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| Winter Island. Photo by Erik Smith. |
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| Copyright 2007/2008/2009, 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:
| Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Photo by Erik Smith. |
| Video: Salem Hospital and Captain John Bertram Produced by Erik Smith for Salem Access Television. |
April 20, 1801 Benjamin Hawkes bought the house at 174 Derby
Street from Jonathan Mason and Samuel Archer for $2,975.50. That
house is now part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1861 The Salem Mechanic Light Infantry and Salem City Guards left
to fight in the Civil War, five days from President Lincoln’s
call for volunteers. They became the Massachusetts 23rd Regiment.
April 21, 1691 Two prisoners escaped from the Salem Jail. They
were Robert Swan of Haverhill and John Rowland of Marblehead.
When the jailer’s wife opened the door to hand them beer they
bought from her, as she was licensed to do, they left the jail
and stole a canoe to row across the North River. (Perly 241)
1784 A schooner carrying wood was wrecked outside Salem Harbor.
1821 The Essex Historical Society was founded, mostly by George
A. Ward. It described itself as “the collection and preservation
of authentic memorials relating to the civil history of the
county of Essex, and the eminent men who had resided within its
limits; also all facts relating to its natural history and
topography.”
The Society would merge with the Essex County Natural
History Society to form the Essex Institute, which later joined
the Peabody Institute to form the Peabody Essex Museum.
1866 Caroline Osgood Emmerton was born in Salem to George and
Mary Jane Bertram Emmerton. Ms. Emmerton was the founder of the
House of the Seven Gables Settlement and responsible for the
preservation of the Turner-Ingersoll House.
1998 Salem National Historic Site and The Salem Partnership
received the National Park Partnership Leadership Award.
April 22, 1934 Marden Construction of Boston began work on the
Hangar at Winter Island that would be part of U.S. Coast Guard
Air Station Salem. They finished construction in November that
year.
April 23, 1847 Sophia Peabody Hawthorne wrote in a long letter to
her Mother:
The dark purple mousseline which I wore in Boston I have
had to give up; for my husband all at once protested that he
could not see me in it any longer, and that he hated it beyond
all endurance. He begged me to give it to Dora and to pay her
for accepting it! Dora made it, you know, and admired it
exceedingly, and needed it very much, and was made quite happy by
possessing it. I only regret it because a certain beloved Fairy
sent it to me from Fairy Land; but this is a secret, and you must
not ask me any questions about it. Mr. Hawthorne does not like
to see me wear dark materials, and h is truly contented only when
I shine in silk.
1882 A fire at Phillips Wharf destroyed a cargo of jute.
April 24, 1775 A meeting was held in Beverly to discuss the
defense of Essex County’s ports.
1974 Swiniuch Park was dedicated at the corner of Derby and
Bentley Streets. It was named for Councilman Louis A. Swiniuch,
who lived from April 22, 1913 to February 9, 1974.
April 25, 1836 The first election for City Government was held.
1852 Jean Missud was born in Nice, France. For 63 years he was
the popular conductor of the Salem Cadet Band. The bandstand on
Salem Common was named in his honor in 1976.
1861 The barque “Glide”, 480 tons, was launched at Miller’s
Shipyard for Captain John Bertram. She would arrive in Zanzibar
on her first voyage August 20.
1877 Salem born African American Abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond
was married to Lazzarro Pinto in Italy where she practiced
medicine.
1906 The Winne-Egan hotel burned to the ground. It had been
built in 1888 on Baker’s Island.
1913 The War Department ruled that Tinker’s Island belongs to
Salem and not Marblehead.
April 26, 1898 Navy Seaman Francis Cahill, who had been wounded
in the explosion of the “U.S.S. Maine” in Havana Harbor, returned
home to Salem and a hero’s welcome.
1917 William Henry Bates was born in Salem. He served from 1950
to 1969 as Representative from the 6th Massachusetts District in
the U.S. Congress, where he died in office. Mr. Bates is buried
in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
1951 The Woman’s Friend Society at 12 Hawthorne held a
celebration and an open house to commemorate the institution’s
seventy-fifth anniversary.
1957 The first filmed version of Arthur Miller’s play The
Crucible was released in a French language version, in France,
called “Les Sorcieres de Salem”. Hollywood studios were afraid
of releasing a film written by a blacklisted writer who openly
criticized the McCarthy hearings.
