Quincy, Mass. Blog #13: JFK Library (Boston) Part 1 - The building & architect

Today's blog takes us just north of Quincy, Massachusetts to the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and the famous John F. Kennedy Library, designed by famous architect I.M. Pei. We got to tour the library with our friend Laurie and it was an amazing place in an amazing location, facing Boston Harbor.  You'll read fast facts, the architect, and why it's also called a Museum, and not just a Presidential Library! 

(Photo: Rob, Laurie and Tom outside the JFK Library and Museum. Credit: R.G.) 

ABOUT JFK LIBRARY - The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and museum of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States.  Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125

FAST FACTS: Cost: $20.8 million; Architect(s): I. M. Pei; Founded: 1979, Columbia Point, Boston, MA; Parent organization: National Archives and Records Administration; Size: 10 acres (40,000 m2). It's located next to the University of Massachusetts at Boston, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, and the Massachusetts Archives and Commonwealth Museum.

WHAT IS HOUSED THERE? The building is the official repository for original papers and correspondence of the Kennedy Administration, as well as special bodies of published and unpublished materials, such as books and papers by and about Ernest Hemingway.

(Photo: Campaign poster for JFK in his Presidential run. Credit: R.G.) 

WHO WAS THE ARCHITECT - After JFK's passing, Mrs. Kennedy selected I.M. Pei as the architect. Though Pei was relatively unknown at the time, she viewed him as filled with promise and imagination. He later went on to become one of the most famous architects of the 20th century.

Ieoh Ming Pei FAIA RIBA was a Chinese-American architect. Raised in Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the garden villas at Suzhou, the traditional retreat of the scholar-gentry to which his family belonged. Pei won a wide variety of prizes and awards in the field of architecture, including the AIA Gold Medal in 1979, the first Praemium Imperiale for Architecture in 1989, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, in 2003. In 1983, he won the Pritzker Prize, which is sometimes referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture.

(Photo: Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy with I. M. Pei in 1964. He is speaking to the press about funding for the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, which he designed. Credit: Library of Congress)

ABOUT THE BUILDING - The library and museum is part of the Presidential Library System, which is administered by the Office of Presidential Libraries, a part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) The library and Museum were dedicated in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter and members of the Kennedy family. Progress on the building began shortly after President Kennedy's death in November 1963. On January 13, 1964, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy announced that a taped oral-history project was to be undertaken for inclusion in the library.

(Photo: Ship's mast is located in the yard at the back of the library/museum because John F. Kennedy was in the U.S. Navy, and he loved being on boats. Credit:. R.G.) 

WHY A LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, INSTEAD OF JUST A LIBRARY? - Since Kennedy encouraged his administration to save effects of both personal and official nature, the complex would not just be a collection of the President's papers, but "a complete record of a Presidential era." Therefore, the building would have the word "museum" appended to its name as the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

NEXT:  JFK and his legacy

Quincy, Mass. Blog #12: Original Location of First Dunkin' Donuts!

The best place to visit anywhere in the Quincy area is my favorite- The home of the very first Dunkin' Donuts, located on Southern Artery. Throughout our temporary stay, we had several dog walks to the location (they were long walks!), but it was worth it. Today's blog will tell you about the history of Dunkin' Donuts and how it came to be. 

(Photo: The original Dunkin' today with the Instagram logo and 1950s sign.)

TODAY - A Dunkin' store still stands on the site of the original location, and it's the same exact building. It's gone through some upgrades, but it's kept its 1950s retro look. Outside of the store is a huge "Instagram" logo of a camera, and the year "1950" so people can get their photo there! There is also signage within the store, and photos from the 1950s. 

(Photo: Plaque on the wall proclaiming this is the official original site of Dunkin'. Credit: R.G.)

HOW DUNKIN' DONUTS CAME TO BE - Thanks to the website Atlas Obscura, I didn't have to write all of this, although being a native, and having visited this location since I was a child, I pretty much know the history. 

During World War II, William Rosenberg, a shipyard worker in Quincy, realized that there were not many options for him and his colleagues to have lunch nearby. He then borrowed $1,000 and used another $1,500 to start “Industrial Luncheon Services” to satisfy workers’ lunch needs. The business sold sandwiches, coffee, doughnuts, and other snacks from a truck. After noticing that 50 percent of the sales were coffee and doughnuts, he decided to concentrate on the most popular items in the menu. 

