William Cushing, 1732-1810

Here lies William Cushing, who was a chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. He was born, died and buried in his beloved home in Scituate. Route 3A, one of the major roads in this area, owes its official name to him - Chief Justice Cushing Way.



This man was one of the major figures in early American history. He served as a circuit judge while we were still a bunch of colonies, and threw his lot in with the revolutionaries. In 1777 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and in 1783 Cushing issued a ruling which led to the abolishment of slavery in the state. He wrote, "I think the idea of slavery is inconsistent with our own conduct and constitution, and that there can be no such thing as perpetual servitude of a rational creature."



William Cushing went on to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, appointed by George Washington himself. At one point, Washington nominated William Cushing to be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; Cushing declined the nomination because of his age and concern for his health.

William Cushing's family burial ground is now designated as a state park. Some have called it the smallest state park in America; the cemetery is only 25 feet by 30 feet, so it's not hard to imagine the claim is an accurate one.



But I have to tell you... this man, who played such a key part in our nation's history, is largely forgotten. The Department of Conservation and Recreation, which is in charge of the state's parks, doesn't even list Cushing Memorial State Park on its website. The cemetery is unkempt and forgotten and the path leading to it largely untrodden upon. It sits in the shadow of a construction site for two enormous McMansions, both of which will probably not house as many people as are buried in the quiet little place in the woods which they dwarf.





It seems a shame, doesn't it?

4/15/11 UPDATE: I am told that some local Boy Scouts may be taking on Cushing Park as a clean up project this spring - huzzah!

Class Rock

Class Rock, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

This rock is behind the high school. It doesn't seem to have any friends. Poor lonely, dated rock.

I must be twitterpated.

I must be twitterpated., originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

"Nearly everyone gets twitterpated in the springtime..."

Even the skunk cabbage is starting to look attractive to me.

Look up, Dummy.

DSCN9411a-rs, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

After a day of looking around and finding nothing but grey, blah, blech... I looked up. I think that's going to be my new mantra - because everytime I stop whinging about what's dead in front of me and raise my eyes in a skyward direction, I see something else entirely... like the fact that all the trees may be bare and barren and eye level, but way up towards the sunlight the buds are popping out all over, optimistically plump and cheerful.

I'm beginning to think I should tattoo "Look Up, Dummy" on my foot.

Library Vision

Library Vision , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Today at the Scituate Town Library, residents were invited to a presentation on the current Library Renovation Program. The town library has served residents well since being constructed in 1978 but needs some work. There's been a huge increase in usage as well, with visits to the library up by 59% in the past ten years and a whopping 438% increase in attendance at children's programs. Add to the mix a round of state grant funding for library construction, and, well, it only makes sense to look at what might be possible and feasible.

Library Director Kathy Meeker presented all of this information and the resulting vision of what Scituate's Town Library could be - and it's a gorgeous vision. Plans are available for viewing on the library's website; I encourage you to go and take a look for yourselves!

The next step in the grant application is to gain approval of the feasibility study at the upcoming Town Meeting...

One good crocus deserves another.

DSCN3196a-rs, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Hope springs eternal

Hope springs eternal, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Just about everyone I talked to today was, um, shall we say 'somewhat less than pleased' about the snowfall yesterday. At this point, folks are prepared to see an Easter blizzard roar in on our spring - it wouldn't provoke the least bit of surprise.

And yet... this afternoon when I was leaving the town library I spotted this cluster of crocus out front. Snow be damned, they are bound and determined to bloom!

The groundhog lied.

The groundhog lied., originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

So much for an early spring - another day, another snowfall.

Why don't you write me?

Why don't you write me? , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

A letter would brighten
My loneliest evening...

~ Simon & Garfunkel



Post Office boxes at the tiny Minot branch of the Scituate post office wait for the mail.

Sunset at Egypt

Sunset at Egypt, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

The sun sets over Egypt and Mann Hill Beach.

St. Patrick's Day parade

DSCN9092, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Last year I was a spectator, this year I was a participant, but the story remains the same - I think the people watching the parade are just as fun as the parade itself.

