The Nifty Fifty: Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a state in the northeastern region of the United States with the abbreviation of MA. Massachusetts became the 6th state on February 6, 1788, making the state 236 years old, as of February, 2024. The name Massachusetts came from the Algonquin word Massadchu-es-et, which means great hill small place, possibly referring to the hills around Boston as seen from the bay.

Massachusetts is the 44th largest state and the 16th most populous; the state’s capital is Boston. Massachusetts is one of the thirteen original states. The official demonym of Massachusetts is Bay Stater, but another common demonym is Massachusettsan. The state of Massachusetts is bordered by the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire and the Atlantic Ocean.

Massachusetts is legally considered a commonwealth, since the Massachusetts constitution defines it as a commonwealth, however, it can technically be referred to as either a commonwealth or a state; after all, the United States technically does contain 50 states, not 46 states and 4 commonwealths. Massachusetts is one of the few states to designate themselves as a commonwealth, along with Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The motto of Massachusetts is Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem, which is a Latin phrase that very loosely translates to the intended English phrase By The Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty.

The most commonly used nickname for Massachusetts is the Bay State, which is featured on the Massachusetts state quarter, but Massachusetts can also be called the Baked Bean State (baked navy bean is the official state bean), the Codfish State (cod is the state fish), the Pilgrim State (Plymouth Rock is the official historical rock and landing site of the Pilgrims), and the Spirit of America (as featured on Massachusetts license plates).

The landscape of Massachusetts has woodlands, mountains, beaches, lakes, tidal salt marshes, rocky hills, fertile lowland valleys, and even the narrow peninsula known as Cape Cod, which forms the Cape Cod Bay.

Massachusetts is known for cranberries, Boston — the birthplace of the American revolution, and Plymouth — the place where the Pilgrims landed. Fun fact, the southeastern portion of Massachusetts used to be Plymouth Colony, which was founded in 1620, 8 years before Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded, but in 1692, Plymouth Colony was absorbed by Massachusetts Bay Colony, which is how Massachusetts acquired its southeastern corner, including Cape Cod; the state of Massachusetts Bay was renamed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1780. Massachusetts also possess minerals, such as babingtonite, rhodonite, goshenite, galena, granite, cummingtonite, and chalcopyrite, which contain metals such as iron, calcium, manganese, aluminum, beryllium, lead, silver, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and copper — that almost sounds like the ingredient list on a mineral supplement bottle, except for the highly toxic metals of lead and beryllium.

On January 1, 1735, Paul Revere was born in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Like his father before him, Paul Revere worked as a silversmith. Revere generated most of his income from silversmithing and engraving. In 1770, Revere made an engraving depicting the Boston Massacre, which he titled the Bloody Massacre; this engraving served as fuel for the already blazing fury of the Colonists. During the Revolution, Revere was a major supporter of the Patriot cause, even joining the Sons of Liberty. In 1775, Revere famously became one of the several Patriots to make a midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of the approaching British troops, which allowed the Minutemen to counter the British advance during the battle of Concord. Revere later served as an officer in the Massachusetts Militia, but his service ended after the failed Penobscot Expedition, for which he was absolved of blame. After the war, Revere returned to silversmithing, but he also expanded his business and began casting iron, bronze bells, and cannons; he even forged copper bolts and spikes. In 1800, Revere became the first American to successfully roll copper into sheets for use as sheathing on navel vessels. Revere died at his home on Charter Street in Boston on May 10, 1818, at the age of 83.

The chocolate chip cookie is very likely the most popular cookie in the United States, and it was invented in Whitman, Massachusetts, by Ruth Wakefield. Wakefield ran the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, and she gave the restaurant a reputation for the amazing desserts that she made; this appears to be how Toll House chocolate chips got their name. There are many legends told about how she invented the chocolate chip cookie, but it appears likely that she invented this famous cookie intensionally after much recipe developing, in fact, the chocolate chip cookie was apparently intended to accompany ice cream.

On April 19, 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord occurred near the cities of Lexington, Massachusetts, and Concord, Massachusetts. In the early hours of April 19, about 700 British Army regulars were sent from Boston to capture and destroy military supplies in Concord that was stored there by the Massachusetts Militia. On their way to Concord, roughly 400 British regulars were met by 77 Minutemen, who were warned of the approaching British by the several midnight riders, including Paul Revere. John Parker, captain of the Militia, ordered the Minutemen not to fire unless fired upon. Neither side dared to fire the first shot, however, at some point, the first shot echoed through the battlefield, which prompted both sides to begin firing; which side fired the first shot is still unknown. The overwhelming British attack caused the Militia to retreat, leaving 8 militiamen dead, but the British only suffered 1 casualty. The British continued their march to Concord, but once they reached the Militia’s armory, they found it mostly empty. Shortly after this disturbing discovery, the British were again met with the Militia, but this time there were 400 of them, and the arms that the British came to destroy were in the hands of the militiamen. The Militia began attacking the British, causing the British to hastily return to Boston. The Militia inflicted an additional 250 casualties on the British during their retreat. Overall, the battles resulted in an American victory and the beginning of the siege of Boston. These are often considered the first battles of the American Revolution.

An interesting fact about Massachusetts is that the oldest park in the United States exists in Massachusetts. Located in the heart of Boston, the park, named Boston Common, was established in 1634 when citizens of Boston purchased the land as a public space; that means that the park was established only 14 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock!

A strange fact about Massachusetts is that it is home to a lake that has the longest name of any geographical feature in the United States. Lake Chaubunagungamaug is the name of that lake, however, it is sometimes known by its much longer name, which comprises 45 letters: Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg is located in Webster, Massachusetts, and its name is sometimes said to mean Fishing Place at the Boundaries — Neutral Meeting Grounds, but some claim that a more fitting translation is Lake Divided by Islands.

What fact about Massachusetts most interests you?