Quincy Daily Photo

Eyes To The Sky

2012-01-27T00:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

2012-01-26T00:04:00.000-05:00

This is the second purple house I have discovered in Quincy! This late 19th century house (1895) has an interesting green slate roof and is located at 39 Roselin Ave. in the Hospital Hill neighborhood.

Catching Cold!

2012-01-25T10:31:00.000-05:00

Enlarge this one and check out the plants left behind.

The Ocean Club

2012-01-24T00:06:00.002-05:00

All is quiet at Marina Bay's Ocean Club.

At Rest

2012-01-23T13:45:00.002-05:00

All is quiet at Marina Bay these days.

HAPPY MONOCHROME MONDAY!

Posts & Slips

2012-01-22T00:06:00.001-05:00

Marina Bay offers a quiet place in winter to view the Boston skyline. I like how this looks in monochrome.

Big football game today - GO PATS!!

Ocean Effect

2012-01-21T00:04:00.001-05:00

This dock at Marina Bay saw a little snowflake action this week. We are expecting more snow today.

Twins

2012-01-20T00:57:00.000-05:00

These two are standing tall against the prevailing winter winds at Blacks Creek. Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

2012-01-19T00:02:00.000-05:00

Today's house was built in 1896 and is located on Merrymount Road. That's a great wrap-around porch and check out the carriage house for this house.

Snow Skirts The Creek

2012-01-18T00:04:00.000-05:00

Skim Coat

2012-01-16T00:02:00.000-05:00

Blacks Creek looked pretty slick yesterday with its skim of ice.

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Going Green?

2012-01-14T00:02:00.001-05:00

I was surprised to see this front end loader, that was parked on Lincoln Ave., painted a green color.

Presidential Finial

2012-01-13T00:05:00.002-05:00

Happy Skywatch Friday! This finial is bathed in sunshine atop the gate of the Adams Mansion.

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

2012-01-12T00:12:00.002-05:00

I like the red roof and cobblestone/brick foundation of this 1897 house at 21 Roselin Street on Hospital Hill. Check out that huge porch!

"A Hill Too Dearly Bought"

2012-01-11T00:08:00.001-05:00

Breeds Hill in Charlestown, is the site of the Bunker Hill Monument where the first battle of the American Revolutionary War took place. The 220 foot obelisk was the first and tallest to be built in America. Architect Solomon Willard designed the monument and had a railroad built to haul the Quincy granite to a barge which took it to Charlestown for assembly.

Daniel Webster spoke at the commemoration, asserting that the “monument stands a memorial of the past, a monitor to the present, and to all succeeding generations.”

New Look

2012-01-10T00:07:00.001-05:00

The first Dunkin Donut shop opened here on the Southern Artery 62 years ago. It recently received some a facelift and added some needed memorabilia. Here is one of my earlier posts on this Quincy landmark. There are now some 5,000 Dunkin Donuts in the U.S. with plans to open 10,000 more by 2020!
Do you drink coffee with your donuts? What is your favorite kind of donut? I like vanilla coffee and cocunut donuts.

Caught

2012-01-09T00:09:00.001-05:00

I spotted this drifted wood in the tidal marsh caught between tidal ebb and flow. Happy Monochrome Monday!

Icy Calm

2012-01-06T00:05:00.001-05:00

Ice formed on the banks of Blacks Creek over the last couple days. Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

2012-01-05T00:02:00.001-05:00

This Dutch Colonial in the Merrymount section was built in the 1920s and is a style of house seen all around Quincy. The red color really pops doesn't it?

Mapquest

2012-01-04T00:03:00.000-05:00

If you are going to drive a miniature car - make sure you can be seen in a car like this.

Good Day For Dogs

2012-01-03T00:03:00.000-05:00

Remy is taking a break after running with the other dogs at Pageant Field. Every day is a good day to exercise your dog and you ;-)

"Top Down" Weather

2012-01-02T00:06:00.001-05:00

I had to do a double take (one with my eye and one with my viewfinder) yesterday, when I spotted this convertible stopped at the Beale Street traffic light. Where am i?

