Hello, In this morning's "MassMoments" e-mail, there is a story about Mt. Holyoke in the Hadley, MA, area. http://www.massmoments.org:80/moment.cfm?mid=55 One of the things it says is: In the 1820s, New Englanders began to view mountains as more than obstacles to travel. As Massachusetts became more urban and industrial, natural landscapes - especially mountains - acquired new significance. They offered the opportunity for recreation, inspiration, artistic creation, and simple sightseeing. The first Massachusetts mountain to be developed as a resort was Mt. Holyoke in Hadley. In 1821 Willis Pease bought nine acres near the summit for $27. He built a hut and advertised in the local paper that he had made arrangements for the public on the summit of Mt. Holyoke. Visitors were promised spirits, rum, cognac, gin, rum, wines - at a price twice what was charged in the valley - "Spanish segars," and other refreshments. Pease sold the land three years later for $600 -far more than local farmers thought it was worth; the land was sold again in 1826, this time for $1,500. and By the 1840s, there was an alternative to hiking. In 1846, a carriage road was built up the western slope. In 1849 newlyweds John and Fanny French Fanny visited the summit. Confident of its commercial potential, they bought the property and began constructing a two-story, eight-room hotel. When it opened on July 4, 1851, several hundred people attended the dedication. and French soon realized that, properly equipped, the tram could also transport people. He installed the body of a sleigh, and passengers were soon being carried over 600 feet up the mountain. Moving at a 38-degree angle, riders had the sensation of being pulled almost straight up. In 1856, French replaced the horse with a steam engine. As more and more visitors used the tramway, he covered it with a roof and added two six-passenger cars. FYI sites: http://www.chronos-historical.org/mtholyoke/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Holyoke_College http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/hksp.htm Betty (near Lowell, MA)

Hi again, IF I found the correct record, my grandmother was taken to the "Boston Female Asylum" in the late spring or summer of 1899. That "orphanage for girls" is mentioned on many web sites, including this one: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=WYMXAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Boston+Female+Asylum%22&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=2kzm2k_gi3&sig=9x36CrIstOjqItEVV6Xm4LCVhkw&ei=BpyaSZfeKKGjtgfTxfzkAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA11,M1 This web site mentions many of the large universities and colleges in Boston which have large Libraries, and are in the process of taking in "old records." http://www.blc.org/task_forces/FY04/Digitization_IV/di_appendix_b.html Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: Here is another Google / Book, "Adoption in America." http://books.google.com/books?id=gVnx_ymDu6wC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=%22Boston+Female+Asylum%22&source=web&ots=O8Kg9509wb&sig=myEd2uOIjvnX-TcZpQssFuqoajw&hl=en&ei=BpyaSZfeKKGjtgfTxfzkAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result FYI: The "families stories" told to my grandmother when she was in the DEXTER home in Melrose from Age ~2 to 10, were mostly lies. I don't believe she was a foundling and then became a Ward of the State at 3 months. I believe the DEXTER's married daughter in CT had a pregnancy in the "summer of 1888" without the benefit of her husband. I also believe that Mr. DEXTER went to the courthouse and made this baby's birth records "disappear." Mrs. DEXTER died in the spring of 1899, and the little girl was taken to that orphanage. Mr. DEXTER had sold their house and he moved to a boarding house in Boston. In 1904 he was taken to the Tewksbury State Hospital and he died there a year later. His only visitors were his sister from CT, a gentleman-friend from Boston, and "Mamie," who I believe was my grandmother as a teen. His daughter in CT - did not visit. He was buried on the grounds of the hospital. In 1899, his wife's remains were sent back to CT.

Hi again, I am interested in the history of the "Boston Lying-In Hospital," as it "might" have been a place where my grandmother was taken as a "foundling." That is, IF she was a foundling. (I don't believe the family story that this happened on Feb. 1, 1889.) This page mentions that "old records" of this hospital are at the "Harvard Medical Library." http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~med00056 This site mentions the merging of several hospitals in Boston: https://www.countway.harvard.edu/lenya/countway/live/menuNavigation/historicalResources/collectionsChm/bwhArchives.html There are many sites which mention this hospital. Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: I think it's Simmons College which has a large "archives center," and it holds old records I am interested in. But, I'm told that the records are "in storage" and are not available to the general public. FYI: Many people know that the "NY Times" has now put the articles from their newspaper going back MANY years on-line. I just found one from 1895 which mentions the "Chardon Street Home." http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9906E1DC103AE533A25757C1A9659C94649ED7CF The "Chardon Street Home" was the alternate name for "The Temporary Home for Women and Children" which was located on (then) Chardon Street. It still exists but it is now New Chardon Street. I think I read that it started out on Tremont St. (IF "family stories" are to be believed, my grandmother would have spent from Age 10 to ~20 in Downtown Boston, first on Washington St., and then on Chardon St.)

Hi again, I just continued searching but changed the search-term to "Peter Bent Brigham Hospital," and found a page offering a history of the "Brigham & Women's Hospital." The page also mentions the history of other things in Boston, like when Anesthesia what just used for childbirth: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/general/BWHMilestones.aspx This site talks about the hospital: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigham_and_Women's_Hospital Just an FYI for you. Betty (near Lowell, MA)

Hello, Someone has asked me about what "hospitals for incurable diseases" existed around 1900 in MA. I just did a Google search and found one, but it didn't open until 1960. Then I found this web page which tells an interesting story, a brief biography of Peter Bent BRIGHAM, who the hospital in Boston is named after. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,809448-1,00.html (Many people know about the "Brigham & Women's Hospital" in Boston, but the above is a separate building.) I love to read "rags to riches" stories of people who are "in the news." This is the other page which came up in the search: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Camillus_Health_Center I'm finding information about these hospitals in other countries, but not too many for the US. Does anyone know of some in New England? I just changed the search-term and found a list of hospitals in MA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Massachusetts One site which comes up is some unpleasant photos of a former "TB hospital" in Hanson, MA, where the building has been abandoned for 15 years. Here is a photo which is less-unpleasant: http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietdear/2058792108/ Other sites coming up mention one in Middleton, MA, and Amesbury, MA. Here is a "Google / Book" which is an annual report for the State Dept. of Health in 1917 where one page mentions the need for more TB hospitals in MA: http://books.google.com/books?id=JdwWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA350&lpg=PA350&dq=tuberculosis+hospital,+MA%22&source=web&ots=6Neww0wmgj&sig=zBn8W16vWRQ5yeHdNsmhTyeUYmI&hl=en&ei=5JKaSf-4MqGjtgfRxfzkAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPR2,M1 There is another Google / Book which is the "Boston Medical .. Journal" of 1915: http://books.google.com/books?id=tNAEAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA3-PA241-IA6&lpg=RA3-PA241-IA6&dq=tuberculosis+hospital,+MA%22&source=web&ots=UaCnsl4Gyx&sig=RsO5MLtCPECtVjmEa69rQfB5KcY&hl=en&ei=uJSaSdabN6GjtgfRxfzkAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPR1,M1 Another page says "the military" has hospitals for "pulmonary disease." Lots of sites are coming up with the search-term "incurable diseases." And, it looks like www.google.com has put "millions" of books, journals, reports, "papers," etc. on-line. You could put in almost any search-term and find a publication mentioning it there. Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: I had surgery at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in the 1980's. But around the same time I had an opportunity to visit the "Peter Bent Brigham Hospital" and it is a very old, very unusual, and sometimes scary building.

> > Hi, > Here's a web site which tells about the mills in Lawrence. I think you'll find it interesting. A lot of the buildings are still standing having been made into condos, restaurants etc. There's a national park in Lowell, MA, in the old mill buildings there which explains about the mill workers experience etc. It's extremely informative and interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence,_Massachusetts http://www.nps.gov/lowe/ Carol White NH > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:22:56 -0500 > From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> > Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] "operative" in boarding house in Lawrence > To: <genMassachusetts-L@rootsweb.com>, <MAESSEX-L@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <36C00E7EF3094454BB320FD93A69094F@LivingRoom> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > Hello, > > Someone on a Maine List asked for a look-up in the 1860 census. She was > looking for an Amanda CROCKETT, then as a child. I didn't find her in > Maine. But, I found an Amanda in 1860 in Lawrence, MA. This Amanda > was 22 and living in a Boarding House with many other people in the 15 to 30 > age range. They were all listed as "operatives." > > CROCKETT, AMANDA (1860 U.S. Census) > MASSACHUSETTS , ESSEX, 2-WD LAWRENCE > Age: 22, Female, Race: WHITE, Born: ME > Series: M653 Roll: 498 Page: 91 > > This Amanda was older than the person looked for, but she was born in Maine. > (Strangely there were several CROCKETT children living in Maine in 1860 - > all in different families' homes.) > > The previous page shows the keeper of the Boarding House has the name > MOFFETT (sp?). > > The next page shows another boarding house, with the Keeper having the name > SHIPPARE (sp?). > > And another look shows another boarding house next door, with the name which > looks like MORRIS (sp?) (MORRIE?). > > Next door? Another ! This one a lady Keeper with name, BACON (sp?). > > The streets are not mentioned, but it seems there was a whole set of > boarding houses on the street in 1860. > > I just looked at my dictionary and see the word, operative, has several > definitions. But, in this case, it probably means an operator of > machines. > > There must have been mills or factories in that area of Lawrence in 1860. > > Betty (near Lowell, MA) > > > > (By the way, I found another Amanda CROCKETT, 16, also born in Maine, living > in NH in 1870.) > > > >

Which Bates was the lighthouse keeper when the British ship came in and the two girls were home alone and hid behind a bush? The older one played the fife and told he younger one to beat the drums as loudly as she could?. There was an off shore breeze. They saved the harbor (So agreed a sympathizer with their story) when the English thought they were the militia. I have all the Bates and can't figure out which one. At which battleground was Clement Bates killed? If you know about the Bates family, I'd like to know more. I was told that Clement Bates and his two sons fought in wars. I guess one would have to. What a life--and how we are indebted to all of them who did! Helen **************Need a job? Find an employment agency near you. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000003)

Hello, Someone on a NH List mentioned the RANLETT name. I know the name because of Billerica's history. I'd like to post the information on Capt. Charles RANLETT from the "history of Billerica." I'm copy/pasting my response on the NH List below. Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: Hello. I am somewhat familiar with the RANLETT name as there is a "Ranlett Grove" neighborhood in the Town of Billerica. I had remembered that there was a Capt. Charles RANLETT involved in the neighborhood. But, I just Googled for him and couldn't find that name or "Ranlett Grove" mentioned. * So, I took out my "history of Billerica" and I can offer the first part of a long paragraph on RANLETT in the Genealogy section: "RANLETT, Charles Augustus, was b. in Augusta, Me. 1804, Aug. 9, and d. in Billerica, 1878, April 17, having resided in the south part of the town on the Bedford road since 1862. His father was Charles, from Epping, N. H.; his mother, Abigail Low, of Gloucester. For more than 40 years he followed the sea; a skillful sailor, soon rising to the rank of captain; widely and favorably known in continental circles, in connection with the China trade. His favorite ship, "the Surprise," made the shortest passage on record from Shanghai to New York in 82 days. At the battle of Navarino, his ship was seized by the Turks, but recaptured by the English. In the Mexican War, he was employed for transporting troups from New Orleans to Vera Cruz ......" Betty (near Lowell, MA) * One name which comes up in an on-line search is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ranlett_Flint I'm not seeing how the RANLETT name is connected to him: http://www.answers.com/topic/charles-ranlett-flint

Hello, Some people on a NH List are discussing the RUNDLETT name and RANLETT name. Whenever I see that name, it reminds me of "Ranlett Grove" in Billerica. It is one of about 6 "summer cottage areas" on the 2 shores of the Concord River - which runs right through the middle of the town. I don't recall the name of the man who the "Grove" is named after, but I can try to look it up later. When I did a Google search for "Ranlett Grove," I came across an issue of "Billerica," a publication from 1916. Some surnames mentioned are MANNING, SHEDD, ROGERS, etc. It's a Google / Book and it mentions some diaries from the times. I thought someone might like to look at it: http://books.google.com/books?id=XnYUAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA3-IA9&lpg=RA2-PA3-IA9&dq=%22Ranlett+Grove%22&source=bl&ots=b_1DiFy5UQ&sig=IzdNH5UScPyZGaxGZb05VsFnW08&hl=en&ei=vjKZSZ2fKKGjtgfRxfzkAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PPP7,M1 It's also mentioned here: http://www.archive.org/stream/billericamassac00comegoog/billericamassac00comegoog_djvu.txt .. That seems to be another way to find "books on-line." I'm just finding the site so I don't know anything about it. One children's book it has on-line is "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny." :o) I tried another "search term" and I'm not finding "Charles RANLETT" of Billerica mentioned. Charles Ranlett FLINT is mentioned, and the "Charles Ranlett House" in Maine is mentioned. "Ranlett Grove" is a neighborhood just off of Nashua Rd. (Rt. 4) in West Billerica, and it also borders on Concord Rd. The "Riverhurst" neighborhood is beside it, and that used to have more activity during the summer. Directly across the river is the "Rio Vista neighborhood" - another "summer cottage area." Across Nashua Rd. there is another neighborhood, which might be called the "Riveredge" summer-camps. Farther upstream (downhill from the Center) is the larger, "River Pines," summer-cottage area. There are others, but I've never heard the names of them. (A few miles south of the river in the West Billerica section of the town is the historic "Dudley Road." Long-time farmers on that road donated a lot of land on the shore of the river, and it is now "Conservation Land.") Just an FYI for you. Betty (near Lowell, MA)

    Hi Betty,       The Winter Hill Station used to be behind Somerville High School which is on Central Hill in Somerville. The City Hall is adjacent to the High School.    Maddie (in Somerville)     Message: 2 Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:50:33 -0500 From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] Somerville Train Station To: <genMassachusetts-L@rootsweb.com>, <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <87C055FB31804FFE85D00074480E937F@LivingRoom> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Hello, Someone on another List asked about the cemetery in Somerville. I'm pretty sure that someone told me last year that there is only one cemetery in the city, a small graveyard on Somerville Ave. But the web site for the Somerville Historical Society was mentioned, and, when I looked at it, I saw a picture of a former Train Station. It was said to have existed in the "Winter Hill" section of the city. The "Winter Hill" section that I am aware of is on Broadway. But, an old street-map I'm looking at doesn't show train tracks on Broadway. It shows 2 sets of train tracks intersecting near Medford St. The B&M set go towards Arlington, and the B&L set go towards Medford. I'm just curious whether there used to be train tracks near Broadway. Or, was the "Winter Hill" section of Somerville a much larger area - going over to the area which "City Hall" exists? http://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/localhistory/index.html There is a link which brings up another picture of the train station - showing a hill in the background. By the way, my map shows the very small "Somerville Cemetery" on Somerville Ave. And it is located at the end of School Street. And School St. is a long street running from Somerville Ave., up past Highland Ave., and going up to Broadway. (It crosses where the train tracks would have been in the past ?) Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: One set of grandparents lived in Somerville, and I was reminded this week that they are buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. I am interested in another set of great-grandparents, and that gr-grandfather's sister in Somerville. She and her husband always lived in Somerville, and I found out this month that they are buried in the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. And we have a relative who passed 2 years ago, another long-time resident of Somerville, and she was buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Another relative had his parents living in Somerville, and his father was buried in the "pauper section" of the Calvary Cemetery on the Woburn / Winchester line. (He had epilepsy and couldn't hold down a steady job.) His mother was buried near her sisters in the "Cambridge Cemetery." (One of my aunts lived most of her life in Somerville, but she married an older man from Greenfield, NH. And she was buried with him in that town.) (Just a reminder that people are not always buried in the town or city they live in.) (Another gr-grandfather always lived in Stoneham, but he chose to "live his last days" in Center Sandwich, NH, and he was buried there. I haven't figured this out, yet.) FYI: The "Boston to Lowell Commuter Rails" probably exists on the train tracks which used to be for both the B&L and B&M train tracks. It goes from Boston to Somerville to the "West Medford" train station, and then through Winchester. FYI: I've been interested in the history of "Iron Horse Park" in Billerica for a long time. It was originally the "Repair Shops" for the train cars / engines. The "round house" building and several others still exist there. I've wished for a long time that someone would "restore" the "Park" and make it into an "historical place." What surprised me is when I found out that the "main office" of what is now "Pan Am" - the owner of a lot of train travel in New England - is in Iron Horse Park, and they are not interested in restoring the Park.

Hello, The SCOTT surname was brought up on the Nova Scotia List this weekend. It was mentioned that there will be a "Clan SCOTT Gathering" in Scotland this year. Out of curiousity, I checked and in 1920 there were almost 2000 people in MA with the SCOTT surname. And the names goes back to 1790. But, I don't remember that this surname has been discussed very often. I do not have this surname on my family-tree. So, this is just an FYI for you. http://www.clanscottsociety.org/ Betty (near Lowell, MA)

Prescott Bush left his firm in Ohio in 1923 and went with Stedman Products of South Braintree, MA, hence Poppy's birth subsequently in Milton. They were not previously a Massachusetts family. He moved to Greenwich, CT, shortly afterwards and future connections with MA were through his sons' attendance of prep school at Philips Andover. In a message dated 2/15/2009 8:32:38 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, bbffrrpp@comcast.net writes: Hello, My husband just mentioned that there were 4 US Presidents born in MA. I couldn't remember the 4th one and it was George BUSH, the father. What he was reading said he was born in Milton. I checked the 1920 census, and didn't see a possible family for him. But, that reminded me that I would still like to find out more about the WAINWRIGHT mansion on Canton Street (?). The 1910 census has Arthur WAINWRIGHT living in a home with ~6 servants, and one was my gr-gr-grandfather, Charles W. RICE. He was the live-in gardener for the man. Charles was the youngest of 10 in a family in Lubec, Maine, and he came down as a 20-year-old possibly to work on the HUTCHINSON farm in Winchester. He married Adelaide and had 2 daughters with her and "separated" shortly after ~1880. I don't know where he lived between 1880 and 1910. When he found out he had cancer, he moved to a nephew's home in Ashland and died there in 1916. The census page shows there were at least 3 mansions on Canton Street in Milton. Were there a whole line of mansions on that street? Betty (near Lowell, MA) (I mentioned this on the List a couple years ago, and I will go check the archives of the Lists today - to remind myself what was discussed.) Remember to check the archives of all the Lists and Boards for your surnames and place-names. And, please remember to check the on-line auctions for for your surnames and place-names. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GENMASSACHUSETTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

>> I couldn't remember the 4th one and it was George BUSH, the father.   What he was reading said he was born in Milton.   I checked the 1920 census, and didn't see a possible family for him.<< George H.W. was born in Milton, MA. but he wasn't born until 12 June, 1924. He's in the 1930 census, indexed as Walker Bush, in Greenwich, Fairfield Co., CT. Dianne ************** Need a job? Find an employment agency near you. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&amp;ncid=emlcntusyelp00000003)

Hello, My husband just mentioned that there were 4 US Presidents born in MA. I couldn't remember the 4th one and it was George BUSH, the father. What he was reading said he was born in Milton. I checked the 1920 census, and didn't see a possible family for him. But, that reminded me that I would still like to find out more about the WAINWRIGHT mansion on Canton Street (?). The 1910 census has Arthur WAINWRIGHT living in a home with ~6 servants, and one was my gr-gr-grandfather, Charles W. RICE. He was the live-in gardener for the man. Charles was the youngest of 10 in a family in Lubec, Maine, and he came down as a 20-year-old possibly to work on the HUTCHINSON farm in Winchester. He married Adelaide and had 2 daughters with her and "separated" shortly after ~1880. I don't know where he lived between 1880 and 1910. When he found out he had cancer, he moved to a nephew's home in Ashland and died there in 1916. The census page shows there were at least 3 mansions on Canton Street in Milton. Were there a whole line of mansions on that street? Betty (near Lowell, MA) (I mentioned this on the List a couple years ago, and I will go check the archives of the Lists today - to remind myself what was discussed.) Remember to check the archives of all the Lists and Boards for your surnames and place-names. And, please remember to check the on-line auctions for for your surnames and place-names.

Hello, Sometimes I join a genealogy "Group" and then forget I have joined it. * This morning I received a message from the "State Hospitals" Group at Yahoo. It offered information on the Northampton State Hospital, and I thought a few people would be interested in what it says. This is the first part of a recent newspaper article about it. If anyone wants the rest of the article, let me know. Or, perhaps the "Springfield Republican" is on-line. See below. FYI: http://www.1856.org/ http://www.northamptonma.gov/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton,_Massachusetts http://www.historic-northampton.org/ Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: The Springfield Republican Progress visible at hospital site Sunday, February 15, 2009 By FRED CONTRADA fcontrada@repub.com NORTHAMPTON - As in recent years, Northampton is pinning its hopes for the economic future on a tract of land that was known in its hey-day as the home of the Northampton Lunatic Hospital. The facility, which eventually changed its name to Northampton State Hospital, has been closed since the early 1990s. After a long struggle to wrest control of the land from the state, the city has slowly and painstakingly been working to realize its vision of a village of new commercial, industrial and residential space on the land formerly known as Hospital Hill. With the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, a quasi-public agency, at the helm, the one-time hospital campus has undergone a complete makeover. Most of the buildings, including the iconic "Old Main" that served as the chief administration building, have been demolished and their rubble carted away. Traces of the hospital have even been excised from the name of the project, which is now called Village Hill Northampton. .............................. * Just a reminder that anyone can start up a "Group" or can join one. They are on genealogy, history, and many other subjects.

Hello, Someone on another List asked about the cemetery in Somerville. I'm pretty sure that someone told me last year that there is only one cemetery in the city, a small graveyard on Somerville Ave. But the web site for the Somerville Historical Society was mentioned, and, when I looked at it, I saw a picture of a former Train Station. It was said to have existed in the "Winter Hill" section of the city. The "Winter Hill" section that I am aware of is on Broadway. But, an old street-map I'm looking at doesn't show train tracks on Broadway. It shows 2 sets of train tracks intersecting near Medford St. The B&M set go towards Arlington, and the B&L set go towards Medford. I'm just curious whether there used to be train tracks near Broadway. Or, was the "Winter Hill" section of Somerville a much larger area - going over to the area which "City Hall" exists? http://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/localhistory/index.html There is a link which brings up another picture of the train station - showing a hill in the background. By the way, my map shows the very small "Somerville Cemetery" on Somerville Ave. And it is located at the end of School Street. And School St. is a long street running from Somerville Ave., up past Highland Ave., and going up to Broadway. (It crosses where the train tracks would have been in the past ?) Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: One set of grandparents lived in Somerville, and I was reminded this week that they are buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. I am interested in another set of great-grandparents, and that gr-grandfather's sister in Somerville. She and her husband always lived in Somerville, and I found out this month that they are buried in the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. And we have a relative who passed 2 years ago, another long-time resident of Somerville, and she was buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Another relative had his parents living in Somerville, and his father was buried in the "pauper section" of the Calvary Cemetery on the Woburn / Winchester line. (He had epilepsy and couldn't hold down a steady job.) His mother was buried near her sisters in the "Cambridge Cemetery." (One of my aunts lived most of her life in Somerville, but she married an older man from Greenfield, NH. And she was buried with him in that town.) (Just a reminder that people are not always buried in the town or city they live in.) (Another gr-grandfather always lived in Stoneham, but he chose to "live his last days" in Center Sandwich, NH, and he was buried there. I haven't figured this out, yet.) FYI: The "Boston to Lowell Commuter Rails" probably exists on the train tracks which used to be for both the B&L and B&M train tracks. It goes from Boston to Somerville to the "West Medford" train station, and then through Winchester. FYI: I've been interested in the history of "Iron Horse Park" in Billerica for a long time. It was originally the "Repair Shops" for the train cars / engines. The "round house" building and several others still exist there. I've wished for a long time that someone would "restore" the "Park" and make it into an "historical place." What surprised me is when I found out that the "main office" of what is now "Pan Am" - the owner of a lot of train travel in New England - is in Iron Horse Park, and they are not interested in restoring the Park.