(Photo: The original Dunkin' Donuts location in the 1950s! Credit: Dunkin' Donuts)

He established a new location at 543 Southern Artery, Quincy, named “Open Kettle.” This was the predecessor to Dunkin’ Donuts and sold only coffee and doughnuts for 10 cents and 5 cents respectively. The business was an instant success. Having noticed that customers dunked their donuts in the coffee, Rosenberg decided to change Open Kettle’s name to Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950, and the first Dunkin’ Donuts was born. 

(Photo: Outside the Original Dunkin'! Tom (standing), Rob (right) Tyler (front), Cody (back left), and Dash (back right). Credit: R.G.)

 Today, the restaurant has a retro style to honor its origins. Inside there is plaque that reads “This is the site of the Original Dunkin’ Donuts” as well as original stool chairs in pink and orange colors, and tables with a doughnut shape. There is also a wooden wall with snapshots that tell the history of the first store.

TO MAKE PERSONALIZED DUNKIN' GIFT CARDS - with your photo, a friend or family member or your pet, go to https://www.dunkindonuts.com/en

Quincy, Mass. Blog #11: Hingham's Great Esker Park

 In today's blog about attractions in the Quincy, Massachusetts area, we visited the Great Esker Park in nearby Hingham. It's another good place to take your dogs, walk, run or just enjoy nature. You'll also learn what an "Esker" has to do with glaciers.

(Photo:Cody, Tyler and Dash taking a rest in the park. Credit: R.G.) 

ABOUT GREAT ESKER PARK - A forest-covered gravel ridge and an expansive salt marsh along the Weymouth Back River. Over 6 miles of paved and unpaved trails. Paved trails are stroller-friendly. Beautiful views of the estuary. Launch your canoe or kayak at higher tides at the Puritan Road entrance. Links directly to Julia Road Park and Osprey Overlook Park. Part of the Back River Trail.

(Photo: Dash, Tyler and Daddy Rob. Credit: R.G.)

WHAT IS AN ESKER? - Eskers are formed when meltwater channels running under a glacier deposit sediment gravel along the way. After the glacier completely retreats, this sediment ridge is left. At height of 90 feet, the eskers in this park are considered to be the tallest in North America.

The North and South Rivers Water Association has a great webpage about the park. Here's some of the info from that page.

(Photo: Tom and Cody, with Tyler trying to catch up! Credit: R.G.)

ABOUT THE RIVER THAT RUNS ALONG THE PARK - The Weymouth Back River is also known simply as the Back River. In earlier times, this land was within the region of the Wampanoag tribe. Both Native American and European settlers relied on it as a source of food, particularly river herring. In 1982, the Weymouth Back River received the state designation of Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), “a place in Massachusetts that receives special recognition because of the quality, uniqueness and significance of its natural and cultural resources.”

ABOUT THE TRAILS - A wide paved trail extends for about 2 miles along the top of the esker ridge from Bridge Street to Osprey Overlook Park. In general, it is stroller and wheelchair friendly, although portions are hilly and steep. There is also an expansive network of narrower, unpaved trails through the woods and along the edge of the salt marsh. In total, Great Esker Park offers 6.3 miles of trails.

TREES YOU'LL SEE - The forest that grows on top of the ridge is composed of oak, birch and cedar, with some sumac, maple and pitch pine.

HISTORY OF THE AREA - Around 1635, European settlers in Hingham and Weymouth established the Back River as the boundary between the two towns. In later years, the river was home to several industries, including a steel mill, a wool factory, and a fertilizer factory. 

In 1912, the Army Corps of Engineers dug a large channel from the river mouth to the fertilizer factory, deepening and widening the river. A similar project deepened the channel in 1943.

Great Esker Park was originally preserved by the U.S. government. It served as a buffer for the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot (1903-1971), across the river in Hingham (today’s Bare Cove Park). Military patrols would make use of the high vantage points along the esker ridge to guard the base below. 

 WHEN IT BECAME A PARK - It was sold to the Town of Weymouth, for use as a park, in 1965, through the National Park Service’s Federal Lands to Parks Program. This was due in large part to the advocacy work of local environmentalist Mary F. Toomey. Toomey founded the Great Esker Park Natural Science Center in 1966 and continued to advocate for the Back River throughout her life. She is commemorated on a colorful sign posted on one of the park’s overlooks. This land is within the region of the Massachuseuk (or Massachusett) Native American tribe.

