Tag: Massachusetts

2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part II)

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Designed by Smith and Bassette to survive 100 mph (160 km/h) winds, and built by T. R. Fox and Son in 1914, the Heublein Tower served as Gilbert Heublein’s summer home and retreat. Smith and Bassette also designed the north and south wings of the Governor’s Mansion in 1916. Truly an architectural marvel, Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria in Germany. Standing 165 feet (50 m) tall and situated 1,000 feet (300 m) above the Farmington Valley, one can see for several dozen miles in all directions from the top-floor observation lounge. It is also the site of the first home elevator in Connecticut.

When Kevin and I reached the Heublein Tower, we went to the shop to purchase some water and snacks. While we ate, we enjoyed the view over the Farmington River Valley. It is prohibited to eat or drink at the observation lounge.

When we were ready to go upstairs, we had to climb 120 steps to the sixth floor to get to the Heublein Observation Lounge. From there, we had a 360° view. From the tower, Hartford can be seen at a short distance. When the skies are clear, the view reaches all the way across Massachusetts into New Hampshire. I spent some time on the bench up there and soaked in the panorama.

After resting for a little bit, Kevin and I hiked down the Tower Trail. My arch in my right foot was aching. So, I had to take it easy. New insoles or hiking shoes should fix this problem. Thank goodness, there is a shortcut trail that led us down faster. We took in the beautiful Autumn sights. After all, it was a perfect day to hike up the hill. The temperatures were in the mid- to upper 50s (12℃ – 14℃).

Simsbury, Connecticut – October 10th, 2025

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~ THE END ~

2025 · Halloween · Massachusetts

Halloween Season In “Witch City” – Salem, Massachusetts (Part II) 2025

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The “First Church in Salem” and the Witch House reside next to the Ropes Mansion (Allison’s House/Hocus Pocus). Since both buildings and the Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery are connected to the 1692 Witch Trials, I post the photos in this blog.

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The First Church In Salem

The “First Church (North Church) in Salem” refers to the First Church in Salem, Massachusetts, which, over time, has had different locations and branches. The current Unitarian Universalist congregation, one of the oldest in the United States, was established in 1629. The congregation split several times throughout its history, and one of these divisions created the “North Church”.

During the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, many of the accused and their accusers were members of the First Church congregation. The minister at the time, Reverend John Higginson, lived near the present-day Salem Witch Museum site.

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The Witch House/Jonathan Corwin House

The only structure still standing in Salem that has a direct connection to the witchcraft trials and is open to the public is the Witch House, on the corner of Essex and North Streets. This home, built circa 1675, was the residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin in 1692.

Along with his friend and fellow Judge John Hathorne, Judge Corwin presided over many of the examinations of the accused and their accusers, both before and during the trials. Some of the questioning took place in the Salem Village Meetinghouse (Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good were examined there from March 1-5), the Salem Town Meetinghouse, and local taverns. For years, many believed examinations also took place in this home on Essex Street, but there is no evidence to support that theory.

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Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery

The Charter Street Burial Ground, started in 1637, also known as “Old Burying Point” or the “Charter Street Cemetery”, is the oldest cemetery in Salem. Many early and famous Salem residents are buried here, such as John Hathorne, a judge in the Salem witch trials of 1692, and Samuel McIntire, Salem’s great woodcarver.

The convicted victims of the Salem Witch Trials were not buried in a single, marked location; their bodies were disposed of in shallow graves at the execution site, now known as Proctor’s Ledge. While there is no central grave site, some families may have secretly moved their loved ones’ bodies to private plots, so their exact burial locations are largely unknown. The Old Burying Point Cemetery is adjacent to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, but no executed individuals from the trials are buried there.

Salem, Massachusetts – October 8th, 2025

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~ THE END ~

2025 · Halloween · Massachusetts

Halloween Season In “Witch City” – Salem, Massachusetts (Part I) 2025

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After we dropped off Sara at the school bus, Kevin and I drove to Salem, Massachusetts. Since we wanted to meet with a couple of Kevin’s friends, the trip was planned in late Spring or early Summer. It was raining this morning. So, the chance that the town would be overcrowded was slim. And it proved to be the perfect October day to visit Salem.

We parked at the lot between Federal Street and Church Street. At the Witch City Mall, Kevin and I met with his friends. We had eaten a small breakfast on the road. So, we were ready for some brunch at the Red’s Sandwich Store. In other words, we had a second breakfast there. And it was delicious.

When our bellies were full, we walked through Salem. Since Kevin’s friends knew I had a creepy feeling towards Ouija boards, they guided us to the Salem Witch Board Museum.

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Salem Witch Board Museum

The Salem Witch Board Museum is owned and operated by John Kozik, a founding member of the Talking Board Historical Society​. Working with the other members, they seek to preserve and uncover the history surrounding the talking board. The items contained in the museum are from his personal collection or donated to the museum for display and educational purposes. John is available for speaking engagements on the wonders and historic impacts of the Ouija board and talking boards.

Here is a video from CNN of the Ouija Board History and the Salem Witch Board Museum:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/20/travel/video/ouija-board-history-halloween-orig-ag

Once I listened to the history of the Ouija board, I wasn’t as creeped out anymore. Still, I would treat it with caution, until… one of Kevin’s friends dug deeper into the boards, which were donated to the museum. And that was the moment when the hair on the back of my neck was standing up. 😱

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It’s All A Bunch of HOCUS POCUS!

When we walked out of the Salem Witch Board Museum, we were all debating what we were going to do next. I mentioned the Hocus Pocus Filming Locations. I knew we wouldn’t make it to all the locations due to our schedules. But since I wanted to see Allison’s House (The Ropes Mansion), we all agreed to go there first. I wish they had decorated the Ropes Mansion for the holiday. However, it still looked exactly like they filmed it for the movie.

