Shipwrecks – Boston's North Shore

During my high school years in the late 1950s, I became interested in all things related to the ocean (fishing, boating, sailing and scuba diving). Sharing this interest with several friends, we enrolled in a scuba course given at the local YMCA and learned a lot about this intriguing sport at the Y (indoor pool). After several weeks of lessons, we were ready for our first real ocean dive on the rocky coast of Nahant, MA.

On that special day, we used the buddy system where we would swim with another diver in case we needed help. Including the instructor, there would be three sets of buddies or six divers. With less than one hour of air in our scuba tanks, the group planned to enter the water on the beach at “Forty Steps”, Nahant, MA and swim around the rocks for a while then head in. As we approached the rock cliffs, we saw a beautiful under water world with large kelp swaying with the tide, various fish and sea anemones attached to the rocks. Walking across a sandy bottom, I stepped on a large skate fish under the sand that startled me and quickly swam away. With the air running out, we swam to shore and called it a day. What a great day.

Our instructor Jack had just started a scuba store in Chelsea, MA on Washington St. that was open on weekends and some evenings. Most evenings we would hangout at the store and help fill orders or wait on customers. At the store we also made custom fitted wet suits and lead weights for ballast belts. Although we didn’t get paid, we had free use of the equipment for future diving adventures.

We made the custom wet suit from ¼ inch neoprene rubber sheets. After taking the customers measurements, we drew an outline on a paper pattern for the pants, shirt and head piece. To make the pants, we placed the paper pattern on the rubber sheet and cut out two pant halves. We then glued the edges of the pant halves together and let dry. After dry we turned them inside out for custom fitted pants. We did the same for the shirt and head piece.

Several weeks later we made plans to dive off Manchester, MA, near Graves Island. Jack said that there was a sunken ship there that we could explore and maybe find some old artifacts. Unfortunately, I broke my ankle and had on a small cast but went along for the ride anyway. After getting to the rocky beach in Manchester, Joe and Jack put on their wet suits and I rowed the eight man rubber raft out to the dive site off Graves Island. I wore a life jacket and also had one wrapped around my cast. You do crazy things when you’re young and foolish.

The bottom was only about 30 feet deep off the south-west side of the island as the two divers went down to look. After a few minutes Jack came up with a piece of wood and a spike that he gave me to put in the raft. Later, both divers came up and were excited that they had found the edge of a metal object buried in the sand. It could be an anchor.

Since we needed a boat with a heavy wench to pull it up, we would have to come back another time. In the meantime, they tied a short piece of rope with a wood float to the metal object so we could find it again. Unfortunately, someone else could also find it.



When we got back to land we cleaned off the spike that we found. We saw the initials PR stamped on the side and thought that it might stand for Paul Revere who made all kinds of metal attachments for wooden ships. However, we learned later that many other spikes had been found with the PR label from other sunken ships which reduced the value to less than $20. Later, we just put it on display in Jack’s scuba shop.

A week went by and we didn’t have any luck with getting a boat. We also didn’t have any money to hire someone. However, that weekend we returned to Graves Island to check on the site. When we got to the beach we saw a dive boat near the island and our find. Joe and Jack rowed out to the dive boat which was called the Adventure III, as I watched from land. When they got there, the boat was pulling up an anchor and the divers said it was from the sunken ship, USS New Hampshire. As an additional surprise, one of the recreational divers on the boat was Rex Trailer, the local TV Cowboy from the kids show called Boom Town on WBZ. You can see info about Rex Trailer at the link … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Trailer

Recalling our historic dive in 1963, I recently drew a map of the location including (lat/long) with the computer program called Street Atlas. There are two sites on the map. Site #1 is our dive site in 1963 and site #2 is the location given in the historical record of the ship sinking in 1922. Sometimes storms will change the under water location of objects over time. See the link …… http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/GravesIsland1963

