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Historical Society and she volunteers for the National Archives and the Massachusetts Historical Society transcribing historical documents.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 Ada K. Damon shipwreck. Published in the Newburyport Morning Herald on December 29, 1909.

Ada K. Damon Shipwreck in Ipswich, Massachusetts

The Ada K. Damon was a schooner that shipwrecked in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1909. Built in 1875, the ship was an 84-foot-long, two-masted schooner used for fishing and sand transportation…. Read more »

Illustration of the Bell In Hand Tavern. Published in the American Illustrated Magazine in 1886.

History of the Bell In Hand Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts

The Bell in Hand is a historic tavern on Union Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1795, by town crier Jimmy Wilson, it is one of the oldest taverns in… Read more »

History of Lynn Woods in Lynn, Massachusetts

The Lynn Woods Reservation is a 2,200-acre municipal forest park in Lynn, Massachusetts. The park is the second-largest municipal park in America and features wetlands, ponds, streams, rocky outcrops of… Read more »

The Gloucester Sea Serpent of 1817

The Sea Serpent of Gloucester, Massachusetts

The Gloucester Sea Serpent was a creature reportedly seen near the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The sea serpent was described as a giant snake-like creature with a large head. The… Read more »

History of Warren Tavern in Charlestown, Massachusetts

Warren Tavern is a historic tavern on Pleasant Street in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Established in 1780, it was the first tavern to be built after the British burned Charlestown during the… Read more »