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Photo Of The Year 2011

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

I chose this picture for January Theme Day because it is a picture I was hoping to capture for a very long time. The serendipitous moment happened this past November as I was walking my dog in Black's Creek. I heard geese in the distance making their way toward me and had just enough time to turn and focus my camera toward the sky hoping the geese would appear overhead . . . and they did. Happy New Year and happy photo hunting everyone!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T00:20:00.006-05:00

I enjoyed sharing a few more views of Quincy and the surrounding area with you this year. Thank you for visiting QDP. Your comments were very much appreciated. During 2011, I was fortunate to explore some of the Boston Harbor Islands close up. Capturing Boston Light on Little Brewster Island was a highlight for me and a check-off on my "bucket list". I am looking forward to capturing and sharing more of my city with you in 2012. Happy New Year!

Radiational Cooling

2011-12-30T00:05:00.005-05:00

Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

2011-12-29T00:10:00.000-05:00

This 1905 colonial revival house at 72 Standish Avenue has some beautiful classical details. I like the windows, pediments and the fabulous porch.

A Ducky Day!

2011-12-28T00:09:00.002-05:00

I think my dog Daisy must have flushed out these two friendly duck hunters from their blind in the phragmites when she got curious with their geese decoys. (See yesterday's post.) The hunters didn't "bag" any ducks this day but enjoyed the beauty of Blacks Creek and the unseasonably warm weather. During this encounter, I was treated to a sampling of the different duck whistles.

You can learn more about the state migratory bird regulations here.

Daisy & The Geese

2011-12-27T00:03:00.002-05:00

Daisy is poised for geese but these decoys won't be flying off anywhere too soon until their owners collect them.

Atlantic Flyway

2011-12-26T14:16:00.003-05:00

We are in the midst of duck hunting season. Much to my surprise last week, I discovered a few avid hunters around my favorite haunt, Blacks Creek.

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Born On Christmas Day

2011-12-25T00:02:00.002-05:00

I posted this primitive glass painting here but think it most appropriate to repost it today. Merry Christmas!

Have You Been Good?

2011-12-24T00:02:00.000-05:00

This Santa is part of a special collection of needlework ornaments made by my parents many years ago. My mother did the detail work and my father filled in the backgrounds. These ornaments never fail to conjure up fond memories of Christmas' past.

Gone South

2011-12-23T00:04:00.000-05:00

Once the foliage has been shed, I like seeing the surprises that are revealed in the tree branches. It was unseasonably warm when I captured this image yesterday.

Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday Is "This Old House Day"

2011-12-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

This 1920 house at 59 Merrymount Road is beautifully decorated for the holidays.

Happy winter solstice!

Memory Lane

2011-12-20T00:02:00.001-05:00

Once called the Enchanted Village of St. Nicholas, the holiday display was originally created in 1958. At that time, Jordan Marsh Company commissioned a Bavarian toy maker to create 28 fully decorated holiday scenes with 250 “magically” animated figures. People from all around New England made the trek to Downtown Crossing in Boston to view the display until Macy's bought Jordan Marsh and auctioned it off. The city of Boston owned it for a short time until funds ran out. Jordan Furniture bought it and have it set up once again.

Peppermints & Sugarplums

2011-12-19T08:15:00.001-05:00

Twas The Week Before Christmas

2011-12-17T22:36:00.006-05:00

I like to go and support my local bookstore this time every year. Quincy doesn't have a general bookstore and it concerns me that Barnes & Noble is the only remaining bookstore close by.

Passing Clouds

2011-12-16T08:21:00.004-05:00

I like the way the clouds filled in the sky and the way the blue sky looks with the golden marsh grasses at the Blacks Creek Estuary. Happy Skywatch Friday!

Sleeping On The Job

2011-12-14T07:48:00.003-05:00

This beautiful angel may be found in repose at Mount Wollaston Cemetery.

Demolition Phase

2011-12-12T08:26:00.003-05:00

This is what's left of St. Ann's Parish Center. I had many good times here swimming, bowling and watching my sons go through the cub scout ranks in Pack 21.

