New experience

Digging Up Family History in Essex, Mass.

by Deb C February 28, 2021

For a different outdoor activity last August, my husband and I went digging up family history in Essex, Massachusetts. Actually, we went looking for ancestors in an old New England graveyard.

When my husband’s English ancestor arrived in the Colonies, he settled in the Ipswich/Essex area. He had twelve children from whom most American Clevelands are descended, including President Grover Cleveland. Another descendent was John Cleaveland, who became a minister of some renown in the 1700’s. In fact, we found a book written about him, The World of John Cleaveland. An archive of his sermons are housed at Yale University Library.

Digging Up Family History – Finding An Ancestor by Accident

Years ago, when our two boys were probably 5 and 7, we decided to go for a drive through the Ipswich area and up to Gloucester. As we often went to Cape Cod, New Hampshire, or Maine, we decided it was time to explore more of Massachusetts on a day trip.

As we were driving through Essex, we spotted an antiques shop, The Elephant’s Trunk. I used to have an antiques shop and wrote articles for antiques publications. The kids liked the elephant statue outside so they and I were happy that my husband pulled over so we could visit the shop.

As he parked the car, a little voice in the backseat said “Look, there’s my name!” My husband and I just looked at each other and asked “Where?”

Right where we pulled over there was a sign on a gate of a graveyard with the names of some of the people buried there. And yes, one of them was John Cleaveland, my son’s name. (Along the years, the first “a” in the name was dropped by many in the family.) Whew! Of all the places to pull over, and there we were unknowingly finding an ancestor. My husband knew he had ancestors in the area, but we weren’t looking for them.

Once we left the car we went into the graveyard, known as the Old Burial Ground, and wandered around looking for Rev. John Cleaveland’s grave. We found it, along with the graves of his two wives. After exploring the graveyard and taking some pictures, we headed for the antiques store. I can’t remember much about the shop, but I often told our story about stumbling across a family ancestor.

Digging Up Family History in Essex – 20 Odd Years Later

In the years since finding John Cleveland, my husband has worked on his family tree and connected with some relatives. I happened to meet a distant relative of his right in our home town who has also been working on the family tree. The relative bears a strong resemblance to one of my husband’s cousins and a slight resemblance to my husband. The genes are telling. Sometime I hope that we can get together so that they can pool their knowledge about the Cleaveland/Cleveland family tree.

So, as COVID limited our activities last summer, we hit upon revisiting Essex, and the Old Burial Ground to look for the John Cleaveland grave again. Cemeteries are one place that we can visit without worrying about social distancing.

Well, The Elephant’s Trunk is an antique shop under another name now and closed due to COVID, but we still found the graveyard easily. There’s an updated sign with the same wording as our first visit. The difference is that they left out the first “a” in Cleaveland.

Digging Up Family History in Essex: Exploring an old New England Graveyard

Peering through the gate to the Old Burial Ground, we could see a vault on the right, and a building marked “Hearse House.” The Hearse House is believed to be only one of three left in America.

We stepped through the narrow opening next to the gate and set off to find the Rev. John Cleaveland’s grave. I thought I remembered that it was one of the those with a flat bronze type plaque over it, but it is of slate and upright. It looked clean and was still readable and there was a flag signaling that he was a veteran. He was a chaplain in the Revolutionary War. Both stones had the names on the back as well as the front. Not all the stones have that.

Next to Rev. Cleaveland was a double headstone of his two wives, both named Mary. Maybe a Cleveland thing, as my husband’s grandfather’s two wives had the same name. Both remarried after the first wife passed away.

The Burial Ground was well kept and it looked as though several of the stones had been cleaned.

Back in the Colonial Era, men often married several times, as wives often died in childbirth, or perhaps worn out from caring for family and house and frequent childbearing. The gravestone above is for the three wives of John Burnham. From the dates, he seemed to remarry fairly quickly after losing a spouse. This could be beneficial to both parties, as the husband had someone to care for his motherless children, and the often widow needed a husband to provide for her and any children she might have. Women by and large didn’t own property or have resources or safety nets like there are today.

Here are some more photos of the graveyard:

Digging Up Family History in Essex: Historic Essex Walking Tour

Outside of the Old Burial Ground is a descriptive plaque, which is part of the Historic Essex Walking Tour. It includes a QR code linked to a website with more information about the history of Essex. One of the other notable things about the graveyard, not mentioned on the sign with John Cleaveland’s name, is that is the site of grave robberies in 1818. A local doctor, studying anatomy, was caught and fined for robbing eight graves. It’s said that the empty caskets were buried under the Hearse House.

But wait, there’s more:

We picked up a walking tour brochure and walked to some of the other sites close by, but all were closed, due to the Pandemic. But, you can always explore online. A website that I’ve found very helpful in learning about our ancestors is genealogy.com.

To find out more about Historic Essex and the Old Burial Ground, visit EssexWalkingTour.com and VisitEssexMA.com.

To learn more about what you can learn in graveyards and cemeteries, check out the Gravestone Girls. They give lectures and tours in New England. I attended one at the Morse Library in Natick, Mass. a couple of years ago and it was great.

This trip we were looking for Cleveland ancestors. In another blog post, I talk about looking for my Dahlquist ancestors in Cambridge, Mass.

