Greetings From Massachusetts

Hello, I'd like to introduce myself.
I've lurked here for quite some time and have learned a lot but a formal hello is way overdue. Like many people I collected, more accurately I accumulated, philatelic items when I was child and into my teens. I drifted away from the hobby until a few years ago when my elderly parents delivered to my doorstep my childhood collection seeking to get it out of their house and into mine. I'm determined to now be more selective and discerning in my collecting but my modest budget will likely keep well away from the deep in of the pool. Nonetheless I'm having fun. I'm focusing now on Newfoundland, Canada, US, worldwide censored covers, and Massachusetts covers of special interest to me such as covers from my grandmother's small hill town in the Berkshires. Thank you to the owners and administrators for this creating and running this site. Cheers.

Welcome Shoveler. I am in Western Massachusetts, just a stone's throw from Otis. Great to have you here!

Hello and welcome to the forum. I grew up in Dedham, just outside Boston, and still have fond memories of the place even though it's been a few decades and we're now retired and living in the desert of Arizona. Re stamp collecting, having fun and learning is what it's all about. Cheers.

Shoveler,

Collecting for the enjoyment of collecting, whatever that might be, is the name of the game. Don't hesitate to ask questions especially if you need basic information and especially more advanced sources of information for any possible topic. You should be able to find folks on this board a little further along on their collecting journey glad to share experiences.

My personal bias is a used stamp loses the story of its journey in the postal service when it is removed from the cover it transported to its destination. Collecting postal history adds a whole new aspect to your journey in our hobby.

Wishing you many enjoyable future days in our hobby. Russ

Thank you all. I'm originally from Arlington, MA. My grandmother was from Peru, Massachusetts where their family lived for generations and in an old yankee tradition farmed rocks, which if you have ever been to Peru, MA you can still see the rock crop in the old stone walls crisscrossing the forest. I have some Peru, MA covers but am always on the look out for things connected with the family. It had a population of around 200 when they moved by ox cart to Springfield circa 1916.

I know Peru well. I also farm rocks where I live. LOL

Never quite understood the ability of rocks to migrate upwards in the soil in New England. It was a neverending task for my father to keep "harvesting" and disposing the rocks in our yard for 50 years.

Fence companies will not even come to give an estimate when I tell them where I live. The couple that will attempt the work want to do it on time and material. Even digging holes for shrubs requires a backhoe and you often have to lay out the locations on the fly because of ledge. We had to relocate both of the houses we built where I live because of the granite ledge. It is tough! On the flip side drilled wells are cheaper because you hardly need any casing, and you generally get 20GPM at 190 feet.

Congrats on joining the forum. Many smart collectors here who will help you out.

Howdy!

Welcome, Shoveler.

Lots of good information here, so the search function can locate tons of great detail and more than a few good pictures.

While I am now in Pennsylvania, come July or August I will join the Massachusetts contingent when I move to Northampton.

jleb, welcome in advance to Massachusetts. I suspect you've done your homework, so you know Northampton is a fine town in a beautiful area and a July/August arrival will allow you to get settled before the leaves turn and the students return. Not far from Old Deerfield which is well worth a visit if you are interested in local colonial history or just a nice walkabout.

Many thanks, Shoveler.
Yeah - homework was done and given so much in the area it continues; I'm looking forward to a variety of local attractions.

I myself collect US (and France), so I suspect at some point in my residence there I will find myself motivated to strengthen my Calvin Coolidge holdings.