Time Capsule Found From 1795

Post by ABC News.

Adventures,Blizzards and Coastal Calamities by Edward Rowe Snow

Adventures, Blizzards, and Coastal Calamities by Edward Rowe Snow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fine bunch of short stories and events by Edward Rowe Snow. Many are are based around New England Maritime history. Some of the adventures are actually his(author Edward Rowe Snow) own which was actually amazing itself. a couple examples are walking around an almost completely frozen Boston Harbor and another of him canoeing by by himself across Cape Cod Bay(Provincetown to Marshfield). He not only wrote of adventures, he lived them.

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The Haunted Pram and other True New England Ghost Stories by Edward Lodi

The haunted pram: And other true New England ghost stories by Edward Lodi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It's a mixture of ghost stories either written by the author or excerpts from other ghost stories. The book lacked flow and was hard to keep interest. It seemed to be a mixture of real New England ghost lore or fictionalized stories which made the book hard to follow. I wished it had chosen one way or the other. I was kind of disappointed by this approach. I'd only recommend for hardcore New England paranormal fans which may get something out of this.

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The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw

The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey by Linda Greenlaw
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an interesting look at the day in the life of swordfishing. The author, Captain Linda Greenlaw was one of the most successful sea captains to sail out of the famous Gloucester, Massachusetts. She was also featured in the movie and book "The Perfect Storm". If you'd like an idea what is considered one of the worlds hardest jobs this will give a good glimpse. For those that love the sea will probably enjoy this one as well. It'd easy to read and has many interesting stories about life on a fishing vessel.

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Haunted Massachusetts by Thomas D'Agostino

Haunted Massachusetts by Thomas D'Agostino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting look at the paranormal activities of Massachusetts. It also has some history mixed too although. Kind of poorly edited and fact checked(the well known Benjamin Church was a Captain not a General in the King Phillip War. It even said Captain in related picture which was humorous.). Even a few spelling mistakes I noticed. It's an easy reading book otherwise but does seem to speculate and dramatize in an almost amateurish way. It's also a good local guide if you'd like to go exploring these places during the Halloween season.

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A visit to Edward Rowe Snow and Marshfield Hills

I had a chance recently to seek out the resting place of a New England legend, Edward Rowe Snow. For those that don't Edward Rowe Snow an author, historian and storyteller who focused a lot on New England's rich maritime history. He was born in Winthrop Massachusetts in 1902 and was buried in Marshfield, Massachusetts in 1982. In between he wrote many books, had a column in the Patriot Ledger and even had his own radio show for a time. He also was "Flying Santa" for many years who would drop off packages at Christmas time to many lighthouse keepers and their families along the New England coastline. 

A quick Google search told me he was resting at the Marshfield Hills Cemetery located on Old Main Street in Marshfield, Massachusetts. I believe this cemetery was established circa 1729. It is adjacent to the North Community Church.

I took an initial drive through to see if I could find my main objective which was Snow's grave stone. It does have some road ways through it which you can drive around. It's not a very large cemetery. It has a mixture of colonial period grave stones to even a few from recent years.When I had no luck I set out to look on foot.

Started at one end  of the cemetery and found some interesting stuff along the way. Snow's resting place was on the opposite side of where I started. It's kind of set back a few rows almost hidden by another grave's hedges that have grown over. It was a modest setting for a man who lived his life large in comparison.

Vineyard Lightship

On this night in 1944 a powerful hurricane hit southern New England. It proved to be a fateful night for the Vineyard Lightship standing guard before Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound. Residents of Cuttyhunk reported seeing flares offshore that night. News of the tragedy was slow to be reported dew to wartime news restrictions. The ship was later found in 80 feet of water with no survivors. All twelve aboard(5 others were on leave that night) were lost that night.The ships bell was later recovered and is now on display in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Pilgrim Sexy Talk

Old Bourne Cemetery

Recently drove by "Old Bourne Cemetery" located on County Road in Bourne ,Massachusetts.  It's also known as "Middle Monument Burial Ground".  I was curious so I drove in. I was on another errand so I just snapped some pictures from the car. It has a narrow road that loops around.

This cemetery has 377 internments dating from 1749 to about 1909. Has about a quarter mile road that loops around. You can click here to see list of those resting here. It is located near the Bourne Village, Aptuxet Trading Post and Cape Cod Canal.

Edward Rowe Snow Born This Day

Edward Rowe Snow was born today in 1902 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. He was a teacher, historian,Flying Santa and prolific author of over 40 books and many more publications. He was a chronicler of New England maritime history. A graduate of both Boston University and Harvard. He served as 1st Lt. in World War 2 in the XII Bomber Command. After the war he had his own youth orientated radio show and was a columnist for the Patriot Ledger newspaper. He also was a part of the "Flying Santa" which would fly around to New England lighthouses and drop off packages for the keepers at Christmas time. He passed away April 10,1982 in Marshfield, Massachusetts.

Awesome History on this Day - 1676

King Phillip portrait by Paul Revere in 1772

On this day John Alderman, a Praying Indian(an Native American converted to Christianity), shot and killed the King Phillip, Grand Sachem of the Wampanoags, leader of the rebellious Native Americans. He was subsequently beheaded, drawn and quartered. He was essentially killed and killed some more. 