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February 28, 2021 0 comment

New experience Stay At Home Tips and Plusses

Learning Zoom – One Meeting at a Time

by Deb C January 31, 2021

Thanks to COVID19, like a great part of the population, I am learning Zoom, one meeting at a time.

Most of my Zooming is just one click at a time during a meeting. Slowly easing into learning the program.

My first Zoom call, a few years ago, was aborted. My siblings and I were trying to use it to discuss our Mother’s health situation. We failed to connect so ended up with a conference call using another program.

My husband and I belong to a couple of non-profits that were forced to meet remotely due to the pandemic. My husband also had to work from home for a while. Those circumstances were the beginning of my baptism into Zoom.

Zooming Life-Long Learning Classes

I also signed up for “Life-Long Learning” classes that transitioned to remote learning. That was a new experience for me. I knew about the classes, but previously hadn’t the time to take them. The lectures are a partnership between Framingham State University and the Framingham Public Library. Often the lecturers are affiliated with the University.

I signed on with my desktop computer, which has speakers, but no camera or microphone. Fine with me. My office isn’t particularly “photogenic” and I mostly didn’t mind being a bit incognito. Once in a while it was frustrating when no one noticed my comments in the chat area. But, in the scheme of things, it didn’t make a difference.

First Class : ‘Honorable Escape Fiction’: The Regency Romance Novels of Georgette Heyer”

The first class was taught by a retired college professor that I knew slightly in a different context. Somehow, I had never taken a class from her during my college days. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed her class, which was about one of my favorite historical romance authors. She drew people out to answer questions, in spite of the less personal way of interacting on Zoom.

I had a great time reliving my enjoyment of the books she covered, as she reviewed the humor, the historical background, and the plot twists. She also provided background on Georgette Heyer herself. In the meantime, I was tidying my office, and scanning photos from my vintage photo collection. That was a task I had been meaning to get to for a long time. It was great to listen along while I worked.

The dynamics of the class was interesting, too. The professor has been teaching through the Life-Long Learning Program for several years. It was evident that she had a fan club, or groupies in the class. At first I felt left out, but then, because they couldn’t see or hear me, and only my first name was displayed, I just lurked and listened. It was obvious, too, that some people, like everywhere, have to let their opinions be known. But the professor was able to move things along and prompt in a way to let everyone speak who wished to.

By the way, if you like the new Netflix series, Bridgerton, and you haven’t discovered Georgette Heyer’s books, give them a try. Heyer was the writer who started the Regency romance genre. Her novels are notable for their attention to period detail as well as their wit and humor.

Second Class: “Votes for Women: The Story of the Woman Suffrage Movement”

Great Seal of Wyoming. The Equal Rights Banner refers to women getting to vote in 1869.

The second class I listened in on relied on a lot of slides so I had to pay more closer attention. It was another great class and on the history of how women in the U.S. got to vote. One part of the professor’s presentation that I related to was that women first were able to vote in Colorado and Wyoming. My husband and I had traveled there the year before and learned about the local history. When we visited the house museum of the famed “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, we learned that she had donated money and her support to the local suffragette movement. Also that Buffalo Bill Cody who was from there, spoke in favor of giving women the vote.

Virtual Learning with AARP

As I got used to using Zoom and looking online for enrichment, I started using more online resources that I had ignored. The AARP Virtual Community Center has all kinds of free online events and classes for learning, self-improvement, and fun. I’ve enjoyed the One Day University Lecture series. Some online programs are featuring museum exhibits that I would otherwise not have been aware of, or been able to visit. So, thanks to Zoom I’ve found and become more comfortable with virtual learning and entertainment.

Non-Profit Meetings – Learning Zoom

As I mentioned, I belong to some non-profits. Thanks to Zoom, I attend their Board meetings virtually. Each meeting I learn a little more about how Zoom works, muting, adding a background, tilting my laptop for a better visual if I want to be seen, adjusting the lighting and volume, etc. In some ways, thanks to Zoom, I have gotten a better sense of some members that I didn’t know very well. Some of this is because when we met “in the flesh” the conference room tables were set up with a lot of distance between us. I couldn’t see people who were on my right or left very well. Now I can see everyone and we are more relaxed in our home environments.

One of the non-profits used Zoom to hold a book discussion. That worked out fairly well for a first time endeavor. Having a format set up ahead of time was good, but for some, it was hard to break into the conversation. One of the moderators did ask for input from those who hadn’t spoken yet, before the discussion wrapped up. Perhaps setting it up so that everyone takes a turn, and then a general discussion is opened may be the way to go. We are finding our way. Next up we are discussing a documentary.

Virtual Beer Tasting

If you have been reading my blog, you know that my husband and I like craft beer and visiting breweries. Our craft brewery adventures have really been stifled by the Pandemic restrictions. When I had the opportunity to participate in a virtual beer tasting, that was another opportunity to learn more about the features of Zoom.

The organizer had the above Octoberfest beer garden background. I hadn’t realized that you can upload a photo that shows up as a backdrop behind you. Unfortunately, I discovered that my laptop doesn’t support that Zoom feature.

Presenting on Zoom – Learning by Doing

A year and a half ago I volunteered to join a committee to start a new monthly program series, Coffee and Conversations, for my alumni association, the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni. The concept is to have a guest speaker, an alum, give a short presentation about a topic related to their career with perhaps any correlations to our alma mater. Following the presentation there’s time for casual discussion. Until the Pandemic, the presentations were held in the living room of our Alumni House, with coffee, tea, and cookies served.

