North Street in the North End was formerly known as Ann Street, as shown in this 1881 photo, when it was part of the “Black Sea” red-light district in the 19th century.

Boston’s North End was once a notorious red-light district known as the ‘Black Sea’

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON - Before Boston’s North End Italian neighborhood and nearby Quincy Market became popular tourist havens, it was notoriously known for...
Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe in Boston’s South End has been serving up diner food to famous visitors and colorful regulars for nearly a century.

Serving up Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe’s distinctive history

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON – Nearly a century-old restaurant Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe is steeped in stories. Located on Columbus Avenue in the city’s South...
Boston native Samuel Morse invented the telegraph after being devastated by the sudden illness and loss of his wife, which he found out about by letter, the fastest method of communication at the time.

Wife’s death inspired Boston native Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON Before the invention of the telephones, fax machines and satellites, people used telegraphs as a form of communication, thanks to...
During the golden era of drive-in restaurants in the 1950s and 1960s, Speedy’s Drive-In in Worcester was a popular destination for everyone from local hot rodders to families.

Speedy’s Drive In was an iconic Worcester destination

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By Michael Perna Jr. Contributing Writer WORCESTER - From the time it opened in March 1959, Speedy’s Drive In restaurant became “the” place to be, not...
Author Herman Melville drew upon a real-life attack on a whaling ship by a sperm whale for his 1851 novel “Moby Dick.”

The gruesome true story behind the inspiration for the novel ‘Moby Dick’

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer NANTUCKET - Herman Melville drew from his own experience as a sailor for his epic 1851 novel “Moby Dick,” but he...
In 1966, the U. S. Postal Service issued a five-cent stamp commemorating Leominster native Johnny Appleseed.

Johnny Appleseed is the apple of Leominster’s eye

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer LEOMINSTER - Several states can boast of having some of the largest apple orchards in America, but they did not have...
From the 1930s to the 1970s, several Boston department stores offered “charm schools” to teach young ladies etiquette.

Gone are the days of Boston department store charm schools

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON - These days, there is a long list of life coaches and influencers who provide advice, techniques, tips, etc., for...
Worcester’s Lincoln Park was one of the region’s first amusement parks when it opened in the late 1800s.

Worcester’s Lincoln Park is a nearly-forgotten part of the city’s history

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By Michael Perna Jr. Contributing Writer WORCESTER - Shortly after returning from the California Gold Rush, where he had gone to hopefully become a rich gold...
The picturesque seaside town of Scituate on the South Shore was the center of the Irish moss industry in the United States for more than a century. Photo/Wikimedia Commons

America’s Irish mossing industry was rooted in Scituate

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer SCITUATE - Millions of people likely do not know that the South Shore seacoast town of Scituate once had a thriving...
The Optical Heritage Museum is located in the town of Southbridge, where the American Optical Company, which became the largest optical product manufacturer in the world, was founded in 1869. Photo/Courtesy of the Optical Heritage Museum

Southbridge’s Optical Heritage Museum is something to see

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By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer SOUTHBRIDGE - What do Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Princess Diana and notorious murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb all have in...
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