Jeff Raymond

@jeff

Old prospector-looking Millbury MA native. Dad, husband, writer/columnist, occasional public servant, chronic overstarter, music/book nerd, all-around pain in the butt. masstransparency.org / bramanvilletribune.com / ifitstooloud.com / jeff-raymond.com

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Jeff Raymond@jeff· 19d

Fully endorsing shipmail as an easy affordable alternative for your mail and calendar needs. Been looking to offload a few things from Proton as my needs have changed a bit and I have no regrets so far.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· 21d

Feeders on posts!

Jeff Raymond@jeff· 24d

so this has pulled me into the local history of one of the families pictured here, and oh my goodness:

A topic in the book about the Holman family, "Grave Topics Found in Cemeteries," which reads: "Remarkable sentiments are sometimes found in epitaphs on tombstones. The following inscription is found in the graveyard at Rehoboth Village on the tombstone of Deacon Ephraim Bliss, who died 1786, Rehoboth, Mass. :

" The greedy worms devour my skin. And gnaw my wasting flesh, When God shall build these bones again. He clothes them all afresh."

This is found in another old country church yard:

" Here I lie, and no wonder I'm dead. For the wheel of a wagon went over my head."

This is from Schenectady, New York :

" He got a fish bone in his throat, And then he sang an angel note."

" Here lies the body of Obediah Wilkinson, and Ruth, his wife. Their warfare is accomplished."

A dealer in monuments was both shocked and surprised at this request: " Please put on the stone, — ' To my husband, in an appropriate place.' "

This is rather an unkind hint:

" Here lies the body of Sarah Sexton, Who never did aught to vex one, (Not like the woman under the next stone.)"

Ohio furnishes the following:

" Under this sod, and under these trees. Lies the body of Solomon Pease, He's not in this hole, but only his pod. He shelled out his soul and went up to God."

Another section of "Grave Topics Found in Cemeteries," which reads: "Mr. Church, a resident of an old village in New England, many years after the death of his fourth wife, learned that the cemetery was to be removed. In this process, the graves and headstones became mixed by mistake. Therefore he decided to erect one new stone for them all. The following inscription was placed thereon : * " STRANGER, PAUSE AND DROP A TEAR, FOR EMILY CHURCH LIES BURIED HERE : MIXED IN SOME PERPLEXING MANNER, WITH MARY, MATILDA, AND PROBABLY HANNAH."

Jeff Raymond@jeff· 27d

i'm so sorry

Jeff Raymond@jeff· 29d

Every so often "what are you doing, stepbro" is actually a real thing.

Screengrab rom a genealogy book, "Richard Waters... married Rejoice Plasse, his stepsister." Ew.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jul 2

The amount of sarcasm that drips off the page in this particular family history I'm reading is *incredible*

Pages 14-16 of the "Dunnell Genealogy." Cannot paste the text as the OCR is poorly done.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jun 27

From 1884, I read this in Donald Trump's voice.

Millbury Centennial History: November 4. A self-registering ballot-box was used. The box registered 616 votes, though but 601 names were checked on the voting list. The ballots were then taken from the box and there were found to be 601 cancelled and one uncancelled.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jun 27

TRAMP OFFICERS. ARREST ALL TRAMPS.

Millbury Centennial History, 1880: May 5. The selectmen appointed tramp officers who were to protect the citizens by arresting all tramps.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jun 27

this is probably @billshaner.bsky.social and @etelhaxhiaj.bsky.social catnip, but I feel like the current decade Worcester City Council was transported into 1878 Millbury reading this:

From the Millbury Centennial History, 1878: "March 18. The town voted six hundred dollars for lighting the Streets.

'Voted, that the town prohibit the encampment of Gypsies within its limits."

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jun 27

Normalize reading town histories:

A clipping from the Millbury town history. January 7, 1838, talks of the weather being "uncommonly warm and pleasant," with little snow and frost. September 24, 1838 simply says "The Siamese twins were exhibited."

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jun 21

Still reading old town reports. I think people would be more engaged if we continued writing reports like this:

From the 1946 Millbury Town Report:

Iu Memoriam During the past year death has claimed three former town officials. CHARLES E. HORNE Died September 138, 1946 at the age of 73 years. Known far and wide as a general road contractor he had resided in Millbury 72 years. He had built roads throughout New England and built the first tarvia road in Worcester County and also patented the first machine to apply the tar. He served as selectman two years and also served on many com- mittees that benefited this town. DENNIS A. DONOVAN Died in his home at 9 Pearl Street, October 30, 1946. He was founder of the D. A. Donovan Confectionery store and had been in business nearly 50 years. He served on the Finance Committee many years as well as several other com- mittees. WILLIAM H. MURPHY Died November 7, 1946 in St. Vincent Hospital. He was ~ born here and had been a lifelong resident. He served as chairman of the Finance Committee several years and dur- ing World War II was a member of the Rationing Board. He served as Secretary of the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation from 1939 until his death.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Jun 19

I started digging through old town reports tonight, and I've never actually looked at some from the 1980s for whatever reason. Millbury is very proud of Ron Darling.

