Performed on December 14th, 2009 at the Jimmy's Steerhouse in Arlington for the Cambridge Low Vision Group. Running Time is 9 minutes and 27 seconds (9 MB).
Performed on November 20th, 2009 at the Medford Council on Aging for the Medford Low Vision Group and the Cambridge Low Vision Group. Running Time is 1 hour (57 MB).
Performed on October 7th, 2009 in Somerville, Massachusetts for In Our Home. Higher quality version of above lecture. Lecture is abbreviated - conclusion missing. Running time is 1 hour (63 MB)
Performed on August 24th, 2009 in Marshfield, Massachusetts at the Ventress Public Library, John Horrigan gives a lecture about the Great Brant Rock Fire of 1941. This was the "overflow talk" from the soldout lecture of July 21st and over 80 people attended by invitation only Running time is 1 hour and 15 minutes (71 MB)
Performed on July 21st, 2009 in Marshfield, Massachusetts at the Ventress Public Library, John Horrigan gives a lecture about the Great Brant Rock Fire of 1941. They talk was soldout and over 80 people were turned away!! Running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes (72 MB)
Performed on March 17th, 2009 in at the Northeast School in Waltham, Massachusetts for the Massachusetts Brownie Troop #1806. Running time is 52 minutes (49 MB).
Performed on March 11th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts for the Historical Society of Watertown at Watertown Free Public Library. Running time is 1 hour and 37 minutes (89 MB).
Performed on October 26th, 2008 in Cohasset, Massachusetts at the Cohasset Harbor Inn on behalf of the Cohasset Historical Society for their annual meeting. Running Time is 1 hour and 17 minutes (71 MB).
Performed on October 9th, 2008 in Cohasset, Massachusetts at the South Shore Arts Center on behalf of the Scituate Rotary Club for the first class of fourth graders from Wampatuck Elementary School about the Great Famine in Ireland and the wreck of an Irish Emigrant ship off of Cohasset, Massachusetts in 1849. 48 minutes (44 MB).
Performed on October 9th, 2008 in Cohasset, Massachusetts at the South Shore Arts Center on behalf of the Scituate Rotary Club for the second class of fourth graders from Wampatuck Elementary School about the Great Famine in Ireland and the wreck of an Irish Emigrant ship off of Cohasset, Massachusetts in 1849. 50 minutes (46 MB).
Performed on October 9th, 2008 in Cohasset, Massachusetts at the South Shore Arts Center on behalf of the Scituate Rotary Club for the third class of fourth graders from Wampatuck Elementary School about the Great Famine in Ireland and the wreck of an Irish Emigrant ship off of Cohasset, Massachusetts in 1849. 49 minutes (45 MB).
Performed on September 17th, 2008 in Duxbury, Massachusetts at the Duxbury Senior Community Center for the Duxbury Low Vision Support Group. John gives a lecture to a group of visually-challenged seniors about the Great Hurricane of 1938 almost 70 years to the day of the storm. 1 hour and 18 minutes (73 MB).
Performed on September 10th, 2008 in Marshfield, Massachusetts at the Ventress Library. John drives home the role played by the British government in the Great Famine of Ireland in this riveting narrative. He gives biographical background of Zachary Taylor and Queen Victoria and then lays into Henry David Thoreau. There are ancillary comments regarding food fights at a major university while the Irish starved and a nice chronology of "South Shore Shipwrecks". 1 hour and 16 minutes (68 MB).
Performed on August 13th, 2008 in Norwell, Massachusetts at the South Shore Natural Science Center. The lecture was prior to a star gazing workshop that I was giving and the audience was comprised mostly of mothers and children, so it was abbreviated. Running time is 40 minutes (32 MB).
Performed on August 12th, 2008 in Marshfield, Massachusetts at the Winslow House. A "redemption" talk given on a rainy morning, this was a make-up date from a schedule snafu. The lecture was sold out and I gleaned a lot of new information from residents as to the fire's origin. The original date (July 15th, 2008) had a standing-room-only crowd of 150 people waiting for a speaker who never showed up (me) as I had the wrong start time. I thought that the start time was 7:00 PM, not 10:30 AM. Hopefully I redeemed myself. It was a sort of homecoming for me as I grew up a 1/4 mile down the road. Father O'Connor added a lot to the show. Running time is 1 hour and 14 minutes (68 MB).
John speaks at the Springfield Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts on July 10th, 2008 about pirates. His lecture is a selected chronology of pirates and privateers from antiquity through the Golden Age of Piracy. Running Time is 1 hour and 5 minutes (60 MB).
John returns to the Waltham Historical Society and lectures at the RTN Credit Union on Main Street in Waltham on July 8th, 2008 about the Great Middlesex Tornado, a twister that hit Eastern Massachusetts and traveled along modern day Route 60 through Worcester, Wayland, Weston, Waltham, Belmont, Arlington, Medford, Malden, Lynn, Swampscott and Rockport on August 22, 1851. John considers this to be one of his greatest performances, turning an obscure whirlwind into high infotainment. Running Time is 49 minutes and 4 seconds (46 MB).
