Latest news with #HenryWadsworthLongfellow
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Romantic Notes Discovered at University of Southern Maine Date Back to the 1800s
A romantic mystery has been solved. In December 2024, a series of personal love letters were discovered stashed between walls and floorboards at the University of Southern Maine's Gorham campus. The notes were found in the Academy Building, which was under renovation at the time. Local historians determined that they are likely from the 19th century. The building was constructed in 1806, and once served as a college preparatory high school for upper-class students. Stephen Longfellow, the father of acclaimed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, initially secured the land grant to build the school, Bangor Daily News reports. Related: Engineers Find 132-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Hidden Inside Lighthouse Wall: 'We Were Shaking' The notes contained secretive scribbles sent between teenage school crushes, littered with phrases like "my darling." The letters also carried worries about unrequited affections and the teacher's comments. The notes are believed to be from the building's time as a high school, before it was sold to the state of Maine and acquired as university property in 1878, Bangor Daily News reported in 2024. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Now, the university is working to preserve the shocking discovery for locals and students alike to observe. Dr. Libby Bischof, a historian at the university, told ABC 8 WMTW, "Teaching history here, as a Maine historian, it's incredible to have these buildings because they become our classrooms, the landscape becomes our classroom. And you don't have to imagine what the past look like." Related: Thrift Store in Missouri Wants to Solve Mystery of WWII Love Letters: 'Amazing Find' Susie Bock, a coordinator of the university's special collections department, is currently working to preserve the notes and potentially digitize them for widespread access, per the news station. "People's knowledge and interest changes, interpretation of the primary resources is going to change, but that's why it's important to keep the primary resources so that we can do those interpretations," said Bock. "It's an important part of keeping history from being erased." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘One if by land, Two if by sea': 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride remembered
Everyone should know, 'On the 18th of April in '75, hardly a man is now alive who remembers that day and year,' as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote. It was that day, 250 years ago that Paul Revere and his cohort of riders waited for the signal, lamps set in the belfry of the Old North Church in Boston's North End. 'One if by land, and two if by sea,' Longfellow wrote. It was two — the British, called the Regulars by the colonists, were coming across the Charles River by boat. Revere rode through the countryside warning colonials that British troops were moving their way. It looked a little different in the lobby of the Wood Museum of Springfield History Friday afternoon as Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, hung replica lamps to commemorate that day, 250 years ago, when the first battles of the American Revolution were fought in Lexington and Concord. Gonzalez, the chairman of the Western Massachusetts delegation in the state House of Representatives, arranged for the ceremony with Springfield, joining communities across the state, 'As a uniting call to action no matter who you are, to commemorate and remind ourselves that our history is about working together for a better tomorrow,' he said. The two lanterns were part of a set of 108 built as replicas of the lanterns supposedly used by the colonists that day in 1775, except the very subtle Red Sox logo on the diffuser of one lamp threw its historic authenticity out the window. 'These lamps are symbolic of a key moment in our history and the start in Massachusetts of the 250th anniversary of the Ride of Paul Revere across the commonwealth,' Gonzalez said. 'It is important to know that in these challenging times of divisiveness, we need to come together in more ways than one, and recognize what unites us, not what divides us. The American Revolution was not won by individuals acting alone, but by communities who organized, registered and worked together.' Gonzales said lamps were hung in the old North Church in Boston, Fall River, Danvers, Worcester and Springfield. Sarno said Springfield was a key community at the time of the revolution. 'Massachusetts is the birthplace of American democracy and Springfield played a key role in that,' he said, noting that Gen. George Washington choose Springfield as the country's first and most important armory.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Commemorate the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride by shining two lights on Friday
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – Friday marks 250 years since Paul Revere's infamous midnight ride to warn colonial leaders of the impending arrival of British troops. The April 18, 1775 ride, which came on the eve of the first battles of the Revolutionary War, was immortalized in a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem with the line '1 if by land, 2 if by sea.' 'The famous signal from [Boston's Old] North Church's steeple that night in '75…meant to shine across the water to others on the opposite shore so that they could carry the message forward not just as a back-up for Paul Revere, but to make sure that the message got spread as far and as wide as possible,' according to the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250). Revere's ride is set to be commemorated Friday with a nationwide initiative that encourages communities to shine two lights into the night as a reminder of the historic turning point in U.S. history. Filmmaker Ken Burns' new documentary 'The American Revolution' comes out this year. Here's when you catch a preview in Charleston Buildings across the Palmetto State, from government offices to historic landmarks to private homes, are invited to participate in the celebration. 