Land is being cleared to make way for the new Central Middle School.

Clearing The Land

2011-12-11T00:11:00.001-05:00

Demolition of St. Ann's School is well underway. The property is being cleared to make way for a new middle school. The school has been totally demolished. The former convent can be seen still standing in the background.

Space Available

2011-12-10T00:02:00.001-05:00

The site of the Lincoln Granite Company on Centre Street has been vacant for quite some time. There are a few remnants here of the once thriving granite industry in Quincy.

Frame Job

2011-12-09T00:02:00.001-05:00

National Park Ranger, C. Blood, is helping to winterize the boxwood plants at the Adams National Historic site. A nifty framework is placed over the plant every few feet and boards nailed into the frame. This keeps the heavy snow from damaging this lush garden edging.

The Adams Mansion is closed until spring but the grounds surrounding Peacefield may be enjoyed all winter long.

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-12-08T09:19:00.003-05:00

This California ranch style house, built in 1958, is an unusual style house for Quincy. This house is located at 576 Furnace Brook Parkway.

Coast To Coast

2011-12-07T00:04:00.001-05:00

Not Wolly Beach pictured here but Druif Beach which is about 3,000 miles south of Quincy!

Nine Miles Out

2011-12-06T00:09:00.003-05:00

Graves Light is the outermost lighthouse in Boston Harbor. Nine and a half miles is the distance of the outfall tunnel and pipework from the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. Over 2 million residents from Quincy and 42 other cities and towns in the Boston area rely on this efficient engineering marvel. The ocean has water depths of 100 feet or more here. By looking at this beautiful scene you wouldn't know that not far from here, over 50 diffusers release the treated wastewater into the ocean.

Balmy

2011-12-05T00:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Monochrome Monday!

This is a parting capture from my excursion to the tropics.

Sludge To Fertilizer II

2011-12-04T00:02:00.000-05:00

Someone was thinking when they engineered this public works project. The byproduct of the digestion process is 70 percent methane gas, which is captured and piped to boilers that generate enough heat to warm the buildings on the site as well as for the heat-dependent treatment processes. The steam from those boilers is sent through a steam turbine generator (STG) producing an average of approximately 3 megawatts of electricity. The digested sludge from the giant eggs leaves Deer Island through the Inter-Island Tunnel to MWRA's pelletizing facility at Fore River in Quincy, where it is further processed into a fertilizer product.

Sludge To Fertilizer

2011-12-03T00:06:00.000-05:00

The process being used to deal with our waste water is very efficient. After waste water is treated, digestion then occurs in 12 distinctive egg-shaped anaerobic digesters, each 90 feet in diameter and approximately 130 feet tall. Mimicking the stomach's natural digestion process, microorganisms naturally work to break sludge and scum down into methane gas, carbon dioxide, solid organic byproducts, and water. Digestion significantly reduces sludge quantity.

A Giant Dozen

2011-12-02T00:08:00.000-05:00

These giant eggs can be seen along Boston's coastal areas. They are used in one of the final stages of our wastewater treatment.

Odor Control

2011-12-01T00:10:00.001-05:00

The MWRA engineers developed some really strong odor eaters because I didn't detect any odors in the smoke stack area at Deer Island.

Rooftop Apparatus

2011-11-30T00:08:00.001-05:00

Our waste water goes through a primary and secondary treatment after being pumped into the treatment plant. The secondary process raises the level of pollution removal to over 85%. The Deer Island Treatment Plant generates 130 - 220 tons of pure oxygen per day to support the secondary treatment process.

Pumping Stations

2011-11-29T00:04:00.002-05:00

Pumping is the first stage of the water treatment process. The Deer Island Sewerage Treatment Facility has 3 main pumping areas that pump the water that comes into the facility from 4 main tunnels. One of the pump stations on site is named after Lydia Goodhue, an environmental activist and longtime member of the Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. She received the Ames Award for her work as a trustee of Boston Harbor Associates, and received an Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for her service to the Advisory Committee to the US Army Corps. A plaque has been placed on one of the pump stations in her honor.