An abbreviated lecture performed on May 15th, 2008 at St. Brigid's Church in Lexington, Massachusetts for the Lexington Minutemen. Running Time is 33 minutes and 20 seconds (30.5 MB).
Performed on May 10th, 2008 in Marshfield, Massachusetts at the Marshfield Senior Center for the "60+ Club". Running time is 44 minutes and 37 seconds (40.9 MB).
Performed on April 26th, 2008 in Waltham, Massachusetts at Bentley College for the 2008 Massachusetts Genealogical Council Annual Meeting and Seminar. Running time is 1 hour and 47 seconds (55.6 MB).
Performed on April 26th, 2008 in Waltham, Massachusetts at Bentley College for the 2008 New England Genealogical Council Annual Meeting and Seminar. Running time is 1 hour, 6 minutes and 24 seconds (60.7 MB).
Performed on April 10th, 2008 in Westford, Massachusetts at Westford Museum for the Westford Historical Society. Running time is 1 hour, 7 minutes and 33 seconds (61.8 MB).
Performed on March 20, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts for the Historical Society of Watertown at Watertown Free Public Library. Running time is 59 minutes and 16 seconds (54.3 MB).
Performed on January 30th, 2008 in Norwell, Massachusetts at the South Shore Natural Science Center for the North and South River Watershed Association
Performed on January 15, 2008 at Goodnow Library in Sudbury, Massachusetts for the Sudbury Community Emergenct Response Team. Running Time: 54 minutes; Size 74 MB
Performed on April 21st, 2007 in Marshfield, Massachusetts at the Ventress Public Library, John Horrigan gives his first public lecture about the Great Brant Rock Fire of 1941. He literally lectures to the very minute of the 66th anniversary of the Great Ocean Bluff Fire before an overflow crowd of over 130 people spread between two rooms. John had to give the lecture in the doorway between both rooms!
Performed on February 22nd, 2007 on George Washington's 375th birthday, at a place that both George Washington and Henry Knox marched by in 1775 and 1776, in Watertown, Massachusetts for the Historical Society of Watertown at Watertown Free Public Library. Running time is 1 hour and 14 minutes (75 MB).
Performed on January 2nd, 2007 in Lincoln, Massachusetts at Bemis Hall for the Lincoln Minutemen, this is John's first lecture of his "Popular Public History" series.
Several recorded stories about the Great Fires of Marshfield, Massachusetts in 1901, 1941, 1973 and 1978. This includes a comprehensive history of the Great Brant Rock Fire of 1941.
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about the "DIPLOMA RIOT" at Harvard University in May of 1961. Time is :36. Size: 1 MB
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about the "Pogo Riot" at Harvard University. After cartoonist Walt Kelly, author of the popular comic strip POGO, skipped a lecture in May of of 1952, 28 Harvard students were arrested while Cambridge Police Officers beat the "rioting" students. Time is :36. Size: 1 MB
Recorded on March 18th, 2009 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. John talks to aviation historian Bill Sargent about the flying exploits of John's grandfather Clem. Part two can be found here. Part three is located here. Time is 6 minutes Size 5 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in San Francisco, California on April 19th, 1942. Time is 1 minute; Size 2 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in Los Angeles, California on February 25th, 1942. Time is 3 minutes; Size 2 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in Los Angeles, California on December 10th, 1941. Time is 3 minutes; Size 2 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in Seattle, Washington on December 9th, 1941. Time is 1 minute; Size 2 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in San Francisco, California on December 9th, 1941. Time is 4 minutes; Size 3 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in San Francisco, California on December 9th, 1941. Time is 9 minutes; Size 8 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in San Francisco, California on December 9th, 1941. Time is 12 minutes; Size 12 MB
Recorded on October 8th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Terrenz Sword's The Battle of Los Angeles about an air raid alert in New York City on December 8th, 1941. Time is 2 minutes; Size 1 MB
Recorded on October 1st, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from the diary of "Wake Island Scotty" which chronicles the exploits of two men who stowed away on Wake Island while the Japanese occupied the archipelego from December 23rd, 1941 through March 9th of 1942. The men hid in the brush and lived off of rations that were left behind in foxholes. Running Time is 1 hour; Size 57 MB
Recorded on July 15th, 2008 in New London, Connecticut. John interviews New London Town Historian Sally Ryan about the Great New London Fire that took place during the Great Hurricane of 1938. Running Time is 21 minutes. Size: 19 MB
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about the origin (June, 1900) of the "Oh Rinehart!!" tradition at Harvard University. The cry of "Oh Rinehart" became the precursor to student riots as a call to action. It also preceded an uprising in Harvard Square in the Spring of 1932 after the Memorial Hall bell was stolen and Freshmen at Matthews Hall were blamed. Trolley cars were tipped over and there was a raid at Radcliffe. Time is 1:27. Size: 2 MB
Recorded on December 15th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the football game that took place between German soldiers and British soldiers took place during the 'Christmas Truce' of World War I in "No Man's Land" in December of 1914. Time is 2:35; Size 3 MB
Recorded on December 15th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the truce that took place during World War I in "No Man's Land" over the Christmas Holiday in 1914. Time is 10:33; Size 11 MB
Recorded on January 16th, 2010 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a domesticated seal owned by Billy McLeod, who lived on Grape Island in Boston Harbor. 1:42; 2 MB
Recorded on June 14th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads an eyewitness account of the Great Martha's Vineyard Waterspout in August of 1896. 1:46; 2 MB
Recorded on June 14th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the salt water rain that fell on Martha's Vineyard after the Great Martha's Vineyard Waterspout of August 19th, 1896. 1:26; 2 MB
Recorded on June 14th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the historic photographs taken from Cottage City, Martha's Vineyard of the Great Martha's Vineyard Waterspout of August 19th, 1896. :53; 1 MB
Recorded on June 14th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the historic Martha's Vineyard Waterspouts of August 19th, 1896. Three were seen in succession. Time is 8:59; Size is 10 MB
Recorded on July 16th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads a chronology of lights that have been glimpsed on the moon by great astronomers in the 19th century. Time is 25:41; Size is 23 MB
Recorded on December 30th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads a very concise history of the DJIA. In 1896, Charles Dow compiled a market index of 12 companies to determine the strength of the stock market and as a barometer of the American economy. It opened in 1896 at 40.94 before dipping to 28.48. Today it sits between 12,000 and 13,000. Running Time is 13 minutes and 23 seconds.