To see all of the photos from yesterday's St. Patrick's Day parade, visit my Flickr stream here. Enjoy!



p.s. - yes, it snowed today, and yes, I made a conscious decision to photographically ignore it. As my friend Christina observed this afternoon, "To hell with Spring - 90 days until summer!"

Froggy went a-courtin'...?

Froggy went a-courtin'...?, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

No, Froggy was getting ready for today's St. Patrick's Day parade.

This photo was taken from the staging area at Gates Intermediate School. Last year, I was a spectator at the parade - but this year, I was marching in it, so the perspective is going to be a little different! I had tons of photos to go through, but I thought this was a good way to get started...!

I see a perigee moon rising

It made a difference for that one.

It made a difference for that one. , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Some people think robins are a sign of spring. Some people look for snowdrops and crocuses, or listen for spring peepers. Some people declare opening day at Fort Meyers to be a sure sign of impending spring.

Me and mine, well, we think that finding a starfish is a sign of spring. Mostly because it means the day is warm enough that we're willing and able to traipse all over the beach at low tide, moving rocks and lifting seaweed, shrieking when annoyed crabs scatter around little feet. We visit our old friends the tidal pools and see how they have changed since we last had the pleasure of their company.

So there you have it, the first starfish of spring. Let the wild rumpus of spring begin!

The Robin's my Criterion for Tune -

The Robin is the One, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

The Robin's my Criterion for Tune -
Because I grow - where Robins do -

~ Emily Dickinson

We're all alone under neon lights

We're all alone under neon lights, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

The lights glow in the window of the Scituate Music store in Scituate Harbor.

Playing chicken

Playing chicken , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

I was playing chicken with the waves along the seawall at Minot Beach as the tide was coming in.

I'll give you one guess as to who won.

Another sign of spring

DSCN8399, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.


This is emerging in a garden in Scituate right now. I am no gardener and so put this image forth to a number of friends for identification. One supposed it to be cabbage patch doll and another guessed that it is a ruby-clawed snarfblat - but the general consensus seems to be that this will grow up to be a peony when all is said and done. 

St. Pat's Plunge

It was a balmy 47 degrees in the parking lot of Peggotty Beach yesterday.



The air was festive - but windy.



Newspaper photographers came out to record the event. Swimmers wore festive attire for the third annual St. Pat's Plunge, an event to raise money for next weekend's St. Patrick's Day parade. Observers wore warm clothes. Lucky observers.



And then the official whistle blew, and it was time:





And it was cold! The swimmers ran out even faster than they ran in!





But anyone who's planning to plunge into the Atlantic Ocean in March knows that they should have a friend waiting with a warm towel.



And this is how we warm up for St. Patrick's Day in the most Irish town in America. :)

Today... my thoughts are with Japan.

I have to be perfectly honest... I have photos from today's St. Pat's Day plunge at Peggotty Beach -  and photos of snow drops and a shy yellow crocus poking their optimistic way into the cold March sunlight - and photos of small, joyful, mundane details of every day life in Scituate - but today, my thoughts are with Japan.

And so, in lieu of a photo of Scituate today, I am sharing links to four City Daily Photo community members in Japan:

Tokyo Portraits

Tochigi Daily Photo

TravelJapanBlog.com

Sendai Photo Blog

The stories, video and images that are coming to us via the media are stunning. They talk of the dead and the missing, the damage and the dollars, all staggering numbers difficult to comprehend - but I think it is important to remember that these are individual people, this place is their home and their daily lives have been completely upended.

There but for the grace....

My thoughts are with Japan.

South Shore Railroad

DSCN3357, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Along the platform for the commuter rail in North Scituate the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) has placed signboards with snippets of railroad history on the South Shore. I photographed this reproduction of an 1859 train schedule, finding the timesfor trains going into Boston interesting. It seems like they ran a pretty tight ship 150 years ago when you compare it to today's schedule!

Feed the birds...

Feed the birds, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

This little song sparrow is very pleased to find a feeder from which to nibble.

Hawks!

Hawk, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

I told you this was turning into Scituate Daily Critter Photo!

