Pages from Jean's Journal

March 12, 2006
Boston

The drive into Boston brought me much apprehension, because of the day’s coldness and slight logistical delays. It was my first time here: the raison d’etre of my taking this six day trip.We were “there” at the drop off spot, a fancy new office building, approximately two corners around from the Massachusetts State House. We rapidly walked with the group to Boston Commons and the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, designed by Augustine St. Gaudens. We were met by a National Park Service ranger in uniform, his winter one, I might add.

I felt right in my element, having seen Glory, the film he queried us about to see a show of hands of how many had seen it. I raised mine high, as I had seen Glory, seven times probably. I have also been an interpretive park ranger, in uniform, so that only enhanced my comfort level of the next three hours. I revere Augustus Saint Gaudens, wishing just as I’d wished to go to Boston, that I could go to the National Historical Site which honors him, in New Hampshire sometime.

Though I enjoyed every moment of the lengthy talk at the Shaw Memorial and the Beacon Hill walking tour the most memorable part of the tour Ranger Smith led, was arriving at the Abiel Smith house, adjacent to Boston African American Meeting House and hearing my classmates readings and also, seeing the museum, with the held over William Lloyd Garrison exhibition.

There were photographs on all three floors of the house, too many to absorb in our time there. The effect was stunning, seeing all of the white and black, female and male eighteenth and nineteenth century abolitionists represented in one place, on the walls of the exhibit panels.

The striking design drew in the museum viewer. At the conclusion of our time there, Dana Smith, our guide, pointed out to me on the “African-Americans in Beacon Hill Map (Antebellum Boston 1850)” several of the particular individuals he had discussed as we made our way to the Meeting House: the Hayden place, the John Coburn building, and on Pinckney Street where he started us out, John Smith’s home, the Phillips School and Middleton. He also wrote down on my map “Holmes Alley,” by which we made our way to the Meeting House buildings, of Boston African American NHS.

The day for my friends and I wrapped up near Faneuil Hall, since some neighbors had strongly suggested to go there, and Quincy Market.  In the darkness, a moonlight night, though we passed by “15 State Street,” now made into a National Park Service visitor contact station.  The building formerly housed the National Park Service Regional Offices, now instead, located in Philadelphia.

March 13, 2006
Authors' Ridge, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Massachusetts

The day had turned even more gloomy as we disembarked the Schrock Tours bus and entered Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  We made our way to the northeastern part of the cemetery, known as “Author’s Ridge.” The first graves we encountered were those of the Alcotts. It was all too much for me to absorb at once, as earlier this day we had been to the family home of the Alcott family, The Orchard House, and then, as we embarked to "the ridge," all of Concord writers and their family members were there—in this cold place.

The Hawthorne graves and Emerson graves (including those of all family members) were somewhat easier to view, since the Alcotts bear so much personal knowledge for me, for I have read so much of, in particular, Louisa May Alcott’s work

I pointed out that the gravesites of Elizabeth Peabody, and those of Mr.and Mrs. Daniel Chester French and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Sanborn are there. Classmate Tracey (Rissler), bless her, walked with me to those sites.

Though I normally possess a fantastic sense of direction, “finding everything by my nose,” I always say, I deferred to Tracey every single day, since she has an exceptional sense of direction.

I left the cemetery so edified that I had seen the Church and Sanborn resting places, just as I’m certain Dr. Tate felt the same satisfaction in seeing Elizabeth Peabody’s grave. Peabody is buried in a single plot, just next to a road, with other plots surrounding it on all sides.

This school year has brought so many memories, seeing the Thomas Gallaudet statue by Daniel Chester French in Washington, D.C., in November,  and following our trip, I learned that, Augustus Saint Gaudens and Daniel Chester French consulted one another on the statue French sculpted with Saint Gaudens’ help, of General Lewis Cass at the nation’s Capitol building.