April 27, 1775 The Provincial Congress decided to send word of
the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington to London to try and
score, in today’s parlance, a publicity coup. They chose Salem’s
John Derby to take word to Benjamin Franklin. They passed the
following resolution:
Resolved: that Captain Derby be directed and he hereby is
directed to make for Dublin, or any other good port in Ireland,
and from thence to cross Scotland or England, and hasten to
London. This direction is given so that he may escape all
enemies that may be in the chops of the Channel to stop the
communication of the Provincial Intelligence to the agent. He
will forthwith deliver his papers to the agent on reaching London.
J. Warren, Chairman
PS-You are to keep this order a profound secret from every person
on earth.
Captain John Derby would also be the bearer of news of the
signing of the Peace Treaty in France.
1835 According to Duncan Phillips’s book “Pepper and Pirates” the
225 ton barque “Derby” which had been attacked unsuccessfully at
Sumatra as she loaded Pepper, returned to Salem. Her owner was
Stephen C. Phillips, and her commander was Captain Jonathan P.
Felt, whose grandfather had been one of the patriots during the
Salem Powder Alarm of 1775. Captain Felt wrote in his log that
the journey had taken “16 months and 7 days”. (Pepper 106)
1858 The 106 ton fishing schooner “Prairie Flower” was launched
at Miller’s shipyard. On June 8, as she was heading to Boston to
finish fitting her out to fish, she was capsized, drowning seven
young Salem men, all under the age of 30.
April 28, 1994 City Council finally voted on the petition
submitted by Salem High School students to ban cigarette machines
throughout the city. The measure was approved and the ban went
immediately into effect.
1996 The Trustees of the Salem Public Library held a 200th
Birthday Party for Captain John Bertram in his mansion at 370
Essex Street. That home, where the Bertram family lived for many
happy years, now houses the Public Library. Ed Tufts played
Captain Bertram at the party.
2006 The City of Salem paid tribute to radio station WESX, which
began its history in 1939 at the Peabody Building on Washington
Street. The station had been sold and was moved.
April 29, 1797 The ship “Polly” of Salem was captured by the
French privateer “Zenador”. She was carrying a cargo of
provisions and lumber.
1813 The Salem built “U.S.S. Essex” captured the British whalers
“Montezuma”, “Georgiana”, and “Policy” off Chile.
1825 Jean Bertram died in Salem at the age of 53. He was the
father of merchant/philanthropist John Bertram.
1912 Theodore Roosevelt, running this time on the Bull Moose
Party ticket, made a campaign stop at Town House Square.
Last week's history is archived here.
Street from Jonathan Mason and Samuel Archer for $2,975.50. That
house is now part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1861 The Salem Mechanic Light Infantry and Salem City Guards left
to fight in the Civil War, five days from President Lincoln’s
call for volunteers. They became the Massachusetts 23rd Regiment.
April 21, 1691 Two prisoners escaped from the Salem Jail. They
were Robert Swan of Haverhill and John Rowland of Marblehead.
When the jailer’s wife opened the door to hand them beer they
bought from her, as she was licensed to do, they left the jail
and stole a canoe to row across the North River. (Perly 241)
1784 A schooner carrying wood was wrecked outside Salem Harbor.
1821 The Essex Historical Society was founded, mostly by George
A. Ward. It described itself as “the collection and preservation
of authentic memorials relating to the civil history of the
county of Essex, and the eminent men who had resided within its
limits; also all facts relating to its natural history and
topography.”
The Society would merge with the Essex County Natural
History Society to form the Essex Institute, which later joined
the Peabody Institute to form the Peabody Essex Museum.
1866 Caroline Osgood Emmerton was born in Salem to George and
Mary Jane Bertram Emmerton. Ms. Emmerton was the founder of the
House of the Seven Gables Settlement and responsible for the
preservation of the Turner-Ingersoll House.
1998 Salem National Historic Site and The Salem Partnership
received the National Park Partnership Leadership Award.
April 22, 1934 Marden Construction of Boston began work on the
Hangar at Winter Island that would be part of U.S. Coast Guard
Air Station Salem. They finished construction in November that
year.
April 23, 1847 Sophia Peabody Hawthorne wrote in a long letter to
her Mother:
The dark purple mousseline which I wore in Boston I have
had to give up; for my husband all at once protested that he
could not see me in it any longer, and that he hated it beyond
all endurance. He begged me to give it to Dora and to pay her
for accepting it! Dora made it, you know, and admired it
exceedingly, and needed it very much, and was made quite happy by
possessing it. I only regret it because a certain beloved Fairy
sent it to me from Fairy Land; but this is a secret, and you must
not ask me any questions about it. Mr. Hawthorne does not like
to see me wear dark materials, and h is truly contented only when
I shine in silk.