Our next stop was the Old Town Hall. The “town hall spell” in Hocus Pocus refers to the scene where Winifred Sanderson sings “I Put a Spell on You” at the town’s Halloween party. While the exterior of the Old Town Hall was used for filming, the interior party scene was shot on a soundstage. The spell used the song to hypnotize the townspeople, forcing them to dance until they die.  

Kevin and I might have to visit Salem in the off-season for the third time. I would love to see the rest of the Hocus Pocus filming locations.

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Salem, Massachusetts – October 8th, 2025

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… to be continued …

2025

22 Years

TanjaLeave a comment

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May this special day bring endless joy,
unforgettable memories,
and boundless opportunities.
Always remember, we are here for you every step of the way.

Happy 22nd Birthday, Katelynn!

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2025 · Halloween · Kringle Candle Company

Halloween Kringle Candles 2020

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I’m so excited, my Halloween Kringle Candles have arrived today. In mid-July, the Kringle Candle Company had a special for their Halloween Kringle Tumblers. I believe they could be ordered only for several hours before the sale was over. Kringle Candle Co. had different Halloween candles later in the year, but I wanted to get my fingers on those tumbler candles. In July, I got an email from them saying when they have the sale ready for the Kringle tumblers. I, being crazy for Halloween and candles, had to go for that deal. The online store had plenty of selections to choose from. However, I went for four different scents and purchased six candles in total.

  • 2 Witches Cauldron
  • 2 Graveyard Night
  • 1 Black Cat
  • 1 Day of The Dead

Who is this Kringle Candle Company?

The original founder of the Kringle Candle Co. was no other than Michael Kittredge II himself. He was also the founder of the Yankee Candle Co.,  which has been in business since 1969. After selling candles nationally and internationally for the past 30 years, Michael Kittredge II sold the Yankee Candle Co. to Forstmann, Little & Co. in 1998. Michael Kittredge II retired from candle making.

In 2008, Michael Kittredge III, the son of the Yankee Candle Co. founder, made his first candle. And it came naturally to him to make and sell candles himself. In 2009, the Kringle Candle Co. was born and has the flagship store with the candle factory/packing, and shipping on an 18,000 sqft. property in Bernardson, Massachusetts. Over 10 years later, the company is still in business, growing its product line and sending the candles all over the United States. Many of the Kringle Candles can also be outside the USA.

Unfortunately, Michael Kittredge died due to cancer in Boston on July 24, 2019. He was 67 years old. May he rest in peace. And we are thankful for the millions of amazing-smelling candles over the past 50+ years.

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2025 · Massachusetts

Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers @ Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts ~ 09/27/2025 ⚾

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Today, Kevin and I went with a friend and his son to see the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Since the Red Sox made it into the playoffs last night, they seem to slack off a bit this afternoon. Unfortunately, they lost 2:1 against the Tigers. But this didn’t stop us from having a good time at the ballpark. Kevin and I had a couple of hot dogs and an Italian sausage roll. The food was great. I always enjoyed Boston’s cuisine.

After the game, we all rode the bus back home to Connecticut. It was a long, eventful, and fun day. Perfect date with the hubby. 😊

2025 · Massachusetts · National Day Calendar

Mayflower Day 2025

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The Mayflower

Mayflower Day is the day set aside to commemorate the history of the journey that saw travelers from England who were seeking refuge, sail through the ocean to create a new colony in the ‘Promised Land’, which is the territory of the modern-day United States.
Although the ship reached and eventually docked at present-day Cape Cod, Massachusetts, its original destination was a region in and around the present-day territory of the U.S. state of Virginia. According to historical accounts, rough sea conditions and storms prevented it from reaching its final destination in Virginia and subsequently docked at an area around the present-day Hudson River in what is now New York state.

The original 102 travelers on the Mayflower were led by a group of English merchants known as the London Adventurers, one of whose journals most of the written account of the 66-day journey was obtained from. Mayflower Day celebration serves as a remembrance of the history, travelers, and the vessel that has now become an important part of the creation of the modern-day United States.

One of the travelers on the Mayflower ship, William Bradford is considered to have helped establish the traditions of self-government that would later set the pattern for national political development in years to come with his introduction of franchise and town meetings as the 30-year governor of the Plymouth colony where the travelers of Mayflower settled and is also one of thirteen colonies that formed the present United States.

:https://nationaltoday.com/mayflower-day/

2025 · Massachusetts · National Day Calendar

National Massachusetts Day 2025

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The Mayflower and the first Pilgrims to the Americas landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. After much strife and conflict with the local Wampanoag tribespeople, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded ten years later. Throughout the state’s history, there have been several moments when it played a key role in making the America we know today. Without Massachusetts and its intellectual elite’s support, taxation without representation may have remained an idea.

Also known as the Cradle of Liberty, Massachusetts was the venue for the establishment of the Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party, both pivotal events in the buildup to the American Revolution. In 1775, the war for America’s freedom and independence from the British Empire and King George III began in Lexington and Concord, both towns in Massachusetts. Citizens of Massachusetts were staunch patriots and advocated for freedom from the tyranny of colonial rule, but the state is known for so much more than its patriotic voice.

After the American Civil War in 1865, Massachusetts lost a lot of its production capacity and fell from grace, so to speak. The advent of the First and Second World Wars saw a return to some level of productivity. Still, well into the late ‘70s, Massachusetts was plagued by deindustrialization and high unemployment rates. In the ‘80s, what is now known as the Massachusetts Miracle took place. Harvard University and MIT made major developments that led to a surge in technology-focused companies opening shop in the state, boosting the local economy and reinstating Massachusetts as a pillar of the American economy.

:https://nationaltoday.com/national-massachusetts-day/