Life From The Roots: Holiday

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.

Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Family

Freedom from Want by Norman Rockwell

In December 2017, I toured the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and saw this painting. It was quite a thrill because I've always seen it in print, but never the original. At that time, I knew I would use this painting for my Thanksgiving greeting. My family never had a dinner like this, but it's fun in imagine what it would be like. No matter what you eat or who you share the day with, just be thankful for what you have.

From Wikipedia: "Freedom from Want, also known as The Thanksgiving Picture or I'll Be Home for Christmas, is the third of the Four Freedoms series of four oil paintings by American artist Norman Rockwell. The works were inspired by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address, known as Four Freedoms.

The painting was created in November 1942 and published in the March 6, 1943 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. All of the people in the picture were friends and family of Rockwell in Arlington, Vermont, who were photographed individually and painted into the scene. The work depicts a group of people gathered around a dinner table for a holiday meal. Having been partially created on Thanksgiving Day to depict the celebration, it has become an iconic representation for Americans of the Thanksgiving holiday and family holiday gatherings in general. The Post published Freedom from Want with a corresponding essay by Carlos Bulosan as part of the Four Freedoms series. Despite many who endured sociopolitical hardships abroad, Bulosan's essay spoke on behalf of those enduring the socioeconomic hardships domestically, and it thrust him into prominence."

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Halloween Greetings from Three Historic Massachusetts Spooky Cemeteries

Greetings From Three Historic Cemeteries in Massachusetts.

Old Burying Ground, Lexington

To research Lexington cemetery, go to If All Cemeteries Would do This.

Forefathers Burying Ground, Chelmsford

Monday, September 5, 2016

Labor Day with the Mill Girls and an Irish Canal Worker

"Homage to Women" by Mico Kaufman (See link for his education and works.)

Located in the Market Mills Courtyard

Market Street, Lowell, Massachusetts

"This sculpture is a tribute to Lowell's nineteenth

century 'mill girls.' The intertwined figures also

represent the struggles and aspirations of all

women throughout time."

During the annual Folk Festival in July, the courtyard is used for music and fun. You can see the sculpture on the below left picture.

The Worker

Located in downtown Lowell, MA.

Corner of Shattuck and Market Streets

This work, constructed in 1985 by Elliot and Ivan Schwartz, depicts an Irish canal worker widening the canal ways of Lowell.

The Worker

In 1821 Hugh Commisky led a

band of laborers on a trek from

Charlestown to Lowell. With muscle

and sweat they dredged canals in

the soil of rugged farmland. As

others joined in their toil a complex

waterpower system evolved, creat-

ing a new era of textile production.

When one generation had endured

and the clamor of manufacturing

increased, immigrants came by

the thousands seeking labor and

a better life. This fountain cele-

brates workers and their contribu-

tion to industrial and human heritage.

Lowell Heritage State Park

Lowell National Historical Park

ARTIST(S): Elliot Schwartz, sculptor; Ivan Schwartz, sculptor.

DATE: Installed 1985.

From the Lowell Historical Society,

Hugh Commiskey died at his home on Adams Street, at age of 82, December 12, 1871.

The above photo was taken Sept. 5, 2015 (a few days after it was repaired) and shows the complete sculpture (with trolley on the right). The pry bar had been sawed off just below this worker's lower hand (see previous photo). The photo below shows the water and stone boulders at a different angle.

This courtyard is also a place for people to mingle or wait, as the people below are doing during the Folk Festival in July.

To Remember "Homage to Women" and "The Worker" on this Labor Day

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Balch House of Beverly, Massachusetts Celebrated Many Thanksgivings

This house was built in 1636 by John Balch and is located in Beverly, Massachusetts and is maintained by the Beverly Historical Society. It is one of the oldest wood-frame houses in the United States. My photos show the various rooms.

The above guest book for visitors has been used since 1969. I first signed it about 16 years ago, and then On July 11th of this year. A facebook and blogger friend, Pam Carter signed it about a week before I did. She also did a more detailed blog post, which is excellent, so if you would like more information, I suggest you visit her site HERE.