Out Of This World

2011-11-28T00:07:00.001-05:00

Happy Monochrome Monday! This is an image I captured at a Photoshop Workshop at the Hynes in Boston. This skylight made me think I was in a capsule heading to outer space.

Deer Island 2

2011-11-27T00:06:00.001-05:00

Deer Island Waste Water Treatment Facility is the centerpiece of a 3.8 billion dollar project to protect Boston Harbor against pollution. Quincy is one of 43 communities sending their sewerage here. I took a 2 hour tour of the facility and was duly impressed with its cleanliness and the way everything was labelled so well.

Deer Island 1

2011-11-26T00:17:00.000-05:00

While I'm away on a tropical island, I will post a series of images from Quincy's waste water treatment facility located on Deer Island in Boston Harbor. Forty-three cities and towns in Massachusetts send their waste water to this state-of-the-art facility. It is an amazing place. Do you like the road signs?

Say Cheese!

2011-11-25T00:04:00.001-05:00

Plenty of provolone being cut loose at this small cheese store.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T00:06:00.001-05:00

Homemade pie has always been a big part of my Thanksgiving tradition. Do you like pie? What is your favorite kind?

Rusty Trusses

2011-11-23T00:03:00.001-05:00

The Long Island Bridge is a 16-span, approximately 3,500 foot-long structure carrying a two-lane road between Long Island to the north and Moon Island to the south in Boston Harbor. One must drive through Quincy to get there. The bridge not only looks to be in need of paint but inspection work performed from a barge-mounted bucket and from snoopers working from the roadway found that many of the vertical members of the trusses were rusted through. Several floor beams were no longer supporting the deck above. Severe load restrictions and partial lane closures have been instituted to help prevent any future structural failures.

There were missing pieces of concrete 4 decades years ago when I rode my bike across the bridge . . . making for a scary bike ride. Wouldn't it be great to put some people back to work fixing bridges like this one? There are so many public works projects that need to be done.

Neoclassical Tones

2011-11-21T22:28:00.004-05:00

These details belong to the facade of the Masonic Temple, one of Quincy's best examples of neoclassical architecture. It is home to 3 Masonic Lodges. Happy Monochrome Monday!

Passed Peak At The Creek

2011-11-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

Splendor

2011-11-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

I've been looking to the sky on my recent walks, hoping to be treated to some of autumn's splendor skyward. I was rewarded with a glimpse between the trees of these Canadian geese in flight. I grabbed a quick shot with my trusty Lumix. I turned down the clarity in the post-processing of this photo to give the trees the feathery quality you see.

Look at more skies from around the world by clicking HERE. Happy Skywatch Friday everyone!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-11-17T00:04:00.005-05:00

John F. Kelly was the architect of this residence at 563 Furnace Brook Parkway. It is a fine example of a Colonial Revival house built in the 1920s.

Fungus Among Us

2011-11-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

The unseasonably warm, wet autumn keeps the mushrooms popping up through the lush green grass

Hat Break

2011-11-14T00:06:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you can probably guess which public servant dons this hat for work . . .

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Going To Port

2011-11-13T00:08:00.001-05:00

Cargo ships can be seen off Quincy Bay making their way to South Boston.

11.11.11

2011-11-11T00:11:00.001-05:00

Today is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Thank you!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-11-10T00:13:00.001-05:00

Just a few years ago this house had a red roof which I much prefer (must be that Prague influence). I do like the interesting roof line of this 1910 house at 38 Cheriton Rd. The glassed -in porch provides some nice solar heating on cool fall days. Let the sunshine in!

These Leaves Left

2011-11-09T00:04:00.001-05:00

Ward 3 Precinct 2

2011-11-08T13:14:00.003-05:00

Today is a great day for democracy in Quincy!

I wouldn't miss an opportunity to celebrate the passing of the nineteenth amendment to our Constitution.