Before 1973, ocean salvage was run on the principle of finders – keepers. Since the dive boat got there first in 1963, they had first salvage rights to the anchor before we did. Today, the State Department of Marine Archeology has strict rules for salvage that require a permit process. Most ocean finds off Massachusetts are the property of the State and have historical value. You can see some of the rules and restrictions at the two
links … http://www.mass.gov/czm/buar/buarregs.pdf and http://www.mass.gov/czm/buar/index.htm

You can also see some information about the USS New Hampshire at the link ….
USS New Hampshire
http://www.mass.gov/czm/buar/shipwrecks/ua-hampshire.htm

However, the State leaves certain dive sites open to recreational scuba divers who can keep small artifacts as long as they do not permanently alter the site. Graves Island is now an open dive site since most historical artifacts have been previously salvaged. You can see a list of open dive sites at the following link …. Shipwreck Sites Open to Divers
http://www.mass.gov/czm/buar/buares.htm

Recently, I got a book from the library that describes several of the boats that have been lost off our coast. Hundreds of ships have sunk off the coast of Boston & Salem in bad weather by swamping, capsizing or hitting submerged rocks. You can see some photos and the map location of these ships and a list of their names at the link …. http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/ShipwrecksNorthOfBoston

If you are interested in taking scuba diving lessons, I recommend Undersea Divers in Beverly, MA. I have periodically used this shop since 1963 to fill tanks, buy accessories and just get general info. For more info, see the link …. http://www.underseadivers.com/

Although we didn’t make a great salvage recovery in 1963, we still have the great memories of a great experience.

Pirate Treasure Buried In Wilmington

Recently I read a story in the town newspaper (Wilmington Town Crier) about Pirate Treasure Buried in Wilmington. It certainly caught my eye as I read it with excitement. I am always ready for adventure, whether actual or fictional. You can read the article at the online link …. Buried Treasure in Wilmington
http://homenewshere.com/articles/2009/01/24/wilmington_town_crier/news/doc494fadd1a4ff5916803228.txt

The article described how some children living at the Harnden House in 1699, now the town museum, saw a man driving an ox cart carrying a heavy load and a black slave, heading north on old Andover Road. Later that day, the man was again seen driving the ox cart south but now without the heavy load or the slave. As rumor circulated it was assumed that this was the infamous Captain Kidd who had just arrived by ship in Boston Harbor and maybe buried some of his treasure north of Boston.

Captain William Kidd was initially a trusted merchant ship captain who made his living carrying goods by ship from England to the Americas. He was later hired as a Privateer by wealthy merchants in Boston to protect their merchant ships from Pirates along the coast of North America. Even Lord Bellamont (Governor of Masachusetts, New Hampshire and New York) invested in the venture. As a privateer, Kidd was legally able to attack enemy ships (Pirates, and Foreign Nations other than England) and keep the captured loot and share the profits with his men as well as his investors.

One foreign ship that he captured in the West Indies was the Quedah Merchant which had a valuable cargo of silk goods and gold. Before sailing to Boston, he sailed into New York and buried a treasure worth 20,000 pounds on Gardiner’s Island, near Long Island. Besides burying the treasure, he also stashed other valuables along the way (maybe in Wilmington). Three days after arriving in Boston he was arrested as a pirate by Lord Bellamont, who then sent for the buried treasure on Gardiner’s Island which was mostly recovered.

After reading the story, I was curious about the treasure and if any was ever found in Wilmington. I researched historical information from the local library and the internet about the Harnden House and Captain Kidd and found that the treasure was supposedly buried a half mile north of the Harden House in a rock cave called Devil’s Den. Using a mapping program called Street Atlas I marked the location on a map with GPS latitude / longitude. You can see the map at the link …. http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/TreasureHillRd

I was surprised to see that the name of the street that leads to Devil’s Den is Treasure Hill Rd.. Evidently, many a treasure hunter has searched the area with metal detectors and treasure maps looking for the allusive Captain Kidd’s treasure chest.

