Ron J
Active member
[attachment 114033 DSC05990.jpg]Historic Markers....They seem to be everywhere, every State , every Country.... As i mentioned, adventure right in front of your nose! Next time you "fly by" one, stop and read it! Most are in plain view for hundreds of feet, others, you may spot if you are stopped in traffic, or walking, (heaven forbid!)
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where i was born , yes a true Yankee, there seems to be hundreds of historic markers, and places too see or visit, where ancestors of our United States, started our beautiful country, with bloodshed, hardships we could not imagine, and being daring citizens. We have all heard or read about, The Mayflower, The Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock,Pocahontas, The First Thanksgiving, The British,The Minutemen, The Revolution, Concord, Bunker Hill, The U.S.S. Constitution, and on and on i could go. But those mentioned are well known to any school children during the fifties and sixties. What i am writing about are mostly Roadside Markers, not tourist attractions. When ever or where ever i drive, i ride past these soldiers of history. Just a paragraph, or a statement, but one of unknown importance, perhaps marking a landmark, oldest house, a historic farm, battlefield, church or even a tree! Rarely have i stopped over the years to find out what the heck is so important that somebody took the time and money to cast these tablets, and place them in a place of prominence. It finally hit me a few months back, just WHO did come up with the idea, and WHY? I found a ton of information, and more than i would ever think of finding about these Markers. I wanted to know how many were in Massachusetts, let alone the rest of the Country! While searching i found a book for sale on line, a little pricey, titled "Historical Markers Erected By Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission". published in 1930, same year all the tablets are dated, 1930. I procrastinated about buying the book, heck , i spent hundreds on foolish
metal detectors! Why not the book? I held off from buying it, hoping a less expensive one would come along....not quite... Oh well.... A week ago, it still bugged me, i didn't buy that darn book. I started searching on line, an low and behold, i found one, that i could actually read on line for free! Its kind of bland, but the information is priceless. More to come.... Here is a picture of what i am writing about...Got your attention yet?
Rj