posted
Hello all-and to anyone in the Greater Boston/Massachusetts area-The National Heritage Museum in Lexington has an impressive exhibit of signs from colonial inns. Quite a few of them are more than two hundred years old. Lots of smalt and great artwork. I'm not sure how long it will be there, so call the museum before you go. Enjoy!
I am flying to Boston this Friday...and would be interested in more info...sounds like something I would like to see! Can ya give me direction as to the specifics...where...when open...etc?
Thanks
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1023 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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Looking forward to taking in some of your “gild” instruction at Mars. Looking at your panel before leaving and then reviewing some of the pictures from Mass Mayhem, I missed a great opportunity. Not going to repeat that same mistake twice!
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks for the tip Tisha, That's interesting about the common use of smalts. When I try to get that traditional medium approved by our Cape Cod (dunder-headed) Hysterical Committees, they don't get it, referring to it as 'glitter'. What a treat it would be to document beyond challenge that it WAS indeed a correct, colonial effect.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Joe, perhaps the difference between historical smalt and the response from your local authorities is that sand smalt was probably used. Sand smalt does not sparkle like glass smalt. I'm not claiming any historical knowledge here, just assumption.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6745 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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FIELD TRIP!!!! aaahh, traditional new england style signs, gotta love em.... when we going??
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Hi guys- Thanks to Bob for that link to the exhibit. Here's a little more info-The museum is The National Heritage Museum @33 Marrett Rd in Lexington Ma. Phone is 781-861-6559. Hours are Mon-Sat 10-5 and Sun. 12-5 with Tues. open til 9pm.(Call to be sure). The exhibit runs through Jan 5, 2003. Bruce, I'm not sure about a website. Robert, since you'll be in Boston, Lexington is only about 10 miles or so down the road, so it'll make a easy trip for you. I'm familiar with the area, so if anyone needs any help finding it, just let me know. Good to hear from you Ken! I was in your neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. We went to the barge-the Rockmore I think it's called. Ever been? If your serious about that field trip, I'm game for the fall. Tisha
posted
Hey Rick, continuing on smalts... The product I was using was glass. (Never seen sand smalts). To me, when you hold glass smals in your hand and look down on it, it appears sparkly, but in use, on a vertical surface, it actually has a very dense, flat, velvety appearance with virtually no sparkle. Completely non-reflective. I love the look but hate the process, and hate the sales pitch needed to get it approved by permit committees. We don't make many. I wonder if the museum allows cameras inside. Photographic proof of it's heritage would solve ONE of my problems.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Joe I use Black Beauty sandblasting sand at a med. course grit, sure is sparkley, I had to educate my town planners on the use of smaltz and its history, best bet is to do a small sample and show them. Instead of saying "yeah were gonna glue sparkley glass on the background".
AS for the field trip... when we going? maybe we could meet Robert in town and have a Letterhead outing! Rob if you want to look me up when you git in town give a call.... 978-745-5800
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Tisha bit of a History lesson for you, Boston's history really starts after the Battle of Hastings. In 1071 William the Conqueror gave the Honour of Richmond, including a manor in Skirbeck parish in Lincolnshire, to one of his noble supporters from Brittany. By 1086 a second church had been built in Skirbeck, and a market place and plots of land were laid out nearby where the local main roads crossed the tidal River Witham, but St.Botolphs town, or Boston as we now call it, was not listed as a separate community. Boston became one of the main ports of medieval England, exporting wool from monastic and other estates, lead from Derbyshire and salt from the Lincolnshire coast. Much of the trading was done in a few days at the town's fair, first mentioned in 1125, which became one of the great trade fairs of Europe for the sale of imports and exports. The imports included fine cloth, wine, furs, leather, spices and other luxury goods from Europe. By 1203/4 the tax returns on merchants goods in ports listed Boston at £781 which was only a little less than London at £837. The Pilgrim Fathers In 1607 with ever increasing penalties being placed on religious non-conformism, a group of Separatists from Scrooby in Nottinghamshire and Gainsborough in Lincolnshire - led by William Brewster and William Bradford - determined to exit the country illegally and seek religious freedom in the low countries. This group, later to become known as the Pilgrim Fathers, travelled sixty miles to Boston where they had organised for a ship to pick them up at the mouth of the Witham. However, they were betrayed by the captain of the Dutch vessel which had been hired to take the group to Holland and were arrested. The leaders were subsequently tried and imprisoned at the Guildhall in Boston. Finally released they made a second attempt to leave and this time successfully settled in Holland in 1608. Although they found acceptance, they were concerned at the morals of the local people and also that their children were becoming Dutch. They decided to move again and create a new environment which would suit their needs better and in 1620 they sailed on to the New World in the Mayflower via Plymouth. These settlers, none of whom were from Boston, landed at Plymouth Rock and established the first permanent settlement in New England at Plymouth Plantation.
