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.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Charter Street Cemetery Welcome Center, Salem, Massachusetts--See The New Database

On a very quiet April day in 2023, I was in Salem and decided to visit the new Charter Street Welcome Center that opened in June 2021. It was a smart move because I didn't need an appointment and I had a good amount of time to talk to the employee with the computer in the center. He also put a few of my ancestor's names into the database and they were on the list (see below). There are two rooms to view in the Samuel Pickman House, a mariner who acquired land to build his house in 1657. There is a gift shop and a museum. The Welcome Center photos are below.

51 Charter Street, Salem Ma. 01951 Charter Street, Salem Ma. 01970 | info@charterstreetcemetery.com70 | info@charterstreetcemetery.com

Charter Street Cemetery Stone Database at: https://www.charterstreetcemetery.com/accessioning

The database can be used at home, however, I was surprised that I had to scroll line by line to find who I was looking for. It isn't set up to just type in a name, hit search and there you are. I found five names, all of whom I already knew and had taken their photos many years ago.

Simon Bradstreet 03/27/1697

Steven Daniels 02/14/1687

John Marston 19/12/1681

Miles Ward 29/08/1764

Sarah Massey Ward 20/11/1728

Salem Witch Trials Memorial with a marker below of John Proctor, hanged August 19, 1692.

My Simon Bradstreet tombstone.

My husband and I visited the cemetery in April 2019. From these photos, you can see that a lot of tree-cutting and repairs have been done. The Welcome Center hadn't opened yet.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Opera House Back Stage Tour, Boston, Massachusetts

During the summer of 2023, the Citizens Bank Opera House gave backstage tours on certain days during the summer. The facility was closed to the public, so no plays, ballets, or other events were performed. The Opera House had a facelift and was open to a number of contractors. The photo above is what you see when you walk in. Below is the view when you turn around.

Citizens Bank Opera House,

539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

Phone: (617) 259-3400

https://www.citizensbankoperahouse.com/

A showing of upcoming plays. I am familiar with this theater because my husband and I often went to plays, and for two years I've been a subscriber to the Boston Ballet.

Six photos of beautiful chandeliers and one worker.

Contract employee doing some deep cleaning.

Old telephone booths, now used as pump rooms.

Glad this was for Staff Only.

We walked to the third floor and were able to see several men working on the stage. There are 2,677 seats in the theater.

Lower level, more work.

VIP Lounge, above and below.

Through this hallway, we were able to see posters of the many plays done here, all autographed.

Much to our surprise the working crew left for the day, so we were treated to the stage. All ten of us were very happy. We just kept looking at everything, even tho we didn't know what the things were.