To get the ball rolling, I also volunteered to be a speaker, as did the Association’s president. I also am flexible and said put me in the schedule as you need me. My mistake. While the first couple of events went well, mine was scheduled in December and was cancelled due to the weather. Then, due to the Pandemic I was cancelled again and the series put on hiatus.

The head of the committee decided to revive the series, but by necessity it would be via Zoom. She reached out to me and the other previously scheduled presenters to ask if they would be willing to present on Zoom. Some declined. While I was, and am, still pretty much a novice on Zoom, I wanted to do my presentation and move on. I was assured that I would get some help with Zoom.

Then I realized that the cozy presentation that I had planned for the in-person event wasn’t going to work so well on Zoom. Also the presentation was going to be recorded. That made me feel I had to up my game. I wasn’t going to just sit and talk into the laptop for 20-odd minutes. Luckily another presenter gave her talk a month and a half before me. I noticed that she was using slides and was off camera. She had an advantage because she had given a related talk before. Not only in person to the group, but as part of a Framingham History Center program. Therefore, she already had a formal script to use.

One Step at a Time

So, learning Zoom meant learning how to add slides to the screen and not be on the screen myself. Then I had to find out how to prepare the slides and then post them to the screen. As far as the slides, Powerpoint or Google Slides was the answer. Next I had to decide what I was going to put on the slides. Then I had to scan or photograph the items that were going on the slides. After that create a Powerpoint document and plug everything in and organize them. Certainly learning by doing.

As for my talk, that was a whole other animal to tame. I pulled out my notes and made a fresh outline and then fleshed it out. The trouble was, I was talking about my experiences from 20 years ago. I helped a local politician, Massachusetts St. Rep. Barbara Gray, now deceased, write her memoir. I offered to talk about her because she was an extraordinary person with a legacy that deserves preservation. So many talented women’s achievements are lost and her impact on Massachusetts and beyond is considerable. To boil down what she did and why we should care into a cohesive Zoom presentation took some thought.

Luckily I had saved some campaign ephemera to use in the slides. One had a good photo of her. Poking around in a stash of Framingham town memorabilia that I collect I found a campaign lawn sign. I also had some photos of her when she was working on saving an historic building on the Framingham State campus. That was a great tie-in.

I added a scanned in picture of the cover of the book, A Woman’s Ways and Means: Making It Happen…24 Wild Years in the Massachusetts House. I still have several copies of the book and sell it online. I tried but wasn’t able to interest a publisher in the book. Back then the concept of Print-On-Demand books was in its infancy so we went with a local printer who had printed books for the Framingham History Center.

So I Googled up how many words would be needed for a 20 minute talk. Depending upon how fast you talk, it’s from 2000 to 3200. That helped me with the length. I formatted the talk in Bold and larger size font and double spaced. I noted the slides in larger red type as cues for me to move to each slide. Then I read it through aloud, and made changes to make the flow better and more organized.

I ended up buying a headset with a microphone for my laptop. My voice is on the soft side and there’s nothing worse that someone saying “Can’t hear you,” when you are in the middle of a making a point.

The Association’s Executive Director gave me some tips about the slides and screen sharing. I signed into Zoom and pretended that I was in a meeting. I hit record and did some partial run-throughs and played them back until I felt comfortable enough with everything.

As I couldn’t put a background on the laptop, I opted to hang the campaign lawn sign behind me. That was another challenge. I ended up using binder clips to attach it to a curtain covering the deck door behind me. Luckily the clips were strong enough so that the sign didn’t fall in the middle of my spiel. The sign is black, red, and white so I chose a red top and black jacket. Somewhere I read that solid colors are recommended on Zoom. After my preparations, I was comfortable enough to have a good night’s sleep.

Well, we had the highest “attendance” yet for a “Conversation.” Many of those participating knew Barbara, or knew of her. And I knew most of them. There were several great sharing moments. Some were surprised at all of the bills and laws that she had generated and some about how the Ecumenical Center was saved. Her former aide added some great comments. All went pretty smoothly considering my lack of experience. The response made me glad I had persevered. Everyone signed off except for the Committee Chair and the Executive Director. Then the boom fell. Someone forgot to start the recording from the beginning, so only part of my talk was preserved. The introduction and many comments by the participants were lost. They asked me if I would re-record with the thought that maybe the two recordings could be stitched together. The Executive Director has video editing experience.

I signed off and had a cup of tea and did a few exercises to work off the tension and disappointment. I really wanted to punch a pillow or something. I had been so happy that I was done. Well, I signed back into Zoom, created a meeting, and after one false start, I tried to speak and posture as if people were listening and was fine with the result.

BIG LESSON LEARNED: If recording of a Zoom meeting is important to you, be sure to ask a backup person to record it, or record it yourself. Put a note in big red letters in front of you as a reminder. It never occurred to me to hit record. I don’t think I will forget this. Ever.

So that’s how I’ve been learning Zoom – one meeting at a time.

Please share your comments and experiences with Zoom.

Note: I will share my presentation about Mass. St. Rep. Barbara Gray in another post.