Quincy, Mass. Blog #10: Abigail Adams Cairn

Abigail Adams is the wife of John Adams, second President of the U.S. You "met" her in a previous blog back on August 30, 2023, here. In today's blog, you'll come with us in Quincy, Massachusetts, and visit an historic location where she and her son, John Quincy Adams stood to see the Battle of Bunker Hill. (which you'll also learn about here). 

WHAT IS ABIGAIL ADAMS CAIRN? -  As the Battle of Bunker Hill unfolded in Boston, windows rattled and the ground shook from the cannon fire in Braintree, Massachusetts. Abigail Adams brought her seven-year-old son, John Quincy Adams, up to the top of nearby Penn's Hill (which provided a view of Boston at the time) to watch the battle from afar. The Abigail Adams Cairn marks the spot where they watched the burning of Charlestown on Saturday, June 17, 1775, during the Battle of Bunker Hill. 

WHERE IS IT LOCATED?  On Penn's Hill, now at the corner of Franklin Street and Viden Road in Quincy, Massachusetts.

(Photo: Rob and Tom at the bottom of the hill before the climb. Credit: R.G.) 

WHAT IS THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL? - The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775 during the Siege of Boston in the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved.

(Photo: Dash, Tyler and Cody pose at the foot of the cairn. Credit: T.W.)

HOW DID THE COLONISTS LOSE THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL? - The defenders had run out of ammunition, reducing the battle to close combat. The advantage turned to the British, as their troops were equipped with bayonets on their muskets, while most of the colonists were not.

(Photo: Words from Abigail Adams about that day on June 18, 1775 when she stood atop Penn's Hill, are etched on the side of the monument. Credit: R.G.)

SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE REPORTED - In just two hours of fighting, 1,054 British soldiers—almost half of all those engaged—had been killed or wounded, including many officers. American losses totaled over 400. The first true battle of the Revolutionary War was to prove the bloodiest of the entire conflict. Though the British had achieved their aim in capturing the hill, it was a truly Pyrrhic victory.  For the full article about the battle, click here for Smithsonian Magazine article.

MILE MARKER REVEALS 11 MILES TO BOSTON - Standing atop Penn's Hill in 1775, apparently Abigail and young John Quincy Adams could see and hear the firefight 11 miles north! 

(Photo right, credit: R.G)- Just across the street from the Cairn was a mile marker that was erected in the 1800s, that says ?To Boston 11 Miles (north) with an arrow; and To Plymouth 34 Miles (south) with an arrow in the opposite direction. 

FOR A 4 MINUTE VIDEO ABOUT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL - 

Bunker Hill: The Revolutionary War in Four Minutes: By Battlefield Trust 

In honor of the 245th Anniversary of The Battle of Bunker Hill, we are releasing a new American Battlefield Trust branded version of our Bunker Hill In4. Join Jim Percoco as he details the battle that followed Lexington & Concord, signifying that full scale war was imminent and there was truly no turning back for American and British forces. VIDEO: https://youtu.be/mgeq7uqqmn8 American  

Idiot of the Week: Florida woman threatened to run over Asian American woman

This week's idiot threatened to run over an Asian American woman, simply because she wasn't white. Of course, the Idiot of the week is from Florida, AND according to Conandaily, she is affiliated with the Republican Party of Florida (no surprise). Glad to read this: As a result of her threats (that happened in Maine) Maine’s 58th attorney general Aaron M. Frey announced on June 28, 2023, that he has filed a civil rights enforcement action against her. Here's the Idiot's Story from WGME-TV.

Florida woman accused of threatening to run over Asian American woman in Kennebunkport

by Ariana St Pierre, WGME June 28th 2023, 1:11 PM EDT

AUGUSTA (WGME) --Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says he has filed civil rights complaint against a Florida woman who allegedly threatened to run over an Asian American woman with her van in Kennebunkport.

Frey says he filed a civil rights complaint against 66-year-old Vicki Lush of Port St. Lucie, Florida, for threats against an Asian-American woman on June 6 in Kennebunkport.

