Seven Fun Facts About John Neal, Wild Maine Genius
During his lifetime, John Neal was as popular a novelist as Stephen King, as outspoken an activist as Gloria Steinem and as influential a critic as Harold Bloom. He’s forgotten… The post Seven Fun...
View ArticleThe Oatmeal Lots of Liberty Park
In 1902, the Quaker Oats Company launched an odd product promotion that 75 years later caused headaches for officials in Milford, Conn. Boxes of oatmeal contained a coupon that could… The post The...
View ArticleCries in the Night: A Vicious Assault in the Narbonne House, One of Salem’s...
Shortly after midnight on a cold December in 1903, James G. Ryan, walking on Essex Street in Salem, heard screams from a woman obviously in great distress. “Help! Help! Will… The post Cries in the...
View ArticleThomas Knowlton Soldier for Two Countries
He figures prominently in perhaps the most iconic image of the American Revolution: “The Death of Warren” by John Trumbull. He stands tall, a figure in a white shirt and… The post Thomas Knowlton...
View ArticleRevere Beach, America’s First Public Ocean Beach
On Oct. 1, 1896, the Metropolitan Park Commission, a Massachusetts state entity, officially became the owner of Revere Beach, creating the first public ocean beach in the United States. Following… The...
View ArticleEarly New England Lighthouses–Cursed, Tragic and Presidential
One of the very first things the U.S. Congress ever did was to put the federal government in charge of lighthouses. The freshmen Congressmen understood the importance of maritime shipping.… The post...
View ArticleVermonter Horatio Nelson Jackson First to Take Auto Trip Across America
In 1903 Horatio Nelson Jackson and a companion completed the first automobile trip across the U.S. Despite numerous problems, they managed to finish their adventure in a little over two… The post...
View ArticleBooks for the History Lover From the New England Historical Society
Wondering what to give the history lover in your life? Give the gifts of books! Revolutionary War Sites in New England–NEW! Be part of the Revolution 250 celebration and experience… The post Books for...
View ArticleThe Raising of the First American Flag
On New Year’s Day, 1776, George Washington ordered the first American flag raised to the top of a 76-foot liberty pole at the summit of a hill in Charlestown (now… The post The Raising of the First...
View ArticleCohasset Punch, the Potent Cocktail that Found a Home Away from its Home
For many years the most popular adult beverage in Chicago was a cocktail created in and named after a town on Boston’s South Shore: Cohasset Punch. The drink combined rum,… The post Cohasset Punch, the...
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