__________________________________

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January 31, 2021 0 comment

Pirate couple at Lubec, Maine Pirate Invasion

Maine Beer Trail Quirky Finds Travel in the United States

Lubec Pirate Invasion – Free and Fun for All in DownEast Maine

by Deb C November 30, 2020

The Lubec Pirate Invasion is a free and fun for all festival in DownEast Maine. Excepting 2020, it is an annual event on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. The good people of Lubec gather at the waterfront to defend their small town from the pirates coming from the city of Eastport. The invaders come not only by sea, but also by land and air.

Here’s the schedule for 2022:

Click image for enlarged view. (Not responsible for changes in this schedule which was published August 22, 2022.)

Every year it gets better.

You can also find information on The Lubec Community Bulletin Board on Facebook.

The Lubec Pirate Invasion – A Newer Tradition with Historic Roots

Both Eastport and Lubec are in the Easternmost part of the United States and on the Bay of Fundy. As maritime settlements, their histories are tied into the sea. Also as border communities, their histories are also rich with invasions, enemy occupations, smuggling, shipwrecks, pirating, and other sea-related activities.

Twenty years ago, in 2005, Eastport established the annual Eastport Pirate Festival on the weekend after Labor Day. As a lead up to, and extension of the festival, in 2008, Eastport began “invading” Lubec on Labor Day Weekend. Thus began the Lubec Pirate Invasion, free and fun for all in DownEast, Maine.

It’s a fun and easy activity, as it’s only about a half hour boat ride between Lubec and Eastport. On clear days, you can see Eastport across the bay from Lubec. By car, it’s about a 45 minute ride. Both Eastport and Lubec have small airports and a plane ride might take 15 minutes. While there is a core group of “defenders” and “pirates” all are welcome to come in pirate or colonial style costumes and join in.

Lubec prepares to defend the town from the Pirate Invasion

Around 9 a.m. Lubeckers and friendly tourists dressed in colonial period and buccaneer style garb gather on the hill and waterfront overlooking the town dock. They are armed with water buckets, water balloons, and other water weapons, ready to defend the town. Water Street is blocked off for pedestrian traffic.

Some of the restaurants, like Cohill’s and Water Street Tavern, offer “dutch courage” in the form of drink specials. Cohill’s, which overlooks the town dock, has a deck overlooking Water Street and a view of the dock.

Frank’s Dockside and TakeOut (now closed) set up an outside beer garden one year. The Lubec Brewery opened its own beer garden.

Local organizations, crafts people, and vendors set up tables with goods, children’s activities, and raffles.

The Lubec Pirate Invasion: By sea, land, and air

Around 9:30 a.m. on Labor Day Saturday, boats and ships bearing flags with skull and crossbones come around the islands in the waters between Eastport and Lubec. They advance to the dock, some with flares.

The boats are a mix of private and charter boats offering pirates round trip voyages to Lubec and back to Eastport.

As the “pirate” ships pull up to the dock, small planes appear, coming from Eastport. As they pass over the waiting townsfolk and visitors, they may drop streams of toilet paper. One or two of the planes may have a “Jolly Roger” flag tied underneath.

As the pirate crews disembark, they brandish their weapons – super soakers and plastic swords. They dip the super soakers in the water by the dock to load their weapons. Surging up the boat ramp, they are met with townsfolk also armed with their water weapons.

As soakings commence, a rumbling announces the invasion by land. A group of pirates on motorcycles and carrying smoke flares roars through the waterfront streets. Pulling up in front of Cohill’s, they line up their bikes, dismount, and take to the streets in search of brews and booty.

After a good natured soaking fest, the pirates and Lubeckers settle down. The pirates and defenders wander along Water Street, stopping at the vendors, shops, and the Farmers Market. Many in costume good-naturedly pose for photos. Some enjoy beverages in their tankards, while others take to the Lubec Brewery beer garden or the restaurants along Water Street. Fortified, mid-morning a tug of war takes place, Eastport vs. Lubec.

No two Invasions alike as Eastport Pirates attack Lubec

In 2019, for the first time, British Redcoat and Machias Revolutionary War Patriot Re-enactors were also on hand to engage with the invaders. The Redcoats fired muskets and cannon as the pirates approached the waterfront.

Also in 2019, Lubec organizers added a pirate parade and boat races and some other family activities to the mix. Every year is a bit different from the previous year. The DownEast Dragonfly Bar and Grill offered a Pig Roast and costume party with a local band.

But wait, there’s more to the Pirates Invasion of Lubec

While the Pirates Invasion and “Occupation” of Lubec runs until about 1 p.m. There is a time gap before other activities. On Water Street, you can visit the historic Smokehouse complex and Lubec Landmarks gallery, as well as shops with locally made crafts.

A few miles away you can visit the famed “candy-striped” West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. On the way there you will pass the Lubec Channel Lighthouse, A.K.A. “The Sparkplug” and other galleries and shops. There are hiking trails by the lighthouse, as well as off Rt. 189, the lone road/route in and out of town. You can also stop in at Monica’s Chocolate’s or book a whale watch cruise.

Visiting Canada is allowed again, if you have your passport with you, and you fulfill whatever the current COVID protocol is, (at one point you had to fill out a form online) you can cross over the FDR bridge to the Canadian Island Campobello, which boasts the Roosevelt International Park, great scenic views, whale watch tours, and Herring Cove Golf Course and Restaurant.

View of Mulholland Lighthouse on Campobello Island, Canada from Lubec, Maine waterfront.

You can also make your way over to Eastport by car or ferry for the annual Salmon Festival which features salmon dinners, a street market, art auction, music, a boat trip to salmon pens and more.