8 Bags Of Rice - One Way

2011-11-07T11:55:00.006-05:00

This is a frequent scene on Billings Road in North Quincy and elsewhere in the city. Older women are pushing loaded-down shopping carts past the store parking lot boundaries, down the city streets and to their family compounds where they will unload. Unfortunately, once the carts are emptied, they are abandoned by the side of the road where they seem to multiply. I wonder why the cart users don't push the cart back to the store for the next haul . . .

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Green Hearts

2011-11-06T00:06:00.000-04:00

In The Pink

2011-11-04T23:54:00.003-04:00

I spotted these outside The Church of the Presidents in Quincy Center.

Blue And Green

2011-11-04T00:11:00.000-04:00

Yikes! Pageant Field is still very lush and green. Happy Skywatch Friday!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-11-03T00:06:00.001-04:00

This house located at 103 Summit Avenue is one of Quincy's post-war houses built in 1949. Many of the houses on Summit Ave. are situated with fantastic views of Boston.

One Red Leaf

2011-11-02T11:29:00.002-04:00

The Adams Mansion is Quincy's most famous house with grounds opened year round. The fence from yesterday's post borders the property on Adams Street.

Fences

2011-11-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

It's the first of the month and therefore "Theme Day" in the city daily photo community.This image actually shows more than one fence and a bit of granite, of course! I will show you where it's located tomorrow. Hint, hint surrounding the most famous house in Quincy . . . See other fences from around the world:Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Paranormal

2011-10-31T00:13:00.001-04:00

The wet weather has enhanced this gravestone with a spooky image. Please enlarge if you dare!

Happy Halloween & Happy Monochrome Monday . . .

Snow Job

2011-10-30T12:54:00.003-04:00

Woke up this morning to a some slushy snow as a backdrop to the autumn leaves. Warm ocean air kept this historical snowstorm at bay. Inland, the Bay State received as much as 2 feet of the snowy crystals!

Occupying Boston . . . brrrrr!

2011-10-29T00:01:00.006-04:00

A few train stops heading in-town will bring you to South Station and the Occupy Boston encampment at Dewey Square. It was about 46 degrees yesterday and KP was happenning outside the Medic tent. Keeping this encampment alive as winter approaches will be quite a challenge.

The One And Only

2011-10-28T10:36:00.005-04:00

The only elk I have seen in Quincy is this elk statue for members of the Elks organization that are buried here at Mt. Wollaston cemetery.

Happy Skywatch Friday everyone! The sun is shining today . . . nice!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-10-27T00:10:00.000-04:00

This Colonial Revival house looks meticulously maintained with its stucco facade and timbering details under the roof peak. It was built in 1925 and is located at 80 Summit Avenue on Forbes Hill. Many houses in this neighborhood were built after WWi in the 1920s. I'll share more of them in weeks to come.

Dressed & Undressed

2011-10-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

Cemeteries are a great place for viewing the shapes and colors of trees in a city. I liked the contrast of the 2 trees here -- one in full fall dress and the tree beside it that has shed all its leaves.

Bright Sails

2011-10-25T00:08:00.000-04:00

Sailors are taking advantage of good weather in Boston Harbor. Winthrop water tower can be seen in the background. Winthrop is a coastal community that reminds me of the coastal sections of Quincy.

Forever Leaves

2011-10-23T00:04:00.005-04:00

These beautifully rendered leaves caught my eye on the doors to a mausoleum at Mt. Wollaston cemetery. I hope to do lots of leaf peeping in the next week.

Flower Power

2011-10-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

I like the backdrop for this white dahlia -- it's the Adams Mansion.

Still Climbing!

2011-10-21T00:01:00.002-04:00

Quincy's air space is frequented by planes trafficking in and out across the bay at Boston's Logan International Airport. Watching planes gives me wanderlust; how about you?

Happy Skywatch Friday everyone! You can enjoy more sky pictures from around the world by clicking HERE!

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-10-20T00:12:00.001-04:00

This 1767 saltbox was the birthplace of our 6th president, John Quincy Adams. I like the asymmetry of the saltbox, which takes its name from a wooden lidded box that was once used to hold salt.

