http://www.massmoments.org/ A daily almanac of Massachusetts history 1440 Copyright 2006 Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities TheOtherRoom.com CFML RSS Generator Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 EST en-us Visitors of Mass Moments--a daily almanac of Massachusetts history--can learn more about the Moments presented on the radio, see images and illustrations, read a primary source document, and get suggestions of links to follow and places to visit. Additionally, they can view a timeline to see when a given Moment occurred, and where applicable, a map to see where it happened. Visitors are invited to comment or ask questions about a Moment on our message board, thus providing an on-line community where Bay State history enthusiasts can meet and discuss our past. They can sign up to receive Mass Moments daily in their email, and if they post a question to the message board, they can be notified when someone has responded. Past Moments (those posted since January 1, 2005) are searchable, by key words, subject, time period, and region. A daily almanac of Massachusetts history. Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities Massachusetts almanac, radio program, eMoment, eMoments, Massachusetts history, Bay State, Western Mass, MA, Eastern Mass, Boston, Mass Moments, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, daily history, this day in history, today's history, today in history http://www.massmoments.org/rss/images/mass_moments_75.jpg http://www.massmoments.org/ info@massmoments.org Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=141 On this day in 2002, more than 200,000 people celebrated Mother's Day by walking across the Leonard P. Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge, months before it was open to cars. Built as part of the country's most expensive public works project -- "the Big Dig" -- the bridge is the widest cable-stayed span in the world. At first it was to be named the Leonard P. Zakim Freedom Bridge in honor of a man who spent his lifetime bringing together people of different races, religions, and ethnic groups. Since one end of the bridge is in Charlestown, officials added "Bunker Hill" to the name, in memory of the men who fought there in June 1775. Today, most Bostonians refer to the dramatic structure simply as the Zakim Bridge. 12 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=141 On this day in 2002, more than 200,000 people celebrated Mother's Day by walking across the Leonard P. Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge, months before it was open to cars. Built as part of the country's most expensive public works project -- "the Big Dig" -- the bridge is the widest cable-stayed span in the world. At first it was to be named the Leonard P. Zakim Freedom Bridge in honor of a man who spent his lifetime bringing together people of different races, religions, and ethnic groups. Since one end of the bridge is in Charlestown, officials added "Bunker Hill" to the name, in memory of the men who fought there in June 1775. Today, most Bostonians refer to the dramatic structure simply as the Zakim Bridge. no 0:01:00 Thousands Walk Across Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge: May 12, 2002 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=140 On this day in 1884, The Boston Globe published the first "Housekeepers Column," known since 1922 as "Confidential Chat." Although many Globe reporters at first looked with disdain on a column in which readers -- the vast majority of them female -- shared recipes, advice, and support, "Confidential Chat" became an institution at the paper, having been published continuously for over 110 years. Writing under playful pen names such as "Dorchester Dottie," readers ask each other for help on everything from cooking and stain removal to child rearing and sexual mores. Many "Confidential Chat" readers consider themselves to be members of a special club. Some note proudly that they were the third generation of "Chat" readers -- and writers -- in their family. 11 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=140 On this day in 1884, The Boston Globe published the first "Housekeepers Column," known since 1922 as "Confidential Chat." Although many Globe reporters at first looked with disdain on a column in which readers -- the vast majority of them female -- shared recipes, advice, and support, "Confidential Chat" became an institution at the paper, having been published continuously for over 110 years. Writing under playful pen names such as "Dorchester Dottie," readers ask each other for help on everything from cooking and stain removal to child rearing and sexual mores. Many "Confidential Chat" readers consider themselves to be members of a special club. Some note proudly that they were the third generation of "Chat" readers -- and writers -- in their family. no 0:01:00 Globe Publishes First "Confidential Chat": May 11, 1884 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=139 On this day in 1869, officials of the Union Pacific Railroad drove the symbolic "Golden Spike" to mark the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Telegraph wires attached to the spike and sledgehammer carried the news across the country. Reporters compared the event to the first shot fired on Lexington Green. Back in Boston Oliver and Oakes Ames, the Massachusetts men who had been instrumental in the success of the six-year project, accepted congratulations. The owners of the world's largest shovel manufacturing company, the brothers had supplied many of the tools used to build the railroad. They had also arranged much of the financing. When the details of those arrangements were revealed, their reputations were ruined in one of the greatest financial scandals in U.S. history. 