The Founders of the Sudbury Minutemen Marker in The Wayside Inn

The founders of the Sudbury Minutemen

Alfred Bonazzoli

Alberat Berberian

Joseph Brown

Roger Bump

Arthur Fay, Jr.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Frank Koppeis

Edward Kreitsek

Donald MacRae

John Powers

Frank Sherman

Rex Trailer

"On May 21, 1963, according to one Publius, a Committee of Correspondence met in the Old Bar Room of the Wayside Inn. The gentlemen of the Committee were twelve, all told; their intent was to raises a Militia in Sudbury, renewing a centuries-old organization in the Town.

The Militia was to be organized in the fashion of the Minutemen of 1774. They drew inspiration from Colonel Ezekiel Howe, Innkeeper, who had led the men of Sudbury to Concord in the Defenses of Liberty on April 19, 1775.

On this, the Fiftieth Anniversary of that fateful meeting, the officers, enlisted men, and distaff of the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute present this plaque in honor of those twelve men. Their love of history, and for the citizens of Sudbury, has brought joy to many, and provided us with some of the brightest moments of our lives."

Dan Meenan, Colonel

May 21, 2013

When I saw this plaque in the historic Wayside Inn* in Sudbury, Massachusetts, I knew I had to take the photo, after all, I assumed it had the names of the original Minutemen from Sudbury. The sunlight was shining brightly (you can see me, the iPad and sunny window above) so a kind man offered to hold up his jacket so I could get my photo (first photo). It wasn't until I began typing this that I discovered, that wasn't the case. These are far more recent names. However, I decided to post this because these individuals probably have descendants, and I wanted to show the restaurant rooms.

"Longfellow's Wayside Inn—a nationally significant Massachusetts Historic Landmark—is the oldest Inn still operating in the United States and has been serving travelers along the old Boston Post Road for almost 300 years. What began as a two-room home in 1707, the Howe family ran a successful tavern and innkeeping business on this site from 1716 to 1861."

  

Side view from the garden.

New Books or Reprints at NEHGS -- Wordless Wednesday

Recently displayed books on the 5th and 7th floors in the Library at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston, Massachusetts. Some are brand new and others are reprinted.

Photo below taken in April 2013.

Westford, Massachusetts -- Memorial

VIETNAM VETS

"WHEN YOUR COUNTRY CALLED YOU CAME.

WHEN YOUR COUNTRY REFUSED YOUR HONOR.

YOU REMAINED SILENT WITH TIME.

OUR NATION'S WOUNDS HEALED. WE

HAVE FINALLY COME TO APPRECIATE

YOUR SACRIFICES."

DEDICATED

MAY 30, 1988

IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE FROM WESTFORD

WHO SERVED IN AND DURING THE

VIETNAM CONFLICT.

1964 - 1975

TO THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME

SACRIFICE.

AARON CHARLES E.

BRUNDRETTE, RICHARD E., JR.

CONNOLLY, RICHARD

HUGHES, KENNETH R.

AND TO ALL AMERICANS MISSING IN ACTION.

IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE FROM WESTFORD

WHO SERVED IN AND DURING THE

KOREAN CONFLICT.

1950 - 1955

TO THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME

SACRIFICE.

BLACK, JOHN L.

LANGLEY, ROBERT G.

AND TO ALL AMERICANS MISSING IN ACTION.

Brick Walls of Mine, If you Solve, I Pay

On October 13, 2010, I posted the below request. As yet, my 10 9 big brick walls are still unsolved. I thought it was time to repost this in hopes somebody can help. Thank you.

Top Ten -- Brick Walls

IF ANYBODY CAN SOLVE ANY OF THESE BRICK WALLS, ALL OF THEM WOULD BE GREAT, I WILL PAY YOU $100 FOR BREAKING THROUGH THE WALL.  PLEASE WRITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I ALREADY HAVE ON SOME OF THOSE MENTIONED BELOW.

ADAMS, JOHN (Parents information needed.)

Born abt 1757of Wintonbury (now Bloomfield), CT - Lexington, MA - Hamilton, NY - Elba, NY

In Lexington, MA during Revolutionary War

Died September 25, 1830, Elba, Genesee Co., New York

Married to HANNAH SMITH, dau. of Joseph Smith and Eunice Drake of  Windsor, CT

FARMER, ALEXANDER “ALEX” (Parents information needed.)

Born March 05, 1814 in New York or Canada

Died January 27, 1864, Calhoun Co., Michigan

Married HULDAH LAY abt 1833 in prob. Niagara Co., New York

Children 5 born bet. Niagara, NY and Leroy, Michigan

HAWLEY, BENJAMIN (Parents information needed.)    SOLVED BY ME    DECEMBER 2017

Born abt. 1743

Died Jan. 25, 1831, Tompkins, Delaware Co., New York

Married February 05, 1778 to THEODOSIA FITCH at Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut  (Had 8 children)

HULL, NANCY (Parents information needed.)

Born 1790, Woodbridge, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Married 1807 to JESSE WRIGHT, son of ASHER WRIGHT Prob. Killingworth, Middlesex Co.,Connecticut

She and her husband both died February 07, 1878, one in New Haven, and the other in Killingworth

JAQUAYS, WILLIAM (Parents information needed.)

Born bet. 1784 – 1790, poss. CT or VT (No other information)

Married LUCY CROSS of Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut

Lucy died January 14, 1878 at Cowansville, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Children were: Louisa Jane / Elizabeth Jaquays, Thankful, Sarah, William Cross, and Harriet C. (all of Addison, Vermont and Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

JOHNSON ELIZABETH / BETSEY  (Father was William, need more information and her mother's name)  SOLVED by a reader, AND PAID HIM.

Born November 07, 1751, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Died March 19, 1799, Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

Married October 21, 1773 DAVID MEAD / MEED at Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

(Two children born Lynn, Mass., one in New Ipswich, New Hampshire)

JOHNSON, LYDIA (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born Abt. 1822, Vermont

Died March 22, 1858, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Married WILLIAM CROSS JAQUAYS October 24, 1839 at Franklin Co., Vermont

MUNSON, ANNA or ANN (__) (Surname needed.)

Born Abt. 1731, Died April 18, 1772, Plainview, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Married WAITSTILL MUNSON (They had 2 children, Esther and Anna.)

RICHARDSON, ALMIRA “MIRA”  (Parents names needed.)

Born abt. 1798 of Orange, New Haven Co., Connecticut

She was adopted by JOHN BYRAN.

Died April 22, 1861, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Was married to AARON KILBORN of Hamden Co., Connecticut

WYCKOFF, GERRITJE (Parents' names needed.)

Died Abt 1725

Married JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS (his 1st wife of 4 years)

Had son, JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS born 1722 Readington, Somerset Co., New Jersey

Happy Birthday, Ansel Adams

Reprinted from my 1979 negative, March 7, 2014

Today is the birthday of Ansel Adams, born February 20, 1902. I'm sharing a photo I took of him, while he was on a book tour in Washington, DC on September 9, 1979. I knew he was giving a free lecture about his book on that Sunday, so I brought along my camera and the current edition of Time magazine, with his picture on the cover, with the hope that he would sign his autograph. After the lecture and with my newly purchased $15 book and magazine just autographed, I walked around The National Museum of History Museum on Constitution Ave. and saw his chauffeur waiting for him. Nobody was around, just the driver. We conversed for maybe 10 minutes before Mr. Adams came outside.  I asked him if I could take his photo, he was delighted, and I was too.

Two things, I told him where to stand and I only took one photo (35mm camera that I had to focus. 

The book I had with me was bought at a Yosemite Falls gift shop in May 1978, and I just now looked at it again. Ansel wrote the date 9-9-79 with his name. Perfect documentation. The Sunday was a little cloudy at a little after 4. I don't think I'll ever forget a thing about that afternoon. He passed away five years later.

The first printed picture shown below could be used as a postcard! Guess that is what they did in 1979.

Watertown, Massachusetts -- War Memorial

FIRST WORLD WAR

Ernest M. Allen

David Brodette

Ivan E. Ellis

Domenico Filippelli

Vincent Gorman

Eugene Guihan

Edward Hooks

Edwin G. Keith

Peter J. McHugh

Ernest R. McNamara

James Morgan

Timothy J. Mullen

Jeremiah O'Toole

Luigi Romano

Pasquale Talarico

SECOND WORLD WAR

George E. Bellehumeur

James R. Bermingham

John J. Bindon

Frank C. Brennan

Aldo J. Callarino

Albert Camarra

James W. Campbell

Alfred F. Cole

Arthur Cole

Rosario C. Colella

Louis DeMilia

Anthony English

SECOND WORLD WAR

James J. Donovan

Warren R. Donovan

Chester Dorant

Raymond G. Dougan

James P. Duffy

Edward A. Dunlap III

George H. Elms

John M. A. Falco

Patrick S. Feroleto

Daniel J. Gorham

Lawrence J. Jenkins Jr.