To find out more about the Lubec Pirate Invasion and other town events and festivals, visit: https://www.visitlubecmaine.com/

See other posts with information about Lubec here:

Picnic with a million dollar view in Lubec, Maine

DownEast Maine Fourth of July Fun

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November 30, 2020 0 comment

Craft Beer Adventures Travel outside the United States

Oktoberfest History and A Virtual Beer Tasting

by Deb C October 27, 2020

Combining Oktoberfest History and a Virtual Beer Tasting

Fall is the time for the biggest folk festival in the world, Oktoberfest, held in Munich, Germany in late September through the first week in October. Several smaller versions are held around the world and especially in the United States. Breweries brew up seasonal beers in the German style. Bars, brewpubs, restaurants, and organizations celebrate with special draft lists, menus, and Oktoberfest influenced events. Some break out traditional German music and lederhosen and dirndls.

Sadly, due to COVID19, this year’s Oktoberfest, and generally most other celebrations and gatherings are cancelled.

But, the breweries are still brewing. And people can still enjoy German or German-inspired beer. And, like many other activities, beer tasting and socializing has gone virtual. In lieu of cancelled Homecoming events, Framingham State University (FSU) organized a virtual alumni event combining Oktoberfest History and a virtual beer tasting.

Organizing the Oktoberfest Virtual Beer Tasting

The Framingham State Alumni Relations Office reached out to Exhibit “A” Brewing Company in Framingham, MA. A staff member has a connection to the General Manager, Kelsey Roth. Kelsey signed on to do a virtual presentation highlighting Oktoberfest.

I am a member of the FSU Alumni Association Board. As a fan of craft beer, and the publisher of a beer journal: Keeping Up with Craft Beers, I helped with some promotion and preparation for the online event. In addition, if anyone buys a journal on Amazon through Dec. 31st and emails the receipt to [email protected], the proceeds will be donated to the FSU Alumni Leadership Scholarship Fund.

Kelsey put together a special four pack of Exhibit “A” Beers for the virtual beer tasting. He included: Briefcase Porter, an American Porter; Wandering Thoughts, a Double Dry Hopped (DDH) Double IPA; Goody Two Shoes which is a German Style Kölsch, and their German inspired Focal Point Munich Dunkel Lager Beer.

All the Exhibit “A” beers, including the special limited time 4 pack, are available by online ordering for pickup at their taproom at 83 Morton St., Framingham, MA.

Prior to the event Jenn DeFronzo, the Director of FSU Alumni Relations, asked me to put together a list of Octoberfest beers. I wasn’t sure about that, but I learned a lot, about the seasonal beers, and more about Oktoberfest itself.

I am going to share what I learned, and the lists I came up with, thanks to my online research and Wikipedia.

Oktoberfest: THE German Folk Festival

First of all, my husband and I went to the Oktoberfest in Munich years ago. We weren’t prepared for how large it was and that it was much more than beer halls. We were stunned by all the amusements: the rides, and booths, and splendid displays. Just walking around was so entertaining. We still think that it is on a par, or better than DisneyWorld and Universal Studios. Just on such a different level. We couldn’t get over how large the beer tents are. And how many. They can hold several thousand people. Incredible! And the waiters and waitresses are amazing. Heart cookies of gingerbread, costumes, pretzels, sausages, and of course, beer, are plentiful. We hope to go back some day.

Oktoberfest is, according to Wikipedia, the largest volksfest (beer festival and traveling funfair) in Germany. It’s always held in Munich, Germany and for 16-17 days in September through the first Sunday in October. Originally it was held in October and the name stuck. It was pushed back to enjoy the warmer September weather. Its origins were a public celebration upon the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (1786–1868), later King Ludwig I (reign: 1825–1848), to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The site was originally a horsetrack. The marriage celebration included a horse race and various activities. The horse race and activities were expanded on the couple’s first anniversary, including children performing in the traditional dress of the various Bavarian regions . The celebration became annual and snowballed. No more horse racing, but horses are prominent in the opening parade. Generally over six million people attend and drink about the same amount in liters of beer.

What kind of beer do they serve at Oktoberfest?

As Kelsey Roth can tell you, only breweries within the Munich city limits can participate in Oktoberfest. And only beer conforming to strict regulations limiting the ingredients, and brewed within the city limits of Munich, can be served at the Munich Oktoberfest. Beers meeting the criteria are designated Oktoberfest beer, although the name ‘Oktoberfest beer’ also denotes two distinct beer styles: a traditional Marzen lager and a paler, ‘Festbier’ that is now what is served at Oktoberfest itself.

The Munich breweries that can produce Oktoberfest beer are:

Oktoberfest Beer is a registered trademark by the Club of Munich Brewers, which consists of the above six breweries. So other breweries have to use Octoberfest with a “c” or “Oktoberfest-style, or other variations.

About the Marzen Lager Beer

“Marzen” means March in German. Due to a strict Bavarian ordinance, no beer could be brewed in the summer, so beer was brewed in March, and aged or “lagered” in cool cellars or caves over the summer. Then in September the “March” beer was brought out and enjoyed. The Oktoberfest traditions and the beer evolved as well.