10 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=139 On this day in 1869, officials of the Union Pacific Railroad drove the symbolic "Golden Spike" to mark the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Telegraph wires attached to the spike and sledgehammer carried the news across the country. Reporters compared the event to the first shot fired on Lexington Green. Back in Boston Oliver and Oakes Ames, the Massachusetts men who had been instrumental in the success of the six-year project, accepted congratulations. The owners of the world's largest shovel manufacturing company, the brothers had supplied many of the tools used to build the railroad. They had also arranged much of the financing. When the details of those arrangements were revealed, their reputations were ruined in one of the greatest financial scandals in U.S. history. no 0:01:00 Ames Brothers Celebrate "Golden Spike": May 10, 1869 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=138 On this day in 1974, 25-year-old Bruce Springsteen played at the Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge. Although popular with the college crowd in the Northeast, Springsteen was not yet a star. That night, he and the E Street Band opened for Bonnie Raitt. The influential music critic Jon Landau was in the audience. Overwhelmed by what he heard, Landau wrote, "I saw my rock and roll past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen." In the years since that momentous spring night in Cambridge, the Boss has had 14 albums go platinum, has won 11 Grammies and an Oscar, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 09 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=138 On this day in 1974, 25-year-old Bruce Springsteen played at the Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge. Although popular with the college crowd in the Northeast, Springsteen was not yet a star. That night, he and the E Street Band opened for Bonnie Raitt. The influential music critic Jon Landau was in the audience. Overwhelmed by what he heard, Landau wrote, "I saw my rock and roll past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen." In the years since that momentous spring night in Cambridge, the Boss has had 14 albums go platinum, has won 11 Grammies and an Oscar, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. no 0:01:00 Critic Declares Springsteen Future of Rock and Roll: May 9, 1974 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=137 On this day in 1873, Amherst College junior Melvil Dewey made a proposal to the faculty. He had been working in the college library and was frustrated by the lack of logic in the way the books were shelved. Long obsessed with order and efficiency, Dewey pondered the problem until he suddenly thought of using decimals to create a simple, standardized system for cataloging and arranging libraries. The faculty was so impressed with Dewey's plan that they let him reorganize the library's holdings. After graduation, he was appointed Acting Librarian. In 1876 he published a pamphlet about his method, and libraries all over the country soon adopted what has been known ever since as the Dewey Decimal System. 08 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=137 On this day in 1873, Amherst College junior Melvil Dewey made a proposal to the faculty. He had been working in the college library and was frustrated by the lack of logic in the way the books were shelved. Long obsessed with order and efficiency, Dewey pondered the problem until he suddenly thought of using decimals to create a simple, standardized system for cataloging and arranging libraries. The faculty was so impressed with Dewey's plan that they let him reorganize the library's holdings. After graduation, he was appointed Acting Librarian. In 1876 he published a pamphlet about his method, and libraries all over the country soon adopted what has been known ever since as the Dewey Decimal System. no 0:01:00 Dewey Proposes Library Classification System: May 8, 1873 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=136 On this day in 1958, the North Adams Transcript reported that the owners of the Berkshire-Hathaway Company had passed a death sentence on their factory in Adams. The company announced that it was shutting down its operation, after nearly a century of producing cotton textiles in the Berkshire County town. Known locally as Mill Number Four, the plant was the last cotton mill in the state's westernmost county. For the shocked town, it meant the loss of 1,000 jobs and marked the end of a 150-year-long tradition of textile manufacturing. Adams had begun as a struggling farming village and grown into a vibrant mill town; now, like so many other Massachusetts towns that had lost their industry, it had to reinvent itself once again. 07 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=136 On this day in 1958, the North Adams Transcript reported that the owners of the Berkshire-Hathaway Company had passed a death sentence on their factory in Adams. The company announced that it was shutting down its operation, after nearly a century of producing cotton textiles in the Berkshire County town. Known locally as Mill Number Four, the plant was the last cotton mill in the state's westernmost county. For the shocked town, it meant the loss of 1,000 jobs and marked the end of a 150-year-long tradition of textile manufacturing. Adams had begun as a struggling farming village and grown into a vibrant mill town; now, like so many other Massachusetts towns that had lost their industry, it had to reinvent itself once again. no 0:01:00 Berkshire-Hathaway Announces Mill Closing: May 7, 1958 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=135 On this day in 1635, the General Court of Massachusetts Bay established the town of Marblehead on land that belonged to Salem. The move was meant to punish Salem for allowing Roger Williams to express his "dangerous opinions." Marblehead residents, who never saw eye-to-eye with their more devout neighbors, were delighted, but less than a year later, the lawmakers reversed themselves. Marblehead finally became independent of Salem in 1649. The feisty fishermen of Marblehead were not the last to go their own way. Danvers, Peabody, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Wenham, and a section of Topsfield were all once part of Salem. One by one, smaller new towns were formed out of one large old one. This pattern was repeated many times over the next 200 years. 06 May 2008 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=135 On this day in 1635, the General Court of Massachusetts Bay established the town of Marblehead on land that belonged to Salem. The move was meant to punish Salem for allowing Roger Williams to express his "dangerous opinions." Marblehead residents, who never saw eye-to-eye with their more devout neighbors, were delighted, but less than a year later, the lawmakers reversed themselves. Marblehead finally became independent of Salem in 1649. The feisty fishermen of Marblehead were not the last to go their own way. Danvers, Peabody, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Wenham, and a section of Topsfield were all once part of Salem. One by one, smaller new towns were formed out of one large old one. This pattern was repeated many times over the next 200 years. no 0:01:00 Marblehead Carved Out of Salem: May 6, 1635