A picture of then-Mets pitcher Ron Darling, below the seal of the Town of Millbury, Massachusetts - Incorporated 1813. The title is "1985 Annual Report."

Cover Photo: RON DARLING

Ron Darling attended Millbury schools and St. John’s High School and is world renowned as a National League All Star and Pitcher for the New York Mets professional baseball team.

During his youth in Millbury, Ron worked his way up through Millbury’s baseball Farm System, Little League, and Senior League. He went on to achieve high honors and recognition as both a football and baseball star at St. John’s and also with the West Boylston American Legion team, winning State Championships at both places.

Ron has the distinction of being only the second-known Millbury man to attend Yale University, where he majored in East Asian Studies and gained prominence as a college baseball All American.

He was recently selected as ‘‘Hunk of The Year”’ by Cosmopolitan Magazine.

‘Ron Junior” or ‘‘R.J.”’ has gone from being just another average ‘“‘small town’ boy to the highest level of stardom in Major League Baseball.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· May 3

It appears Kagi mostly gets it right but I struggle to believe that the top search for "crumble" is, in fact, this particuar cookie company. cc @cait.bsky.social

Screenshot of search engile Kagi, where searching "crumble" results in the dictionary definition followed by Crumbl Cookies as the next result.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Apr 13

My cat is happy its spring.

Floyd, a white spotted cat, lays behind a yellow flower in a grassy patch. He's wearing a harness and leash.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Apr 8

Out-of-context public records:

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Apr 7

Iran crisis delayed, post a different ominous presidential event.

Newspaper headline: TAFTS ARE COMING. President's Relatives Gathering at Washington for the Wedding

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Mar 30

Also I found a 1902 newspaper article about my great-great-great grandparents renewing their vows, and ol' Joseph has jokes!

Newspaper clipping from 1902: "When Mr. Cofske was asked by the reporter for The Telegram for an account of his life in connection with the coming ceremony, he laughingly replied that it would be better to wait until After the Ceremony as he might die before that time. From indications no calamity of that nature will enter the Cofske household for a long time."

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Mar 24

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 21

Flippity flop

A cartoon titled "There's Always Something Doing in Millbury" with someone singing and playing guitar as a cat screams at his foot. The man is singing "flippity flop flippity flop flop flop"

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 21

I saw Corn Oddity open for LCD Soundsystem in 2005

Image of a woman looking at an odd piece of corn. Newspaper headline is "Displaying Corn Oddity," text of article is about "a spike of corn containing five individual ears in one husk"

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 21

SUCCUMBS MILLBURY WOMAN TAKEN BY DEATH

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 21

DEAD

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 21

Normalize birthday party reporting in the local news.

A circa 1948 newspaper clipping from Millbury Massachusetts reporting on a two year old's birthday party.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 21

Someday I will do a deep dive on the proliferation of "kid weddings" that are all over the 1940s.

Children dressed as a massive wedding scene, circa 1948.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 20

@candragon.bsky.social umm

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 18

yes we should trust this with important things absolutely

ChatGPT screenshot. I point out that Jim Harbaugh had 2787 rushing yards.

ChatGPT: In the NFL, that number isn’t correct.

Jim Harbaugh finished his **NFL career with 1,042 rushing yards**.

Bo Jackson had **2,782 rushing yards** in his NFL career.

Harbaugh’s 2,787 figure may be coming from a different stat source (possibly college totals or a combined statistic), but in terms of **NFL rushing yards**, Bo Jackson had well over 1,700 more than Harbaugh.

So the correct NFL comparison is:

* **Bo Jackson:** 2,782
* **Jim Harbaugh:** 1,042

Bo Jackson had more rushing yards.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 18

y'know i learned something wild yesterday and decided to test ChatGPT and well....

I asked ChatGPT who had more rushing yards, Bo Jackson or Jim Harbaught.

Chat GPT said "Bo Jackson had significantly more rushing yards than Jim Harbaugh.

* **Bo Jackson** (NFL career): **2,782 rushing yards**
* **Jim Harbaugh** (NFL career): **1,042 rushing yards**

Jackson, a running back for the Raiders, accumulated far more rushing production than Harbaugh, who was primarily a quarterback and rushed mainly on scrambles.

**Answer: Bo Jackson.**"

Statmuse screenshot showing Harbaugh with more rushing yards.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 16

ngl, I never thought I'd be a "go to a baseball game bc of the giveaway guy" but I totally want a Wimpy Kid bobblehead. (they're also having a Loded Diper tribute band. Whoever put this together for the @redsox.com deserves a raise.)

Image of a Diary of a Wimpy Kid bobblehead, featuring Greg Heffley nervous at bat with a white Red Sox uniform. Text says "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Bobblehead" "Boston Red Sox"

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 13

Been hosting a writing open mic in Millbury at Spicy Water Distillery the last few months. Got a ton of people coming out tonight for Joe Fusco. Great time.

Jeff Raymond@jeff· Feb 5

My friend also pointed out that Big Papi had his own salsa: