Category Archives: Blog

In Memory of Vida Damon

May 7, 2020BlogRichard Duffy

In Nina Winn’s diary entry for May 7, 1922, she wrote of visiting Mount Pleasant Cemetery and viewing the grave of her close friend since childhood, Vida Damon, where a marker had been installed recently. Nina wrote: “Saw Vida’s stone—very severe and simple & beautiful.” Vida Damon was about six months older than Nina Winn, … Continue reading In Memory of Vida Damon →

MAY 1, 1955: DIAL TELEPHONES DEBUT IN ARLINGTON

May 1, 2020BlogRichard Duffy

MAY 1, 1955: DIAL TELEPHONES DEBUT IN ARLINGTON If self-dial telephone service in Arlington were a person, it would just now be eligible for Medicare. Today is the 65th anniversary of dial technology coming to the homes and businesses of the town. This automation coincided with the loss of the readily identifiable ARlington 5 telephone … Continue reading MAY 1, 1955: DIAL TELEPHONES DEBUT IN ARLINGTON →

Arbor Day 2020 Special

April 24, 2020BlogSara Lundberg

Arbor Day 2020 Special: Arlington’s Streets Named for Trees Note: This is a revised version of an article from Richard A. Duffy’s series in the Arlington Advocate, “History of Arlington Street Names.” It was first published to coincide with Arbor Day in 2010. Today is Arbor Day in the U.S.—a fitting time to learn about … Continue reading Arbor Day 2020 Special →

Flag Day

June 14, 2018BlogArlington, Arlington History, Arlington Town Hall, Arlington Town House, Edward H. H. Bartlett, Flag Day, Immigrants, Patriotic, Patriotism, Robbins Library, summer, Throwback Thursday, Town governanceRichard Duffy

This year’s “Throwback Thursday” coincides with Flag Day, and features the thematically attired Edward H. H. Bartlett of 216 Pleasant St. He was born in England in 1861 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1872. Extremely patriotic about his adopted country, Bartlett led the effort in 1905 for Town Meeting to authorize $100 to erect … Continue reading Flag Day →

Town Meetings in the Northwest Precinct of Cambridge, 1736-1795

August 30, 2017Blog, Uncategorized18th century, Arlington, Arlington Historical Society, Arlington History, history, Jason Russell House, meetinghouse, Menotomy, parish church, residents, town meetings, town warrants, West CambridgeSara Lundberg

One of the earliest and purest forms of Democracy in the United States took place at “town meetings”- a practice established in Massachusetts and distinct to the New England region. Unlike in our present-day use of “town halls”, qualified residents had the opportunity to not only discuss matters particular to their communities, but to actively … Continue reading Town Meetings in the Northwest Precinct of Cambridge, 1736-1795 →

Moxie: “It’s a drink for those who are at all particular”

June 27, 2017BlogArlington, Beverages, Dr. Augustin Thompson, Francis Thompson, freeman young, Maine, medicinal, moxie, Soda, soft drinks, Ted WilliamsSara Lundberg

It’s the official soft drink of Maine, but Moxie has Arlington connections. Moxie’s originator, Dr. Augustin Thompson (1835-1903), came from Union, Maine and set up his medical practice in Lowell, MA. He wanted to create a “cure-all” medicinal tonic. Using a “secret ingredient”, later known to be gentian root extract, he created a syrup called … Continue reading Moxie: “It’s a drink for those who are at all particular” →

Commemorative Plates

May 18, 2017Blog20th century, Arlington, Arlington History, Arlington places, Arlington Town Hall, ceramics, commemorative, Cyrus Dallin, Cyrus E. Dallin, history, Indian Hunter, mementos, Menotomy, plates, souvenir, transferware, West CambridgeSara Lundberg

Ceramic objects in the AHS collection span centuries while telling local stories. Of these ceramics, several plates uniquely celebrate and document Arlington history. These pieces are known as commemorative or souvenir plates. Popularized toward the end of the 19th century, plates of this kind were relatively cheap to produce and a novel way to memorialize … Continue reading Commemorative Plates →

Ballad of the War of 1812

May 16, 2017Blog19th century, 20th century, Arlington Historical Society, Arlington History, Ball gown, Elizabeth Smith, Hannah Hall Cutter, history, Nina Winn, plays, poems, Red Cross, Richard A. Duffy, Robbins Sisters, Smith Museum, Susanna Adams Winn, Textiles, War of 1812, West Cambridge, Winn Family, World War 1, World War ISara Lundberg

On Tuesday, April 24, 1917, Nina Winn wrote about attending a Historical Society event in which “Aunt Sue read a poem & Elizabeth Smith wore the ball dress she wrote of – made by Hannah Hall [later Mrs. Cyrus Cutter] & given by Mrs. Sterling & Mrs. Bates. Then the ‘[Old] Peabody Pew’ was presented and … Continue reading Ballad of the War of 1812 →

1964: Views of Arlington Center east of Mystic Street

January 18, 2017Blog1964, Alson's Shoes, Arlington, Arlington Catholic High School, Arlington Furniture, Brigham's, Crisafi, Ligett Rexall, Mary Alyce Shop, Massachusetts Avenue, Meford Street, Mystic Street, Nevaire, Norman Hurst, Poly Clean, Regent Theatre, Sheehy's, St. AgnesRichard Duffy

It’s 1964. Comets could be seen streaking down Massachusetts Avenue. The Comet automobile, that is. Some likely purchased at Arlington’s Bonnell & Stokes Lincoln-Mercury-Comet dealership located between the Center and the Heights. But I digress . . . . This post continues one from last month, offering a unique tour of Arlington Center over … Continue reading 1964: Views of Arlington Center east of Mystic Street →

In memory of Nina Winn at Christmas

December 24, 2016Blog37 Summer St, Arlington, Christmas, David Duncan, diary, florist, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Nina WinnRichard Duffy

An excerpt from the diary of Miss Nina L. Winn, December 23, 1916: No flowers at [florist David] Duncan’s & Mrs. Duncan there because he is so poorly, [to] cemetery with my 2 wreaths – couldn’t afford more. Regular readers of Nina Winn’s diaries will be familiar with passages throughout the years, in which she … Continue reading In memory of Nina Winn at Christmas →