Author Archives: Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

About Rebecca Beatrice Brooks

Rebecca Beatrice Brooks is the author and publisher of the History of Massachusetts Blog. Rebecca is a journalist and history writer who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in journalism. She is a member of Historic Salem Inc, the Danvers Historical Society, and the Salisbury Historical Society and she volunteers for the National Archives and the Massachusetts Historical Society transcribing historical documents. Visit this site's About page to find out more about Rebecca.

News report about the poisoning at Tewksbury State Hospital. Published in the Boston Post on October 30, 1903.

The Tewksbury State Hospital Poison Mystery

On October 27, 1903, 11 patients at the Tewksbury State Hospital were poisoned when they drank water that had been mixed with poison. One of the patients died the following… Read more »

Administration Building, Tewksbury, Mass. Photo by Candace Jenkins, 1991, courtesy Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin, Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Commission.

History of Tewksbury State Hospital

Tewksbury State Hospital was a psychiatric hospital located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Built in 1854, it was originally established as an almshouse before later being converted into a hospital. The property… Read more »

The James Blake House, Dorchester, Mass, in 1898

James Blake House: Oldest House in Boston, Massachusetts

The James Blake House is a historic First Period house on Columbia Road in Boston, Massachusetts. Built in 1661, it is the oldest surviving house in Boston. The house is… Read more »

Green-Dragon Tavern, Boston, Mass. Photo published in the Boston Post on December 3, 1911.

History of the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts

The Green Dragon Tavern was a public house located on Union Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a popular meeting place for the Sons of Liberty and the Freemasons during… Read more »

Dogtown, Gloucester, Mass, in 2012. Photo by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks.

History of Dogtown in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Dogtown is a historic ghost town on Cape Ann on the North Shore of Massachusetts. It is a rocky, undeveloped area located in both Gloucester and Rockport and is nearly… Read more »