'This is an opportunity for all South Carolinians to come together in reflection and observance of the events that led to America's independence from Britain,' said Molly Fortune, CEO of SC250. 'By shining two lights, we honor the bravery and enduring spirit of those who fought for liberty 250 years ago.' SC250 was established by the General Assembly to commemorate the Palmetto State's role in the American Revolution. Hundreds of battles between American and British forces occured on South Carolina soil throughout the war. The nationwide initiative was coordinated by America250 in preparation for the country's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marshall, Texas, begins year-long celebration for America's 250th birthday
MARSHALL, TX. (KTAL/KMSS) — In July 2026, America will celebrate its 250th historic birthday. Marshall, Texas, will honor the nation's early history with year-long celebrations starting this month. More Texas news In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party, tensions were high. While no one knew how, there was no doubt the British would respond. The solution was fairly simple: 'One if by land, two if by sea.' Paul Revere took a legendary ride to warn the residents of Boston that the British army was moving to attack and capture the leaders of the fledgling revolution. That ride, immortalized in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is one of the most famous events of the American Revolution. 250 years later, you can see a version of the ride. Harrison County America 250 is hosting Two Lights for Tomorrow, a re-enactment of one of America's most legendary tales. Two Lights for Tomorrow will be the first event in a year-long celebration of the nation's founding. The event will include a 30-minute presentation followed by the re-enactment and essays written from the perspective of Revere and other riders. It will conclude with a performance by military veteran and musician Kim Donnette. The festivities are free and open to the public at 1 Peter Whetstone Square, Marshall, TX, on Friday, April 18th, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey signs ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow Day' proclamation
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Governor Kay Ivey signed a proclamation on Thursday endorsing a national initiative declaring Friday, April 18, as Two Lights for Tomorrow Day. According to the Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission and the American Village in Montevallo, the day aims to signify the ride of Paul Revere in 1775 — specifically, the line 'One if by land, two if by sea' written in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, 'Paul Revere's Ride.' 'Today, 250 years later, we gather together to plan ways to ensure that not only are those events remembered, but more importantly to ensure that not just the 'what' of 'what happened' is remembered but the 'why,'' The Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission stated on their website. 'We are called not to remember history just for history's sake, but to make it relevant, meaningful, and engaging for the public today.' The Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Foundation and the American Village are encouraging people to participate in Two Lights for Tomorrow Day by displaying two lights in statehouses, offices, schools, churches and homes on April 18. More information can be found here. Gov. Ivey's full proclamation reads: PROCLAMATIONBy the Governor of AlabamaWHEREAS, the state of Alabama recognizes the importance of honoring and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation; andWHEREAS, the events of 1775 that began the revolution the year before independence was declared are significant moments that signaled the creation of a national identity and unity of purpose that transcended national geographic, cultural and societal divides; andWHEREAS, on the evening of April 18, 1775, with impending hostile action from the British Army in Boston, Massachusetts, Paul Revere and William Dawes along with other alarm riders undertook a perilous ride to alert everyone in the countryside of the coming danger; andWHEREAS, preceding their departure from Boston, a prearranged signal was set in the Old North Church steeple to ensure that the message got out and did not solely rely on just one or two alarm riders; andWHEREAS, the two lanterns that were the signal were immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Paul Revere's Ride as 'One if by land, and two if by sea' and have become an enduring symbol of American vigilance, perseverance and preparedness in the face of adversity; andWHEREAS, we are reminded, 250 years later, that the call for unity and the call to serve each other is no less relevant today than it was then; andWHEREAS, a national initiative has been proposed by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission that two lights be displayed in public spaces across the country for all to see marking that significant anniversary in April 2025 and the beginning of the 250th anniversary commemorations leading up to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026; andWHEREAS, that state of Alabama supports and encourages community events that promote patriotism, unity and reflection on our shared history;NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, do hereby endorse the nationalinitiative and proclaim Friday, April 18, 2025, as Two Lights for Tomorrow DayIn the state of Alabama and encourage reflection on the idea that all these historic events were endeavoring toward one common goal: the chance to embrace our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 6th day of March 2025. Kay Ivey, Governor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