Funny Town Names

Post by MASSHOLE bored'UM.

Cape Cod Canal Sighting of the Day

This vessel was making it's way through the Cape Cod Canal today. Another one was ahead of it but we had missed it. A quick Google of "YP683" tells us this a Yard Patrol Boat used by the U.S. Naval Academy out of Annapolis, Maryland. It was launched on June 16, 1986.

Boston Light Gets a Facelift

Post by The Boston Globe.

Happy Birthday Cape Cod Canal!

Post by New England Historical Society.

Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge - 1934

Post by Bourne Police Department.

Wicked Awesome History today in 1914

After nearly three centuries after being first proposed by Captain Miles Standish of Plymouth Colony today marked the grand opening of the Cape Cod Canal. In the beginning it was only 15 feet deep and fairly expensive for the day to use the canal. 

Courtesy nae.usace.army.mil

 

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers took over the waterway in 1928. They then widened (500 ft.) and deepened(32 ft.) the canal. It is still operated and maintained by them to the present day.

Cape Cod Attacked!

On this day in 1918 Cape Cod came under attack from a German submarine. Off the coast of Nauset Beach in Orleans U-156 attacked the tugboat "Perth Amboy" and four wooden barges. With a combination of fire from the deck gun and torpedoes the tugboat was sunk and barges and town of Orleans came under fire also. The nearby Chatham Naval Air Station was alerted and joined foray to thwart the German attack. Unfortunately they were dropping duds or completely missed there mark. All 32 merchant sailors, including the tugboat Captain's wife and child, were saved. It was the first attack on the continental United States from a foreign power since the Mexican War in 1846. The U-156 then left to continue it's mission elsewhere.

Crafty Bastards by Lauren Clark

It is true the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth because they were low on beer. I don't remember hearing that in history class. You'll get the full story and more here. It was in 1620 that New England's relationship with beer and ale started. You'll learn about the growth of brewing and New Englander's thirst for for the stuff has rarely ebbed. Although Cider, rum and prohibition gave beer some competition it still survived. Even learn of it's revival in recent decades. Crack open a local brew and enjoy this easy to read and enjoyable trip along the region's brewing history. Crafty Bastards: Beer in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day by Lauren Clark

Wicked Awesome History in 1812

Post by USS Constitution.

Seacrest or the Coast Guard Mansion

Back in the Coast Guard days

Growing up in Marshfield we lived nearby a mansion on a hill. We knew it as the Coast Guard mansion as it was the property of the U.S. Coast Guard. At that time it wasn't being used. It ran along the end of South River Street and ends at Ferry Street. It  was set back on a hill with some trees that were spaced apart enough to be able to see the place on top. It had a driveway that went to the front entrance with it's grand columns. It also had a driveway on the left side leading to the back which a had more utilitarian looking four bay garage.

Maintenance garage adjacent to the mansion.

Being uninhabited at the time so it sparked my curiosity. Peaking in through windows see a bare inside in very good condition. Rich wood center stair case to center walkway that spanned between the two wings of the building. I don't remember seeing much else there. I tried peaking through other windows but wasn't too successful. I was usually wary of Coast Guardsmen that were stationed further in back of the land should they catch me. Doors were locked so entry wasn't attempted beyond a twist of the knob. 

A peak inside.

Neighborhood kids used the worn out baseball diamond on the nearby grounds for pick up games of softball during summer. further along the back was a large hill that was used for sledding in the winter months. Of course I participated in both. 

An aerial view.

Opposite aerial view.

At the bottom of the hill was a a simple paved road that led to some smaller more official looking building where the Coast Guard did there business. I actually never remember seeing them there although there were cars there and the official sign at the entrance which was often times the only hint that someone was there. My mother, who also grew up there, remembers seeing Coast Guardsmen there and even got candy from them on Halloween.

I never knew the history behind this so my brief research has turned up some interesting items. The mansion was built for the family of Richard Morris Hunt around 1890. Who is this Hunt? He was a world famous architect of his time. Responsible for the likes of The Metropolitan Opera House, Statue of Liberty Pedestal, "The Breaker's" in Newport,  Marble House also in Newport, Rhode Island. It would seem he was the the "go to guy" if you wanted a mansion built in the "Guilded Age". I'm not positive of how much involved he was in building what was called "Seacrest" at the time. It was owned by various members of the Hunt family up until World War 2. 

During World War 2 the Federal Government, by use of eminent domain,  also like the property too cause of its ocean view originally for enemy submarine spotting. I guess the Coast Guard, needing to beef up it's communications  in the area eventually took it over as a communication's station. The mansion was used as a barracks, mess and offices for personnel. A maintenance garage, antennas and other related buildings were also erected. Much of the Trans-Atlantic Radio traffic during the war was directed from here known as call sign "NMF" (aka Radio Boston).

The Coast Guard continued to use the building after the war into the mid 70's when they gradually moved to bases on Cape Cod. The mansion fell into disuse(around the time I was exploring the grounds) for many years. In November of 1999 it was turned over to the town of Marshfi

eld. It was renovated and later sold to private owners in 2008 for $2.8 million. 

What it looks like today.

Little did we know about Marshfield's connection to the "Guilded Age" of architecture.