MASSACHUSETTS FACTS
MASSACHUSETTS takes its name from the Massachusett tribe of Native Americans, who lived in
the Great Blue Hill region, south of Boston. The Indian term supposedly means "at or
about the Great Hill".
There are, however, a number of interpretations of the exact meaning of the word. The Jesuit missionary Father Rasles thought that it came from the word Messatossec, "Great-Hills-Mouth": "mess" (mass) meaning "great"; "atsco" (as chu or wad chu) meaning "hill"; and sec (sac or saco) meaning "mouth". The Reverend John Cotton used another variation: "mos" and "wetuset", meaning "Indian arrowhead", descriptive of the Native Americans hill home. Another explanation is that the word comes from "massa" meaning "great" and "wachusett", "mountain-place".
Massachusetts, like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky, is called a "Commonwealth". Commonwealths are states, but the reverse is not true. Legally, Massachusetts is a comonwealth because the term is contained in the Constitution. In the era leading to 1780, when the state Constitution was ratified, a popular term for a whole body of people constituting a nation or state was the word "Commonwealth." This term was the preferred usage of some political writers. There also may have been some anti-monarchic sentiment in using the word "Commonwealth." The name, which in the eighteenth century was used to mean "republic", can be traced to the second draft of the state Constitution, written by John Adams and accepted by the people in 1780. In this second draft, Part Two of the Constitution, under the heading "Frame of Government", states, "that the people...form themselves into a free, sovereign, and independent body politic, or state by the name of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The people had overwhelmingly rejected the first draft of the Constitution in 1778, and in that draft and all acts and resolves up to the time between 1776 and 1780, the name "State of Massachusetts Bay" had been used.
John Adams utilized this term when framing the Massachusetts Constitution, therefore. In his "Life and Works", Adams, wrote: "There is, however, a peculiar sense in which the words republic, commonwealth, popular state, are used by English and French writers, who mean by them a democracy, a government in one centre, and that centre a single assembly, chosen at stated periods by the people and invested with the whole sovereignty, the whole legislative, executive and judicial power to be included in a body or by committees as they shall think proper."
Nickname
The BAY STATE or the OLD BAY STATE is the nickname most commonly attached to
Massachusetts. She is also occasionally referred to as the Old Colony State, the Puritan
State, and the Baked Bean State.
State Seal
The STATE SEAL, adopted by Governor John Hancock and the Council on December 13, 1780 and made official by the General Court on June 4, 1885, is circular and bears a representation of the arms of the Commonwealth encircled with the words, "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" (Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts). The final form of the seal was determined by a statewide contest.
The arms, according to legislative enactment, consist of "a shield having a blue
field or surface with an Indian thereon, dressed in a shirt and moccasins, holding in his
right hand a bow, and in his left hand an arrow, point downward, all of gold; and, in the
upper corner of the field, above his right arm, a silver star with five points. The crest
is a wreath of blue and gold, on which in gold is a right arm, bent at the elbow, clothed
and ruffled, with the hand grasping a broadsword". The shield's shape is called
"Plantagenet"; the Native American model used was of the Algonquin nation; the
arrow points downward to indicate that the Indian is peaceful; and the star indicates that
Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen states; it was sixth. The sword illustrates
the Latin motto that is written in gold on a blue ribbon around the bottom of the shield:
"Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem". This is the second of two lines
written about 1659 by Algernon Sydney, English soldier and politician, in the Book of
Mottoes in the King's Library in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was adopted in 1775 by the
Provincial Congress and means, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under
liberty".
State Flag
The STATE FLAG is white, bearing on both sides a representation of the coat of arms
(except that the five-pointed star is white instead of silver). It was adopted in its
final form in 1971; before that, the obverse side depicted a pine tree.
State Citizenry
On December 18, 1990, the Legislature decided that the people of the Commonwealth would be
designated as BAY STATERS.
State Heroine
DEBORAH SAMSON fought in the War of Independence under the name of Robert Shurtleff with
courage, determination, and outstanding service, and rendered a unique contribution as a
woman to American independence. Her masquerade remained undiscovered until she was wounded
in battle. In later years, she travelled extensively, lecturing about her experiences, and
a grateful nation gave her the first military pension ever awarded to a woman. The
Governor annually issues a proclamation setting apart May 23 as an anniversary day to
appropriately observe her enlistment in the Continental Army. The Legislature recognized
her heroism on July 22, 1983.
