10 Things About: Massachusetts

Not the easiest state name to spell – and you may have had to try to spell it in a history lesson. Massachusetts has a long history, at least dating back to 1620. It may be small, but it’s one state you surely shouldn’t forget about. Anyway, here are 10 things you (probably) didn’t know about The Bay State.

1. State Number 6

Admitted to the Union on February 6, 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state. It was one of the thirteen original colonies and has been at the center of American history for nearly as long as it has existed. Massachusetts was first successfully settled in 1620 upon the arrival of the Pilgrims via the Mayflower, with the Massachusetts Bay Colony established by royal charter a decade later. The Pilgrims came to the ‘New World’ to establish a religious Utopian society, as they considered the Church of England not pure enough. In the Revolutionary era, Massachusetts was at the forefront of the independence movement, overseeing events such as the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773, as well as being the location of the first two battles of the War of Independence (Lexington and Concord).

2. Tribal Origin

The state’s name comes from the Massachusett tribe, who were indigenous to the area. Today, the tribe have split into two subgroups: the Ponkapoag Massachusett (who descend from the Neponset Tribe and reside in Canton), and the Natik Massachusett-Nipmuc (who descend from the Praying Indians of Natik and reside in Boston). There are fewer than 150 members in both tribes today. The Massachusett were decimated by diseases from European contact from 1619, including smallpox, leptospirosis, and influenza. After contact, many of the Massachusett converted to Christianity, losing much of their cultural religion and practices. Forced integration into colonial laws meant the Massachusett language began to fade out, dying out upon the death of the last known speaker around the 1890s.

3. Stick A Seal On It

The Massachusetts flag prominently features a Native American of the Algonquian. The downward arrow symbolizes peace. The white star is supposedly a reference to Massachusetts being the sixth state – the star has five points, so the sixth makes up the star. In the blue ribbon is the state’s motto – Ense Petit Placidam, Sub Libertate Quietem (By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty). The arm at the top is the right arm of Myles Standish – a military advisor for the Plymouth Colony – representing that one would rather lose their right hand than live under tyranny.

4. That’s a Mouthful

Colloquially called Webster Lake, the body of water actually has a much longer name: Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. It’s the longest place name in the United States. It has 45 letters and 14 syllables. The name is derived from the Algonquian language and supposedly means “Fishing Place at the Boundaries – Neutral Meeting Grounds”. More oddly, this name is exaggerated and has the humorous translation of “you fish on your side, I’ll fish on my side, and no one shall fish in the middle.” (If you can pronounce it, more power to you – now try Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu – the longest names in Britain and New Zealand).

5. I’ll Pay You In Bullets?

In Massachusetts, the law states that bullets cannot be used a currency – maybe apocalypse planning got too serious in Massachusetts. Other weird laws include banning gorillas in the back seats of cars, a woman may not top during sex, and witches are banned – as are Quakers.

6. No Yard Is Complete Without One

Ever wondered where the pink plastic flamingos you see in yards come from? Of course you did – they were designed by Don Featherstone in 1957 in Leominster, Massachusetts. They were produced by Union Products until 2006. Today, they are produced by Cado Manufacturing, Inc.

7. Slam Dunk

Massachusetts is the home of basketball. The sport was invented in 1891 by a gym teacher, James Naismith, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is believed to have conceptualized the sport on a rainy day and needed to keep his pupils active. The first games were played with a soccer ball and peach basket nailed to a 10 foot elevated track. Dribbling with the ball became commonplace in 1898 as balls became smoother and more perfectly spherical.

8. This is Where They Landed?

The story of the Pilgrims landing is that they disembarked the Mayflower on a rock in Plymouth. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. A large boulder was deemed the place of landing in Plymouth, but overtime that rock has been broken, cemented back together, and had bits chiseled off by tourists wanting their own piece of history. Combined with sand accumulation over the centuries, only a tiny bit of that boulder remains visible. The size of the rock seems pretty disappointing today.

9. You’re A Witch!

The infamous Salem Witch Trials between February 1692 and May 1693 are believed to be an instance of mass hysteria which led to 19 people being executed on the charge of witchcraft. Fourteen women and five men were hanged. One man, Giles Corey, was crushed to death for refusing to plead guilty and five others died in jail. What caused the trials to be so prolonged is unknown, but historians have hypothesized medical explanations, such as ergotism (caused by eating rye bread from infected grain – the fungus is a base for LSD), and sleep paralysis. However, personal matters like jealousy or spite likely lead to people accusing one another of being witches.

10. Cheers.

Fans of the show ‘Cheers’ can visit the real life bar in Boston. Originally called the Bull & Finch tavern, located in Beacon Hill, the establishment changed its name to “Cheers” in 2002 as a result of its newfound fame.