Minute Man Nat Hist Park

Trip legs (latest at top):

25 Oct 04 – Lowell National Historic Park, Massachusetts
Monday morning Dawn's sister-in-law Deidre takes us to her studio in Lowell, Massachusetts. We learn that Deirdre and Vassilios' studio space is in the Brush Art Gallery and Studios. Her studio is shared space with about a dozen artists, partially gallery space and studios for some of the artists to work. Nearby is the New England Quilt Museum, which during our visit was having an exhibition in this gallery space.

Artist Vassilios
Vassilios was described to me as the "anchor tenant" of the shared space. He chatted with me for quite a while, recounting his former profession helping run the family grocery. Now "retired," he works 6-8 hours each day on his original paintings of landmarks and scenes of the area, of which he sells prints and originals. A very hard-working guy and a pleasure to speak with.
Artist Deirdre
Dawn's sister-in-law. You really have to be an artist to a) let someone take a picture of you like this, and b) allow them to post it on the internet. Deirdre creates and sells a lot of original artwork, usually oil and acrylic on canvas. She also sells prints and greeting cards reproduced from her paintings.

The gallery is part of Lowell National Historic Park. We find and tour the visitor center, and sit through a short slide show on the history of the mill complex. The historic importance lies in the creation of Lowell as the first pre-planned industrial city in the USA, built to use the water power provided by the 32' drop in the Merrimack River along the Pawtucket Falls. Mr. Lowell himself undertook industrial espionage within the British mills, and reconstructed their function in Massachusetts. For over 125 years the mills in this area flourished, and now some areas are being protected by the Park Service, and others are being used for urban renewal.

Boston and Maine Locomotive
Deirdre takes us for a walk around historic Lowell. One of the first things we see is this great restoration of this 0-6-0 B&M locomotive, which I am guessing was used for switching duties around the mills.

26 Oct 04 – Minute Man National Historic Park, Massachusetts
Tuesday morning Deidre takes to the visitor center at Minute Man National Historic Park outside Concord, Massachusetts. We spend just a little while inside learning the chronology of events on April 19, 1775, then venture back outside into a glorious autumn day in New England.

Minute Man Statue
Sculpted by Daniel Chester French.
North Bridge
Site of the "shot heard 'round the world." Read about the North Bridge restoration project.
Plaque on Minute Man Obelisk at North Bridge
"Here on the 19th of April 1775 was made the first forcible resistance to British aggression.
On the opposite Bank stood the American Militia.
Here stood the Invading Army and on this spot the first of the Enemy fell in the War of that Revolution which gave Independence to these United States.
In gratitude to GOD and In the love of Freedom this Monument was erected AD 1836."
Grave of British Soldiers
"They came three thousand miles, and died,
To keep the past upon its throne;
Unheard, beyond the ocean tide,
Their English mother made her moan.
April 19, 1775"
Sugar Maple at Minute Man National Historic Park
It's just a beautiful, beautiful day.

29 Oct 04 – Traveling to Bob and Pam's House, New Jersey
Friday we spend the day traveling west through Massachusetts, south through New York, and into New Jersey, where we meet up with friends Bob and Pam and Renee. We immediately head to a concert put on by the Folk Project.

30 Oct 04 – 2 Nov 04 – Great Swamp, New Jersey
Saturday Renee takes Dawn and me shopping at Campmor in Paramus. Saturday night Bob and Pam take us and our instruments to a Halloween party, through dark and misty roads. We have a contemporary jam upstairs, and an old time jam downstairs. By this time Dawn and I are pretty good at making hummus for parties, so we take 3 different kinds!

Sunday morning dawns clear, and we visit a bird sanctuary. We then go for a nature hike at the Great Swamp in Morristown, New Jersey. Monday Renee and I do a little more shopping, looking for some new insulated coffee mugs. Tuesday is Election Day, and I listen to election coverage on CNN as I try to catch up on the weblog. In the evening our good friend Mark visits from Manhattan for dinner.

Pam, Bob, Renee, and Marco
Old friends. Well, they're not really old. They're friends I've had for a long time. I met Mark at Zen Mountain Monastery in the late 1980's, and Bob and I went to school together. Renee is an old (well, not really old) raft trip buddy, and Pam is the designated mother hen who feeds us. I mean, all of us are kinda old. Not necessarily mature.