History Around Us
I’ve always been drawn to the quiet reminders of the past, plaques, statues, and weathered stones that hold the memory of lives once lived. Exploring these traces connects me to those who came before and deepens my appreciation for the world we share.
Recent Posts
Edward A. Filene Plague
Walking along the fence surrounding the Boston Common, I came across this bronze plaque honoring Edward A. Filene. While many people recognize the Filene name from the famous Boston department store, few realize the tremendous influence he had beyond retail. Filene believed that ordinary working families deserved access to affordable credit and financial opportunity. His […]
Young Johnny Appleseed
While traveling west on Route 2 through central Massachusetts, I made a stop at the Johnny Appleseed Visitors’ Center in Lancaster. Greeting visitors outside the entrance is this bronze sculpture of a young John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, one of America’s most enduring folk heroes. Although the visitor center is in Lancaster, it celebrates the […]
Electric Permanent Wave Machine
One of the things I enjoy most about local history museums is discovering objects that tell the story of everyday life. This unusual machine immediately caught my attention. At first glance, it looked more like an industrial invention than something you would expect to find in a beauty salon. This is an Electric Permanent Wave […]
James Monroe Museum
Although Monroe never lived in the building that now houses the museum, it contains the nation’s largest collection of artifacts, manuscripts, and personal belongings relating to America’s fifth president. In many ways, it serves as the closest equivalent to a presidential library, preserving the story of his remarkable life and public service. Monroe is perhaps […]
Pine Tree Flag
While enjoying dinner in Sturbridge, my attention was drawn to a large Pine Tree Flag displayed on the wall. It was an unexpected reminder that history has a way of appearing in ordinary places. One of the most recognizable symbols of New England’s role in the American Revolution is the Pine Tree Flag. Although it is […]
The Russian Sniper
During a visit to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts, I stopped at this display highlighting one of the most specialized and demanding roles of the Second World War: the Soviet sniper. While the museum is known for its extraordinary collection of tanks and military vehicles, it also tells the human stories behind the equipment through […]
William Diamond’s Drum
Among the treasures preserved in Lexington is this beautifully decorated drum that once belonged to William Diamond, the young drummer of Captain John Parker’s Lexington militia. According to tradition, Diamond beat this very drum to summon the townspeople on the night of April 18, 1775, after Paul Revere and other riders brought word that British troops […]
A Piece of the Old North Bridge
While visiting the Wayland Historical Society, I was surprised to find a small fragment of wood displayed in a simple case. At first glance, it appeared to be little more than an old, weathered timber. Yet this was no ordinary piece of wood. It was a remnant of the original Old North Bridge, the bridge […]
Jack Kerouac Memorial
Born in Lowell in 1922, Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac was the son of French-Canadian immigrants and grew up speaking French before learning English. His working-class upbringing and the close-knit ethnic neighborhoods of Lowell would later appear throughout his writings. Although he became famous for his travels across America, he never lost his During a visit to […]
Caleb Harrington’s Tobacco Box
Among the artifacts preserved in Lexington is this small tobacco box, an ordinary object made extraordinary by the events of April 19, 1775. This box belonged to Caleb Harrington, one of the eight militiamen killed by British troops on Lexington Common during the opening moments of the American Revolution. The box was found in his pocket […]
Fire Buckets
Among the interesting artifacts preserved in the Lancaster Library is a collection of leather fire buckets, reminders of a time when communities relied on cooperation rather than machinery to combat one of their greatest threats. Before organized fire departments and modern fire engines towns maintained leather buckets that were kept in homes, businesses, churches, and […]
Gravesite of Alexander Hamilton
After seeing the play Hamilton, Marty and I enjoyed visiting several sites associated with the life of this remarkable Founding Father. One of those sites was his final resting place in the cemetery of Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan. Born in the Caribbean and rising through talent and determination, Alexander Hamilton became one of the most […]