1882 A fire at Phillips Wharf destroyed a cargo of jute.
April 24, 1775 A meeting was held in Beverly to discuss the
defense of Essex County’s ports.
1974 Swiniuch Park was dedicated at the corner of Derby and
Bentley Streets. It was named for Councilman Louis A. Swiniuch,
who lived from April 22, 1913 to February 9, 1974.
April 25, 1836 The first election for City Government was held.
1852 Jean Missud was born in Nice, France. For 63 years he was
the popular conductor of the Salem Cadet Band. The bandstand on
Salem Common was named in his honor in 1976.
1861 The barque “Glide”, 480 tons, was launched at Miller’s
Shipyard for Captain John Bertram. She would arrive in Zanzibar
on her first voyage August 20.
1877 Salem born African American Abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond
was married to Lazzarro Pinto in Italy where she practiced
medicine.
1906 The Winne-Egan hotel burned to the ground. It had been
built in 1888 on Baker’s Island.
1913 The War Department ruled that Tinker’s Island belongs to
Salem and not Marblehead.
April 26, 1898 Navy Seaman Francis Cahill, who had been wounded
in the explosion of the “U.S.S. Maine” in Havana Harbor, returned
home to Salem and a hero’s welcome.
1917 William Henry Bates was born in Salem. He served from 1950
to 1969 as Representative from the 6th Massachusetts District in
the U.S. Congress, where he died in office. Mr. Bates is buried
in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
1951 The Woman’s Friend Society at 12 Hawthorne held a
celebration and an open house to commemorate the institution’s
seventy-fifth anniversary.
1957 The first filmed version of Arthur Miller’s play The
Crucible was released in a French language version, in France,
called “Les Sorcieres de Salem”. Hollywood studios were afraid
of releasing a film written by a blacklisted writer who openly
criticized the McCarthy hearings.
April 27, 1775 The Provincial Congress decided to send word of
the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington to London to try and
score, in today’s parlance, a publicity coup. They chose Salem’s
John Derby to take word to Benjamin Franklin. They passed the
following resolution:
Resolved: that Captain Derby be directed and he hereby is
directed to make for Dublin, or any other good port in Ireland,
and from thence to cross Scotland or England, and hasten to
London. This direction is given so that he may escape all
enemies that may be in the chops of the Channel to stop the
communication of the Provincial Intelligence to the agent. He
will forthwith deliver his papers to the agent on reaching London.
J. Warren, Chairman
PS-You are to keep this order a profound secret from every person
on earth.
Captain John Derby would also be the bearer of news of the
signing of the Peace Treaty in France.
1835 According to Duncan Phillips’s book “Pepper and Pirates” the
225 ton barque “Derby” which had been attacked unsuccessfully at
Sumatra as she loaded Pepper, returned to Salem. Her owner was
Stephen C. Phillips, and her commander was Captain Jonathan P.
Felt, whose grandfather had been one of the patriots during the
Salem Powder Alarm of 1775. Captain Felt wrote in his log that
the journey had taken “16 months and 7 days”. (Pepper 106)
1858 The 106 ton fishing schooner “Prairie Flower” was launched
at Miller’s shipyard. On June 8, as she was heading to Boston to
finish fitting her out to fish, she was capsized, drowning seven
young Salem men, all under the age of 30.
April 28, 1994 City Council finally voted on the petition
submitted by Salem High School students to ban cigarette machines
throughout the city. The measure was approved and the ban went
immediately into effect.
1996 The Trustees of the Salem Public Library held a 200th
Birthday Party for Captain John Bertram in his mansion at 370
Essex Street. That home, where the Bertram family lived for many
happy years, now houses the Public Library. Ed Tufts played
Captain Bertram at the party.
2006 The City of Salem paid tribute to radio station WESX, which
began its history in 1939 at the Peabody Building on Washington
Street. The station had been sold and was moved.
April 29, 1797 The ship “Polly” of Salem was captured by the
French privateer “Zenador”. She was carrying a cargo of
provisions and lumber.
1813 The Salem built “U.S.S. Essex” captured the British whalers
“Montezuma”, “Georgiana”, and “Policy” off Chile.
1825 Jean Bertram died in Salem at the age of 53. He was the
father of merchant/philanthropist John Bertram.
1912 Theodore Roosevelt, running this time on the Bull Moose
Party ticket, made a campaign stop at Town House Square.
Last week's history is archived here.
| The memorial to Benjamin Peirce. Photo by Erik Smith. |