Although we read about pirates today along the coast of Madagascar, there were hundreds of pirates that traveled the North Atlantic coast from the 1500s to the 1700s. These pirates not only plundered ships at sea but also in ports and sea coast villages. Along with Captain Kidd were Blackbeard, Edward Teach, Anne Bonny, Mary Reid, Calico Jack Rackham and Arrabella Drummond. Although these pirates were mostly men, there were also some notorious women. A treasure trove about pirate info can be seen at the link …..
http://www.vleonica.com/pirates.htm

After reading several books on Captain Kidd and other pirates, I also found one in the children’s department of the Wilmington Library, called Piratology. This book contained some interesting photos and treasure maps that I shared with my 8 year old grandson. You can see some photos at the link ….. Piratology http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Piratology11209

Additional information can also by found on the internet by doing a Google Search with key words like (pirate treasure, treasure maps, gold doubloons, pieces of eight, jolly roger, etc.) . Maybe one of the best treasure finds that I made is just using GOOGLE.

Teeth Whitening (Less than $ 1.00)

As people age, that bright and white youthful smile begins to fade and the yellow begins to show through. The change in teeth color is due to the warring away of enamel and the staining of teeth caused by dark colored foods.

Teeth have an inner dentin which is naturally yellow and pink covered with protective white enamel. As the enamel ages it wares away, its surface cracks and is filled with food debris and acidic fluids like tea, coffee and carbonated beverages. Smoking, chewing tobacco and dark wines also contribute to the staining process.

Keeping teeth clean with frequent brushing and flossing is the best method to help teeth maintain their natural whiteness. Dental hygiene and periodic dental checkups are the best medicine. However, some cosmetic assistance can also brighten that smile. This can be accomplished with tooth pastes, creams and take home kits from the drug store or treatments done at the dentist’s office.

The following is a list of approximate costs - tooth paste ($3), take home kits ($30 +) and in office treatments ($300 +). You can see a full description of these different methods at the following online links … Webmd.com
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/teeth-whitening?page=4
and Yourdentistryguide.com
http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/teeth-whitening/

After doing some research on this subject, I found that the active ingredient for all these treatments was hydrogen peroxide with the concentration higher in the dentist’s office than at home. If you have dentures, a lot of fillings or severe gum problems, it is best to have whitening treatments done in the dentist’s office.

Since I wanted to see if this method would work with me, I purchased a small 1 pt. bottle of hydrogen peroxide (3% Solution) at the super market for ($ 0.89). This product is used as a topical solution for a first aid antiseptic and oral debriding agent. Read the directions carefully before using.

After brushing and flossing, I swished the hydrogen peroxide around in my mouth for a minute and then spit it out. This is not to be swallowed. I later rinsed with antiseptic mouthwash to get rid of the taste. After just a few days I noticed my teeth getting whiter.
Although I don’t expect that movie star or million dollar smile, at least I have got rid of some yellow stains.

Remember, read the label before you try this and consult your dentist if you are not sure.

Chicken Soup & The Common Cold

My mom always gave me chicken soup when I had a cold. It was hot and soothing and made me feel much better. The neighbors called it Jewish Penicillin and have prescribed it for generations. WebMd.com also lists a recipe for chicken soup that will help with cold relief. http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/chicken_soup_and_recipes_for_cold
In addition, a homemade recipe is listed below.

New medical research has shown that hot soup doesn’t cure the common cold but helps open sinus passages and loosens mucus which allows you to breathe better and eases coughing, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, chills and fatigue. “The fact is, there is no cure for the common cold, and for the most part it's not considered a dangerous condition. Caused by more than 200 different viruses, most notably rhinoviruses, the cold makes you a sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy-headed and feverish patient, but it passes in a week or two.” http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/30/news/local/news05.txt

Doctors now advise parents to lay off the sweet tasting cold medicines and antibiotics and instead prescribe rest, hot soup and plenty of fluids. Last year parents spent $500 million on over 95 million bottles of child cold medicines.

