The Boston 100

 

The Link Between Maine and Massachusetts

Maine and Massachusetts are forever linked by history, and my home state was a part of the Bay Colony until 1820. Here are some fun facts about the connection:

1. Maine and Massachusetts are just two of four states to celebrate Patriots’ Day.

2. The Portland Sea Dogs are the double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

3. Portland native Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “Paul Revere’s Ride.”

4. The Maine Red Claws are the D-League representative of the Boston Celtics.

5. My childhood home in Portland was built in 1799 … 20 years before Maine became its own state.

– Dave Harding, Filmmaker, Dave Is Media

 

Book Review: With the Old Breed

'With the Old Breed' provides firsthand experiences of the battles during WWII in the Pacific.

With the Old Breed is a firsthand account of the fighting in the Pacific during WWII, written by E.B. Sledge, a U.S. Marine, during the battles on Peleliu and Okinawa. He has passed away but his recollection of events he and his fellow servicemen endured are harrowing. The detail he portrays puts you in his shoes as he takes you through the war, step by step.

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg made a miniseries, titled The Pacific, based on E.B. Sledge’s and other Marine’s recollections, but the books’ details give you an intimate perspective through their journey.

— Josh Sarnowitz, The Boston 100

 

Freedom Trail Stop: Boston Common

Boston Common is an iconic part of our city. It boasts amazing history and still provides a common space for the people of Boston.

Established in 1634, Boston Common is America’s oldest public park. Now a popular place for public gatherings, relaxation and fun activities, the Common has been used for many purposes throughout its unique history.

In 1775, over 1,000 redcoats set up camp on the Common during a British occupation. It later served as the site of many Puritanical punishments and eventually became an area for livestock to graze.

Its continued history included civil rights rallies, one led by Martin Luther King, Jr., and Vietnam War protests. This U.S. National Historic Landmark played an important role in shaping Boston today.

– Devin Thompson, The Boston 100

 

Freedom Trail Stop: Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall offers history, food and fun for the entire family

Boston’s rich history touches every corner of the city, and Faneuil Hall is no exception. Built in 1741 by a wealthy merchant named Peter Faneuil, this building hosted America’s first town meeting and remains an open forum space almost 300 years later.

Many critical speeches and debates took place in and around this famed structure in the 1700s that encouraged our separation from England and defined policies that remain today. Faneuil Hall is widely known for is bustling marketplace, but roughly ten thousand new American citizens take an Oath of Allegiance here each year, in the shadows of our forefathers.

– Josh Sarnowitz, The Boston 100

 

Freedom Trail Facts: The State House

The gold dome of the State House was originally made of wood, but later it was overlaid with copper by Paul Revere.

The Massachusetts State House was built in 1798 by Charles Bulfinch on the site of John Hancock’s cow pasture. One hundred years later, a second grander wing was added by Charles Brigham. The House is the oldest building on Beacon Hill.

On the grounds below, there are several statues, the most popular being General Joseph Hooker, who incidentally lent his last name to a group of ladies who kept up the troops’ morale!

The Massachusetts Legislature consists of 40 senators and 160 representatives. All state citizens have the right of free petition and can have bills introduced by a legislator.

Free building tours available Monday-Friday 10 AM-3:45 PM

– Tara Frier, The Boston 100

 

The Last of the Dinosaurs

Although we don't always hear about local quarries, there are a few out there with lasting roots, providing services and supplies across the country.

Plymouth Quarries was incorporated in 1915 in Hingham, Massachusetts, when multiple companies merged. They had been quarrying on the property since 1811 and remain one of the few quarries left in Massachusetts.

Owned and operated by the Bristol family, Plymouth’s Weymouth Granite remains a staple in New England and beyond, and has contributed to building parts of Boston College, Yale, University Of Michigan Law, and countless buildings and churches around the country. Being in business for over 100 years, we’re a leading distributor of masonry and hardscape materials in Massachusetts, and a resource for design and education in the state.

– Dean Marsico, Plymouth Quarries

 

Black History Month – Striving for Understanding

Patti Austin is a Grammy award-winning vocalist, co-founder of Over My Shoulder Foundation and an active mentor.

I wish it wasn’t necessary to set the record straight about Black History Month. For years, our history was buried or distorted because black people were brought here as slaves and their contributions were never fully acknowledged – this month creates an awareness of our history.

I dream of a time when we will look at each other as one, human race. There’s plenty of work to do before we reach such understanding. We’re all works in progress. Perhaps what we should be striving for is a society that makes it possible to look at each other as one powerful entity.

– Patti Austin, Grammy Award-winning vocalist and Co-founder of the Over My Shoulder Foundation


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