Oktoberfest and Exhibit “A’s” General Manager, Kelsey Roth

On October 22, Kelsey Roth, Exhibit “A” Brewing Company’s General Manager gave a virtual presentation about the origins of Oktoberfest, German style beers. Along the way, he and viewers sipped and savored Exhibit A beer representing a variety of styles.

The presentation was recorded and posted on the Framingham State University Alumni Facebook page. The presentation is a little over an hour and full of information about Oktoberfest and beer from a beer expert’s point of view. Kelsey gives a more detailed overview of Oktoberfest than this blog post. He also explains the ingredients and brewing process. He mentions that scientific analysis revealed that long ago, the lager yeast used in German beer somehow made its way there from Patagonia, Argentina. If you thirst for knowledge about beer, as well as beer, give Kelsey a listen.

Exhibit “A” Brewing Company, Framingham, MA

You will find Exhibit “A” at 83 Morton St., a side street adjacent to Rt. 135 in South Framingham, MA.

In the warmer months, it operates a beer garden across the street. A rotating list of food trucks provide a delicious variety of complimentary snacks and meals. The food truck schedule is posted on their Facebook page. In addition to their beer, they offer wine, hard cider, hard seltzer, bottled water, seltzer, and soda. There is parking on the street and along and behind the brewery.

These photos were taken just as the beer garden was opening for the afternoon. The tables and benches fill quickly. And, well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Currently, Exhibit “A” beers are available by online ordering for pi ckup at their taproom at 83 Morton St., Framingham, MA. You can also do an online search to find where their beer is available on tap or in a store. Their Cat’s Meow, an IPA, is a favorite.

Fall and Octoberfest Inspired Beers

Big Note: Octoberfest beers are different from pumpkin beers but appear on tap and in stores around the same time.

Here’s an alphabetical roundup of notable U.S. Oktoberfest beers that appear on the lists of beer experts and bartenders:

Athletic Non-Alcoholic Oktoberfest Bier – Athletic Brewing Co, Stratford, CT
Brooklyn Oktoberfest – Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
Clawhammer Oktoberfest Märzen – Highland Brewing Company, Ashville, S.C.
Copper Legend Octoberfest – Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, MA
Dry Dock Docktoberfest – Dry Dock Brewing, Aurora, CO
Festbier Märzen – Victory brewing Company, Downingtown, PA
Founders Oktoberfest Marzen – Founders brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Great Lakes Oktoberfest – Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, OH
Karbachtoberfest – Karbach Brewing Company, Houston, TX
Left Hand Oktoberfest – Left Hand Brewing Co. Longmont, CO
No Label Oktoberfest – No Label Brewing Co. Katy, TX
Old Zahm Oktoberfest – Market Garden Brewery, Cleveland, OH
Oktoberfest Märzen – Wallenpaupack Brewing Co., Hawley, PA
Rahr and Sons Oktoberfest – Rahr and Sons Brewing Company, Ft. Worth, TX
Samuel Adams Oktoberfest – Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA
Schlafly Oktoberfest – Schlafly, The St. Louis Brewery, St. Louis, MO
Shiner Oktoberfest – Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA

Here’s an alphabetical roundup of some Massachusetts breweries and their Octoberfest, Fall, or Pumpkin Beers:

Important: Call or check their websites or Facebook Page before you go because beers, availability, and hours may change.

CraftRoots Brewing, Milford – The seasonal Autumn Ale is “brewed with real pumpkin and a very light touch of pie spice.”
Ground Effect Brewing, Hudson – Oktoberfest – a golden Festbier lager
Jack’s Abby, Framingham – Keller Series – Munich Fest – Munich Style Festbier & a Marzen Kellerbier
Exhibit ‘A’, Framingham – Focal Point Munich Dunkle Lager
Flying Dreams Brewing Co., Marlborough, MA – Oktoberfest
Harpoon – Boston – Octoberfest – a Marzen, Dogtoberfest – Festbier and Dunkin’ Pumpkin – coffee & pumpkin ale
Kells Beer Co., Natick – The Pumpkin Royale ale
Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Company, Marlborough – Festbier and Eastwitch – a Pumpkin Ale
Medusa Brewing, Hudson – Simon – a fest bier and Hecubus – an Oktoberfest Marzen
Night Shift, Everett – Steinbier – German Marzen
Purgatory Beer Co., Northbridge – Double Dutch “Autumnal” Brown Ale
Rapscallion – Acton – Sturbridge – Concord – O-fest
Redemption Rock, Worceste – Thackery – an Octoberfest lager and I Can’t Even – a pumpkin spice latte stout.
Start Line Brewing, Hopkinton – A variety of seasonal beers in cans, including the Honey Harvest Saison.
Treehouse Brewing Company – Whisper – Octoberfest-Style Lager and Brisk Oak – conditioned Oktoberfest Lager
True West Brewing Co. – Acton – Artistic Hocus-Pocus – Pumpkin / Yam Beer
Wachusett Brewing Co., Westminster – BOO-YEAH! – A Scary Good Spiced Pumpkin Ale and Octoberfest – Rich Amber Harvest Ale
Wormtown Brewery, Worcester & Foxborough, MA – Octoberfest Marzen and Fresh Patch Pumpkin Ale and Table Talk Pumpkin Pie Ale

For more information about Mass. and New England beer and breweries, pick up a copy of Yankee  Brew News at a brewery or brew pub, or go to http://yankeebrewnews.com/ and also https://massbrewersguild.org/.