Hello, Someone on a Maine List asked for a look-up in the 1860 census. She was looking for an Amanda CROCKETT, then as a child. I didn't find her in Maine. But, I found an Amanda in 1860 in Lawrence, MA. This Amanda was 22 and living in a Boarding House with many other people in the 15 to 30 age range. They were all listed as "operatives." CROCKETT, AMANDA (1860 U.S. Census) MASSACHUSETTS , ESSEX, 2-WD LAWRENCE Age: 22, Female, Race: WHITE, Born: ME Series: M653 Roll: 498 Page: 91 This Amanda was older than the person looked for, but she was born in Maine. (Strangely there were several CROCKETT children living in Maine in 1860 - all in different families' homes.) The previous page shows the keeper of the Boarding House has the name MOFFETT (sp?). The next page shows another boarding house, with the Keeper having the name SHIPPARE (sp?). And another look shows another boarding house next door, with the name which looks like MORRIS (sp?) (MORRIE?). Next door? Another ! This one a lady Keeper with name, BACON (sp?). The streets are not mentioned, but it seems there was a whole set of boarding houses on the street in 1860. I just looked at my dictionary and see the word, operative, has several definitions. But, in this case, it probably means an operator of machines. There must have been mills or factories in that area of Lawrence in 1860. Betty (near Lowell, MA) (By the way, I found another Amanda CROCKETT, 16, also born in Maine, living in NH in 1870.)

Thank you to all those who responded to my query. I am overwhelmed by the responses I have received. I will today go through every email looking for clues of connection. Sadly the Dennis in the 1900 census was not 'my' Dennis but it is often just as useful to be able to discount a record as it is to find a record. I will respond to each of you in time with grateful thanks. Thank you also for those who hoped I was not too close to the bushfires. I am one of the lucky ones. I live about 100kms from the worst of the fires so all I had to contend with was the 46oC heat and the days of smoke haze that has now lifted in my area. Ray from the Kerry Mailing List compared the population of the US with the population of Australia and in US terms the confirmed death toll at present (181) is equivalent to 2400. That could double yet as in one town, population 600, 35 bodies have been recovered - but that was just from in cars or outside on the street. Once under the rooves of houses have been searched this toll is expected to possibly treble. With thanks Jenny

OOPS. I meant to click on "paste" and clicked on "send" by mistake. I just wanted to offer this: http://www.brownielocks.com/valentinehistory.html and http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Holidays/Valentine's%20Day/Valentine%20Cards.htm Have a pleasant day ! Betty (near Lowell, MA)

Hello, In this morning's "MassMoments" e-mail there is a story about the first, American-made "Valentines." http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=52 Esther HOWLAND was from a Worcester, MA, family, and her father was a "stationer." One holiday she received a "Valentine's Day card" from a friend in England. And .. the rest is history. The site for the "History Channel" (cable TV) shows different things which mention "Valentine." http://www.history.com/minisites/valentine/ and this offers a little history: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/valentinesdayhistory.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day .. All I remember about Valentine's Day as a child in 50's is that "little box" - all decorated in red and white, with a slot in the top - where we placed the "little cards" we had written out for every child in the class. And the preparation for that activity. :o)