State Folk Hero
JOHNNY APPLESEED was designated the official folk hero of the Commonwealth on August 2,
1996. Appleseed was born John Chapman and lived from 1775(?)-1845. An American pioneer and
hero of folklore, his planting of apple trees from New England to the Ohio River valley
earned him his more popular name.
State Dog or Dog Emblem
The BOSTON TERRIER (Canis familiaris bostenensis), first purebred dog developed in America
(1869); a cross between an English bulldog and an English terrier. It was recognized by
the Legislature in 1979.
State Cat or Cat Emblem
The TABBY CAT (Felis familiaris) was made the official state cat in 1988, in response to
the wishes of the schoolchildren of Massachusetts.
State Horse or Horse Emblem
The MORGAN HORSE (Equus cabullus morganensis), descended from a little bay stallion born
in West Springfield, MA, in 1789, who could outrun and outwork any horse brought against
him. Named "Figure" by his owner, schoolteacher and singing master Justin
Morgan, in later years he was known by his master's own name, "Justin Morgan".
The gallant little horse died in Vermont in 1821 at the age of 32; the sturdy breed
bearing his name was adopted as the state horse in 1970.
State Marine Mammal or Marine Mammal Emblem
The RIGHT WHALE (Eubabalena Glacialis) was so called because the flourishing whaling
industry in Massachusetts found the cetacean the "right" whale to hunt,
especially before 1750. Unfortunately, the large, slow-moving mammal, which is found
nearer shore than many other whales, was hunted nearly to extinction and is only now
rebuilding its population. The Legislature adopted the whale in March 1980.
State Bird or Bird Emblem
The BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (Penthestes atricapillus) was adopted as the official State
Bird by the Massachusetts Legislature on March 21, 1941. It is also known as the titmouse,
tomtit, and the dickybird, and it is one of the most familiar of the North American birds.
It is from four to five inches in size, its tail accounting for nearly half its length.
The general coloring is ashy-grey, the back having a brownish tinge; the crown, nape,
chin, and throat are black, and the cheeks white. It nests in a stump, tree, or fence post
close to the ground, and broods twice a year. It is a cheerful bird and has a pleasing
call: "Chick-adee-dee-dee".
State Game Bird or Game Bird Emblem
The WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo), which was eaten at the first Thanksgiving, was
designated the state game bird on December 23, 1991.
State Fish or Fish Emblem
The COD (Gadus morrhua). A soft-finned fish, usually 10-20 lbs. General coloring is olive
grey with lateral lines paler than rest of body tint. Indians and Pilgrims used them as
common food and fertilizer. A sculpture of a cod hangs in the House of Representatives as
a tribute to this useful aquatic creature.
State Insect or Insect Emblem
The LADYBUG; also lady beetle, ladybird, ladyfly, etc. Most common in the state is the
Two-Spotted Lady Beetle (Adalia bipunctata). Its head is black with pale yellowish
margins; elytra reddish, with two black spots. Idea originated in 1974 with a second-grade
class in the Town of Franklin.
State Fossil or Fossil Emblem
The DINOSAUR TRACKS in Massachusetts, which were made over 200 million years ago. In
Granby, the prints of a theropod dinosaur fifty feet in length from head to tail (the
first record of a theropod of such magnitude), were found. They were made the official
fossil in 1980.
State Flower or Floral Emblem
The MAYFLOWER (Epigaea regens), also commonly known as the ground laurel or trailing
arbutus, has ovate hairy leaves and fragrant, pink or white, spring-blooming flowers with
five petals. It grows in woods, preferring sandy or rocky soil, under or near evergreens.
It was adopted as the official flower of the Commonwealth by the General Court on May 1,
1918. Unfortunately, since 1925 it has been on the endangered list.
State Tree or Tree Emblem
The AMERICAN ELM (Ulmus Americana) was adopted as the official tree March 21, 1941, to
commemorate the fact that General George Washington took command of the Continental Army
beneath one on Cambridge Common in 1775. It is a large tree, with gray flaky bark. When
growing in the forest it often attains a height of 120 feet, but in the open it is
wide-spreading and of lesser height. The leaves are oval, and dark green, turning to a
clear yellow in the autumn. The American Elm, like most elms, has been severely afflicted
by Elm Disease.
