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douging  > History > Massachusetts Tercentenary Signs
In the early-1930s, a committee was formed in Massachusetts to identify and detail significant sites in our state's great past. The committee -- The Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission -- put up iron signs at various points around the state. The signs are often in neglect but a small few show signs of great care. Personally, I think a little rust and dirt adds character and authenticity to the site. These signs can be found in downtown areas, along major roadways, in the middle of nowhere, on private land, and elsewhere.

This is my photo project to get most, if not all, of these links to our past. If you know of one and want to share your information, drop me an e-mail at douging@hotmail.com. Thanks! 79 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
 
douging > Adam Hawkes, Rte 129, Saugus
douging > Agawam-Ipswich, Route 1A, Ipswich. Residents of Ipswich, 1630. Governor John Winthop Jr. was born just 18 years after his father, the first provincial governor of Massachusetts Bay. Winthrop Junior moved to Boston with his new wife and step-mother in 1630 and was received in Boston with great celebration. He entered politics early but shortly after settling Ipswich his wife and daughter passed away and he moved back to England. Upon returning Winthrop Junior settled in New London, Connecticut where the residents of that colony elected him Governor – a post that he would hold until his death in 1676. In addition to his political career, he was a lifelong scientist, prospector (he helped establish the Saugus Iron Works), and businessman. Governor Richard Bellingham was an English-educated lawyer when he settled in New England in 1634. He became one of the patentees of the Massachusetts Bay Charter and for 37 years he was elected as a magistrate of the colony. For ten years he served as Governor, narrowly beating John Winthrop for the post. Richard Saltonstall Jr. was a founding father of Ipswich but an opponent of Governor John Winthrop Sr. and his reign on Massachusetts Bay. His father, Sir Richard Saltonstall was a founder of Watertown but lived out his years in London acting as a representative of the Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies. Governor Simon Bradstreet was one of the colony’s greatest leaders. He held political office from 1630 to 1679, serving as an assistant to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, governor, and chief magistrate. He settled at Cambridge first, then moved to Ipswich around 1633, staying for 19 years then moving to North Andover and finally settling, and dying, in Salem. His first wife, Anne (Dudley) Bradstreet, developed a flair for poetry that is considered to this today to be great, American writing.
douging > Agnes Surriage Well, Orne St, Marblehead
douging > Appleton's Pulpit, Appleton St., Saugus
douging > Approach to Carr's Ferry, High and Jefferson Streets, Newburyport
douging > Balch House, Cabot St, Beverly. John Balch was born in England in 1579 and settled briefly at Weymouth (Massachusetts) in 1623. He joined the Dorchester Adventurers’ fishing colony on Cape Ann then moved to Salem with Roger Conant in 1626. He and his wife, Margaret, were original members of the First Church of Salem. Balch was one of the five original Old Planters and received a grant of 200 acres in present-day Beverly in exchange for his property in Salem. The Balch House was erected around 1639 and is the only house still standing that actually housed one of the Old Planters. The original structure was a one-room, story-and-a-half building, a portion of which still stands as part of the frame on the north end of the house.
douging > Bear Skin Neck, Rockport
douging > Bellingham-Cary Mansion, Broadway, Chelsea. The Bellingham estate once consisted of the nearly the entire area of present-day Chelsea. Governor Richard Bellingham bought the land, known as Rumney Marsh or Winesemmet, in 1634 and it came with a ferry and landing – the only form of communication with nearby Boston where Bellingham resided as governor. The Winesemmet estate served as a working farm and retreat. The house itself was erected in 1659 with cherry tree-lined streets, an apple orchard, and a fresh water spring surrounding the building. It’s proximity to Breed’s Hill during the Siege of Boston was a plus for General George Washington and militiamen used the house for sanctuary. In 1650 the property was divided into four farms but the Bellinghams kept 365 acres which were passed on to Margaret Graves (a step-daughter to Bellingham) in1702. Graves married Captain Samuel Cary of Charlestown in 1722 and the house was entrusted to their son, Samuel Junior. In 1791 the house was enlarged and renovated to its present state where it was handed over to the Cary House Association for preservation in 1911.
douging > Benjamin Tarr House, South St, Rockport
douging > Brookfield, Route 9, Brookfield
douging > Captain Cooke's Mill Lane, Massachusetts Ave and Water St, Arlington
douging > Chain Bridge, Amesbury-Newburyport. Reconstructed in 2002 the Chain Bridge has a new sign. I couldn't ascertain what it was made out of but it felt like the backboard from a basketball hoop. Nevertheless, not as impressive as the original cast iron piece.
douging > Church of Christ in Rumney Marsh, Beach St, Revere. Or, what's left of it.
douging > Clara Barton's Birthplace, Rte 12, Auburn
douging > Conant House, Rte 97, Beverly
douging > 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
douging > Edward Rawson, High St, Newburyport
douging > Endecott Pear Tree, Danvers, Endecott St. and Water St. I was lucky to get this photo because soon after, the sign was removed. It's possible it was knocked down by the Danvers Chemical Explosion (http://yourfriendalfred.blogspot.com/2006/11/danvers-chemical-explosion.html)  or more likely it was hit by a car.
douging > First Fulling Mill, Route 1, Rowley
douging > First Meetinghouse, Route 110, Salisbury
douging > First Settler, Upper Main St, Rockport
douging > First Town Center, Sudbury
douging > Fort Sewall, Front St, Marblehead
douging > Free School, Rte 133, Essex
douging > Goodrich Massacre, North St, Georgetown
douging > Hadley, Route 9, Hadley
douging > Hale Farm, Hale Rd, Beverly
douging > Hassanamesit, Route 140, Grafton
douging > Hop Brook Mill, Route 20, Sudbury. Note the last line - proof indeed of this sign's age.
douging > Indian Hill, Route 9, Brimfield
douging > Indian Meetinghouse, Route 27, Natick
douging > Indian Reservation, Brigham Hill Rd, Grafton
douging > Iron Works, Saugus. The sign was actually moved to inside the Saugus Iron Works Museum.
douging > Jason Russell House, Massachusetts Ave and Jason St, Arlington
douging > Jethro's Tree, Monument Square, Concord
douging > John Harvard's Land, Washington St, Winchester
douging > John Wise House, Route 133, Essex
douging > Jonas Rice, Grafton St/Route 122, Worcester
douging > Landing Place of First Settlers, Route 1A Newbury
douging > Lynn, Washington Square, Lynn
douging > Macy-Colby House, Main St, Amesbury
douging > Newbury, Route 1 South, Newbury
douging > Newbury, Route 1A, Newbury
douging > Old Burial Hill, Marblehead
douging > Old First Parish Burying Ground, Route 127A, Rockport
douging > Oldest House In Cambridge, Linnean St, Cambridge. This is actually not my photo. I took it from the Flickr account of 'afka bob'  (http://flickr.com/photos/afka_bob/). When I went took my trip to this house the marker was gone. It appeared the sidewalk in front of the house was pretty new so maybe the sign had been removed and not put back.
douging > Parker Tavern, Rte 28, Reading
douging > Parson-Capen House, Topsfield, Route 1. This sign is obviously in the style of the Tercentenary Marker but Topsfield chose to put their own name and dates on it.
douging > Pillow Lace, Ipswich
douging > Planters Path To Their Landing Place, McKay St, Beverly
douging > Powder House, Broadway at Nathan Tufts Park, Somerville
douging > Reading/Lynn Village, Rte 28, Reading
douging > Revolution of 1689, Ipswich
douging > Rowley Burial Ground, Route 1A, Rowley
douging > Royall House, Main St and George St, Medford
douging > Samuel De Champlain, Artist's Colony, Gloucester
douging > Samuel de Champlain, Route 127, Rockport
douging > Settlement Of Cape Ann, Stage Fort, Gloucester
douging > Sherborn, Route 27, Sherborn
douging > Shipyard of 1668, Route 133, Essex
douging > Sir Richard's Landing, Mt Auburn St, Cambridge. The condition of this marker is the worst I have come across. The cap holding the sign to the post is missing a huge chunk. The sign is very loose and could topple over at any time (all 200lbs of it).
douging > Site of First House, Converse Place/downtown, Winchester
douging > Steerage Rock, Route 9, Brimfield
douging > Sudbury Fight, Route 9, Sudbury
douging > Sudbury, Route 20, Sudbury-Wayland line
douging > The Bay Path, N Main St, Hopkinton
douging > The Church in (Old) Salem Village, Centre St, Danvers
douging > The Covered Wagon, Route 1A, Hamilton
douging > The Goodenow Garrison House, Route 20, Wayland
douging > The Milldam, Monument Square, Concord
douging > The Symmes Farm, Main St, Winchester
douging > Thomas Hooker Trail, Route 122, Grafton
douging > Watertown, Route 16, Watertown Square
douging > Watertown, Route 20, Watertown-Waltham line. Note the gold lettering. It's not seen on many others and the other side of this sign had black lettering...
douging > Watt's Cellar, Market St, Newburyport
douging > Way to Charlestown, Cambridge Common, Cambridge
douging > Wenham Lake, Route 1A, Wenham
douging > Wenham, Route 1A, Wenham
douging > Williams Tavern, Route 20, Marlborough
 

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