From “No” to “the Ayes Have It”

    It was Monday, September 17, 1787. For more than three months, representatives from twelve of the newly independent states had argued bitterly on a wide range of issues, including whether the newly proposed constitution should have a strong or weak executive;...

A Tale of Two Christmases

      Charles Dickens’ literary masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities, opens with these memorable words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of...

From Pastors to Patriots

             It was September 11 and the sounds of destruction could be heard thirty miles away. That morning, the pastor of Augustus Church recorded in his journal that the sounds of violence were “heavy and long continuing.” But they were not the result of planes...

Tisqantum – A Bridge Between Two Worlds

          Historians, scholars and pundits may disagree over whether the hand of Providence was evident in the origins of our nation’s history. But none can deny the improbabilities related to pivotal events throughout our founding. One such improbability took place...

Thanksgiving: Lamb or Turkey?

        Turkey has long been considered the traditional main course for Thanksgiving dinner, but there is a curious connection between turkey and lamb. It may be a stretch, but worth exploring. The story begins with the first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621.     ...

Liberty Further Extended – Part 1

    The 25th commemoration of the Declaration of Independence took place on July 4, 1801, only months after its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, was inaugurated as our country’s third president. Parades, horse races, cock fights and tents brimming with food and...