We Californians visit New England with the excitement and fervor usually reserved for old European cities. We are thrilled to see a welcome sign on a house stating its origins as 1726, or to visit an Observatory (how quaint!) built in 1805, or the town limits sign saying "Founded in 1629". And don't even get me started on those Witches Houses in Salem..:)
compass ceiling of the Portland Observatory
where my great (7th) grandfather mounted
his telescope in 1805
the Portland Observatory, built in 1805 by my ancestor,
Capt. Lemuel Moody, a sea captain who had been
captured by French pirates in the Caribbean and
imprisoned on St. Kitts!
In Portland, Maine, we were drawn to the highest point, Munjoy Hill, to climb the 65 ft. tall Portland Observatory, built by my great-to-the-7th-power grandfather, Captain Lemuel Moody, as a way to launch the communications system he devised to alert the merchants below that their sea cargo was about to arrive. After soaking up the views, we wandered the waterfront and found wonderful artful things for the home at Foundry Lane.
Where Capt. Moody sat and looked at the
sea, waiting to spot incoming oceangoing vessels
and raise the signal flags to the wharfs below
the spiraling stairway and the cubbyholes
where Capt. Moody stored the signal flags in
1805
***
We found that early June is the perfect time to visit Marblehead, Massachusetts. We stayed for a few days at the old Boston Yacht Club there, falling asleep at night to the clinking of the rigging on the 1,000 sailboats moored in the harbor below.
On Memorial Day, we were lucky enough tag along behind the fife and drum corps as they marched through the streets on their way to the sea. At the edge of the bay, lots of saluting and speeches were given, wreaths and flowers were thrown into the ocean, then the musketball rifles were hoisted to shoulders and three separate rounds shot out to sea to honor our military dead. It was quite moving, and when the local high school band struck up "The Star-Spangled Banner" it did bring tears to my eyes.
flag and bugle in the local museum in
Marblehead, Massachusetts
the venerable old Boston Yacht Club where
we stayed a few nights
the early morning view upon awakening in our room!
history in flags of the BYC, founded 1846
art deco sailing trophy cup on display at the BYC
our "spit & polish" deck for enjoying coffee in the morning
and drinks at sunset at the BYC
early metal chandelier in the museum
at Marblehead...I love it's spare and lively look!
there were a few of these "de rigeur" paintings of
schooners and vessels at the BYC
charming display of Americana at the
museum in Marblehead
um..really??
the fife and drum corps took their job very seriously;
those musketball rifles actually work!
a picnic site waiting for the weather to warm up
just a bit from the early June chill
***
In Salem, we visited the home of one of the judges who sentenced those unfortunate young women as witches in those dark and scary years around 1623 in this little outpost village. The house was surprisingly..modern..with its lean and spare aesthetic, worn bare wood floors, simple and elegant furnishings, four-poster bed, and high ceilings.
this tall, clapboard house stained nearly blackwas the home of a judge in the Salem witch trials
in the 17th century
architectural detail for 17th century
Salem, Massachusetts house
old village map, Salem and environs
found in the 17th century Salem house,
this intriguing vase would be right
at home in our modern times
a simple vignette includes dough bowl and pewter platter
from the 17th century
this wonderful French wallpaper was found in the 17th century
Salem house and could still work in contemporary settings
who today doesn't love the canopied four-poster bed?
I love these 17th century exterior windows in Salem
***
............................
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for your home or event, in the San Francisco Bay Area
or virtually anywhere else,
call or email me
kit@kitgolson.com
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