Blogs
Duxbury in the Civil War:
The Political Battle for Duxbury Soldier’s Bounties
One of the more perplexing episodes in Duxbury’s Civil War history (and a lengthy one at that) was the matter of the bounties that were promised to the first group of Duxbury men who enlisted in Ma. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Watertown Arsenal
by Erin McGough, Collections Manager Some weeks ago, I chose to highlight two artifacts relating to the Watertown Arsenal for my next contribution to our “Duxbury in the Civil War” blog. Now, in t. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
“Dear Mother and Father:” Civil War Letter Writing
by Alison Arnold For a soldier in the Civil War, letter writing was the main form of communication with loved ones at home and helped to relieve the tedium of camp life. Almost all soldiers begged. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Duxbury Soldiers in the Bayous
By March 1863, 150 years ago this month, about 162 men from Duxbury had enlisted to serve in the Union Army. We have, in this blog, frequently discussed the Duxbury men who belonged to the 18th Massac. […]
Drew Archival Library:
The Day the Cable Came to Town
Many of you are no doubt are familiar with the Landing of the French Atlantic Cable in Duxbury in 1869, but for those of you who have never heard the tale, gather ‘round… Once upon a time, before. […]
Drew Archival Library:
How Myles Standish Lost His Head
Myles Standish was known to have a hot temper but it was not until 1922[1] that he truly lost his head. Shortly after noon on a sultry August day an electrical storm caused lightning to strike the 1. […]
Drew Archival Library:
The Accounts of Ardelia E. Ripley Hall
In 1856 seventeen-year-old Ardelia E.Ripley (1839-1899), the daughter of Samuel E. Ripley and Sarah Cushman[1], was a student at Partridge Academy in Duxbury. Her Common School Book-Keeping Being a Pr. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Massachusetts Gun on a Massachusetts-made Ship: The Story of a Maynard Carbine
by Erin McGough, Collections Manager The rifle shown here (part of the collection of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society) is a breech-loading carbine commonly used by the Confederate cavalry duri. […]
Drew Archival Library:
The Opposite of a Love Letter
I had fully intended to share a love poem or letter today from one of our collections in honor of Valentine’s Day. But what I found instead was simply too good to pass up. In 1829, when he was ju. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Hannah D. Thomas Moir: Civil War Nurse
by Carolyn Ravenscroft There are four women from Duxbury who share the honor of being recognized as a Civil War nurse. One, Charlotte Bradford, has been written of extensively in this blog. Another, L. […]
Drew Archival Library:
Journal of Adeline Baker now online
The journal of Adeline Baker has been transcribed and is now available under our Journals tab. Adeline Baker (1829-1856) grew up in the Crooked Lane neighborhood in North Duxbury, near the Marshfie. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Capt. Henry B. Maglathlin, Duxbury’s Scholar Soldier
by Patrick Browne On January 14, 1863 (150 years ago this week), Capt. Henry B. Maglathlin of Duxbury, commanding Company I of the 4th Massachusetts Infantry, boarded the transport ship Alice Counce i. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Conservation of Lucius Waterman’s USS Cyane
by Erin McGough, Collections Manager In August, I wrote a blog on the Civil War service of Duxbury resident Lucius A. Waterman (1832-1895).[1] Lucius was the son of Martin and Joan/Joanna (Cushing) W. […]
Drew Archival Library:
A Christmas Letter from Paris
In 1850 Seth Loring Sprague (1825-1897), the nephew and adopted son of Seth and Welthea Sprague of Duxbury, was studying abroad. He wrote a letter from Paris to his uncle on Christmas Day after hea. […]
Drew Archival Library:
200 Years Ago Today…well, yesterday
The largest collection by far held at the Drew Archival Library is that of the Bradford Family. It spans 200 years, has hundreds of letters, photographs, shipping papers, journals, etc, etc. It is. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
Harrison Loring, Duxbury’s Builder of Ironclads
In this blog we have primarily focused on the Civil War experiences of soldiers, sailors, and nurses. Turning to a different aspect of the war effort, the business of manufacturing war materiel here a. […]
Drew Archival Library:
Vote! And Thank You Judith Winsor Smith.
For two long hours on election day, not long ago She stood where the voters streamed past in a row. And gave suffrage leaflets to all who. […]
Drew Archival Library:
Reading Photographs
I enjoy examining old photographs and trying to tease out all the facts I can about the subject but sometimes the full meaning of what is going on eludes me. Today I came across an image that I just. […]
Drew Archival Library:
Journals are here!
There is a new tab atop this page – Journals. As we transcribe our many fascinating diaries we will be posting them online. Currently a portion of Amherst A. Alden’s 1847 journal has been adde. […]
Duxbury in the Civil War:
“All Quiet Along the Potomac:” the Lonely Duty of a Picket
by Alison Arnold Cold today with rain. Very uncomfortable. Nothing to do but fix up our tents what we can to keep warm. Picket detail today. Private David Meechan, 18th Massachusetts Infantry Oc. […]