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That's Quin-zee to You... By Arden Miller, CZM What do the Howard Johnson's hotel chain, the Bunker Hill monument, John Quincy Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, and Dunkin' Donuts have in common? Besides being widely recognized names prior to the inception of reality TV, all originated in the area today known as Quincy, Massachusetts. (And make sure you pronounce it Quin-zee; the other 19 Quincy's in the United States might say "Quin-see," but according to late historian William C. Edwards, the family of Colonel John Quincy—the city's namesake—pronounced the second syllable as a "zee.") But before anyone had ever debated the pronunciation of this place, heard of HoJos, or uttered the words, "I need your John Hancock," the 16.8 square-mile area, a mere 9 miles from "Port of Beston"—as Boston's harbor went by at that time—went through many name changes, all reflecting events and people who hold a place in the annals of history. This fertile ground, with both harbor and ocean access, was an early candidate for the "Best Places to Live in the New World" title. Originally enjoyed primarily by the Algonquin Indians, in 1625 an English sea captain with the surname Wollaston successfully steered his way across the Atlantic with a boatload of indentured servants as cargo. The group settled in, and began referring to the area as Mount Wollaston. But not for long. Wollaston's employer assigned him elsewhere, so off he went, leaving the Mount open to another captain and son of England, Thomas Morton. Mere months after Wollaston's departure, Morton arrived and christened the area "Ma-re Mount"—a phonetic hybrid of "merry" and the Latin word for "sea." Morton referred to himself as "mine Hoste of Ma-re Mount" and was known for his fondness of merriment in the form of drinking alcohol and hosting indigenous women, behaviors looked down upon by the Puritans of Plymouth. In 1627, soon after hosting a spring celebration with an 80-foot maypole, abundant amounts of alcohol, and a poem proclaiming "the first of May/At Ma-re Mount shall be kept hollyday," Captain Myles Standish had him deported. Not one to follow orders, he returned several times over the years, much to the chagrin of local religious leaders. After his death in 1647, an independent church was established in his former colony as, it is believed, a safeguard against any lingering thoughts of licentious living. The development of the church led to the establishment of the town of Braintree, of which Quincy was a precinct. Over the years, denizens of Braintree's northern precinct were eager for their own identity and, in 1792, in honor of one of the area's citizens who had never, to anyone's knowledge, cavorted around a maypole, the Massachusetts General Court incorporated the Town of Quincy in honor of Colonel John Quincy. One final name modification took place nearly 100 years later; in 1988, due to increased population and development, "town" gave way to "city." During the aforementioned epithet evolution, numerous developments helped to shape Quincy's identity. Despite its proximity to the Atlantic, during the area's early settlement, most made a living from the land's natural resources, chiefly by farming and granite quarrying. In the mid-1800s, prior to the advent of cement, granite was a necessary element in the production of solid structures. The granite from the Quincy quarries was particularly prized as it was both durable and beautiful. So beautiful and durable in fact that the first commercial rail-line in the United States was developed in 1845 for the sole purpose of transporting the cumbersome quarry rocks to other parts of the country! With the inception of this rail line, accessibility to the area increased. And with immigrants migrating from around the world and other parts of the States, the area's second largest industry— shipbuilding— prospered. Many yards were in operation, building, selling, and launching vessels of all sizes. One such yard, Fore River, became the second largest shipyard in all of the United States during WWI, and the yard garnered a place in history with its exclusive production of steel vessels. (For more on Fore River, see the "Kilroy Was Everywhere" sidebar.) While the yard has since closed down, one such "heavy cruiser"—the only one of its kind in existence today in fact—the U.S.S. Salem, has come home to rest in the harbor and houses the exhibit halls for the United States Navel Shipbuilding Museum. (For museum hours and admission prices, log on to www.uss-salem.org or call (617) 479-7900.) While shipyards and quarries provided a way to make a living, those employed within these industries settled in particular areas which, over time, became distinguished by population, history, or geography. For example, those who live in the peninsula area of Quincy known as Houghs Neck are known locally as "neckers;" the area once known as "Shed's Neck" drew so many Germans to its shore throughout the 1600s that it became known as "Germantown," a moniker it retains to this day; and Squantum, the original power seat for the indigenous Algonquin Indians, retained its Native American name. (For more on specific neighborhoods, see www.scstest.com/quincy/neighborhoods.asp.) And what would these neighborhoods be without Dunkin' Donuts? Originally called the "Open Kettle," the successful Quincy doughnut shop owned by William Rosenberg underwent international franchising and a name change in 1950 and the ubiquitous pink & orange coffee and doughnut shops took off. Twenty-five years earlier, another international success story brought Quincy into the news when Howard Johnson bought a drugstore and soda fountain in the Wollaston section of Quincy, which laid the foundation for more than 1,000 restaurants and hundreds of hotels under the Howard Johnson's umbrella. Today, Quincy is home to Marina Bay—the largest marina in the Northeast. More than 88,000 people make their residence in one of Quincy's neighborhoods, giving this city the distinction of being the most heavily populated area on the Bay State's South Shore. Marina Bay, accessible beaches, and places of historically significance such as the Hancock Cemetery (the colonial colonies' oldest burial ground), make it a popular destination for tourists and in-state visitors alike. From maypole mythology to historical shipyards to chocolate munchkins from Dunkin' Donuts—Quin-zee has something for everyone! For more information on Quincy, go to: www.scstest.com/quincy/attractions.asp. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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