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
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
Dalton House, State St, Newburyport. "merchant prince"; voted for a limited nonimportation of British goods in 1768; represented Newburyport at the Ipswich Convention in 1774 (to discuss ignoring the rule of the royal Massachusetts governor); funded the building of man-o-war ships for the Continental Navy; served on the Massachusetts commission to ratify the first Constitution in 1778; a leader at the second Massachusetts Constitional Convention in Boston in 1788; elected by the Massachusetts Legislature to be the first senator in New York; Senator Dalton led President Washington from Newburyport to Amesbury, up the Rocky Hill Rd to the training field in West Salisbury; also owned a 200 acre farm in Newbury
Dalton House, State St, Newburyport. "merchant prince"; voted for a limited nonimportation of British goods in 1768; represented Newburyport at the Ipswich Convention in 1774 (to discuss ignoring the rule of the royal Massachusetts governor); funded the building of man-o-war ships for the Continental Navy; served on the Massachusetts commission to ratify the first Constitution in 1778; a leader at the second Massachusetts Constitional Convention in Boston in 1788; elected by the Massachusetts Legislature to be the first senator in New York; Senator Dalton led President Washington from Newburyport to Amesbury, up the Rocky Hill Rd to the training field in West Salisbury; also owned a 200 acre farm in Newbury
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