Thursday, February 6, 2014

Massachusetts: Not just any fish story!

This Day in History: February 6, 1788

Massachusetts, Bay State, Old Colony State, Codfish State
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A portion of the north-central Pioneer Valley in Sunderland

Massachusetts early settlers were responsible for nicknaming the "Bay State" because of its proximity to several large bays. The "Old Colony State" refers to the original Plymouth colony. As for it being referred to as the "Codfish State," the 10-20 pound cod (Gadus morrhua) has been a symbol of Massachusetts for over 200 years - a sculpture of a cod fish hangs in the House of Representatives. The fishing industry provided the Puritans with food, fertilizer, and revenue for trade (native Indians also used cod for food and fertilizer). Today the Atlantic cod is listed as threatened.

http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/sc/web/series/701/aerial-america/137817/massachusetts

Aerial America: Massachusetts

Henry David Thoreau said of its shores: "A man may stand here and put all of America behind him." In many ways, Massachusetts is America. The state is home to revolutionaries, a haven for artists, and the birthplace of education and higher learning. From the journeys of pilgrims to the ride of Paul Revere, from the witch trials of Salem to the Curse of the Bambino, we invite you on a flight spanning hundreds of years and just as many spectacular sights.

One of the thirteen original colonies, Massachusetts became the 6th state to ratify the US Constitution on February 6, 1788. Officially called a commonwealth, Massachusetts holds a unique place in the history books since it marks the landing place of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. Its name originates from the Massachuset tribe, an Algonquian Indian word that means "a big hill place." Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, was the home of the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party during the American Revolution. In addition to its revolutionary spirit, the state is known for sparking the American Industrial Revolution with the growth of textile mills in Lowell, and for its large Irish-American population.

[The thirteen colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations]

Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States.

Massachusetts State Flag
The State Flag of Massachusetts is white with a representation
of the coat of arms on both sides. The Massachusetts state flag was
approved in its final form in 1971 (previously a green pine tree
adorned the obverse side of the flag.)

Massachusetts State Seal

Wild Turkey
The wild turkey was designated the official Massachusetts state game bird in 1991.
A true native American, the eastern wild turkey is the largest and
most widely distributed of the six recognized subspecies
of wild turkey in North America.

Turkey Trivia:
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The turkey was almost our national bird!

If it had been left up to Benjamin Franklin, the Turkey, not the Bald Eagle would have been designated as our national bird. That would include all the "gobbles," "clucks," "putts," "purrs," "yelps," "cutts," "whines," "cackles," and "kee-kees" that go along with it! Wonder what impact that would have had on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner...Um-m-m?

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Massachusetts/insect_ladybug.html

State Insect: Two-spotted Ladybug

The ladybug was adopted as the official state bug or insect symbol of Massachusetts thanks to a campaign that began in 1974 by a second-grade class in the town of Franklin (The Ladybug Story). Even the little children understand The Spirit of the Ladybug!

Added Plus:
While many of states thus far have a designated state animal,
Massachusetts is the first state to have a state cat.

Meet the Tabby Cat!

The tabby cat (Felis familiaris) was designated the official state cat in 1988,
in response to the wishes of the schoolchildren of Massachusetts.

The endangered Mayflower (Epigaea regens) - photo © Gale (yeimaya) on
Flickr - noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works

The fragrant, delicate mayflower (Epigaea regens) has been on the endangered list since 1925. Also known as ground laurel or trailing arbutus, mayflowers prefer sandy or rocky soil, under or near evergreens. Massachusetts adopted the mayflower as the official flower of the Commonwealth in 1918.

For the State Symbols of Massachusetts click HERE!

For lyrics, click HERE!

The official state song of Massachusetts is “All Hail to Massachusetts,” written by Arthur J. Marsh. It was unofficially adopted in 1966, but it was written into law by the state Legislature in September 1981. The song’s lyrics celebrate the state’s rich history, with the opening lines mentioning key battles in the Revolutionary War, such as Bunker Hill and Lexington and Concord. It also mentions key items that are associated with Massachusetts, such as baked beans, cod, and the Massachusetts Bay, for which the state has been nicknamed the Bay State. Although “All Hail to Massachusetts” is officially listed as the state song, Massachusetts also has adopted its own folk song, “Massachusetts,” by Arlo Guthrie, as well as a number of other songs that have been adopted by the Commonwealth.