The complaint seeks an order protecting the victim, by prohibiting Lush from having any contact with her, and from violating the Maine Civil Rights Act in the future. According to the complaint, Lush got into an argument with the woman while the woman was sampling chowder at a seafood restaurant.

Lush reportedly referred to the woman as a “foreigner,” telling her to go back to “your country.”

The woman, who was visiting Maine from her home in Massachusetts, responded that “you wouldn’t say this to a white person.”

Lush reportedly responded by calling her a “Chinese [expletive].”

In a parking lot, Lush allegedly threatened to hit the woman with her van and swerved her van in the direction of the woman.

According to Frey, Lush admitted that she told the woman, “You have no idea who you are messing with,” “I’ll lay you out right here,” “get out of my way or I’ll run you over,” and “you foreigners need to go home.”

The Maine Civil Rights Act prohibits the use of violence, the threat of violence, or property damage against any person motivated by that person’s race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation. Any violation of the act is a Class D crime, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Heroes of the Week: Good Samaritans Save Driver Before Crashed Car Catches Fire

How many times have you driven by a car accident and wondered if you could have helped or save someone? Some people in New Hampshire stopped to help a woman whose car crashed, and saved her before it burst into flames. Here's the story of those heroes. 

(Photos: On Tuesday, June 20, 2023,an Audi Q5 crossover crashed on Interstate 93 and caught on fire. Good Samaritans, including two off-duty firefighters, helped save the driver. (New Hampshire State Police)

Good Samaritans Save Driver Before Crossover Catches On Fire

Tony Schinella, Portsmouth, NH Patch Staff, Sun, Jun 25, 2023

CONCORD, NH — Good Samaritans, including two off-duty firefighters, helped save a woman from a car after it crashed into a tree on Interstate 93 and caught on fire on Tuesday. June 20, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Around 6:15 p.m., state police received numerous calls about the crash on the northbound side of the highway near Mile Marker 17. When they arrived, they found a 2021 Audi Q5, crashed in the median, and engulfed in flames.

“Troopers also observed that numerous good Samaritans pulled over to offer assistance, including two off-duty firefighters,” Amber Lagace, the public information officer for the department, said.” The firefighters, assisted by civilians who had stopped, had extricated the operator, the only occupant from the vehicle before the passenger compartment caught fire.”

The impact was so severe the vehicle’s engine was thrown from the crossover and came to a rest about 30 feet from the vehicle.

The driver, Natasha Maunsell, 38, of Manchester was taken to Elliot Hospital with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates that speed was a factor. However, all aspects of the crash remain under investigation. State police were assisted by Manchester and Londonderry firefighters.

Quincy, Mass. Blog #9: Faxon Park!

 In today's blog about things we did during our 2-month stay in Quincy, Mass. you'll read about Faxon Park, where we visited for a short hike with the dogs.

(Photo: L to R: Rob, Dash, Tyler, Cody, Tom. Credit; R.G.)

WHAT'S AT FAXON PARK? Two Little League Fields, Softball Field with lights, Basketball Court, Tot-Lot, Picnic Area with Pavilion & Many Walking Paths. The fields host various local softball teams. There's also places to grill out, too. Parking is free. 

(Photo: Tom and Cody hit the trail. Credit: R.G.)

WE TOOK A LITTLE HIKE, YOU CAN, TOO -  If you drive to the back of the park, there's a little rotary of sorts where you can park your car and walk down past the picnic areas, on the road which leads out. Before you get to the exit, there's a wooded trail on your right side which leads you to the entrance. Walk up the driveway from the entrance back up a hill to the little rotary and you've made the full circle. It takes about 20 minutes and is a nice walk.

WHERE IS FAXON PARK? 2003 Falls Blvd, Quincy, MA 02169

THE RECREATION SCHEDULE - If you're a resident or if you just like watching softball games, here's the local recreation schedule: https://quincyma.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=10605

WHO WAS FAXON PARK NAMED AFTER? -The park was named after a man named Henry Hardwick or H.H. Faxon (1823-1905).    In 1885 he gave to the city 28 acres of land and then his son, Henry M. Faxon, added another 11 acres in 1935. This is now Faxon Park. 

According to the Quincy  United First Parish Church's  (UFPC) History page: "H.H. Faxon  hosted and paid for a meeting in Boston in 1879 for temperance Republicans only. The New York Times covered the meeting and referred to him as “that eccentric Quincy millionaire.” 