This pair of hawks set up housekeeping in my neighborhood last year and announced their return this week by dive bombing my family room window. I was totally unprepared for them, hence the semi-crappy quality of the photos - they were moving too fast and I was hobbling too slowly to properly adjust for the scene and subject! Nevertheless, these two pictures were too cool not to share. And I figure two crappy photos are better than one!

Another sign of spring

Another sign of spring, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

The catkins are peeking their furry silver heads out into the March air.

The Driftway

IMG_9036, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Another one from the archives - the Driftway.

Amelang Bridge

Amelang Bridge , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Amelang Bridge is on Mordecai Lincoln Road, where the Gulph River meets Hunter's Pond.

This picture was taken almost exactly one year ago today - getting down on my driveway takes a toll, folks, so I dipped back into the archives for today's post!

I love the inscription on this plaque. There is a herring run at this spot.. perhaps someday the herring will find their way back to it.

Woolly bear!

Woolly bear! , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

It's turning into the Scituate Daily Critter Photo around here lately, isn't it?

For those of you who are wigged out by bugs, I apologize. This woolly bear isn't nearly as traumatizing as the close-up of a giant preying mantis I inflicted upon you last year, right? And here's the great thing about the woolly bear - SPRING!!!!!

(Slight pause so we can all do the happy dance of joy together)

This little fellow was making his determined way across my driveway. He's survived the winter in his caterpillar form and is now off to eat as much as he possibly can before pupating and becoming a tiger moth. (He will then concuss himself nightly against my front door light and make my cats insane in the process, but that's an entirely different post.)

And on a side note, I do not recommend lying down on your driveway in early March to take photographs if you are on crutches, because the pavement is cold and it takes a loooooong time to get back into an upright position.

SPRING!

At your own risk

At your own risk , originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

Fourth cliff, Humarock.

Reaching back into my archives while I am out of commission.

Hoo-H'hoo-hoo-hoo

Hoo-H'hoo-hoo-hoo, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

This great horned owl lives at the Trailside Museum where my mother-in-law Joan is a volunteer. He's unable to make it on his own in the wild but serves to educate the public about owls like him.

In today's post he's standing in for the great horned owls in Scituate, because I'll be darned if I can figure out where their nest is. All during January and early February they were hooting outside loudly enough to wake me up; they were singing the great horned owl version of love songs. Love is loud in the owl world. Trust me. But my (admittedly half-hearted) attempts to find the nest have netted me zilch.

So instead we have this fellow over in Milton, being held by a Scituate resident for another Scituate resident to admire and yet another Scituate resident to photograph.

If you visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's excellent website, All About Birds, you can read about the great horned owl and hear his very loud call for yourself!

Many thanks to my MiL Joan for making this particular picture possible. :)

Basking in the harbor

DSCN7660a-rs, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

There was no rest or elevation involved in the taking of this picture, though there was some ice on the boat ramp - so I wasn't entirely ignoring doctor's orders when I went down to the harbor to grab a photo of this seal basking in the March sunlight! Many thanks to Scituate Daily Photo reader Sue for alerting me to this fellow's presence. :)

I was having some technical difficulties, but did get some other okay photographs and have posted those to my Flickr stream.

I believe that this is a juvenile hooded seal, though I am no seal expert - anyone out there who is able to confirm or correct, please fire away!

The seal spent several hours enjoying the sun and taking a rest in the harbor; by late afternoon he was gone. Fare thee well, friend. You delighted an awful lot of people while you were here.

I must go down to the seas again...

DSCN6764-rs, originally uploaded by Ali Crehan.

... for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
- John Masefield

Today is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community, and the theme for March 1st is "Your Favorite Part of Town."

This picture is of Humarock Beach, taken a couple of weeks ago when it was bitterly cold - but really, this could be any beach in Scituate, or any place where the sea meets the land or the cliffs or the sea wall. My favorite part of town is any place where the salt water soaks into the sand.

All across the world, other City Daily Photo bloggers are posting photos of their favorite part of town - click here to view thumbnails for all participants.