State Beverage
CRANBERRY JUICE was named the beverage of the Commonwealth on May 4, 1970. This was a
tribute to the great Massachusetts cranberry industry, which grows the largest crop in the
world.
State Berry or Berry Emblem
A fifth-grade class on the North Shore adopted the cause of making the CRANBERRY
(Vaccinium macrocarpon) the official berry of the state. Their two years of lobbying,
petitions, and hearings were finally rewarded in July of 1994.
State Bean or Bean Embem
Cultivated plants and the colloquial names for them change over the centuries, but in 1993
the legislature finally determined that the NAVY BEAN had been the original bean in the
famous and venerable Boston Baked Bean recipe.
State Muffin
The schoolchildren of Massachusetts petitioned for the CORN MUFFIN, a staple of New
England cooking, and the Legislature made it official in 1986.
State Dessert
The BOSTON CREAM PIE, created in the 19th century, was chosen as the official state
dessert on December 12, 1996. A civics class from Norton High School sponsored the bill.
The pie beat out other candidates, including the toll house cookie and Indian pudding.
State Cookie
The CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE was designated the official cookie of the Commonwealth on July
9, 1997. A third grade class from Somerset proposed the bill to honor the cookie invented
in 1930 at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman.
State Shell
The NEW ENGLAND NEPTUNE (Neptuna lyrata decemcostata) was made the state shell in 1987.
State Gem or Gem Emblem
RHODONITE is the most beautiful gem material found in the state. It varies in hue from a
light pink to a deep rose or reddish pink and is associated with black manganese. It was
adopted in 1979.
State Mineral or Mineral Emblem
The finest quality BABINGTONITE in America has come from this state. Although the
Commonwealth is not overly blessed with mineral resources, it is one of the few locations
in the world where this usually jet black material with a brilliant submetallic luster is
found. The Legislature adopted it in April of 1971.
State Rock or Rock Emblem
The ROXBURY PUDDINGSTONE, sometimes called Roxbury Conglomerate, became the state rock in
1983.
State Historical Rock
PLYMOUTH ROCK. Although the Pilgrims did not actually land on it, its historical
significance led the Legislature to commemorate it in 1983.
State Explorer Rock
DIGHTON ROCK was made the explorer rock of the state in 1983.
State Building Rock and Monument Stone
GRANITE was made the building rock of the State in 1983. The last Ice Age did leave
Massachusetts with exceptionally fine samples of this rock; granite from Quincy was used
to build the Washington Monument.
Soil of the Commonwealth
The PAXTON SOIL SERIES was adopted by the Legislature on July 10, 1990.
State Poem
In 1981, the General Court designated "BLUE HILLS OF MASSACHUSETTS" by Katherine
E. Mullen of Barre as the official state poem.
Song of the Commonwealth
"ALL HAIL TO MASSACHUSETTS", words and music by Arthur Marsh, was designated by
an act of the Legislature in July of 1981 (informally "official song" since
September 1966.)
State Ceremonial March
The song "THE ROAD TO BOSTON", whose composer is unknown, has been the official
ceremonial march of the Commonwealth since 1985.
Folk Song of the Commonwealth
"MASSACHUSETTS," words and music by Arlo Guthrie, was adopted by the Legislature
in July 1981.
Patriotic Song of the Commonwealth
"MASSACHUSETTS (BECAUSE OF YOU OUR LAND IS FREE)", words and music by Bernard
Davidson, was made official on October 23, 1989, and effective January 21, 1990.
Folk Dance of the Commonwealth
SQUARE DANCING became the official folk dance on April 8, 1990.
State Glee Club Song
The song "THE GREAT STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS", words by George A. Wells, and music
by J. Earl Bley, was designated the state GLEE CLUB SONG of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts on November 24, 1997.
State Polka Song
On October 1, 1998, "SAY HELLO TO SOMEONE FROM MASSACHUSETTS" by Lenny Gomulka
was approved as the official polka of the Commonwealth.