:: Trying to keep track of it all... ::

:: 11.02.2003 ::

Of dubious historical significance...

This sign is out on the street in front of our house:



What it says is:
*HISTORIC SITE*
HANGING OF THOMAS BIRD

So apparently we live on the site of the old Portland gallows. Great...
I guess the location kind of makes sense though. We're just on the cusp of the downtown area, way up on a hill (Bramhall Hill) that overlooks all of Portland, and up the coast. A lovely location for a hangin'.

Poor old Thomas was a pirate, and he was the first to be hung under Article 1, Section 8 of the new constitution (whatever that is), way back in early summer of 1790.

Heres a shot of the text on the sign



I guess its kind of interesting, but like I say above its definitely of dubious historical significance.

Heres a shot of the illustration that accompanies the text.
A lovely little rendering of old Thomas getting strung up.
Looks like Abraham Lincoln made an appearance (guy in the big hat).



These "Historical points-of-interest" signs are all over Portland. But this is the only one I've seen so far thats creepy and mildly violent.
Most of them are more in the vein of "On this site in 1754 Joseph Oldguy took a nap." or "This street was paved with cobblestones in 1795". You know ho-hum whoop- de-doo kind of stuff.
I suppose you could say that were lucky to live in such a historically significant area, but I say its still kind of weird.

Oh, and the sign is sponsored by "Jordan's Meats". Makes me want to just run right out and buy a flank steak.

:: Zachary 1:11:20 PM [+] ::
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