Carlton H. Joy

Andrew J. Kinsella

Minas L. Loisou

Richard M. Miller

Domenick A. Molinelli

Edward F. Moran

Thomas J. Mullins

Frank Novick

Michael Pappas

Pasquale G. Patuto

George R. Peacock

Harold D. Pohl

Vincent J. Ranucci

Lawrence N. Rice

Donald T. Robinson

Angelo M. Russo

Walter A. Swanson

John Thomas

Peter J. Webber

Wendall L. Stonehouse

Edwards, Bean, Tripp, Butman, Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

 EDWARDS

Lucy C. Bean

Born Aug. 12, 1794

Died Oct. 29, 1864

Elizabeth H.

Daur of Jabez and

Elizabeth H. Edwards

Born. Feb. 22, 1844

Died July 4, 1869

Jabez Edwards

Born Feb. 14, 1815

Died Oct. 9, 1893

Elizabeth H. Edwards

Oct. 9, 188_

Aug. 29, 1902

 John H. Tripp

Died

Mar. 28, 1849

Aged 9 Mos.

-----

G. F. Tripp

Died

Sept. 30, 1869

Aged 34 Yrs.

 TRIPP

Josiah M. Butman

 May 10, 1835 -- Aug. 14, 1915

Elma M. Butman

May 7, 1842 -- Jan. 6, 1925

Lee Harvey Oswald's Wife and my Uncle, a Connection

My aunt, uncle and mother

I've never written about any living members of my family, but when I found out that a story I heard many years ago is indeed true, I thought maybe just this once I could write something. My uncle is a retired doctor, and a former obstetrician. Every once in a while I google my name, and members of my family, who are quite scattered around the country, there is mention of one of the names, but there isn't anything that would cause me to break my promise to myself about not writing about them. But, I found something a few weeks ago, and am breaking that promise.

I'll share what I was told by somebody, who, I don't know. Either my mother, aunt, or even the doctor/uncle. He was Marina Oswald's doctor, she being the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald who shot President John F. Kennedy. I don't remember my reaction upon hearing this, nor do I remember when, maybe the 60s, 70s, or 80s...I just don't know. Over the years, I forgot about it and even wondered if it was a dream because I forgot so much.

During this time of google searching, my uncle's name came up several times in a document, Oswald, Marina Protective Custody of Sec. Service, Records of the John F. Kennedy Assassination Collection: Key Persons Files. I wasn't totally surprised but was glad there was proof that the old story was true. Once I found his name, I skimmed through the 80-page document and thought I'd just share a few lines from it. When Marina was protected by the Secret Service, everything was documented and may be read in the released document by the NARA seen HERE. My uncle's name is on the page dated January 10, 1964 (page 37 on the tab), and since many of you probably know the surname, you will see it (I'm trying to protect his name from the internet), or just look for the word doctor. Also, reading the historical document might be of interest to you. Perhaps my uncle was her doctor for many years, maybe her husband's? children's? or just Marina's for those months after the assassination, I'll never know. But, in a little over two months, she saw him at least twice. In addition to her hour-by-hour schedule during these months, Marina answers many questions regarding her husband, before November 22, 1963, most things I never knew about, a lot about his rifle.  https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/finding-aids/jfk-key-persons

From the pdf document, I'll share the below:

Protection of the Oswald Family
"In the early afternoon of November 24, 1963, while at the Parkland Hospital, after the death of Lee Harvey Oswald, I received a telephone call from Headquarters stating that the President had issued orders that the entire Oswald family should be protected to prevent any harm befalling the mother, brother, widow, or children of Lee Harvey Oswald.

