Articles by Steven Gilchrist

Donald Baxter MacMillan (1874 – 1970) was born in Provincetown, Massachusetts.   In 1898, MacMillan graduated from Bowdoin College.   During World War I and World War II he served in the United States Navy.   MacMillan is best known for his numerous expeditions to the North Pole.   He made over 30 expeditions to the Arctic during his 46-year career as an explorer, lecturer, researcher, and sailor. For more information about Donald B. MacMillan visit the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum & Arctic Studies Center at Bowdoin College: https://www.bowdoin.edu/arctic-museum/biographies/macmillan.shtml

Boston, MA. - Frederic Thomas Greenhalge (1842 – 1896) was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England on July 19, 1842.   When, Greenhalge was a teenager, his family immigrated to Lowell, Massachusetts.   In 1859, Greenhalge enrolled in Harvard College.   Later, Greenhalge would serve as mayor of Lowell from 1880 – 1881.   He also served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1885 and from 1889 – 1891 Greenhalge served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts’ 8 th district. Greenhalge also served as the 38 th Governor of Massachusetts from January 4, 1894 – March 5, 1896.   When he was elected as governor, he was the first foreign-born governor of the state of Massachusetts. There is a statue dedicated to Greenhalge on the second floor of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Frederic T. Greenhalge - Massachusetts State House

Boston, MA. - William Eustis Russell (January 6, 1857 – July 16, 1896) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.   He served as the Mayor of Cambridge and also the Governor of Massachusetts.   In 1877, Russell graduated from Harvard College.   In 1879, Russell became the first student to graduate summa cum laude from Boston University School of Law.   He gained admittance to the Massachusetts Bar Association in 1880. From 1885 – 1888, Russell served as the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.   From 1891 – 1894, Russell served as the 37 th Governor of Massachusetts.   During his tenure as Governor, Russell signed legislation creating the Metropolitan District Commission and the Trustees of Reservations – state and private parks agencies, respectively. There is a statue that pays tribute to Russell located in the Massachusetts State House. William E. Russell - MA Governor (1891 - 1894).

On average, about 500 people die and 19,000 become injured from approximately 33,000 tire-related accidents annually in the United States.   On October 27, 2015, the National Transportation Safety Board reported a special investigation regarding tire safety.   The report detailed deficiencies in the current methodology used in recalling and registering car tires.   The NTSB report suggests that the tire and automotive industries should significantly improve communication to consumers regarding car tire safety.   According to the NTSB, tire manufacturers are typically unable to contact most tire owners. “Our investigation revealed that very few tires are actually registered for recall purposes.   So manufacturers cannot contact drivers if their tires need to be recalled, which can place the drivers and their passengers at risk of a tire-related crash.   Few people are aware that tires must be registered so that they can be recalled if they are defective,” said Christopher A. Ha

Yosemite National Park is located in Northern California.  Yosemite covers 747,956 acres of land.  On October 1, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the legislation to establish Yosemite National Park.  October 1, 2015 marked the 125th anniversary of Yosemite.  Prior to President Harrison signing the legislation to designate Yosemite as a national park, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act of 1864.  This grant authorized federal preservation of the area that Yosemite covers. Yosemite includes a vast array of scenic areas: cliffs, forests, glaciers, lakes, mountains, streams, and waterfalls.  Over 20% of California's 7,000 plant species can be found within Yosemite.  Yosemite was one of the first national parks in the United States and today it remains one of the most popular as well.