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| Photo by Erik Smith. |
| email the webmaster |
| Copyright 2008, Erik K. Smith, Salem, Massachusetts |
| The inspiration for this website is Tom Sito, who has been emailing me Daily Histories for over 10 years now |
The majority of the research done to create this website was possible thanks to
the Salem Public Library. If you would like to learn more about any of these
topics, please visit the Sources page where you can find links to books
available there.
the Salem Public Library. If you would like to learn more about any of these
topics, please visit the Sources page where you can find links to books
available there.
It happened on this day in
Salem, Massachusetts:
Salem, Massachusetts:
| Old Town Hall. Photo by Erik Smith. |
| Salem resident and B-17 bomber crew member Ken Green talks about supporting the besieged troops in the Battle of the Bulge |
May 12, 1819 Colonel Benjamin Pickman died.
1800 The Salem Impartial Register was first published by William
Carlton.
1836 The following City Ordinance was passed:
Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Salem, that the
Mayor and the aldermen shall forthwith appoint, and shall
hereafter annually in the month of May, appoint a city marshal,
who shall receive such compensation for his services as the city
council shall annually direct. Be it further ordained, that said
marshal shall be appointed to the office of constable, and he
shall have precedence and command over the other constables,
whenever engaged in the same service, or when directed thereto by
the Mayor and alderman.
The Salem Police Department was born.
1894 The Salem Chamber of Commerce elected its first officers.
1997 Salem State College purchased the former Sylvania Plant on
Loring Avenue.
May 13, 1807 Reverend Bentley wrote:
Sent to Ashley Bowen, the worthy Companion of the Immortal
Cook in 1759 at Quebec, the third drawing from the pen of my
pupil H(annah )C(rowninshield). The first was from a view of his
life compared to the sailing of a Ship. The second was a tree of
genealogy till the fourth generation, from the first Bowen who
came to America. The last was a view of all nations representing
their regard to the Christian religion by the navigation of their
Vessels. In the Center was the Crucifix. And on the right a
rough Sketch of St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead. In the
center I placed a figure compounded of an antient Sea God, with
two Children, one climbing and the other on the knee, from
Wright. The Church was on the right with ornamental trees, & the
Academy on the left among fruit trees.
May 14, 1645 The area of Salem known as Jeffry's Creeke, was
established as the Town of Manchester.
1866 A fire broke out at the Lynde Block on Essex Street and
consumed nine buildings.
1918 The steamer "Lexington", carrying coal to Salem, was wrecked
on Baker’s Island.
1949 The cruiser "U.S.S. Salem" was commissioned.
May 15, 1700 John Hale died in Beverly, Massachusetts.
1854 Caroline Plummer died at the age of 74. The philanthropist
left a trust fund in her will that would result in the Plummer
Home for Boys on Winter Island. She also provided most of the
funds to build Plummer Hall on Essex Street, the first home of
the Salem Athenaeum.
1877 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Harbor and Land
Commissioner’s Office issued a license to construct a wharf at
Salem Willows to the Salem and Magnolia Steamboat Company.
1899 The Salem Telephone Company was founded.
May 16, 1839 From the "Log of the Whaling Barque Emerald:"
Good weather although on the beach there was a very heavy
surf this morning, starboard watch on liberty, one boat employed
in towing off water for Barque Hero (off London) and received no
thanks for it, took onboard some ducks & eggs, also killed a hog,
Captain Dexter stops on short this night and so Ends. Ingalls is
yet in irons.
May 17, 1774 At a Town Meeting held in Salem the following was
passed in response to the Boston Port Bill:
Voted that it is the opinion of this town that if the
other colonies come into a joint resolution to stop all
importations from Great Britain or exportations to Great Britain,
and every part of the West Indies, till the act for blocking up
the harbour of Boston be repealed, the same will prove the
salvation of North America and her liberties: on the other hand
if they continue their exports and imports, there is high reason
to fear, that fraud, power and the most odious oppression will
rise triumphant over right, justice, social happiness and freedom.
1861 In Washington, Salem born General Frederick Lander was made
the first commissioned Brigadier General of the Civil War after
narrowly escaping Texas upon the outbreak of hostilities between
the Union and Confederate States. General Lander died during the
first year of the war and was buried, without a grave marker, in
the West Family Tomb in the Broad Street Cemetery.
1934 The North Branch of the Public Library opened. It would
remain in operation until 1985.
May 18, 1631 Having been granted voting rights, the Massachusetts
Bay Colonists elected their first Governor, John Winthrop, who
had arrived in Salem in 1629.
1809 Harriet Low was born to Seth and Mary Porter Low. When
married to George Hillard she moved to China, the first American
woman to live in that country. She kept a journal, later
published as "Lights and Shadows of a Macao Life".
1957 Lt. Commander Albert P. Hartt, Jr. and Aviation Ordinanceman
William J. Tarker, Jr. were killed in a demonstration of a Jet
Assisted Takeoff when their plane, a Grumman UF-1G Albatross
#1278, stalled and crashed.
May 19, 1775 Nathaniel Hathorne, the father of the author, was
born in Salem.
1791 A launch was attempted of Elias Hasket Derby’s second ship
named "Grand Turk". Reverend Bentley recorded:
An attempt was made to launch the ship, but without
success. She did not more her length, to the great mortification
of a numerous crowd of Spectators. The Persons present at the
first view exceeded 9,000 persons.