At the time the Oswald family was at the hospital retrieving the remains of Oswald and were discussing funeral arrangements, and receiving spiritual consolation from the chaplain at the hospital. They had been brought to the hospital by Special Agents Howard and Kunkel who previously had arranged to interview the Oswalds with the assistance of Mr. Peter Paul Gregory. I instructed SA Howard and Kunkel to accompany Oswald to safe destinations when their visit to the hospital had been completed and to continue their attempts to interview each of them. They indicated to me that they had made prior arrangements at a motel."

Feb. 7, 1964: the Protective Detail assigned to Mrs. Marina. Oswald was discontinued at the Willard Hotel.

Wikipedia article about Marina Oswald Porter.
Wikipedia article about Lee Harvey Oswald

Happy Valentine's Day -- Virtual Flowers and Candy For You

Concord, Massachusetts Memorial, World War I

In Memory of

These Concord Men

Who Gave Their Lives in the

World War

_______

Capt. Howard B. Jackson

1st. Lt. James J. Mansfield

1st. Lt. James D. Beame

1st. Lt. Percy A. Rideout

1st. Lt. Charles S. Spencer

2nd. Lt. Orville P. Johnson

2nd. Lt. Whipple H. Parker

Ensign Henry J. Lund

Sergt. James J. Lane

Sergt. J. Alvord Rose

Corp. Gordon M. Channell

Corp. Philip H. Toomey

Farrier Edward F. Donovan

Cook Sylvester F. Gaudet

Pvt. 1Cl. Angelo Leberace

Pvt. 1Cl. Gordon K. MacKenzie

Fireman 1Cl. Adolph C. Nelson

Pvt. Henry J. Bergeron

Pvt. Frank Bernier

Pvt. Hiram G. Garfield

Pvt. Clemente Napolitano

Pvt. Herbert J. Nealey

Pvt. Carl Nolan

Pvt. William J. White

Pvt. Frank E. Wright

_______

So Nigh is Grandeur to Our Dust

So Near is God to Man

When Duty Whispers Low Thou Must

The Youth Replies I Can

                                                                Emerson                   

Freeman Family, Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

Lyman Freeman

Born in Plainfield, VT

June 24, 1810

Died in Lowell

March 7, 1878

Caroline Newell

His Wife

Born in Craftsbury, VT

Jan. 16, 1814

Died in Lowell

Oct. 28, 1902

Charles T. Freeman

Born in Lowell

Aug. 28, 1839

Died in Lowell

March 31, 1917

Photos taken in the summer where there is a lot of shade can present a problem. Sometimes it's very hard to read the cemetery stone. This was the case with the photo above, so I went back and retook it. While there were still shadows, but not as many as in the summer.

Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts

CVS and Lowell, a Real History, UPDATE, Part of the History Has Come to an End

Consumer Value Products aka CVS (Home of the 2nd ever CVS)

35 Merrimack Street

Lowell, MA

I remember it well, yes, 50 years ago, a CVS store opened very near where I worked, and must have passed by it at least 3 times a week. It soon became one of my favorite stores, since they sold cosmetics and probably magazines. Last year, I was reminded of those early days, when I received an advertisement card in the mail (see below). Yikes, they are now 50 years old. So what, you say. Well, the very first Consumer Value Store (now CVS) was opened in Lowell, Massachusetts May 8, 1963. They now have more than 7,400 stores, with three in Lowell.

My photos below were taken last fall of a storefront (this is not the original store, but not far from it). All windows had large photos of recent pictures of Lowell, complete with mills and canals. I haven't a clue what the white odd shapes are for, I should ask. I've been in quite a few CVS stores since I took this photo, and it is the only one with large window pictures.

Last year, there was an article in our local paper stating, "LOWELL -- The Lowell Community Health Center received a financial boost from a national corporation that got its start in the Mill City, the health center announced yesterday.

CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, the private foundation created by CVS Caremark Corporation, has given a $50,000 grant that will contribute to the $5 million capital campaign the health center is trying to raise before it opens its doors at the new building at 161 Jackson St. in the former Hamilton Manufacturing mill complex. The first storefront CVS, or Consumer Value Store, was opened in 1963 on Merrimack Street by brothers Stanley and Sidney Goldstein and partner Ralph Hoagland."

When I placed a call to their headquarters in Providence Rhode Island to see if they had a photo of the store opening in their archives, I found out they didn't have one.

UPDATE: 

CVS on Merrimack Street in Lowell closes, transfers prescriptions to Bridge Street pharmacy

A sign hangs on the door of the CVS on Merrimack Street in downtown Lowell, announcing the closure of the store. AARON CURTIS/LOWELL SUN

By STEFAN GELLER | sgeller@lowellsun.com | Lowell Sun

July 10, 2021 at 10:24 a.m.

"LOWELL — The CVS on Merrimack Street closed its doors on Friday and is transferring all prescriptions to the pharmacy on Bridge Street less than a mile away, according to a company spokesperson.

Multiple city officials told The Sun that the store’s closure came about due to a dispute between the company and the landlord over a lack of improvements being made to the space. The space, the Hildreth Building, is one of the downtown’s iconic buildings.

“We understand the disappointment of our closing store’s neighbors and customers,” CVS Retail Communications Manager Matt Blanchette said. “We are committed to the Lowell area and will continue to provide the community with outstanding service at our other stores nearby.”

Blanchette added that “every effort will be made” to place the store’s employees into comparable roles at other nearby locations.

While Blanchette characterized the store closing simply as a “difficult business decision,” Mayor John Leahy accused CVS of doing it out of corporate greed and said that the company has not been a good neighbor to the city.

“I’m very upset about it. It was a good anchor store downtown and to not really give us much information about it wasn’t the right thing to do,” Leahy said. “You’re supposed to be looking out for your customers and for the people you serve, but apparently they just care about their bottom line.”

News of the store’s closure also came as a serious disappointment to City Councilor Rita Mercier, who said that it is another sign that more and more businesses are leaving the downtown area and that something needs to be done in response.

“What happens in the downtown area trickles out to all the different neighborhoods, and I’m seeing a downtown that is deteriorating and falling apart,” Mercier said. “If I were a person that had an innovative idea and wanted to open up a business downtown, I would be reluctant to do so, because on either side of me there’d be empty storefronts.”

“Before you can correct something you have to admit that there’s a problem,” she added. 

However, Director of Economic Development Christine McCall rejected that sentiment, saying that a significant number of businesses opened or expanded during the pandemic, such as Kung Fu Tea on Merrimack Street, Nibbāna Café on Cardinal O’Connell Parkway and Tasty Dumplings on Market Street.

She also noted that Lowell has received $90,000 in grant funding from the state to develop a Rapid Recovery Plan, the purpose of which is to create and implement projects that will help revitalize downtown businesses post-pandemic.

So far, city officials have sent out surveys and hosted a series of meetings with business owners to discuss their goals, which the City Council will discuss at its meeting next week.

“Downtown is not without its challenges and I’m sorry that CVS is leaving, but I still think there’s a lot of great businesses there and there’s still a lot of things for people to do,” McCall said. “I don’t think all hope is lost downtown.”

Several sources told The Sun the CVS decision had nothing to do with the state of the downtown, but rather the dispute with the landlord, an LLC based out of Weston.

Echoing Blanchette’s statement, the sources noted CVS’ commitment to Lowell is more than visible at its new location on Bridge Street, at the intersection with the VFW Highway, and a brand new location in the Wood Street Plaza in the Highlands.

Allison Lamey, executive director of the Lowell Plan and Lowell Development & Financial Corp, said that while she too was disappointed to hear that the CVS was closing, she sees it as an opportunity for the area rather than just a loss.

“I’m hopeful that CVS’s departure means that the current owner might be more eager to sell the building, since they have not really maintained it to the degree that they should,” Lamey said. “I like to see this as an opportunity for someone new to come in and renovate that space, find new tenants and restore it.”

The first storefront CVS, or Consumer Value Store, was opened in 1963 on Merrimack Street by brothers Stanley and Sidney Goldstein and partner Ralph Hoagland." I challenge this fact that the first storefront was on Merrimack Street because I was working nearby and I saw that it opened on Central Street."

From the Lowell Historic Board is this post of February 2022.

Although the article from the Lowell Historic Board (https://www.lowellma.gov/559/Historic-Board) doesn't mention the exact address, it is 35 Merrimack Street, as shown in the first photo I took. As mentioned, the original CVS was on Central Street, a few blocks away.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LowellHistoricBoard

Wikipedia has information on the CVS chain as well.

Fun Facts including mention of the CVS may be seen by clicking on the link.

http://lowell.org/Documents/FunFacts_ForREFERENCE.pdf