The History of “Firsts”

On February 29, the Marion Council on Aging hosted an entertaining and informative presentation given by James Healy, history officer for the Boston-based Duck Boat Tours. Healy has developed a historical perspective titled “Firsts in Boston and Massachusetts.” Marion’s beautiful Music Hall was the perfect venue for listening to a bit of historical trivia.

Speaking to a gathering of about 20 people, Healy transported the audience on a “firsts” journey that began in 1630 with the development of the first building code and ended in 1972 when WGBH was the first television station to provide closed captioning for hearing impaired persons.

During the 342 year period that Healy covers in his material, an amazing and diverse number of “firsts” color our history.

When the first building code was written in 1630, it was done so to prevent future chimney fires. Prior to the regulation, chimneys were commonly made from wood versus bricks or stone.

As we wandered along through the 1600s, Healy shared that Boston Latin School was the very first building used as a schoolhouse and their roster of students contained such dignitaries as Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. Before school buildings were built, students went to the teachers’ homes for lessons. When Healy asked if there were any retired teachers in the crowd, several responded affirmatively and laughed at the notion of having a house full of students.

Healy went on to mention the first disbarred lawyer, no smoking community, divorce, witch hanging, minted coins, and fire department. Regarding the divorce case, a woman filed for dissolution of her marriage after finding out that her husband had another wife in that far-flung town of Plymouth.

In 1690, the first newspaper, Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, was published, but the local officials didn’t like the content so it was shut down. Remember the Constitution had not yet been written and adopted.

Moving into the 1700s, Healy pointed out that the first lighthouse, Boston Light on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor, was built and is still in operation today. Boston Light is also the only lighthouse where Coast Guard personnel are still on duty.

Other firsts from this century that Boston or the state can claim are the development of smallpox inoculations in 1721, Saint Patrick’s Day parade in 1737, and the first chocolate factory in 1765 owned by Dr. John Baker. Yes, the famous Baker’s chocolate is still available in the baking aisle of grocery stores today.

Of significant note was the story Healy told of Phyllis Wheatley. Wheatley was captured and transported to New England as a slave in 1761, a small and by then sickly child. Suzanne Wheatley purchased the child. Wheatley subsequently provided care and education to the child now named “Phyllis” after the ship in which she had been transported. Phyllis, who demonstrated superior intellect, went on to become a well respected writer and poet.

By 1783, Massachusetts was the first state to abolish slavery.

The 1800s saw such local firsts as a teachers’ college in 1839, use of ether, sewing machines, and the famous candy NECCO Wafers that are still in production today. The year 1848 saw the first women’s college open its doors, first public lending library, Valentine cards, and automobile.

The first African American all-volunteer infantry regiments, numbers 54 and 55, were formed and they went on to be forever emblazed in our history for their heroic service during the Civil War. William Carney received the first Medal of Honor ever awarded to a person of color, 37 years after retiring from the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

Rounding out the 1800s, Healy said toothpicks, importing of bananas, Christmas cards, light bulbs and telephones all started right here in the Bay State.

Rushing towards modern times, Healy said that the first license plates came into being in 1903, baby formula in 1919, chocolate chip cookies, and microwave ovens by Raytheon which, by the way, were the size of refrigerators and weighed over 700 pounds.

Organ transplants and pace makers were both developed here, and last but not least on Healy’s long list of firsts, was WGBH with closed captioning for hearing impaired television viewers of the French Chef.

Healy, not quite ironically, is himself a first in that he developed the “firsts” presentation for use by the Duck Boat operators giving tours in and around the greater Boston area. “Sometimes there is a lot of traffic that slows the tours down … this gives the drivers something to tell the visitors about the area.”

For information on upcoming discussions hosted by the Marion Council on Aging, go to www.marionma.gov/pages/marionma_coa or call 508-748-3570.

By Marilou Newell

 

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