H.H. FAXON WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY UPTIGHT  -  He also considered himself to be the moral guardian of the city, especially when it involved temperance. He was instrumental in keeping Quincy “liquor license-free” for years and was known as the “millionaire policeman” because he donated his services as an unpaid constable “to ferret out rum-sellers.” Faxon bought the Hancock Tavern just to close it because strong drink was sold there In 1883 he wrote and published a book entitled “Quincy Under the Ban of Prohibition” which compiled all the laws against gaming, the violation of the Lord’s Day, and drunkenness. It was not a big seller. Unfortunately for him, he died before Prohibition because he would have been in his element patrolling the city looking for bootleggers, stills and speakeasies. 

Incidentally, Mrs. Henry M. Faxon was one of the founders of the United Quincy Alliance in 1890, the women’s group at UFPC, and was the president of the state-wide organization of church women’s groups. Her daughter-in-law, another Mrs. Henry M. Faxon wrote a history of the church and presented it at the New England organization of women’s groups in 1948. 

FAXON FAMILY GOES BACK TO THE 1600s IN QUINCY - The Faxon family maintained strong connections to the church for well over three hundred years.  Thomas Faxon arrived from England in the 1640’s, bought some land from church member, Samuel Hough, in 1652 and took the Freeman’s Oath in 1657. Henry M. Faxon was appointed in 1731 to the church building committee which built the Hancock Meeting House in 1732.

Through the years there was usually a Faxon family member on the board of United First Parish Church and committees. When UFPC celebrated their 250th anniversary in 1889, Henry H. Faxon was on the finance committee and his son, Henry M. Faxon on the music committee. FOR MORE INFO, visit: https://ufpc.org/ufpc-vignettes/f/the-faxon-family

NEXT: The Great Esker Park, Hingham, Mass.

Quincy, Mass. Blog #8: Wollaston Beach!

In today's blog about Quincy, Mass. we visited Wollaston Beach on several occasions. Having grown up here and moved away, I always enjoyed walking the beach in the evenings or sitting on the beach wall with a cup of coffee looking at the city lights from Boston across the harbor. 

(Photo: Tyler, Dash and Cody on the Beach wall. Cr: R.G.) 

    

MY IDEA OF THE BENEFITS - Other than sitting on the beach, benefits include, FREE Parking facing the ocean, trash cans along Quincy Shore Drive, some restaurants on the opposite side, updated crosswalk signals, a nice view of the Boston Skyline in the distance, and a concrete beach wall - perfect for sitting on.                                                                                                                ABOUT WOLLASTON BEACH - Wollaston Beach is the largest public beach in the Boston harbor. The beach is located parallel to Quincy Shore Drive in North Quincy, Massachusetts, which was constructed to provide access to the bay beach for Greater Boston. Wollaston beach expands Quincy Bay forming part of Boston Harbor. There are a lot of runners, walkers and even dog-walkers who use the sidewalk that runs along the beach wall on Quincy Shore Drive.

HISTORY - Quincy Shore Reservation was conceived in 1899 by the Metropolitan Parks Commissioners, and remains as the formal/legal name of Wollaston Beach, Caddy Park, and Moswetusset Hummock. The ‘birth’ of Wollaston Beach occurred in 1908 with the completion of the “Metropolitan Boulevard” from Atlantic St to Fenno St. The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages Wollaston including lifeguards and maintenance.

FACILITIES - A beautiful concrete seawall edges much of the beach, and is a perfect place to sit and watch the water or look at the Boston Skyline. At the far end of the beach (northern point) is a Dunkin' Donuts, so you can get a cup of coffee or an iced tea, and walk south along the beach wall. The beach also has a boat ramp, yacht club, and a playground on the southern end of the beach. Lifeguard services run from mid-June to mid-August. For more information, visit: https://www.mass.gov/locations/quincy-shores-reservation

HOW LONG IS THE BEACH? - Wollaston Beach is the largest in Boston Harbor with roughly 2.3 mi (3.7 km) of shoreline. The promenade stands the entire length of the beach and is often busy with walkers, dog walkers, runners, and casual cyclists.

(Photo: Tyler and Dash pose on the beach wall. Credit: R.G)

DOGS CAN GO TO THE BEACH - (Just not on the sand in beach season) - While dogs are only allowed on the beach during the off-season, Wollaston Beach features a paved promenade that welcomes leashed pooches all year round.

(Photo: Tyler, Dash and Cody hanging out on the beach wall. Credit: R.G.)

CLEANING THE BEACH - There's a now locally famous clean-the-beach campaign  called " Friends of Wollaston Beach." My brother has been supporting the group for many years.

The group's charter is: To promote public use of Wollaston Beach preserving, and protecting the fragile ecosystems and addressing the quality of life issues relating to the Beach. Website is: www.friendsofwollaston.com The group has cleanup days, events and done things like stencil signage near runoff drains in neighborhood streets that informed people that water from each drained right into the beach and not to pour toxic substances there. You can follow them on INSTAGRAM at: https://www.instagram.com/friendswollastonbeach/?hl=en

LOCAL STORY OF WOLLASTON CLEAN UP: https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/one-boston-week-wollaston-beach-cleanup/2LSOIUDVOZBH3DRZ5CGXWMLSBQ/

Quincy, Mass. Blog #7: An Odd Epitapth in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery

 Today's blog brings us back to the Mount Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, Massachusetts (which we visited in an earlier blog) It was there we found an epitaph carved on a  small tombstone with a saying that struck us as something odd. 

An Epitapth is a phrase or form of words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone. The epitaph read "He Tried to Be Helpful." 

If he was helpful, it should have said "he helped everyone he could," or "known for being helpful to others." It seems odd that it says "he tried"- which indicates he didn't succeed.

What would you want on your epitaph? 

NEXT Quincy Blog: Visiting Wollaston Beach! 

Quincy, Mass. Blog #6: Into the Crypts of John, Abigail, John Quincy & Louisa Adams

This is the fourth and final blog about our visit to the Universalist Church in Quincy, Massachusetts, also known as the Church of the Presidents. In the basement of the church is the crypt that holds the bodies of the 2nd and 6th presidents and their wives. When you take a tour of the church, the last stop is in the basement. There you will find the crypt, some interesting facts about how they were placed in there, and a flag fact you may not have known!

(Photo: Tom and Rob in the crypts of the Adams'. Credit: R.G.) 

WHO IS BURIED IN THE CRYPTS BELOW THE CHURCH?  -  Abigail Adams and her husband John Adams, second U.S. President and son John Quincy Adams, sixth U.S. President, and his wife Louisa Catherine Adams are entombed there.

(Photo: John Adams (left) and Abigail Adams (right) tombs. Credit: R.G.) 

WERE THEY ALWAYS THERE? No. John and Abigail Adams were buried in the nearby cemetery (which will be featured in a later blog), and his son, John Quincy Adams asked they be moved and entombed under the church as a place of honor, where they could not be disturbed. 

HOW DID THEY MOVE THE HEAVY GRANITE TOMBS? - When the church was built, it had wooden floors. The wooden floors were removed, and the granite tombs were hoisted down into the small crypt (which is likely about 40 feet by 20 feet wide (my guess). After they were placed there, the floor above was replaced with Quincy granite, and that was covered by a wooden floor above in the church.

(Photo: John Quincy Adams (front) and Louisa Catherine Adams (back) tombs. Credit: R.G.) 

HOW WERE THE TOMBS OF JOHN QUINCY AND LOUISA MOVED IN? - The docent told us that there was a basement doorway to the right of the room, and they were moved in through there likely by a pulley system. That was later bricked up and painted white (like the inside of the entire crypt). You can see the bricks on the left differ from those on the right. 

FLAGS - There are flags on John Adams' crypt and John Quincy Adams' crypt- they are replicas of the American Flag from the dates of each man's birth. 

FLAG FACT- The original idea for the U.S. Flag was to have an equal number of stars and stripes per state. The stripes became unwieldy so they stuck with 13 for the original 13 U.S. Colonies!

Quincy, Mass. Blog #5: Who Were John Quincy and Louisa Adams?

 Yesterday I provided some insight into John and Abigail Adams, since we were visiting the Church of the Presidents in Quincy, Massachusetts. Their son John Quincy Adams, the 6th U.S. President, and his wife Louisa are also interred in the crypt of the church. So today's blog will provide a little background about them, courtesy of the Mass. Historical Society AND how the tension between Louisa and her mother-in-law came to an end! (I needed something gossipy to keep your attention). Read on! 

