Author: Alexandra Elliott

March 30, 2023

The Anne Hutchinson Statue at 100 & the Bumpy Road that Put a “Heretic” in Front of the State House

“How exactly does an 8-foot bronze statue show up at the State House without someone knowing to expect it?”

The Anne Hutchinson statue on Beacon Hill turned 100 in 2022. The story of how she got there is an exploration of the intersection of public art and contemporary politics.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

History Posts Quincy Businesses

July 7, 2021

The Eng Family and the King Joy Restaurant, Part 1: Quincy’s First Successful Chinese Restaurant

“Over the first half of the 20th century, the Eng family restaurant was one of Quincy’s only dining establishments serving Asian cuisine. It was also the most successful Asian restaurant of its era. That alone would be reason enough to mark the Eng family restaurant as of historical significance in Quincy. But the family behind the restaurant were also notable on an individual level for their accomplishments and service to the community.”

Featured image: The King Joy Restaurant ca. 1932, located on Chestnut Street.

History Posts Revolutionary History

November 30, 2020

The Boston Massacre Trials at 250: Two Men from Quincy Galvanize an American Debate

In 2020 we marked the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre and its Trials. These events are some of the most complex in the history of the Revolution, especially in terms of how it is remembered today. The debate surrounding these events began in the moments after the shots were fired, but how it is viewed today was heavily guided by the contributions of two young lawyers hailing from the area now known as Quincy: John Adams and Josiah Quincy Jr.

Editorial History Posts Women's Suffrage

August 19, 2020

Remember the Ladies: Woman’s Suffrage and the Black Holes of Local History

“Remember the Ladies” Abigail Adams implored her husband John in a letter from March 31, 1776. Her letter advocated that in the new Republic women be given more rights than they had been under English law. She went on to say, “be more generous and favorable to them [the Ladies] than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.” Whether she argued for women to be given the right to vote or not is a matter of much scholarly debate. However, this letter does make Abigail Adams one of the first women to advocate for women’s rights in Quincy history. She would not be the last.”