With the recent snowfall of Jan. 7, no doubt many of you cried out: “We need to go to the store for bread and milk!” Really, have we become so afraid that we might starve if we go two days without bread and milk? Absurd as it may be, it got me thinking about where […]
Author Archives: Bill Fornaciari - Independent Correspondent
Posted inHistory & Architecture
Famed landscape architect’s designs in Plymouth are plain to see
Given our town’s prominent role in the country’s early colonial life, perhaps it’s no surprise that the Gilded Age is a slice of history that hasn’t been explored in depth in Plymouth. But it is an era worthy of attention (even more so now with the interest generated by the HBO series), and I’ve devoted […]
Posted inHistory & Architecture
Holiday ‘tootalings’ can cause a family debate
To me, they are as iconic as Plymouth Rock, spark fierce debates, cross multiple generations and during my youth were made by various nationalities. They are, in fact one, of Plymouth’s culinary delights. You probably know them as Italian tortellini but in Plymouth speak, we call them tootalings! First a little background for those unfamiliar […]
Posted inHistory & Architecture
Christmas in Plymouth wasn’t always merry and bright
Plymouth’s Communitree is up and lit for the holidays. The tree, after its latest move, now stands in front of town hall. This is the tree’s third location in our downtown core….or is it? Finding the towns’ records of public holiday celebrations is not an easy task. Until quite recently, there are few written descriptions […]
Posted inHistory & Architecture
The famous names behind some notable Plymouth buildings
After graduating in 1986 with an architectural degree from Roger Williams University, my fellow graduates and I were ready to change the world. My classmates spread out across the country, landing jobs in places like New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle, and San Francisco. I returned home to Plymouth. A major building boom was underway in […]
Posted inHistory & Architecture
One man’s search for Plymouth’s oldest building
What is Plymouth’s oldest building? You’d think that’s an easy question to answer, but don’t be so sure. By most accounts, the Sparrow House – at 42 Summer St. – is the oldest surviving house in Plymouth, with a listed construction date of 1640. Close runner ups are the Howland House (1667) and the Harlow […]