Christopher Mathias

Nahant Revisited Christopher Mathias

Nahant, Massachusetts, 12 miles north of Boston, consists of two islands connected to the mainland by a causeway. Small in land area--1.2 square miles--it has a big history. This book examines Nahant thematically in over 200 images. East Point is seen as the site of an 1823 resort hotel and later a distinguished senator's residence. It was also used as a military installation and is currently an educational facility and public park. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes, in his own words, his 25 years in Nahant. The Samuel Hammond family is shown as a representative of the wealthy Bostonians who enjoyed Nahant as a summer colony. Many images illustrate full-time residents who invested their lives here participating in a rich civic life. Work, play, and entertainment are documented. Social issues, such as women's suffrage, were confronted. Current issues, like the Black Lives Matter movement, continue to draw attention.