Plymouth Colony- "The Pilgrims"

A short 22 minute film made by Encyclopedia Brittanica in 1955 dramatizing the story of the settling of Plymouth , Massachusetts.

Wicked Awesome History today 1851

Herman Melville's classic "Moby Dick is published today in 1851. At the time it was a critical and commercial flop it would grow into being considered a classic work of American literature.

Post by New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

Shipbuilding in Foxborough

Tio Frank on deck of his masterpiece.

One does not normally think of shipbuilding and Foxborough, Massachusetts as it's a bit of a drive to the ocean. This didn't stop Frank Gonsalve's of Foxboro in the mid 1940's. Frank who was born on Madeira Island (Portugal) in 1903 spent 4 years as an apprentice shipbuilder. I only knew my Great Grand Uncle for a short time. We knew him as "Tio"(uncle in Portuguese)  Frank along with his brother "Tio" Sam were my Great Grandmother's brothers.

The Magellan the first 45 footer

In the mid to late 1940's the began building what would become a 45 foot fishing boat. This project was sandwich between a garage and house. This was also done on small side street inhabited by only two homes. The house is still in the family owned by my mother and my brother runs his power equipment business out of the same garage used to help build these vessels. I recently came across these photo's thought it would be cool to share.

My mother in on the right

Another amzing thing is  that he did this in his spare time after working as Kettle operator in a Mansfield factory 6 days a week. No TV or Internet to distract him that was for sure.

My Great Grandmother checking things out.

1

Installing the engine.

They also built the a second boat called the Magellan II.

Eventually they had to make the trip to the ocean.

Magellan making the trip down the avenue.

Magellan II making its way down Hope Avenue.

I still at this and have a sense of awe that they did this. The space they had to work with was small. Not to mention this was more than just a weekend hobby. Even though the road today is paved and a little wider it was barely a car width just a couple of decades ago. Hard to imagine a boat this size being towed down it.Today the home is still in the family and is where my mother lives. The barn/garage is now home to my brother's small engine repair business, Riverside Repair Co.  I'm not sure exactly what happened to these fishing boats. I believe they saw service in New Bedford and possibly Provincetown, I'd be glad to hear from anyone who might know something. Even Foxborough made its own contribution to the Bay State's fishing heritage.

Sunrise Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket MA

Post by All of New England.

People in Wicked Awesome History - John Carver

John Carver

1584-1621

Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620 by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

John Carver was a Leiden Separatist who traveled on the Mayflower in 1620 and helped establish the Plymouth Colony. He is considered to be the one who wrote the Mayflower Compact as he was first signer and was the colony's first governor. He was wealthy as he helped fund and organize the voyage. First wife and child passed away soon after birth. Married again to Katherine White who had a child who died at childbirth. John died in April 1621 after complaining of headaches while working in the fields. William Bradford was named his successor. The towns of Carver and North Carver (both in Massachusetts) are named in his honor.

Mayflower II: A National Treasure

Wicked Town Names : Foxborough

Foxborough is where live currently and have lived off and on since a teenager(early 80’s, yes that dates me).  The abbreviated spelling “Foxboro” is a popular alternate spelling and acceptable most of the time. I also graduated high school there too. It’s most famously known as home of NFL’s New England Patriots. It’s a town of roughly 17,000 located midway Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.
I find it interesting where towns or cities get their names and Foxboro is no different. Foxboro was incorporated in the midst of the American Revolution 1778. The community had been trying since the 1760’s to incorporate to save travel to town meetings and worship.

Charles James Fox by Karl Anton Hickel

The town was incorporated before it had a name. About that time a Whig member of Parliament, Charles James Fox, was a vocal supporter of the American colonies up the revolution. Apparently he was making headlines the time.

Wicked Awesome History – Books - Marshfield by Cynthia Hagar Krusell & John J. Galluzzo

 

I spent a sizable chunk of my childhood in Marshfield on the South Shore of Massachusetts so naturally this book interested me. For those that don’t know, Marshfield is a mid point between the big city of Boston and Cape Cod along the coast. It has it’s share of rolling hillside and balanced with sandy seashore. Summer was marked when my mother got her beach sticker and along with my brother and sister we’d spend many days down at Rexhame beach. When I got older I’d hop on my bike early mornings to Humarock(Ok it’s actually Scituate) watch the early morning sunrise over the ocean. The highlight of summer of course was the annual Marshfield Fair with the fireworks that we could hear from our house if we weren’t there. I missed it and friends I had grown up with when we moved away. I even went to school that was nick named “The Alamo” and If you saw it you’d understand.

The book gives a  pictorial account of the early history of the town. The different villages are described in vintage photos. Most of the photos concentrated around the pioneer days of photography, late 1800’s to 1900’s. I would love to see more during the later half of the 20th century when my mother grew up there and later I did. As I read the book it made me wish I had a road map too the town for refresh my aging memory. It’s a cool book for those that have known or lived (or still do)in Marshfield at one time or another. It makes a handy reference or something cure your fix for nostalgia.

Welcome to Wicked Awesome History

Massachusetts has Wicked Awesome History! I’ve been a New Englander all my life. Our region's history goes back to the Pilgrim’s settling here in 1620 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. We are spoiled with history here. Growing up my school field trips were to Plymouth Plantation,Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, Sturbridge Village and so on. I wish to share and celebrate the history of our region here and I hope you enjoy. Thanks for coming by.