PAWCATUCK
A.D. 1949

Somewhere Leif Erikson is rolling around in his grave.

Down the staircase from the entrance to the park is a fountain (which was not running when I went to visit due to the still cold temperatures). The Wilcox Memorial Fountain was designed by John Francis Paramino in 1898 and was dedicated in honor of Harriet and Stephen Wilcox who had donated the land for the park.

There are a variety of beautiful trees, plants, bridges and statues at Wilcox Park.

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There is also a pond along the trails at Wilcox Park. It is populated with Koi fish

ducks

There’s room for two on this thing, right?

and baby turtles. I couldn’t find his mommy but I am sure she was nearby.

and rabbits

The bronze Runaway Bunny statue was dedicated in 1998 by Connecticut sculptor Joan Binney Ross. it is based on the book of the same name by Margaret Wise Brown. Unfortunately, the bunny has been the target of vandalism, predictably. But, it has been restored after each attack. Cameras are now installed liberally around the park to deter vandalism or catch the vandals.

This fella just wanted to play with the ducks

This sculpture sort of looked like a face to me. A very ugly face.

Dogs are allowed at Wilcox Park. Bandit, a Siberian Husky, had fun playing in the park. Apparently, Bandit earned his nickname because he “takes things”. What a beautiful dog. He caught my eye because of his handsome markings and his very cute smile. You can tell he’s a “bandit” based on his playful grin.

8 Comments | tags: attractions, birds, dog, ducks, flowers, monuments, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, statues, trees, views, water | posted in dog, ducks, flowers, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Rhode Island, statues, trees, Uncategorized

April 24, 2016

Hartley Mason Reservation & York Harbor Beach (York, ME)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: April 23, 2016

Location: 480 York Street, York, Maine

Hours: Always Open

Parking: 2 hour off street parking is available, but limited. There are also a few parking areas near the beach.

A common destination for weddings, dog walkers and beach goers, the Hartley Mason Reservation is a small park with benches, memorials and other works of art. Perhaps the most popular attraction to this site is the rock with the tiny figures, titled, “Pleasure Ground”. The sculpture was made by Sumner Winebaum, a York resident, in 2011. He titled it “Pleasure Ground” because Mason had described the reserve as a “pleasure ground”. The sculpture is built on a rock nearly 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and weighs three tons,. The bronze figures range in height from 10 to 12 inches tall. Winebaum said his goal was to show people enjoying the park such as the two boys wrestling, the person reading and the two women debating (which he has described as his favorite part of the sculpture).

Tiny people doing all the things regular people do. I wonder what book that tiny figure on the edge of the rock is reading. Perhaps, “Little Women”.

An easy, clearly marked path leads down to the beach.

Along the trail, there are also benches dedicated to people who have passed.

There is also a memorial dedicated to those lost at sea. The York Fisherman’s Memorial is

The inscription on the front reads: O HEAR US WHEN WE CRY TO THEE FOR THOSE IN PERIL ON THE SEA.

On the back of the monument, there is an inscription that states: Dedicated to those who lost their lives at sea & for those who work and love the ocean…

The memorial is dedicated to Captain Daniel A. Donnell who died at sea hauling traps. He was 78 at the time of his death.

The trail is also a great place to take photos of the beach from afar.

From the moment I pulled up to the parking in front of the Hartley Mason Reservation, the view of the water struck me, especially with the weather conditions as they were. A misty cloud covering filled the afternoon sky reaching all the way to the water making it hard to discern where the water ended and the sky began. For most people, this is hardly ideal beach weather. But, I, and my sensitive Irish screen, have always preferred this weather to the scorching unabated sunlight.

The trail eventually leads to the beach (there are also side trails, or if you’re feeling spry you can just walk down the rocky or grassy areas off the trail). Due to time constraints, we just stopped at the beach head and took photos from there. There were some modest waves and some pretty views. The beach does have a lot of rocky areas that wouldn’t be very comfortable to walk around in on sandals. Wear comfortable footwear.

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Although the beach area is much larger and may have more accommodations (I will visit again later to capture the beach in its entirety), the section I visited had very little room for lying out. There really was just rock and a concrete slab to stand, sit or lie on. The parking is also pretty sparse at this section of the beach. There are only a few parking spots and some are designated for certain people. There is also an outdoor pool near the beach.

The beach was very busy with not only human visitors but cute furry ones as well (I suppose some of the human visitors were furry as well but that is neither here nor there).

Kipper is a 9 year old German Shepherd. He got to play in the water and he loves to play catch. And his mom’s boots were pretty cool.

Gracie is a 7 and a half year old Boxer with a very broad smile.

Below is a video of the waves at York Beach Saturday.

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New England Nomad

11 Comments | tags: attractions, dogs, Maine, memorials, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, statues, waves, york | posted in attractions, beach, dogs, Maine, memorials, park, photographs, photography, photos, statues, Uncategorized, water, waves

February 18, 2016

Anne Sullivan Memorial (Feeding Hills/Agawam, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Visited: July 11, 2015 and August 22, 2015

Parking: there is a parking lot located next to the memorial with over a dozen or so parking spaces. There are also parking lots and off street parking nearby.

