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Selected Letters To The Publisher |
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Selected Letters To The Publisher |
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EDIT. NOTE: This letter
was forwarded to MM by Mr. Donald Ross. It was originally a letter
to him and then reclassified by him as a Letter to the Publisher.
Only familial comments were deleted; all the good stuff is reprinted
here in its entirety, naturally. Dear Bill: Thank you for my subscription to Marblehead Magazine! I've been reading and re-reading the one you sent to me. I especially enjoy your editorials and the historic walk down Washington Street. I can visualize so many of the places the author [Harry Wilkinson] describes. Sincerely, Shirley & Bob Baggs, Ocean Park, Maine EDIT. NOTE: My last editorial, "Open Minds," (Vol. XII, No.1, Issue #34) caused many comments. It seemed to be something that many of our readers agreed with and hopefully will help people who have open minds feel a little more confident that they are not alone. As I've said in the past, when people ask me why most of our letters are from out of town, people who live here see me at the Post Office, supermarket, and around town and make their opinions known to me in no uncertain terms. But, sometimes I feel that those exiled Marbleheaders who only have Marblehead Magazine as a window on the town, may in some ways, have a clearer view of these 4.42 square miles than those of us who actually live here. That's certainly true of your appreciation of my editorials! -- BP Dear Bill: Greetings from your Texas/Marblehead admirers. Don't know when our subscription is due, but we noticed others paying theirs, so we thought we ought to send along some money to you. Surely don't want to miss any issues. Best regards to you and yours, and all our Marblehead friends and acquaintances. Looking forward to our annual visit. Our granddaughter, at seven years, will spend her first year at Children's Island next summer. Sincerely, Cindy & Roger Gordon, Fulton, Texas EDIT. NOTE: Good grief! Every issue now, there's a letter from Texas. You would think in a state with 266,807 square miles, including Guadalupe Peak (8,745 ft.) and 1,098,700 acres of National Parks, you people would be happy. But, after all, your state motto is "Friendship,"so I guess we'll just have to put up with it. But please don't spread it around too much. With over 17 million people living in the State of Texas, I don't think we could really keep it up. (Our next issue is being planned now, and we don't yet have a letter from Texas, get busy!) -- BP Dear Bill: Thank you for the nice placement of my advertisement (with a portrait of Henry Dembowski) and for yet another wonderful Marblehead Magazine! I so enjoy "Words Along The Way," and the fine photography in "Doors Of Marblehead." It reminded me of the fun colonial door I was commissioned to paint by Ben Strohecker at his Salem business location [Harbor Sweets] -- that was a challenge! The poetry is delightful and it seems to me that you, yourself, have written some nice poetry in the past issues -- hope to see more of it. The articles are always fascinating, opening doors to Marblehead personalities. Our daughter, Julie Jackson MacMillian is now doing articles for Design Times. She will always remember the opportunities you opened for her at Marblehead Magazine. Sincerely, Sally B. Jackson, Marblehead EDIT NOTE: Great letter, Sally! It's wonderful that you mentioned the poetry in Marblehead Magazine. Carol Dine, our poetry editor, really takes her time and gives our readers the very best. Our restriction that all poems must be either written by Marblehead residents, or be about Marblehead doesn't seem to inhibit the quantity or the quality. I have told her that if there is ever not enough, I have plenty of my own for her page. She hasn't called me yet. But, every once in a while I put one in the Magazine somewhere. My last publisher's comment had "We Are" in it, which received rave reviews. (Carol, are you listening?) All the best to Julie, whom we miss. She can still write for us, you know. -- BP Dear Bill: You last issue was a double dip of pleasure for me. I have known, all along, about Dick and Jean Carlson and their well-deserved success in real estate. It's a pleasure to be associated with them in the Marblehead office.