The Exodus to New England On March 4th 1629 the Massachusetts Bay Company was given its Charter by Charles I. Although a commercial company, interested in making a profit from cultivating trade in the new colony, the leading promoters of it were also intent on establishing a state where a Puritan church would be free from all outside interference. On August 26th a dozen shareholders from Lincolnshire, including John Winthrop and Thomas Dudley signed a contract to inhabit and develop New England given that they would be allowed to govern the new colony themselves from Massachusetts. John Winthrop was made governor of the Company, Dudley his deputy and a number of assistants and magistrates making up the remainder of the governing body. They then set about the enormous task of organising a fleet of eleven vessels with all the equipment and supplies that would be needed for the migration. Puritan society received news of the venture with great excitement and many licences to migrate were applied for and granted. By April 1630 Winthrops great fleet was ready to sail from Southampton carrying the first Lincolnshire contingent aboard the Arbella. Apart from Winthrop himself, these included Thomas Dudley and his family, Anne Bradstreet and her husband Simon, and Lady Arbella Johnson and her husband Isaac. Although suffering ill-health John Cotton travelled to see them off, giving a sermon for the whole company.
The Founding of Boston, Massachusetts By mid-July of 1630 Winthrops fleet had reached the shores of Massachusetts but their first landing at Salem was a disappointment as the settlement was short of food and not able to support another thousand inhabitants. Many migrants found their way to the mouth of the Charles River but their health had deteriorated so badly that Thomas Dudley reported at least 200 deaths. Across the Charles River William Blackstone, a former clergyman, was living an isolated existence as a trapper and word came to him, from his Indian friends, of the dire straits his fellow countrymen were in. He sent a message to John Winthrop advising him that the Trimountain hills on his side of the river were far more suitable for settlement. Winthrop and Johnson, who had been at college with Blackstone, went to see him and it was this meeting that really marked the foundation of the city of Boston. Within the next few weeks several small wooden houses were built by the migrants and at the suggestion of Thomas Dudley it was decided that the new settlement be called Boston after its English namesake. Over the next few years many more Lincolnshire migrants arrived, including 250 from Boston. Indeed, a memorial stone in St.Botolph's Church commemorates the five Boston men who became Governors of Massachusetts, those being Thomas Dudley, Richard Bellingham, Francis Bernard, John Leverett and Simon Bradstreet. Also have a look at this site www.bostonuk.com/historicbostons/partner-foundusa.htm
A thousand years of history not bad eh!
When he was on tour in the US the english comedian Eddie Izzard was asked where he was from, he replied "England where the history comes from"
[ August 14, 2002, 03:33 AM: Message edited by: Stephen Broughton ]
-------------------- Steve Broughton Alpha Grafix Signs Lowfields Road Benington, Boston Lincolnshire, England Posts: 315 | From: Boston, Lincolnshire, England | Registered: Aug 2001
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That would be great to meet with ya!! I was going to see about stoppin in down around the cape...but my hostess has made plans for us to venture up your way...The Salem Witch Museum is on the list!...I told her I wanted to see if some ex girlfreinds were posted...LOL
I will take your number...My flight comes in Friday noon time...and I beleive we are going north directly but I am not sure so I will find out what plans she has for me!..
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1023 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
Robert, defintely look me up when you get to Salem, I will buy yall lunch (sorry no grits) also, be leary of the tourist traps... 5 things to see in Salem... 1) the wax museum 2) the house of 7 gables 3) the witch muuseum 4) the peabody essex museum 5) the friendship (3 mast tall ship replica)
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Can you believe I just arrived back home from Boston last Night, and I was at the Salem witch museum, the wax museum, and all the other tourist traps, Salem is a nice little town, managed to walk around and view the nice sights. But I did CapeCod Tues past all the way to Provincetown, and really enjoyed that, but boy was it hot! Getting back to the witch museum, I was dissapointed in the presentation, could have been more theatrical and interactive, but thats just my opinion. here is a shot outside, now that looks spooky. That's my wife and son, with his mass. Girlfriend. http://212.212.159.240/madness/imagesP/salem.jpg
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Hey Neil, you were 2 blocks away from the shop, you shoulda looked me up! True the Wutch Museum is a bit hokie, but you get the whole history lesson there, the best one is the wax museum and the Salem Witch Village, did you see our tall ship? or the house of seven gables?
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Yes Ken I should have looked you up, but I did post a couple of weeks ago that I would be in the boston area, but nobody really responded... boo hoo nobody likes me.lol. I really did'nt have much time honestly... it was a trip for my son.. we took him down to the seekonk area to meet his Internet Girlfriend for the first time, they are both 15 yrs old and have been talking for over 2 and a half years.. i tell you it was something how they hit it off. I love MASS. But the people all need to move to Nfld to get some lessons on Hospitality and to learn how to smile when you are giving them your hard earned money. but that's another story. guess it's the big city paranoia.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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New England hospitality= if you dont like it, go home!! haha just kidding Neil, I know what your talking about. If I knew you were in town I sure woulda shown you some letterhead hospitality! See any good signs in Salem?
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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