http://www.massmoments.org/ A daily almanac of Massachusetts history 1440 Copyright 2006 Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities TheOtherRoom.com CFML RSS Generator Fri, 20 Nov 2009 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 no 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=334 On this day in 1820, an enormous sperm whale rammed and sank the Nantucket whaleship Essex in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. The first mate described the 85-foot whale's unprovoked attack as enraged and vengeful. The 20-man crew of the Essex rigged improvised sails on three whale boats and attempted to sail over 3,000 miles in the open ocean to reach land. During their excruciating voyage, storms, sun, hunger, and scorching thirst made life nearly unbearable. The men began to die, and eventually the living chose to survive by eating the dead. After four months, five survivors were finally picked up off the coast of Chile. The story of the Essex served as the inspiration for Herman Melville's great American novel, Moby-Dick. ]]> 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=334 On this day in 1820, an enormous sperm whale rammed and sank the Nantucket whaleship Essex in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. The first mate described the 85-foot whale's unprovoked attack as enraged and vengeful. The 20-man crew of the Essex rigged improvised sails on three whale boats and attempted to sail over 3,000 miles in the open ocean to reach land. During their excruciating voyage, storms, sun, hunger, and scorching thirst made life nearly unbearable. The men began to die, and eventually the living chose to survive by eating the dead. After four months, five survivors were finally picked up off the coast of Chile. The story of the Essex served as the inspiration for Herman Melville's great American novel, Moby-Dick. no 0:01:00 Whaleship Essex Sinks: November 20, 1820 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=333 On this day in 1863, Edward Everett spoke at the dedication of Gettysburg's National Cemetery, giving what is remembered today as the other Gettysburg Address. The Boston orator was the obvious choice for the occasion. During his 40-year career as professor, diplomat, and statesman, he had consistently dazzled audiences with his brilliant oratory. At Gettysburg, Everett held the crowd spellbound for two hours. But his words are not the ones that are remembered from that day. When Abraham Lincoln followed Everett to the podium, the president spoke for only three minutes, but what he said entered the national memory and has remained there ever since. Everett's Gettysburg address lives on, in the words of one historian, "as a foil to that better thing that followed." ]]> 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=333 On this day in 1863, Edward Everett spoke at the dedication of Gettysburg's National Cemetery, giving what is remembered today as the other Gettysburg Address. The Boston orator was the obvious choice for the occasion. During his 40-year career as professor, diplomat, and statesman, he had consistently dazzled audiences with his brilliant oratory. At Gettysburg, Everett held the crowd spellbound for two hours. But his words are not the ones that are remembered from that day. When Abraham Lincoln followed Everett to the podium, the president spoke for only three minutes, but what he said entered the national memory and has remained there ever since. Everett's Gettysburg address lives on, in the words of one historian, "as a foil to that better thing that followed." no 0:01:00 Edward Everett Gives Gettysburg Address: November 19, 1863 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=332 On this day in 1905, five lepers arrived on Penikese Island in Buzzard's Bay, the site of the first and only leprosarium in Massachusetts. Over the next 16 years, 36 victims of leprosy, or Hansen's disease, lived on the isolated island, along with a handful of caregivers. Dr. Frank Parker and his wife, Marion, went to great lengths to make the patients comfortable, providing good food, fresh air, exercise, entertainment, and nursing, but it was nearly impossible to overcome the stigma and social ostracism associated with leprosy. Still, the island produced stories of great courage, kindess, and fortitude. The colony closed when the federal government opened a leprosy hospital in Louisiana. Today, the island is home to a private school for troubled youth. ]]> 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=332 On this day in 1905, five lepers arrived on Penikese Island in Buzzard's Bay, the site of the first and only leprosarium in Massachusetts. Over the next 16 years, 36 victims of leprosy, or Hansen's disease, lived on the isolated island, along with a handful of caregivers. Dr. Frank Parker and his wife, Marion, went to great lengths to make the patients comfortable, providing good food, fresh air, exercise, entertainment, and nursing, but it was nearly impossible to overcome the stigma and social ostracism associated with leprosy. Still, the island produced stories of great courage, kindess, and fortitude. The colony closed when the federal government opened a leprosy hospital in Louisiana. Today, the island is home to a private school for troubled youth. no 0:01:00 First Lepers Arrive on Penikese Island: November 18, 1905 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=331 On this day in 1736, David Kinnison was born in Old Kingston, Maine. An early convert to the cause of American independence, he participated in the dumping of tea into Boston Harbor, an escalation of resistance to British rule that would come to be known as the Boston Tea Party. After serving in the Revolution and being taken captive by Mohawk Indians, he returned to farming. Still vigorous at the age of 75, he rejoined the military to fight in the War of 1812. The last survivor of the Tea Party, David Kinnison had 22 children and outlived four wives. When he died at 114 in 1851, the nation he had helped give birth to was only a few years away from being divided by Civil War. ]]> 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=331 On this day in 1736, David Kinnison was born in Old Kingston, Maine. An early convert to the cause of American independence, he participated in the dumping of tea into Boston Harbor, an escalation of resistance to British rule that would come to be known as the Boston Tea Party. After serving in the Revolution and being taken captive by Mohawk Indians, he returned to farming. Still vigorous at the age of 75, he rejoined the military to fight in the War of 1812. The last survivor of the Tea Party, David Kinnison had 22 children and outlived four wives. When he died at 114 in 1851, the nation he had helped give birth to was only a few years away from being divided by Civil War. no 0:01:00 Boston Tea Party Raider Born: November 17, 1738 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=330 On this day in 1825, a Boston newspaper carried a notice seeking 9,000 tons of "the best Quincy granite" for the Bunker Hill Monument. This marked the beginning of the granite industry in Quincy. For the next 130 years, quarries in the South Shore town would provide much of the raw material that transformed Boston from a settlement of wood and brick into an impressive city of monumental stone structures. The industry also transformed Quincy. The quiet agricultural and fishing village grew into a small metropolis. Mined by stoneworkers from Italy, Scandinavia, and the Sudan, Quincy granite was exported around the country and the world. The introduction of reinforced cement in the mid-twentieth century brought an end to Quincy's reign as the "Granite City." ]]> 16 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=330 On this day in 1825, a Boston newspaper carried a notice seeking 9,000 tons of "the best Quincy granite" for the Bunker Hill Monument. This marked the beginning of the granite industry in Quincy. For the next 130 years, quarries in the South Shore town would provide much of the raw material that transformed Boston from a settlement of wood and brick into an impressive city of monumental stone structures. The industry also transformed Quincy. The quiet agricultural and fishing village grew into a small metropolis. Mined by stoneworkers from Italy, Scandinavia, and the Sudan, Quincy granite was exported around the country and the world. The introduction of reinforced cement in the mid-twentieth century brought an end to Quincy's reign as the "Granite City." no 0:01:00 Quincy's Granite Industry Begins: November 16, 1825 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=329 On this day in 1904, Boston-based inventor King Camp Gillette received a patent for an improved safety razor with a disposable blade. After almost 10 years of work, Gillette succeeded in mass-producing a sharp blade stamped from inexpensive sheet steel. He realized that profits lay in selling the razor for less than it cost to make and the disposable blades for more. His revolutionary idea has come to be known as the "Razor and Blades," or "loss leader," business model. Gillette was a marketing genius as well as a clever inventor. He introduced the practice of having professional athletes endorse a product and made sure that every American soldier went off to the First World War and returned home with a Gillette safety razor set. ]]> 15 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=329 On this day in 1904, Boston-based inventor King Camp Gillette received a patent for an improved safety razor with a disposable blade. After almost 10 years of work, Gillette succeeded in mass-producing a sharp blade stamped from inexpensive sheet steel. He realized that profits lay in selling the razor for less than it cost to make and the disposable blades for more. His revolutionary idea has come to be known as the "Razor and Blades," or "loss leader," business model. Gillette was a marketing genius as well as a clever inventor. He introduced the practice of having professional athletes endorse a product and made sure that every American soldier went off to the First World War and returned home with a Gillette safety razor set. no 0:01:00 King Gillette Patents Safety Razor: November 15, 1904 http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=328 On this day in 1754, Mercy Otis of Barnstable and James Warren of Plymouth began their remarkable 54-year partnership. When she married into a family active in public affairs, Mercy embraced the chance to be involved in the events of the Revolutionary era. She was a keen and intelligent observer and an accomplished writer. In the 1770s, she had several satirical plays published anonymously before embarking on a history of the Revolution. Her History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution appeared in 1805. The fact that the book discounted the diplomatic achievements of her old friend John Adams caused a bitter rift. "History is not the Province of the Ladies," Adams angrily declared. ]]> 14 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST http://www.massmoments.org/index.cfm?mid=328 On this day in 1754, Mercy Otis of Barnstable and James Warren of Plymouth began their remarkable 54-year partnership. When she married into a family active in public affairs, Mercy embraced the chance to be involved in the events of the Revolutionary era. She was a keen and intelligent observer and an accomplished writer. In the 1770s, she had several satirical plays published anonymously before embarking on a history of the Revolution. Her History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution appeared in 1805. The fact that the book discounted the diplomatic achievements of her old friend John Adams caused a bitter rift. "History is not the Province of the Ladies," Adams angrily declared. no 0:01:00 Mercy Otis Marries James Warren: November 14, 1754