Besides making you feel better and help ease cold symptoms, soups are also a good choice for a healthy diet. Most can soups sold today are tasty, contain meat and vegetables, minerals and vitamins and have low calories and low salt. A look at the soup counter at the local grocery store reveals lots of choices. You can see some photos at the link … http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Soup1809


Although there are many different brands, I prefer Progresso Soups. They sell a variety of can soup choices that have 60 calories per serving and 45% less sodium. Most can soups contain two servings, so you have to double the calorie and sodium figures.

A bowl of hot soup is now part of my daily diet. I have found that a diet of 1000 calorie per day allows me to lose weight although 2000 calories a day is recommended for a normal diet. To maintain this weight loss goal, I try to stick to the following diet menu: Breakfast – Cereal (300 cal), Lunch – Salad w/ Chicken (400 cal), Dinner – Soup (300 cal). In addition, I add plenty of fruits and vegetables.

A quick variation to homemade soup is to add a small package of frozen mixed vegetables to a can of chicken stock like College Inn. Bring to a boil and simmer a few minutes. Each can of chicken stock will make two servings. Fresh vegetables can also be used instead of frozen. Season to taste.

I also try to vary the choices of soup by periodically switching from can soup to the home made variety. Homemade soups are better in the long run since you can season to taste and use less salt. Although I help, my wife is the chief cook. She has learned all those time honored recipes from my mother and her family. The secret to a good soup is the amount of seasonings and that only comes from experience.

Although she has used many family soup recipes, I recently asked her to make a “15 Bean Soup” that I saw at the grocery store on a package of dried beans. You can see the recipe in the photo link above or the simple description below.

Pour the package of dried beans in a pan of water and let soak over night. This swells and softens the beans and breaks the skin to allow the flavors out when you cook the soup. Discard the soak water and add about 3 quarts new water with the following ingredients (small smoked ham shoulder, carrots, celery, onion, 6 cloves garlic, small can of diced stewed tomatoes, chili powder, pepper, 2 large handfuls of barley). No additional salt is needed since some comes out of the ham shoulder. Cook and stir occasionally for 2 hours.

Comments are always welcome. Do you have any soup recipes?

Burlington Science Center

Although I have been retired for a few years, I still belong to a local educators group that has helped me stay aware of current educational trends for 40 years.

The NSSSA (North Shore Science Supervisors Association) is an organization that helps local educators (teachers and supervisors) stay abreast of new trends in education. Each month the group meets to discuss the latest educational topics and practices as well as network with colleagues. The monthly meetings are sponsored by a book publisher or educational supplier and held at a local school, business or restaurant.

The meeting this month took place at the Burlington Science Center which is next door to Burlington High School, Burlington, MA. The meeting was opened by our president Dave Lyons who then introduced the sponsor from Flinn Scientific who welcomed the group and spoke about a new educational video series offered by Flinn.

Our host John Papadonis then took the podium and talked about the Burlington Science Center and how it served the Burlington school system with science kits and materials. Along with his colleague Wendy Pavlicek, they provide teacher workshops, classroom presentations and science materials that teachers can borrow. In addition, they house a variety of live animals that are used in classroom presentations which include a variety of reptiles and birds.

At the meeting they showed a live two foot long alligator, a tortoise, a hawk, and a hedgehog as well as several smaller animal species. In season, they also supply the elementary schools with live plants, sprouting tulip bulbs and chick eggs ready for hatching.

John and Wendy made their presentations with enthusiasm and a love for their chosen career. John said he adheres to the 20/20 rule for classroom presentation time. That includes 20 minutes to discuss theory and 20 minutes of hands on student activity.

The meeting was concluded with a demonstration of an inexpensive seismograph and a homemade Vander graph generator.

You can see photos of the meeting at the link …..
http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/NSSSAMtg1809

Comments are always welcome. Email to markryan82@comcast.net