A Little History for the Holidays

December 16th was the 238th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. On that day in 1773, colonists met in Old South Meeting House in downtown Boston to discuss the fate of the tea ship the Dartmouth. British law demanded that the ship pay the recently imposed tea tax, but this did not sit well with colonists (that whole “no taxation without representation” thing). Our founding fathers favored sending the ship back without paying duty. We all know how this meeting ended: a group of men boarded the ship under the cover of darkness and turned Boston Harbor into a tea pot!

This is one of the most enduring stories of our country’s inception; it has just the right amount of interest and subversion to be beloved by school children and historians alike. And it began right here, at Old South Meeting House! For the last thirty-odd years, Old South has been having Tea Party reenactments in their space, and I was there to document this one.

The reenactor culture of New England is strong; dozens of volunteers donned their breeches, frock coats, and wigs to participate.

The house was packed as the hour for the reenactment approached. It’s said that 5,000 colonists crowded into Old South Meeting House (the largest meeting space in Boston in 1773) on the night of Tea Party, but I really don’t see how! We had upwards of 600 in attendance and it was crowded!

Everyone was all anticipation as the lights were lowered and the evening began …

It was a very lively and accurate depiction of the night in question. Members of the audience were invited to participate, and the colonists sprinkled throughout the hall played their parts to perfection.

When Samuel Adams had proclaimed, “This meeting can do no more to save our country!” (a secret signal to send a band of men down to the wharves to destroy the tea), Old South Meeting House turned into a wash of blue, green, and purple light. The moon rose and ships’ rigging was visible on the walls. The harbor came to us as the story of the tea was brought to life!

After the fanfare was over, the reenactors mingled with civilians and everyone continued to have a jolly good time. What an eventful evening!

I have been so privileged to have a lasting relationship with Old South Meeting House. You can see my other work with them on this blog (the clock and bell tower, architectural details, the bell-raising ceremony). They even have a gallery of my work on display near their gift shop!

Thanks, Old South Meeting House, for having me (again)! And can someone please get married here (how cool would that be?) and hire me already? I cannot wait to do an Old South wedding …

And that’s a little history for the holidays!

Boston’s Old South Meeting House: Bell Installation Ceremony

I first worked with Old South Meeting House in downtown Boston as part of my final Practicum project for photography school, a project where the school paired us up with non-profits to help them with their photographic needs. I had a wonderful time capturing their museum and their clock tower, and was so happy to be asked back to document the historic raising of their new bell! Old South managed to procure a rare 1801 Paul Revere bell, cast by P.R. himself in his North End foundry. Many festivities were planned for the day the bell was raised up into the steeple, and I was there to see it all happen.

The bell sat outside Old South all morning and people were welcome to approach and give her a ring. The air was filled with the lovely tone of this awesome bell and the happy faces of bell-ringers young and old were fun to see. Who doesn’t love ringing a giant bell and being a part of history?

Boston’s own Mayor Menino came to participate and ring the Paul Revere bell, along with Old South Meeting House benefactor, Mr. James Storrow. Menino cracked his mallet in his enthusiasm!

After as many people as possible got to ring the bell, it was ceremony time. The plaza across from Old South was jam-packed with people. There were speeches, performances by the Back Bay Bell Ringers, the Old South Church Choir, the Landmarks Orchestra Brass Ensemble, and the Boston Children’s Chorus.

Then it was time to lift the bell into the steeple. All the bells across Boston chimed in unison as the 1801 Paul Revere bell went up, up, and up!

It’s been great to have a relationship with Old South Meeting House; I love history, and this organization is just so cool. This behemoth of the American psyche, home of the Boston Tea Party, sits smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Downtown Crossing. They’re so accessible to everyone, such a presence in the community. And they have my work up in their gift shop gallery and on signage all over the place!

Read Old South’s press release for more information on this wonderful day, complete with my photos, HERE.

Old South Meeting House in Boston – Museum and Architectural Details

I recently shared the amazing clock tower of Boston’s Old South Meeting House, but I did much more for this organization than cavorting up and down that fabulous spiral staircase! Old South Meeting House had me also shoot lots of details of their museum and meeting space, as well as capture images of people interacting within it. I’ll get to the people in a later post, but I want to show you the beauty that is Old South!

The meeting house was originally a (very simple) church, so it is lovely and clean and full of light. The space is a photographer’s dream!

The museum exhibits run along the back of the room and cover lots of ground, from the Boston Tea Party (Old South Meeting House is where it all started!) through topics of race and class and segregation of more recent eras. I love the glow of the display cases:

There are endless intriguing artifacts everywhere you look!

Boston is a very cool city to live in; history surrounds us on all sides, if we only look as we walk down the street, and maybe pop into some of the impressive buildings we pass.

I’m a sucker for details of any kind, but I especially loved this brass bird that sits atop the clock, and the chandelier. So gorgeous!

I encourage everyone visiting Boston to add Old South Meeting House to your itinerary! It’s easy to get to and offers a lot to its patrons. I can’t wait to get back to visit again sometime soon (and maybe I’ll do a wedding or two here – I can only hope! It’s an awesome wedding venue!).