For information about U.S. and international breweries, go here:  https://www.brewersassociation.org/directories/breweries/

Keeping Track of Craft Beers

While many use an app for tracking their brewery visits, physical journaling is very popular, too. Consider: Keeping Up with Craft Beers: A Journal for Your Tasting Adventures, for yourself or for a gift for a friend. You can keep more detailed records of where you went and what beer you enjoyed. You can list up to 100 beers, as well as list breweries and brew pubs you liked as well as beer festivals.

Fun Gifts for Beer Lovers

Need a gift for someone who likes beer? How about a mug or mask?

Prost! Ein Toast!

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Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

October 27, 2020 0 comment

Boarding the Quoddy Dam boat in Lubec, Maine

Travel in the United States

Visiting Eastport, Maine by Ferry Boat

by Deb C October 19, 2020

Visiting Eastport, Maine by ferry boat is informative as well as fun. If you want to get there from Lubec, the ferry takes less time than driving (30 minutes vs. 45 or more). It gives you a whole different view of the waterfront with some history thrown in. Not only that, you get a whole different view of the Lubec waterfront, as well as of Campobello Island, the site of Roosevelt National Park, which preserves the summer retreat of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Eastport – Lubec Ferry

While you can charter a boat to go to Eastport from Lubec, the Eastport-Lubec Ferry is a pleasant and reasonable ride. It is seasonal and in the summer of 2020, it only ran on weekends.

The ferry itself is a well-traveled boat called the Quoddy Dam and it offers outside park bench type seating. It’s a U.S. Coast Guard certified 49-passenger vessel. According to the DownEast Windjammer website, where you can get information and tickets, it’s been an Eastport tradition for over 40 years. (The above photo is from the DownEast Windjammer website.)

The usual ferry schedule is that it runs every other hour, starting in Eastport at 10. It alternates odd hours with Lubec, with the last run at 5 p.m. from Lubec to Eastport. If you take that one, you will have to plan to stay overnight, or find an alternate means of getting back to Lubec. So, if you take the first ferry from Lubec at 11 o’clock, you can take return trips from Eastport at noon, 2, and 4 p.m. Depending upon your interests, you can explore the waterfront, downtown area, shop, visit some historic sites and venues, and have lunch all within a short walk from the dock.

Accessing The Eastport – Lubec Ferry from Lubec, Maine

In order to take the ferry, your best bet is to either Google it, or go to the DownEast Windjammer website. We recommend calling and talking to someone to make sure of where and when the boat is running. The schedule on the website is subject to change. Also, they may have changed where it docks.

In 2020, the Quoddy Dam was docking at 31 Johnson St. The dock is accessed behind a small building with restrooms and an office for Way DownEast Real Estate and DownEast Charters. You’ll find it a short walk from Lubec’s downtown.

You can either buy tickets online or on the boat. Either way it is first come, first serve, so buying a ticket doesn’t guarantee a seat. The day we went, we arrived about 25 minutes ahead of time, and there were already people waiting. Buying a ticket ahead of time does speed up the boarding process. FYI: They let you bring your bicycle. And your well-behaved dog.

As it can be chilly on the water, it’s recommended that you bring a windbreaker or sweater for comfort. It happened that the day we chose in August was absolutely perfect, temperature and wind wise. We were comfortable in blouses and t-shirts both on and off the water. The water was very calm, going and coming back. Some years ago, we made the trip on a very foggy 4th of July. We were glad to have hoodies and jackets to keep off the chilling breeze and damp mist.

Casting Off from Lubec to visit Eastport

Once everyone was checked in, settled, and counted, we had a full boat from children to very senior citizens. There was a mix of local residents, seasonal residents, and tourists. Some artists were bringing their artwork to Eastport for display and for sale in the shops and galleries.

As we left the dock and pulled away from Lubec, we passed various small boats dotting Johnson’s Bay.

A Tour as Well as a Ferry Boat Ride

While we signed up for a ride, we didn’t realize we would also receive a narrated tour along the way. As The Quoddy Dam wove between small uninhabited islands and Campobello Island on its way to Eastport, the Mate or Captain pointed out items of interest and gave tidbits of history.

Here’s a view of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge that connects Lubec with Campobello Island:

As we moved along the western side of Campobello, we saw Friar’s Head, a rock formation that resembles a hooded monk, or Friar. We could see the beach and rear of the Roosevelt’s cottage. Unfortunately, as Campobello is part of Canada, United States citizens can’t travel to the island to visit the park and cottage until restrictions due to the Pandemic are lifted.

Beyond Friar’s Head commercial aquaculture is display as several salmon weirs or pens were situated so that young fish could be raised more naturally in the chilly waters of the bay.

The Passamaquoddy Bay that The Quoddy Dam travels through is part of the Bay of Fundy, home of the highest tides in the world. It is also home The Old Sow, the hemisphere’s largest whirlpool, which can have a pig-like sound. The Old Sow was and is to be avoided by small and especially non-motorized watercraft.

As we approached Eastport, old sardine canneries and other waterfront properties were pointed out to us. A majority of the downtown building date from the late 1800’s and have interesting architectural features.

Many a fisherman and woman and child were fishing from small boats. They also lined the large pier as we pulled up to the dock along one side of it.

It’s hard to see, but anglers were lined up all along the Eastport pier trying their luck. Eastport boasts some of the best mackerel fishing in all of Maine.