(Photo: Tom and Rob in the Church of the Presidents, learning about John Quincy and Louisa Catherine Adams. Credit: R.G.) 

WHO WAS JOHN QUINCY ADAMS?  He was the eldest son of John and Abigail (Smith) Adams was born 11 July 1767. As a young boy Adams accompanied his father on his diplomatic missions to Europe. He attended school at a private academy outside Paris, the Latin School of Amsterdam, and Leyden University.  In 1781–1782 he was in St. Petersburg as private secretary and interpreter to  U.S. minister to Russia. In 1785 Adams returned to the U.S. to continue his formal education. He graduated from Harvard College in 1787, studied law for three years then practiced law in Boston. 

ENTRY INTO POLITICS - In 1794 President Washington appointed him minister to the Netherlands.  Adams served one year in the Massachusetts State Senate and in April 1803 was appointed to fill an unexpired seat in the U.S. Senate. His independent actions in the Senate, namely support for the Louisiana Purchase and the Embargo of 1807, quickly alienated him from the Federalist party in Massachusetts. He later spent five years in Russia. 

(Photo: John Quincy and Louisa Catherine Adams)

Months after the U.S. declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812, John Quincy Adams was involved in efforts to bring about peace—first through Russian mediation and later as a negotiator at Ghent in 1814.

The Adamses’ stay in Europe was extended when John Quincy was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain (1815).  He returned to the U.S. in 1817. Significant among his many accomplishments are the negotiation of the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819 with Spain, the completion of his authoritative Report on Weights and Measures(1821), and the development of the Monroe Doctrine (1823).

ADAMS AS PRESIDENT - Adams’ one term as president was not so successful. Although he ran second to Andrew Jackson in the 1824 election, he was chosen president by the U.S. House of Representatives when no candidate received a majority vote by the electoral college. After losing a second term, Adams served in Congress from 1831 to 1848. He became an increasingly vocal opponent of slavery and its expansion. He died on Feb 23, 1848.  

WAS THERE TENSION BETWEEN ABIGAIL ADAMS AND LOUISA?  - Our tour guide explained that there was indeed some tension between John Quincy Adams' wife Louisa and her mother-in-law, Abigail. That is, until Abigail learned a few things. First, both women lost a baby daughter at 13 months old. Second, when Louisa was visiting Russia and took a carriage ride to France to meet her husband, she encountered some French thieves who hated Russians. Thinking she was Russian, they threatened her with death, but she was fluent in French and convinced them she was related to Napoleon- so they let her go!  

(Photo: The pulpit in the Church of Presidents. It was made of Domenican Mahogany!  Credit: R.G.) 

WHO WAS LOUISA CATHERINE (JOHNSON) ADAMS?  The Massachusetts Historical Society noted that the wife of John Quincy Adams was born in London on 12 February 1775. From 1778 to 1783, while England and France were at war, the Johnson family lived in Nantes, France, and she learned to speak French fluently. The family returned to London in 1790. 

Louisa and John Quincy Adams became engaged in 1796 when the latter, then U.S. minister to the Netherlands, was in London for the ratification of Jay’s Treaty and were married in that city on 26 July 1797, in the parish church of All Hallows Barking.

Louisa accompanied her husband on his diplomatic assignments to Berlin (1797–1801), St. Petersburg (1809–1815), and London (1815–1817). When John Quincy’s career called the couple to Washington the Adamses lived at first (1803–1808) with Louisa’s family, who had settled there following the collapse of Joshua Johnson’s London business in 1797. 

During their later residence at the Capitol the Adamses' social life was particularly demanding. Louisa hosted weekly receptions at their home on F Street, Washington, DC, when John Quincy Adams was secretary of state and presided at dinners and levees in the White House when first lady. Louisa stayed on at the F Street residence following John Quincy’s death in 1848. She suffered a stroke the following year and died on 15 May 1852. 

NEXT: Down into the Crypts! 

Idiot of the Week: Fool Celebrates Broadband/Internet Funding He Voted Against

You know you're an idiot when you deny helping them get something to improve their lives - and then, when it happens anyway, you take credit for the thing you tried to prevent. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama did that and only voted against it because it was part of Pres. Biden’s investment in broadband  (This doofus is a return Idiot of the Week)! In Fact, At the bottom of this story is the Congressional Record of the vote, which shows only Republicans (all from poor states) voted against giving their state better Internet capacity.  Here's the story. 

