History Sub-Categories

Boston & Vicinity

2 galleries with 31 photos.

Updated: Aug 03, 2008 1:42pm PST

Essex County, Massachusetts

1 gallery with 1 photos.

Updated: Aug 03, 2008 1:35pm PST

Salem, Mass.

7 galleries with 129 photos.

Updated: Aug 03, 2008 1:33pm PST

Marblehead, Mass.

1 gallery with 13 photos.

Updated: Jul 26, 2004 3:51pm PST

History Galleries

Massachusetts Tercentenary Signs : In 1628, several Plimouth colonists, led by John Endicott, established a new home north of the Charles River with permission from King Charles I in England and Governor John Bradford in Plimouth. Their new plantation would occupy much of today's Essex County and be centered on the town of Salem. In 1630, Endicott succeeded in securing a charter from the King to form a local government, separated from Plimouth colony and led by a crown-appointed governor. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was born. In 1928, the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission was formed to celebrate the 300th birthday of the Colony. Part of their celebration included a program to identify and detail the sites and people who were significant in the formation of the Colony. These historic sites follow the paths of the original settlers as they ventured out from Salem to establish towns as far north as Salisbury and as far west as Northfield and Hartford. These 'Tercentenary Markers' now dot the state along main roads as well as the countryside. Boston proper was not asked to provide any sites as it was deemed the city was historic enough and had all of its historical sites well marked already. The Markers were all designed to a specific formula - roughly 45x36 inches, white background, black lettering, black borders, the state seal, and signed 'Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission', made from cast iron and weighing nearly 200lbs. The signs are often in neglect but a small few show evidence of great care. These signs can be found in downtown areas, along major roadways, in the middle of nowhere, on private land, and elsewhere. Often these signs are right under our noses and have blended in to the scenery. Sadly, their position makes them prone to damage from car accidents, snow plows, and such. Some are removed simply because they don't fit with the planning of a local historical commission. This is my photo project to get most, if not all, of these links to our past. As far as I can tell this is the largest collection of Tercentenary Markers anywhere on the web. Most of my research comes from websites and a few books. If you know of one and want to share your information, drop me an e-mail at douging@hotmail.com. Thanks! 90 and counting... Link to Google Maps detailing specific locations (work in progress): http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115988137233833491996.00045c51f8a7e01d95522&z=10

Massachusetts Tercentenary Signs

In 1628, several Plimouth colonists, led by John Endicott, established ...

Updated: Oct 04, 2009 7:15pm PST

Massachusetts Tercentenary Sites : Historic sites from the Massachusetts Tercentenary markers.

Massachusetts Tercentenary Sites

Historic sites from the Massachusetts Tercentenary markers.

Updated: Oct 04, 2009 6:37pm PST

Collings Foundation Race of the Century : August 17, 2008. Stow, MA. The Collings Foundation put on a unique and entertaining competition among multiple eras of transportation to see which was the fastest. The Collings Foundation has the unique expertise to answer this question, with cars, airplanes, and horse-drawn carriages available at their disposal. Race 1, pre-1907 - a horse-drawn stagecoach versus the then-new horseless carriage. The Wayside Inn loaned their original late-19th century Stagecoach for the event and it was pulled by a team of four horses. The car was a 1905 Franklin Type A Roadster. The Stagecoach easily beat the Franklin around the tiny oval course they were using. It was no contest at all and I'm surprised anyone would have bought a car in 1905... Race 2, pre-1910 automobiles - 1905 Franklin Type A Roadster versus a 1908 Stanley Steamer Model F. What progress was made in three years? A lot apparently as the Stanley Steamer blew the Franklin away. Race 3, Steam vs. Petrol power - What could be faster than Steam? By 1910 petrol (gas) engined cars had caught on and developed faster than Steam and the speed of the Stutz Bearcat was a reason why. The Bearcat looked fast even by today's standards on the grass racing strip. Gasoline was here to stay... Race 4 The Fastest Car versus the Most-Advanced Aeroplane - Bleriot Type XI Flying Machine versus 1914 Stutz Bearcat. If the shortest route is 'by the crow flies' then surely an airplane must be faster than a car, right? This race pitted a replica of a famous French aeroplane versus the fastest car of the day. Given that flying was still in its infancy, and this was a very windy day, the Stutz Bearcat easily won. Race 5 - The peake of early development, pre-WWII - 1942 PT-17 Stearman Bi-plane versus 1937 Offy Sprint Racer. These two machines represented the peake of air and land performance in the 1930s. Both machines had to run the length of the strip, u-turn, and race back to the other end, u-turn, race back to the finish line in midfield. Both had to start from a dead stop and the plane had to take off and fly through the course and make its turns in the air, at the earliest and tightest opportunity. The result... draw. Similar speed contests have been held in the past. Wolf Barnato successfully beat the Blue Train express to the south of France in his Bentley Speed Six. And just recently, Top Gear put the Bugatti Veyron up against a Eurofighter jet (the plane won). It looks as though the auto engineers need to get back to work...

Collings Foundation Race of the Century

August 17, 2008. Stow, MA. The Collings Foundation put on a unique and ...

Updated: Aug 17, 2008 7:03pm PST

Other Historical Markers & Sites :

Other Historical Markers & Sites

Updated: Apr 12, 2008 8:36pm PST