EDIT. NOTE: I've known Jean and Dick for many years and was delighted to publish an article about them. For more than twenty-five years they have continued to do honor to the real estate profession and to the people of Marblehead. The last time I saw Dick, he was on the golf course. From the look on his face, he may have been experiencing a "Lennie-kind-of-day" out there. -- BP Dear Mr. Purdin: I noted with more than mild interest a copy of my letter published in your last issue of Marblehead Magazine [page 10, Vol.XII, No.1]. Please let me clarify: I was only attempting to find out the status of my subscription, given to me by my brother, David Haley. With it, I received a letter stating that I was already a "lifetime subscriber." Therefore, with technically two subscriptions, I was wondering why I wasn't receiving any! On one of our all-too-infrequent visits to Marblehead, my husband spent a day attempting to contact your office in person and was sent all over town by various people who thought they knew where the office was located. Don't misunderstand, he had a great time and really got to know all the joys of discovering the Town. However, he had no luck. Hence, we wrote the letter upon our return to Palos Verdes. I would be happy to be considered a "regular subscriber." Enclosed is my check for $18. Secondly, I might mention that quite a while back I sent in what several people considered a very dramatic color photo of a sudden squall coming up over the harbor, you know, where the sky turns very dark and all the white hulls almost strike out at you? I certainly don't mind that it wasn't published (you have so many beautiful photo essays and you must receive hundreds of prints) [true] but I thought coming from so far away along with the few poignant words I penned with it, my action might receive some kind of your action. Many thanks for all past issues and we all hope you can continue to publish many more. Judy Haley Daponte Palos Verdes, CA EDIT. NOTE: Whew! Judy, Judy, Judy. You are so impatient. First, to publicly ponder why we are reneging on our "lifetime subscription" promise and in the same breath, you wonder why we didn't publish your photograph! Since your second letter (above), I have tried to locate your photo, but apparently it is somewhere in our missing offices. As soon as I find our office, I can probably find your picture (just kidding). Right on our masthead is our address (check it out). It should not be a problem for your husband (what is his name?). Plus, you are undeterable: I am considering the article and photo you submitted (really). All kidding aside, your subscription is still in perfect order and thanks for the check. -- BP To The Publisher: When my husband and I were first attracted to Marblehead's small winding streets and its beautifully restored homes, we would walk along enjoying the ocean breezes, casually reading the historical plaques on the homes. We noticed some of them listed occupations; some we recognized, like blacksmith and carpenter; others, we had no idea, such as hostler and cooper. It was those types of professions that intrigued me, the ones nobody quite knows what they were or what they did. Those are the ones I wanted to write to you about. As I started to research these odd sounding occupations, I did an informal poll to see what people thought some of them were. For instance, a few people thought a cooper had something to do with copper most people simply had no idea. Actually, coopers did two jobs: they made and repaired barrels and casks of all sizes and they were also the makers of an English liqueur made of equal measures of stout and port (coopers were probably very popular). Figuring out what a cooper did was easy compared to the next occupation. How many of you readers can guess what a fugleman is? Give up yet? Well, I didn't: a fugleman is a political leader or more commonly a model soldier. Perhaps George Washington or Patrick Henry were once listed as fuglemen. Of course if you were a fugleman, you could probably afford the services of a cordwainer. How this craft ever got its name, I can't imagine. When I asked people what they thought a cordwainer was, most answered a rope maker. Well they were wrong! Cordwainers made shoes. Today mostly women would frequent a peruke maker. But back in the days when powdered wigs were popular, both men and women were patrons of peruke makers. Have you figured it out yet? In case you haven't, they made wigs. [I figured it out.] All the people I've discussed have employed the following craftsmen at some point in their lives. A housewright was similar to a building contractor. The housewright would have hired all the laborers and craftsmen, including a housejoiner, who did finishing work on a house when the carpenter was done. Back then, if you were to work on board a ship you would know that a shipwright built and/or repaired ships and that a shipcarver did all the ornamental work for the ship, including the figures, mounted on the front of the ship, that guided the ships safely to port. Once in port a shipkeeper would have been hired; he was a watchman on board vessels lying in dock. They were also hired on to whaling vessels to manage the ship while the boats were chasing a whale. If the ship docked in a port other than its own, some of the crew would have encountered a gentleman of the profession of hostelier. The hostelier was a hotel keeper, who would have hired a hostler to work in the stables. Hostlers took care of all the horses owned by the hotel and its clientele. A shroff was a gentleman almost everyone had dealings with; he was a local banker and an expert at fixing coin values. Well, I hope I have piqued your interest about some of the occupations of people who helped to build our country. Christine M. Ayube, Salem, MA EDIT. NOTE: Indeed you have. It never ceases to amaze me, that as people walk around our Town, how inspired on various topics they become. Your letter is a tribute to your innate curiosity and intelligence, and to our beautiful Town. Now, I'm just curious, mind you, but where exactly is Salem? -- BP To The Poetry Editor: I have met older ladies whom, I believe, are happy living home alone, but are lonely. They have such wonderful stories and experiences to share that I've written a poem for their voices. My home has been Marblehead for six years; formerly it was Downeast Maine. I am married, work part-time and write fiction in my spare time. I attend Salem State College at night for a communications degree. Here is a poem for your consideration.