Tommy Tuberville Celebrates Broadband Funding He Voted Against

After voting against the law (luckily it still passed), the idiot said:  “Great to see Alabama receive crucial funds,” the GOP senator said of his state benefiting from the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Jennifer Bendery, Huff Post. Jun 27, 2023, 07:18 PM EDT

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) celebrated his state getting more than $1 billion for broadband internet, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But when the bill came before the Senate in August 2021, Tuberville voted no.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Tuesday celebrated his state getting more than $1 billion for broadband efforts, thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law ― a bill he voted against.

(WHAT BROADBAND MEANS -In telecommunications, broadband is the wide-bandwidth data transmission that transports multiple signals at a wide range of frequencies and Internet traffic types, which enables messages to be sent simultaneously and is used in fast internet connections)

“Broadband is vital for the success of our rural communities and for our entire economy,” Tuberville tweeted, along with a link to an article about his state getting $1.4 billion for expanding broadband access to underserved areas. “Great to see Alabama receive crucial funds to boost ongoing broadband efforts.”

The article spells out where that money is coming from: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which oversees grant programs related to broadband, has announced how much money each state will get from the Commerce Department’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. States getting this money now have 180 days to submit a plan to NTIA for how they plan to use those funds.

The money for this initiative is flowing from the bipartisan bill, which included a historic $65 billion investment in expanding high-speed, affordable broadband. President Joe Biden signed it into law in November 2021.

When the bill came before the Senate in August 2021, Tuberville voted no.  (Don't believe it? - Click the link that takes you to the Congressional voting record on-line)

Beyond that, NTIA’s website notes that Biden’s investment in broadband builds on funding provided by the American Rescue Plan, which Tuberville also voted against.

LIST OF ALL THE OTHER IDIOTS WHO VOTED "NO"- If they're in your state, vote 'em out (they are all Republicans, fyi):

NAYs ---30

Barrasso (R-WY)
Blackburn (R-TN)
Boozman (R-AR)
Braun (R-IN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Ernst (R-IA)
Hagerty (R-TN)
Hawley (R-MO)
Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kennedy (R-LA)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Lummis (R-WY)
Marshall (R-KS)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-FL)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Tuberville (R-AL)
Young (R-IN)

Heroes of the Week: Florida firefighters save horse caught in swimming pool

This week's heroes are firefighters from Pasco County Florida. Pasco County is located on the west central coast of Florida, and north of Tampa. at the end of June, they got a call from a homeowner that a startled horse had jumped into a swimming pool and couldn't get out. They rescued the horse. Here's the story.

(Photo credit: Pasco County Fire Rescue, Florida) 

Florida firefighters save horse caught in swimming pool 

Amaris Encinas , USA TODAY , June 24, 2023

A horse caught in a swimming pool was heroically rescued by Florida firefighters Tuesday night.

Pasco County Fire Rescue received a call around 5:30 p.m. about a horse jumping into a pool after the horse was spooked by another horse, according to a Facebook post by the fire department.

Firemen on scene kept the horse calm as they called for additional assistance. The team got to work with large animal rescue equipment and carefully lifted the horse out of the water with a harness.  

POSTING FROM THE PASCO COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS - Must see video: Check out the video of our Special Operations Team rescuing a horse that was spooked by another horse and jumped into a swimming pool. Pasco County Fire Rescue Firefighters were called to Frontier Drive around 5:30 PM Tuesday (June 20, 2023) to find a horse stuck in a swimming pool. Firefighters started to keep the horse calm and called for assistance from Squad 1.

Squad 1 responded to the scene with our large animal rescue equipment, and the team went to work. After hopping into the pool, firefighters secured a hoisting harness to the horse and carefully lifted the horse from the water.

We are happy to report that the horse is in good condition! Thank you to everyone who responded and worked vigilantly to save a life!

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Horses can swim as far as two miles per hour, but generally tire about 30 minutes in. Age, breed, health condition can impact the distance and speed a horse can swim.

A horse’s interest in water might vary on the horse, but paying close attention to facial expressions and body language to make sure that the horse would be comfortable.