For several weeks during the summer of 2020, there wasn’t any access to the pier. This was because the cruise ship, the Riviera, had docked there. Eastport is the deepest natural seaport on the East Coast so it can accommodate large vessels. When cruises were shut down due to the COVID19 Pandemic, cruise lines looked for ports to park their vessels safely and Eastport is large and deep enough for the 785 foot ship. Eastport is also a Port of Entry for non-U.S. watercraft, as it borders Canada. U.S. Customs has an office by the pier and patrols the waters between the U.S. and Campobello and Deer Island, N.B., Canada.

Here are some photos of the Riviera to give you an idea of how large the ship is, and how deep the water must be in order to be for it to be able to dock there:

Above is the view heading down a hill towards Downtown Eastport. The building on the left is huge, and the buildings in front are also three stories high. This gives you an idea of how large the Riviera is. In the photo below, note how the ship takes up the entire length of the pier. Due to COVID19 and U.S. Government protocol, the ship was quarantined. No one was allowed on the pier during its stay in port. The area anglers had to find other piers and docks to fish off of for the duration.

The Riviera wasn’t the first cruise ship to dock at the Eastport pier. Each summer smaller cruise ships regularly dock there so passengers can enjoy the ambience, seafood restaurants, shops, art galleries, museums, trails, and historic sites.

Arriving in Eastport Maine by Ferry Boat

While you do have a ramp from the dock to access the mainland, the main downtown area is very walkable. The streets leading away from the downtown do have a steep incline, but most of the sights and businesses are along Water Street, which runs parallel to the waterfront. There are port-a-potties on the pier near where the ferry docks, should anyone need them. There’s also a food truck on the pier if you don’t want to wait to eat at a downtown restaurant.

When you arrive in Eastport, to reach the heart of the city, take a left as you leave the pier. As you walk along, there are interesting shops on both sides of the street, , including a glorious candy store. Some, including S.L. Wadsworth & Son, he oldest chandlery in the U.S., are regularly open and determined to ride out the Pandemic. Even with shops closed, or by appointment only, there’s plenty to enjoy as far as interesting points of interest and building features.

Walking the Waterfront of Eastport, Maine

At the entrance to Overlook Park, a small amphitheater by the waterfront, there is “Nature’s Grace,” a “Schoodic Sculpture” that is part of a series of 34 sculptures on the Maine Sculpture Tour in DownEast Maine.

To the left of “Nature’s Grace” you can access the pleasant waterfront or harbor walkway that runs between the water and the back of the downtown buildings. There are lovely flowers as well as boats to see along the way. As you reach the end of one block of buildings, you will see “naughty” Nerida, a bronze mermaid sculpture, by local sculptor, Richard Klyver.

As you can climb up and sit next to her, many do, and have their pictures taken, or take selfies.

Perhaps a stone’s throw away is a totally different type of statue, which some label “The Goofy Fisherman.” He was a prop for the 2001 Fox TV series “Murder in Small Town X.” When Fox left town, the statue stayed.

Nearby are large historical signs like this one providing information about the area.

A little beyond the statue you will find The Waco Diner, the oldest diner in Maine. Whether you dine in, or outside on the back deck, the experience and food are great.

From the Waco Diner deck you might see the ferry that runs from Campobello to Deer Island, the U.S. Customs boats, assorted commercial boats and ships, and yachts against the backdrop of Campobello Island.

The Fish and Chips basket is really enough for two people. Underneath the top piece of fish there’s another huge piece as well as a generous mound of delicious hot fries. The Waco includes more seafood, including fried clams, as well as burgers amd more. They offer a nice variety of Maine craft beer on tap. They also serve breakfast with specialties like blueberry pancakes made with local berries.

By taking the 11 a.m. ferry from Lubec, we had enough time to leisurely walk along the storefronts, up one street a few blocks, have lunch, and walk back along the waterfront walk, and were back in time to take the 2 p.m. ferry ride back to Lubec.

Heading Back to Lubec after visiting Eastport by Ferry Boat

There’s lots more to see and do in Eastport, but we’ll save that for another post. Eastport hosts several annual events, including a unique New Year’s Eve celebration. See our previous post here.

As the ferry made its way back along Eastport’s shoreline, we saw some of the equipment for Eastport’s Estes Head Cargo Terminal operated by the Eastport Port Authority and is separate and southwest of the breakwater pier downtown. The cargo terminal is the closest one to Europe. Among other items, it’s shipped cows, fish, and wood pulp. It also receives shipments from Europe and even as far away as Alaska.

We also saw a lovely older mansion crowning the top of a rocky hilltop overlooking the water’s edge.

As we approached Lubec, the ferry’s captain mentioned some places to visit in Lubec and cautioned those making a return trip to Eastport not to miss the boat leaving at 5 p.m.

Here’s a view of Lubec from the deck of The Quoddy Dam during a glorious day in mid-August, 2020. If you are looking for a different outdoor, eye-pleasing, laided-back, unhurried travel experience, take the Lubec-Eastport Ferry.

Eastport featured in a Documentary

Eastport is one of eight towns featured in “Our Towns” a documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, based upon the book “Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America” by James and Deborah Fallows, released on HBO/HBO Max in April, 2021. It is a portrait of the United States and how small cities and towns are surviving and reinventing themselves. See the trailer here.

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or Start A Blogging Business.

October 19, 2020 1 comment