It is getting chilly. It is getting dark early. It must be October! Happy Halloween!!! Here are my top picks of the scariest Maplewood Press Blog Articles; Number One: Field Guide to Early American Gravestones in New England. There is nothing spookier than taking a stroll through a very old graveyard late in the day […]
Category Archives: Early American Artifacts and How-tos
You Planted a Garden During the Pandemic: Now What?
I will not lie, planting a garden and watching it grow is very rewarding. Now more than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic we need to see that life goes on and is beautiful. Also, we are stuck at home and that yard or patio should serve a purpose, and what if the food chain supply […]
Old School Social Media: Prohibition and the Women’s Right to Vote-A First Hand Account.
What gets this history geek excited? Random mysteries that need to be investigated. Here is one that fell into my lap. The backstory: I found a stash of vintage postcards in my old house. I started sending them to family and friends. Who wouldn’t want to receive a 1950s motel advertisement postcard? I soon ran […]
Field Guide to Early American Gravestones in New England
It is believed that Halloween originated from the Festival of Samhain, an ancient Celtic celebration that was held each year near November first. It is an end of summer festival marking the beginning of the long dark winter, and could run for two nights and three days. It was also thought to be the time […]
Maple Tree Adoration Part Two: Beautiful Leaves, Delicious Syrup
There is no secret why I named my blog Maplewood Press: I adore maple trees. Even as a young child I was fascinated by these magical trees. Why do I think Maple Trees are magical? Beautiful Leaves: When you conjure up the perfect romantic vision of New England, […]
How to Plan an Early American Funeral
You are living in the 1600s and someone comes to your house and hands you a pair of gloves. Do they think your hands are cold? No, it’s an invitation! Time for the annual Halloween post about those unique Puritans and their odd death rituals. If you have been playing along the past couple years, […]
Back to School with Old Tales
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I will tell you…I adore the illustrations in old children’s books. The woodcuts are fantastic. The images can be creepy and fun. Most of all they are just plain beautiful. Ahh, but what about the stories that they highlight? Recently I have been paying more attention to […]
New England Blizzards: What History Teaches Us.
Here we are, its March, so why am I not talking about the coming of spring? Because here in New England, Mother Nature likes to tease us. Just when we think we can put away our mittens and warm hats because it was 50 degrees out yesterday, the sky clouds up, cold wind blows down […]
Visiting Old New England Graveyards: Part Two
Heere Lyeth ye Body of….. With Halloween right around the corner, take time to stroll through an old cemetery or two! If you want to learn more about the old graveyards, visit my previously posted article: “How to Discover art in Old New England Graveyards” ( http://maplewoodpress.com/how-to-discover-art-in-old-new-england-graveyards/ ) There are many spooky cemeteries in […]
Blue Willow
Holidays usually translate into family gatherings, and when families gather there are meals to be shared. The focus is usually on the food that is full of traditional offerings and everyone’s favorite. What is used to serve the food is often a second thought. Those plates are filled with the delicious food, washed when emptied, […]