The saltbox style was a popular architectural style in early colonial America because it was considered a single-story building (from the back) and was therefore exempt from Queen Ann's tax on houses greater than 1-story.

School Days

2011-10-19T00:11:00.001-04:00

Built in 1894, as Quincy's first high school, Central Middle School now serves 600 children in grades 6-8. Ground will be dug soon for a new $50 million school to replace this one. You can see a design of the new building here.

The new location will be a couple blocks away where St. Ann's School waits for demolition.The new school is projected to open in the fall, 2013.

Twins

2011-10-18T00:14:00.001-04:00

These 1971 Brutalist-style Harbor Towers offer Boston residents a phenomenal view of the harborfront and skyline as well views of neighboring coastal areas like Quincy.

The Ropes

2011-10-17T00:02:00.001-04:00

Knowing the ropes is useful if you live in a coastal community like Quincy (26 miles of coastline). Happy Monochrome Monday!

Blue Box

2011-10-16T00:08:00.001-04:00

This tilted blue call box caught my eye on a recent rainy day outside City Hall. I wonder what it is used for . . .

End Of Season

2011-10-15T00:15:00.000-04:00

No lines and no waiting for a swing on this hammock located on Thompson's Island. It beckons for someone to set upon it with a good book before the leaves change color, there is a chill in the air and the hammock is stored away for winter.

Next Saturday at noon there will be a free walking tour to Thompson Island at low tide from Squaw Rock in Squantum. Enjoy!

Patches of Blue

2011-10-14T00:07:00.000-04:00

This changing sky with patches of blue was captured last week atop Deer Island Water Treatment Plant in Boston Harbor. I will share more pictures from the 2nd largest water treatment plant in the USA in weeks to come. Quincy's waste water gets treated here.

Happy Skywatch Friday! You can see more skies from around the world here.

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

2011-10-13T00:02:00.000-04:00

I like the curved roof lines of this 1940 house at the corner of Alton Road and Crest Street on Penn's Hill. The little windows near the roof peaks are a nice detail.

Garden Visit

2011-10-12T00:09:00.001-04:00

Flowers are still in bloom on the grounds at Peacefield, aka the Adams Mansion. Visitors by the busloads are stopping by to tour the Adams National Historic site. Rangers will be on duty for tours until November 10th.

Waterfront Campus

2011-10-11T00:02:00.001-04:00

The University of Massachusetts Boston campus is just a stones throw from Squantum Park at low tide. There are more than 15,000 students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs here; we are lucky to have a public university so close by.

Long Island Head Lighthouse

2011-10-10T00:04:00.004-04:00

The Long Island Head Lighthouse is a challenge to capture a good photo of. You have to capture it by boat because it is is inaccessible to the public by land. The present lighthouse, owned by the National Park Service, was built in 1901 and converted to solar in 1985. The first lighthouse went into service here on October 9, 1819.

In 1976, during our country's bicentennial celebration, I had the good fortune of photographing the Tall Ships from the top of this lighthouse. The island was opened to Quincy residents and thousands made the trek across Long Island bridge to view the sailing wonders.

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Handiwork

2011-10-09T00:06:00.001-04:00

This is one of two massive 20 foot “sculptures” in the shape of large hands signifying the legacy of Hands-on learning on Thompson Island. The hands were cleverly constructed by island youth ambassadors and are formed from frames built of medium-sized tree branches and creatively woven with the invasive species found on the island: Oriental Bittersweet and Phragmites. The hands can be seen from many points around Boston Harbor.

Life Saver

2011-10-08T00:11:00.001-04:00

This ketch on Thompson Island is named after Joshua James who was a sea captain from Hull, and later in life a Lifesaving Station Keeper. He was a famous and celebrated commander of civilian life-saving crews in the 19th century, credited with saving over 600 lives in Boston Harbor and the surrounding seacoast.

Golden Grasses

2011-10-07T00:07:00.004-04:00

The local salt marshes are taking on their golden glow of fall. This view is from Thompson's Island -- a stone's throw from the Squantum peninsula (at low tide).