Each day I wake to see the sun I hope this day may be the one I hope this day will be of fun A caller at my door appear Another voice not mine to hear Another presence another near. The days of youth have fled so fast My heart still breaks at moments past The visits few and far between Sometimes my age in these days seems Once young now old without a gleam. A present I don't want or need I want instead to plant a seed Of friendship, of gab, of what I read Of flowers from my garden give To others trapped a life to live Alone like me... alone like me. Edward M. Turner, Marblehead
EDIT. NOTE: Edward, first of all, all letters come to the Editor, not the Poetry Editor. Second, I love this letter, this poem. You really captured something in your folksy poem. The endgame of life is all too often not really all that great. Loneliness, despair, and more loneliness can consume a person in final years, who in youth was very popular and happy. Someone very close to me will appreciate "A Message," as will many others. Hopefully, your message will make their lives a little better and a little fuller with more visits and phone calls. Thank you very, very much. Excuse me while I call my Mom. -- BP Dear Bill: The notations below are the only ones I can come up with to answer your inquiry about the origins of Doaks Lane a few issues back. If I find more, I'll let you know. In General Glover's Regiment during the Revolutionary War, Company Four (1775) listed the following members: Captain J. Sleman Lieutenant J. Collier Ensign Edward Holman Sergeants: Ambrose Homan Ebenezer Legro Benjamin Doak Phillip Carroll Private Michael Doak In 1871, one Michael Doak was Secretary of the First National Bank Of Marblehead. In the great fire of June 25, 1877, the Allerton block was consumed in which the shoe manufactory owned by this same Michael Doak was destroyed. In 1812, the ladies of Marblehead met in the Town Hall in April to form a Soldier's Aid Society. Miss Mary E. Graves was elected President and Mrs. Hannah Doak was one of the 18 members. At the moment, I cannot locate where the Doaks lived, my guess is, on the lane named for Benjamin Doak. Incidently, there are 40 lanes in Marblehead. To find this information, I consulted Richard Tuft's List Of Streets, Mr. Whips' Names of Streets, Roads, & Lanes, Sara Posner's Names of Streets, Roads, & Lanes, Roads' History & Traditions Of Marblehead, Gamage & Lord's The Lure Of Marblehead, and their The Spirit Of '76 Lives Here. Sincerely, Priscilla Lord, Marblehead EDIT. NOTE: Priscilla, thanks! Now, what about Gregory Street? Dear Mr. Purdin: At least once a year I visit good friends who live in Marblehead, and I am always charmed by the beauty and history of your Town. On my most recent visit, I took a stroll with my friends' two-year-old daughter. Being with her in that marvelous setting made something as simple as a walk become inspirational. It moved me to write a vignette about the effect of Marblehead on its children, which is attached. With best wishes, Rebecca Martin, Washington, D.C. EDIT. NOTE: We've run out of room in this extended "Letters to the Publisher" but I enjoyed your letter and accompanying thoughts. Keep it up. Or better yet, move here. -- BP |
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