One If By Schmap, Two If By Sea

You are looking at a newly published photographer. Now, I barely know diddly-squat about photography, yet Schmap! chose one of my pics (Newman's Window, taken at the Old North Church) for their Boston guide. Click here to see my photo and others taken of churches around Boston.



So what's Newman's Window and why is it important? Here's an abdriged part of the story taken from www.oldnorth.com:

Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty had prepared for this troop movement and set about to alert their countrymen that the British Regulars (Redcoats) were heading their way. Revere...knew...that lanterns shining from the steeple of the tallest building in Boston at the time would clearly be seen on the other side of the harbor. Robert Newman, the church sexton agreed to help, so about 10:00pm that evening, he...climbed the 14-story steeple in complete darkness.

When he reached the very top, he lit and briefly held up two lanterns in the steeple window (one if by land, two if by sea). Although Newman hung the lanterns for probably less than a minute, it was long enough to be seen not only by the patriots, but also by the British troops. As Newman was coming down the stairs, British soldiers were at the front doors, trying to break in to investigate.

To escape arrest, Newman came down the center aisle, and escaped through the window to the right of the altar. It is now called the "Newman" window in his memory. Above the window is the replica of Newman's lantern that was lit by President Gerald Ford on April 18, 1975, to begin our nation's Bicentennial Celebration.

When Jason and I visited Boston last May, I fell in love. It is my all-time favorite city and I felt such at home there, such an affinity for the place and the people. It is such an honor to be a descendant and fellow countryman to the revolutionaries who fought hard to attain independence from the Brittish. They are true heroes!

Want to appreciate where you come from? Visit Boston! Here, this should whet your appetite...