Life From The Roots

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Meeting up with Blogger Friends -- Part 2

Within the past month, I've met with two genealogy blogger friends. First was Cynthia Shenette who has the Heritage Zen blog. My outing with her can be seen in Part 1, HERE. The second outing was with Diane MacLean Boumenot of the One Rhode Island Family blog. I had met each of them four times, so they weren't "new" to me. Below are photos taken last Saturday when Diane and I met in Lexington, Massachusetts (where I once lived for 8 years), and Concord, Massachusetts. It was a perfect weather day, lunch was good and while I was there I took photos of me in old yearbooks, which I'll post at another time.

First two photos taken at the Lexington Green.

Old cemetery behind the above church.

We drove to Concord, and saw the sights at the Old North Bridge.

Diane taking a picture of the Concord Minuteman.

Diane had a tourist take a picture of the two of us. I am holding the iPad.

Meeting up with Blogger Friends -- Part 1

Within the past month, I've met with two genealogy blogger friends. First was Cynthia Shenette who has the Heritage Zen blog. And the second was with Diane MacLean Boumenot of the One Rhode Island Family blog. I had met each of them four times, so they weren't "new" to me. Below are photos taken almost a month ago in Harvard, Massachusetts, where Cynthia and I visited the Fruitlands Museum. To give you an understanding what it is, Wikipedia writes, "The property was purchased in 1910 by Clara Endicott Sears, who opened the farmhouse to the public in 1914 as a museum.^[5] In addition to the Fruitlands building, the site now includes a transplanted Shaker house from the nearby Harvard Shaker Village, Native American artifacts and Hudson River School paintings.^[6] The museum is primarily the result of the efforts of Sears, a preservationist." We had a very nice time, weather was absolutely perfect for walking, even though the pictures show a threatening sky.

The red house above was where Louisa May Alcott and her family lived for six months. Below is an original sofa where she sat (we were not allowed to sit on it, of course). From MassMoments, the article tells us that the Alcott family arrived at Harvard, MA from Concord, MA on June 1, 1943. Interesting article may be seen at:

http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=162

Shaker house. Wish I had taken photos inside, but I managed a shot from the back.

In the art museum, I took this photo called, Sunset in the Tropics, 1868 by Frederick Edwin Church.

The year before, Cindy and I met in Boston to tour The Gibson House Museum. From their website, "Built in 1859-60, the Gibson House stands as the historic house museum of the Back Bay. In 2001, the National Park Service declared the Gibson House a National Historic Landmark. It is unique as an unspoiled single-family residence that retains its kitchen, scullery, butler’s pantry and water closets, as well as formal rooms and private family quarters, filled with the Gibsons’ original furniture and personal possessions. Visitors enjoy a glimpse of the lives of a well-to-do Boston family and their domestic staff." We loved this old house, even though it was rather dark inside and the stairs didn't look safe, we still enjoyed ourselves. I wish I'd taken more photos, but couldn't becauswe it was quite dark inside.

UPDATE: Fall 2016 article

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Cornish, New Hampshire -- Windsor, Vermont Bridge

Walk Your Horses Or Pay Two Dollars Fine.

Cornish - Windsor Bridge

Build in 1866 at a cost of $9,000, this is the

longest wooden bridge in the United States and

the longest two-span covered bridge in the world.

The fourth bridge at this site, the 460-foot

structure was built by Dela J. Fletcher (1811-1877)

of Claremont and James F. Tasker (1826-1903)

of Cornish, using a lattice truss patented by

architect Ithiel Town in 1820 and 1835. Built as

a toll bridge by a private corporation, the span

was purchased by the state of New Hampshire in

1836 and made toll-free in 1943.

Friday, October 18, 2013

North Parish Church, Founded 1645, North Andover, Massachusetts

Photo taken October 18, 2013, all others on Memorial Day, 2013.

All previous New England Churche posts may be seen under my Tab labeled Churches.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Woburn Public Library / Winn Memorial Library, Woburn, Massachusetts (See the Resources for Genealogists)

45 Pleasant St, Woburn, MA 01801

Phone: (781) 933-0148

Website: https://woburnpubliclibrary.org/

In October 2013, I posted my photos and information about this huge 1879 library and was quite concerned when I saw they were going to enlarge it. I didn't want anything changed. So, when I returned on February 10, 2024, and saw no changes, I was surprised. The above photo is what I took. A ride around to the new parking area showed me the enlargement. Even if you aren't there to get a book or do genealogy, I think you would enjoy walking around, you will come away amazed.

I took so many pictures, but I feel the ones below will give you an idea of this lovely library. The only thing wrong was, I went on a Saturday and the archivist wasn't working and her office was closed. There is an Archives and Local History links below. Some of my surnames from Woburn are Brooks, Carter, Green, Page, Poole, and Winn.

Where the old meets the new.

This used to be the children's room. The Artifacts Room is under lock and key. I was able to see inside to take a few pictures prior to somebody who had an appointment.