#Boston history

[copperbadge]

Sam, because you lived in Boston, I assume you have walked pat the statue of Mary Dyer on the Statehouse grounds. I don’t know if you were aware that the statue commemorates her hanging for being a Friend (Quaker).

I lived in Boston for a summer and I get out there at least once a year and I knew about Mary Dyer already and I made a special trip to see the monument to anesthesia on Boston Commons, and I still never managed to see this haunting motherfucker.

I have never seen such a terrifying Friend in all my days. I'm sure she was a perfectly normal-looking human in life, no judgement on Mary. And really no judgement on the sculptor, Sylvia Shaw Judson, either, she's a very good artist. It's just. What the fuck.

[ID: A photograph of the sculpture of Mary Dyer, one of Boston's "four martyrs"; her body is mostly in proportion as she sits on a bench wearing a plain dress and head covering. Her neck, however, is extremely long, as is her face, and something about the shape of the cheekbones above extremely deep-sunk eyes gives her a very Uncanny Valley aura.]

Mary Dyer's story is pretty interesting if you can stomach it. I'm perpetually surprised, though I shouldn't be, by how persecuted early Quakers were for the heresy of *checks notes* Believing in the dignity of all humanity, saying that being able to legally own another person was a bad thing, and being mostly very quiet while praying.

Like I do get it, Quaker belief tends to be in direct opposition to authority, but authority mostly sucks! The sheer terror they inspired through, basically, the act of being thoughtful, decent people seems deeply out of proportion.

(Amusingly, evangelicals still don't know what to do with Quakers much of the time. I've never seen a Baptist bluescreen as hard as the one who asked me if I'd like to come to his church and got the response "No thank you, I attend Quaker meetings." He just didn't know where to put that.)

That said, if someone who looked like this statue confronted me about bad behavior after a Meeting, I would flip the fuck out.

[pardoncaptainkidd]

Winter is almost upon us and we, the Captain Kidd Pardon Movement, hope everyone will be warm and safe this season. How many of you have had to withstand a cold winter with no fire or no electricity? 

October through February, 1699, Captain William Kidd was imprisoned in Boston’s gaol in the dead of winter. Lord Bellomont kept a strict watch on him and would not provide him any visitors, not even his own wife - he feared that Kidd plotted an escape. Due to this, Kidd’s health deteriorated by the brutal weather, lack of good food and warmth.  Kidd would not be removed from this prison until March 10th, 1700 when the HMS Advice finally arrived in Boston’s harbor to transport him back to London for trial. From there, he would have to sit and rot in a prison with far worse conditions.

Visit our site pardonwilliamkidd.com for more information on the movement. If you wish to support the movement, please consider liking this + following us here! We also take donations to help fund this movement on GoFundMe.com (search ‘Pardon Captain Kidd’).

[borgiabeacon]

1919: The Sugar Tsunami of Boston

On January 15, 1919, Boston witnessed an extraordinary disaster that sounds almost too bizarre to be true: the Great Molasses Flood. This catastrophic event occurred when a massive storage tank containing over two million gallons of molasses burst, unleashing a tidal wave of the sticky substance through the streets at an estimated speed of 35 mph. The flood was not only a surreal spectacle but a deadly one, claiming 21 lives and injuring 150 people.

Molasses, the central figure in this disaster, is a byproduct of sugar refining, known for its thick, syrupy consistency and sweet flavor. It is widely used in cooking and baking, as well as in the production of rum and other industrial goods. Despite its commonplace nature, the Great Molasses Flood highlighted the potential dangers of industrial storage and the catastrophic consequences of negligence.

The sheer volume of molasses, coupled with its thick consistency, posed unique challenges for rescue and cleanup efforts. In the cold winter temperatures, the molasses quickly thickened, hampering attempts to free those trapped by the deluge. The disaster caused significant damage to the North End neighborhood, destroying buildings, overturning vehicles, and leaving a sticky residue that was notoriously difficult to clean. It took weeks to clear the molasses from the streets, and the harbour remained discoloured until summer.

The aftermath of the flood had lasting impacts beyond the immediate cleanup. It led to a reevaluation of safety standards and regulations for industrial construction, marking a turning point in how such facilities were built and maintained. The tragedy underscored the importance of regulatory oversight to prevent similar disasters in the future.

[vintageboston]

Hotel Gardner • Boston Massachusetts

Old Postcard [Ballroom Photo Circa 1930-1945] "The Ball Room of the Hotel Gardner -- available for group affairs -- is one of the city's showplaces. The Hotel Gardner on Massachusetts Avenue at Norway Street (only two blocks from both Symphony and Mass, Ave. subway stations) is conveniently located near such famous Boston landmarks as Symphony Hall, the Boston Opera House, Horticultural Hall, and the Christian Science Mother Church. Delicious luncheons and dinners featured daily in the Gardiner Grill. Cheerful outside guest rooms make your visit an enjoyable one. Moderate rates. Send for folder."

[marzipanandminutiae]

does Rose Standish Nichols is gay

[wordsandimagesbycynthiastaples]

the embrace

It is a truly interesting interpretation of a beautiful act, an embrace. I’m impressed with the concept though I struggle to understand everything that I am seeing. But for some reason I don’t mind that struggle with this piece. Maybe it is the hands. They are beautifully rendered. The viewer reads into art and what I read into those hands are both gentleness and strength, love and sensuality,…

[madhubabudotblog]

Boston's Prestigious Universities: A Hub of Education and Innovation

Introduction Welcome to Boston, a city where history meets modern charm, creating a unique blend that captivates every visitor. Known for its pivotal role in the American Revolution, Boston is not just a city but a living museum of America’s birth. This blog takes you on a journey through Boston’s rich historical background, its prestigious educational institutions, vibrant cultural scene, and…

[beggars-opera]

The fact that the Boston transit system has been a garbage fire for so long that our mascot is a sad little man who is literally stranded on the train until the end of time due to a fare increase. Charlie's desiccated corpse has been riding this train since the 1940s and everyone just sort of rolls with it it this point

[thedustycat]

"Portrait of Louisa" - 1913 photo from the Boston Art Club. Perhaps a reference photo?

[pardoncaptainkidd]

The Old Gaol - the first ever prison built in Boston is long gone and this columned structure now stands on the site where it once was. This was the place where Captain Kidd was imprisoned in 1699 when he was arrested by Governor Lord Bellamont before he was shipped back to England for his trial. It was a long, miserable winter and it was his last experience in the Americas. He never got to say goodbye to his family. An official plaque is displayed on the building, informing pedestrians that the old jail was once here and that Captain Kidd was held prisoner on this site.

[guinevereslancelot]

[marzipanandminutiae]

I'm at the Boston Massacre site

I'm at the SweetGreen

I'm at the combination Boston Massacre site and SweetGreen

[thedapinna]

I like history, memes and American girl dolls. Here's the union of all these.