1857 Moses Farmer of Salem and William Channing of Boston
received a patent on the world’s first electric fire alarm system.
1864 Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author, died with his friend, the
former President, Franklin Pierce at the Pemigewassett Inn in
Plymouth, New Hampshire.
1914 Miss Ethel B. Osborne was appointed Police Woman, the first
in Salem under a new state law.
Last week's history is archived here.
1800 The Salem Impartial Register was first published by William
Carlton.
1836 The following City Ordinance was passed:
Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Salem, that the
Mayor and the aldermen shall forthwith appoint, and shall
hereafter annually in the month of May, appoint a city marshal,
who shall receive such compensation for his services as the city
council shall annually direct. Be it further ordained, that said
marshal shall be appointed to the office of constable, and he
shall have precedence and command over the other constables,
whenever engaged in the same service, or when directed thereto by
the Mayor and alderman.
The Salem Police Department was born.
1894 The Salem Chamber of Commerce elected its first officers.
1997 Salem State College purchased the former Sylvania Plant on
Loring Avenue.
May 13, 1807 Reverend Bentley wrote:
Sent to Ashley Bowen, the worthy Companion of the Immortal
Cook in 1759 at Quebec, the third drawing from the pen of my
pupil H(annah )C(rowninshield). The first was from a view of his
life compared to the sailing of a Ship. The second was a tree of
genealogy till the fourth generation, from the first Bowen who
came to America. The last was a view of all nations representing
their regard to the Christian religion by the navigation of their
Vessels. In the Center was the Crucifix. And on the right a
rough Sketch of St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead. In the
center I placed a figure compounded of an antient Sea God, with
two Children, one climbing and the other on the knee, from
Wright. The Church was on the right with ornamental trees, & the
Academy on the left among fruit trees.
May 14, 1645 The area of Salem known as Jeffry's Creeke, was
established as the Town of Manchester.
1866 A fire broke out at the Lynde Block on Essex Street and
consumed nine buildings.
1918 The steamer "Lexington", carrying coal to Salem, was wrecked
on Baker’s Island.
1949 The cruiser "U.S.S. Salem" was commissioned.
May 15, 1700 John Hale died in Beverly, Massachusetts.
1854 Caroline Plummer died at the age of 74. The philanthropist
left a trust fund in her will that would result in the Plummer
Home for Boys on Winter Island. She also provided most of the
funds to build Plummer Hall on Essex Street, the first home of
the Salem Athenaeum.
1877 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Harbor and Land
Commissioner’s Office issued a license to construct a wharf at
Salem Willows to the Salem and Magnolia Steamboat Company.
1899 The Salem Telephone Company was founded.
May 16, 1839 From the "Log of the Whaling Barque Emerald:"
Good weather although on the beach there was a very heavy
surf this morning, starboard watch on liberty, one boat employed
in towing off water for Barque Hero (off London) and received no
thanks for it, took onboard some ducks & eggs, also killed a hog,
Captain Dexter stops on short this night and so Ends. Ingalls is
yet in irons.
May 17, 1774 At a Town Meeting held in Salem the following was
passed in response to the Boston Port Bill:
Voted that it is the opinion of this town that if the
other colonies come into a joint resolution to stop all
importations from Great Britain or exportations to Great Britain,
and every part of the West Indies, till the act for blocking up
the harbour of Boston be repealed, the same will prove the
salvation of North America and her liberties: on the other hand
if they continue their exports and imports, there is high reason
to fear, that fraud, power and the most odious oppression will
rise triumphant over right, justice, social happiness and freedom.
1861 In Washington, Salem born General Frederick Lander was made
the first commissioned Brigadier General of the Civil War after
narrowly escaping Texas upon the outbreak of hostilities between
the Union and Confederate States. General Lander died during the
first year of the war and was buried, without a grave marker, in
the West Family Tomb in the Broad Street Cemetery.
1934 The North Branch of the Public Library opened. It would
remain in operation until 1985.
May 18, 1631 Having been granted voting rights, the Massachusetts
Bay Colonists elected their first Governor, John Winthrop, who
had arrived in Salem in 1629.
1809 Harriet Low was born to Seth and Mary Porter Low. When
married to George Hillard she moved to China, the first American
woman to live in that country. She kept a journal, later
published as "Lights and Shadows of a Macao Life".
1957 Lt. Commander Albert P. Hartt, Jr. and Aviation Ordinanceman
William J. Tarker, Jr. were killed in a demonstration of a Jet
Assisted Takeoff when their plane, a Grumman UF-1G Albatross
#1278, stalled and crashed.
May 19, 1775 Nathaniel Hathorne, the father of the author, was
born in Salem.
1791 A launch was attempted of Elias Hasket Derby’s second ship
named "Grand Turk". Reverend Bentley recorded:
An attempt was made to launch the ship, but without
success. She did not more her length, to the great mortification
of a numerous crowd of Spectators. The Persons present at the
first view exceeded 9,000 persons.
1857 Moses Farmer of Salem and William Channing of Boston
received a patent on the world’s first electric fire alarm system.
1864 Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author, died with his friend, the
former President, Franklin Pierce at the Pemigewassett Inn in
Plymouth, New Hampshire.
1914 Miss Ethel B. Osborne was appointed Police Woman, the first
in Salem under a new state law.
Last week's history is archived here.
| Photo by Erik Smith |