Although she is known more for her success as a teacher and most notably working with Hellen Keller in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and Boston, Massachusetts, Anne Sullivan is actually a product of Feeding Hills (a sub section of Agawam), Massachusetts.

I especially like how the trees still have leaves and the flowers are in bloom since I originally took these photos in the summer of last year. It makes me yearn for the long spring and summer days.

I am never completely satisfied with my photos. So, I made two trips to this memorial. My biggest gripe with the first set of photos was there were too many cars and people in the background. But, even when I went back another day earlier in the daytime there was still a lot of activity. It is located by a busy intersection so it was unavoidable. You can see the difference in the shadowing and angle of the sun from my two visits.

Sullivan lost her vision at an early age due to an infectious eye disease. She would receive a series of treatments which considerably improved her vision while she was a student at Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. This undoubtedly inspired her to work with other people who were visually impaired and challenged in other ways.

The centerpiece of the park is the monument of Anne Sullivan sitting with Helen Keller. The intensity in her stare is palpable. The sculpture, created by the Romanian-American sculptor Mico Kaufman, captures the moment Anne Sullivan successfully teaches Helen Keller her first word – “water.” The statue was dedicated on June 28, 1992.

The park is well kept and there are many places to sit. A gazebo stands off to the side as well. It would be a peaceful place to relax and unwind, except the fact it is located at a busy intersection.

There are additional monuments in the park.

This memorial is another tribute to Anne Sullivan’s work with Helen Keller. The inscription reads, “Anne Sullivan…Teacher of Helen Keller. Heroic friend of the deaf and blind. Native of Feeding Hills.”

This memorial is a tribute to the Agawam Militia who trained on this land during the revolutionary War. I am always fascinated at how seemingly ordinary places like a busy intersection has so much history and significance. In fact, the land you are standng on, or the land your house or apartment building was built upon most certainly has a hidden history you are not privy to.

The trees at the Anne Sullivan memorial Park are very impressive, particularly when they still have their leaves.

The last monument I photographed at the park names the people on the memorial committee. If you look closely, you may notice the inscription is also written in braille.

34 Comments | tags: Agawam, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, memorials, monuments, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, statues, trees | posted in Agawam, Anne Sullivan, massachusetts, memorial, memorials, New England, photographs, photography, photos, sculptures, statues, trees, Uncategorized

February 16, 2016

City Of Presidents (Quincy, MA)

By New England Nomad

In the annals of presidential history, Quincy, Massachusetts, holds a special place. The birthplace of two U.S. Presidents; John Adams and John Quincy Adams, Quincy, MA, has earned earned the nickname “City of Presidents.” (originally, both Adams’ were born in Braintree MA but their birthplace became Quincy after Quincy split from the town of Braintree in 1792, John Hancock was also from Braintree before the area was renamed Quincy). In fact, the high school sports teams have adopted the menacing moniker, “Presidents.”

On this frigid Presidents Day, I decided to take a visit to the Old House At Peace Field, the retirement home of John and Abigail Adams as well as John Quincy Adams, when Presidents were really Presidents. The Adams’ and their future generations would call this home until 1927.

The Stone Library located adjacent to the Adams House.

The house is much prettier during the spring and summer. Flowers of a wide spectrum of colors adorn the walkway and throughout the estate. It is closed to the public until spring time. But the front gate was open, as though they were expecting me.

Further down the road on Hancock Street, in front of City Hall, stands John Adams.

I was wondering why he was looking off into the distance (wary of the British perhaps?). Then, I noticed a statue of Abigail and little John Quincy Adams was situated across the street.

Both of the Adams’ are buried in the United First Parish Church, located directly across from City Hall and, inconveniently for the drivers of Quincy, in the middle of the busy roadway. It is also the church I almost got into a fight at as a child until the other kid said he, “didn’t fight in churches” pffft. Oh, the memories.

There are other Adams’ residences and historical places, such as his original birthplace, also in Quincy, MA, that I will cover in later posts.

Happy President’s Day!

18 Comments | tags: Abigail Adams, Historical, history, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, President's Day, prresidents, statues | posted in Abigail Adams, history, histrorical, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, President's Day, Presidents, quincy, statues, Uncategorized

January 19, 2016

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden (Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date visited: January 16, 2016

Located on the grounds of the Springfield Museums, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden pays homage to one of Springfield’s most famous people, Theodor Seuss Geise (aka Dr. Seuss), and some of his characters.

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The grounds are accessible to the public during the museum’s normal hours without a fee. You only need to pay if you want access to the museums. The garden does not only have sculptures and art work related to Dr. Seuss’ characters. There are statues and other pieces of art and buildings on the grounds.

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I will be posting about the Springfield Museums in a later post. Here is a quick preview: