Well-known Brattle Street Bookstore on West Street, Boston, Massachusetts

 

9 West St, Boston, MA 02111

Phone: (617) 542-0210

Website:  https://www.brattlebookshop.com/

I haven't gone upstairs, but will in a few months, then I  will post the new photos.

I recognized the owner, Ken Gloss. With permission, he allowed me to take his picture. I recognized him from his many appearances on the PBS show, Antiques Roadshow.

From the website https://www.brattlebookshop.com/  then click on about the site gives an impressive history of the Book Store and family. "The Brattle Book Shop, founded in the Cornhill section of Boston in 1825, has been in the hands of the Gloss Family since 1949. Over the years George and his son Kenneth built this shop into one of the largest antiquarian bookshops in the country.

Housed in a three-story building in the heart of Downtown Boston, The Brattle Book Shop carries an impressive stock of over 250,000 books, maps, prints, postcards, and ephemeral items in all subjects. In addition to its general used and out-of-print stock, The Brattle Book Shop also maintains an inventory of first editions, collectibles and fine leather bindings in its rare book room.

Ken Gloss is the current proprietor of The Brattle Book Shop. He is a past President of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America’s New England Chapter. Ken Gloss appraises books and librarians for Harvard, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern, Simmons, Suffolk, Tufts, Babson, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the FBI and others. He lectures on the antiquarian book field to library groups, historical societies, and other book-interested groups throughout the New England area."

I saw the movie The Holdovers on opening week because I knew there were a lot of location shots in Massachusetts, especially Boston. I knew nothing about the story. I came across the above photo online (no idea of credit), but it shows perfectly where this was filmed. Now I can report that Paul Giamatti (on the left) won the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award for The Holdovers Golden Globe Awards show last night (Jan. 7, 2024). Dominic Sessa is on the right.

The below photos were taken on Tremont St., which is one block away from the bookstore. If I am early for the ballet (a 1/2 block away), I often go to the Boston Common Visitors Center or sit in the Common to enjoy the sites.

Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Massachusetts

Harmony Grove Cemetery

30 Grove St, Salem, MA 01970

Phone: (978) 744-0554

Date formed: 1840

Website: https://www.harmonygrovesalem.org/

From the website is this write-up, "At nearly 100 acres in size, Harmony Grove Cemetery has avenues and paths that meander through its over 21,000 monuments or burial markers, and rare and unusual plantings and tree specimens. Facing the entrance to the cemetery is the Blake Chapel, a beautiful gothic-style structure built in 1904 of Cape Ann granite."

I've visited the cemetery a number of times but not the office. My first visit was in 1999 and the most recent was this past May. I had a lengthy conversation with the staff of two and asked a lot of questions. When you scroll down in this blog you will see printouts I obtained. I was very curious to learn if they were online. The answer was no, but they were sure it would happen in the future. The other day, I called the office to see if the online project was completed, because I wanted to share the information. However, they think it might be as long as a year. When it happens, it would be a reason to celebrate.

Main Entrance

The Blake Chapel is above and to the left is the business office on Highland Avenue (side view), shown below.

Main door, looking out. Office photos below.

The two women staff were most helpful to me. I didn't expect what they gave me. After bringing out two large binders (shown above), they showed me the listings of all those buried in this cemetery. I asked to see a listing for Poole, which turned out to be quite lengthy. I have eight direct Poole names and two Daniels names listed. I was very lucky when they offered to make copies of the pages for me. (Shown below.)

 

Back entrance to the office, and parking area.

 

I Recently Received Photos of My Poole Grandparents, They Loved Cats

Clarence F. Poole   1891-1957

Photo dated 1940

Marjorie Adams Poole   1891-1953

Photo dated 1940

Photo of their house taken about 1935.

(Google Nov. 22, 2023)

Grandparents lived here 30 years.

Both of these pictures are of my grandmother holding my father in 1919.

Merrimac Public Library, Merrimac, Massachusetts (Resources for Genealogists)

Merrimac Public Library

86 W Main St,

Merrimac, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Phone: (978) 346-9441

https://www.merrimaclibrary.org/

I didn't know what to expect from this ordinary-looking rather new library. I quickly looked around inside and didn't see anything of interest. So, I asked the reference librarian if they have a history/genealogy room. So...

She walked me over to the closed doors of the most beautiful room I've ever seen. And there are many, many genealogy and history books! Merrimac is a small town, with less than 7,000 people, so this library really surprised me. She turned the lights on, and I enjoyed looking around.

These books, known as the Tan Books in Massachusetts contain B-M-D vital records for many of the towns to 1850.

Lights out and I was sorry to leave. Unfortunately, I have no ancestors from this area.

Genealogy / Local History Resources

Local History Room

Please call for open hours or to schedule an appointment. Our collection includes:

• local town histories
• family genealogies
• vital records
• military/war references
• general genealogy references
• old Merrimac newspapers
• Merrimac history resources

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FamilySearch.org is the largest genealogy organization in the world. This is a free service to all. No memberships or joining fees are required. They provide 24/7 free expert phone support and have 4,500 Family History Centers worldwide. This service is not sponsored or provided by the Merrimac Public Library. You do not need a library card to use FamilySearch.org.

• www.familysearch.org

Other rooms in the library.

This is a photo of the previous library which was way too small and had major water damage. It now houses the historical society. The new library was completed in 2004.

In their community-attached room, a Christmas craft sale was being held. I enjoyed walking from table to table.