Flint Public Library, Middleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts -- See The Resources for Genealogists

Flint Public Library

1 S Main St, Middleton, MA 

Phone: (978) 774-8132

https://flintlibrary.org/

This lovely library was built in 1889, and in 2006 there was an expansion. It is the only library I know of that is closed on Saturday but is open on Sunday. So, I went on an early spring Sunday and was very busy. Oh, I love old libraries and stained glass, so I was very happy I visited on April 24, 2022.

I loved the stained glass on the main floor reading rooms.

The balcony is for the local history collection. (Shown below.)

Local History in the Library

The library houses its local history collection on the balcony, where these items may be browsed. This collection includes:

• Masconomet Regional High School Yearbooks, 1960-present
• issues of The Tri-Town Transcript, 1989-present
• issues of The Village Reporter, 1998-2009
• issues of The Town Crossing, 2007
• books by Middleton authors
• a selection of historic maps of Middleton
• a variety of historic books from and about Middleton, Essex County, and Massachusetts

Vital Records for Middleton may be viewed upon request.

A group of dedicated volunteers is working on compiling binders of photographs, articles, and other sources that relate to various aspects of the history of Middleton. These binders are available to look at in the library, upon request. The topics include:

• Business
• Cemeteries
• Churches
• D.P.W., Fire, M.E.L.D., and Police
• Chief Masconomet, Will, Witches, and Folklore
• Flint Public Library: Buildings and Events
• Flint Public Library: People and Programs
• Houses
• Military
• Personal Collection of Laura Woodside Watkins
• B.F. Emerson
• Charles L. Flint
• People 1: A-H, People 2: I-R, and People 3: S-Z
• Schools (2 Volumes)
• School District
• Social Life
• Transportation
• Genealogies: Bray Wilkins and John Willard
• Military History and Balcony Collection
• Middleton Square
• Stream Team
• Tri-Town Transcripts
• Bicentennial Photo Collection–1976
• State Register of Historic Places (2003)
• Housing Inventory–1977
• Middleton Postcards
• Calendars 2003-2018
• Celebrations and Parades
• Government–Essex County, Commonwealth of MA, and Federal

Looking down from the balcony to the main floor. The first floor (addition) has the children's room and other rooms.

View from the front steps.

Back entrance.

Parking is in the back.

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.

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.

I was wondering what she was looking at, then I looked up. Lots and lots of lights.

2

Waiting for the show.

I saw this last year.

Box office.

The last ballet was in October, and my next ballet to see is Cinderella.