This column has always endeavored to discover stories that have their roots in Canton and are historically connecting us through time. In this author’s youth, there were always great stories told within the four walls of the Canton Historical Society. Some of the stories were so fantastical that one would often question the veracity of […]
In her youth her skin was flawless. The sun glanced across her face, and her rosy cheeks blushed red and people adored her. She was the epitome of finery in dress and behavior. Many years ago, in her golden days, there were dances, recitals, shows, and people came from all over to see her. She […]
The following story originally appeared in the December 30 issue of the Citizen. One of the most wonderful things about Canton’s history is that we are a town of villages. We may not realize this today, but old-timers will know exactly what this is about. Almost 20 square miles, the community developed slowly over the […]
A rare painted black and gold leaf trade sign lettered “Joseph W. Revere” — son of Paul Revere — from the Revere Copper Company in Canton will be sold at an upcoming Americana auction at John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury. The sign was found hanging on the wall in a Canton home near the former Revere copper mill […]
The Bowditch family was one of New England’s most upstanding families. Most notably the American mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch was perhaps the most illustrious of the line. Born in Salem in 1773, he is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation. His book The New American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, is still […]
James Lucas Draper was 36 years old and had become quite wealthy as a result of his business acumen and being born to the right family. The sixth child of James and Anne Draper, James was entrepreneurial and successful. The mill that he and his brother inherited from their father employed over 200 workers and […]
Dr. Amos Evans was a young surgeon from Maryland. On June 11, 1812, at the age of 27, Evans found himself aboard the USS Constitution as she left the Washington Navy Yard and sailed to Annapolis. That was the day that Evans began keeping his journal as a private diary. Upon reaching Boston he “begrudgingly […]
Julius Hollander arrived in New York City on April 5, 1938. The trip from Rotterdam was uneventful, despite the fact that German U-boats were frequently targeting both military and passenger ships, making the crossing to the United States extremely dangerous. Back in Amsterdam, Julius’ brother, Walter, was in a Jewish refugee camp and was awaiting […]
The idea came to Malcolm Stanley over time, and like many inventions, it was an iterative process. For many years Stanley had “dreamed of a lightweight fishing boat that could be strapped on a human back and easily carried through the woods.” Not only was Stanley a dreamer; he was also a “doer” and his […]
As I write this story, beside me on my desk is a 9×11-inch, brown Accogrip folder — the kind that has the spring clamp that holds down the papers contained therein. In the age of the internet, the folders likely aren’t seen very much these days. The small file is actually the medical report for […]