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Jerome Clark's Unnatural Phenomena about a "luminous" snow storm ("a shower of cold fire") encountered by a military officer who scales Pike's Peak in Colorado. 1 minute and 51 seconds; 2 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2009 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about two men who were swallowed by a whale - an lived to tell their stories: Peleg Nye (in 1863) and James Bartley (in 1891). 6 minute and 47 seconds; 7 MB
Recorded on December 21, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from the New York Times of December 17th, 1882 about the odd behavior of a bright comet over the skies of Hartford, Connecticut on December 3th, 1882. 1 minute and 3 seconds; 1 MB
Recorded on July 9, 2007 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Vermont Weather Book about a great flood along the Connecticut River in Vermont and in New Hampshire in March of 1876. 1 minute and 51 seconds; 2 MB
Recorded on January 19th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about New Haven's first professional baseball team, the "Elm Cities". This recording has two parts. Part One and Part Two. Total Running Time is approximately 3 minutes, size is 2 MB
Recorded on January 13th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the only college team that played against professional baseball clubs in 1870: Harvard. Harvard went into the Union Grounds in Cincinnati in 1870 and nearly knocked off the undefeated powerhouse known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Time: :41 Size: 1 MB
Recorded on January 13th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the first Harvard baseball team in 1864 and how their uniform color of crimson was changed to magenta because the seamstress thought that the color "was much more fashionable and prettier". Harvard actually changed their name to the "Harvard Magenta" before changing it back to the original "Harvard Crimson" in 1875. Time: :59 Size: 1 MB
Recorded on November 30th, 2006 at Ventress Memorial Library in Marshfield, Massachusetts. John reads about the Great Fires that gutted the printing presses of the Boston Herald newspaper in 1855 and 1864.
Recorded on November 30th, 2006 at Ventress Memorial Library in Marshfield, Massachusetts. John reads about the Great Fires in Boston in 1852 and the Great Boston Riots in 1854. He also speaks about the killer granite block that fell off of a building under construction in Boston and crushed several people on August 23rd, 1854.
Recorded on January 14th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a strange electric snowstorm on the 13th of February, 1853 that saw several people struck by purple ball lightning in Maine. Time: 2:19; Size: 2 MB
Recorded on November 30, 2006 at Ventress Memorial Library in Marshfield, Massachusetts. John reads from the Illustrated News of January 1st, 1853 about a tragic fire in a famous Boston piano factory on December 3rd, 1852.
Recorded on December 5th, 2006 at Ventress Memorial Library in Marshfield, Massachusetts. John reads about a fire that took one of Boston's most cherished theatres on March 31st, 1852. It was re-built twice and burned down in 1879 and again in 1893.
Recorded on April 15th, 2009 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a nasty gale that toppled Minot's Lighthouse off the coast of Cohasset in April of 1851. Time: 16:51 Size 16 MB
Recorded on April 15th, 2009 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a surprise October Gale that wiped out the North Atlantic fishing fleets of the United States and Canada in 1851. Time: 8:42 Size 8 MB
Recorded on April 15th, 2008 at Waltham, Massachusetts. John reads about a tornado that raced through Middlesex County (along modern day Route 60) on August 22nd, 1851 (from David Ludlum's Early American Tornadoes). Time: 13:07 Size 12 MB
Recorded on April 15th, 2008 at Waltham, Massachusetts. John reads about a tornado that raced through Middlesex County (along modern day Route 60) on August 22nd, 1851 (from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England. Time: 20:35 Size 19 MB
Recorded on December 26th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts about a series of revolts in Canada in September of 1849. Running Time is 1 minute and 29 seconds. Size is 1 MB.
Recorded on December 15th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts about two "snow fires" (luminous snow storms): one that took place in 1817 and another that happened in 1845. Running Time is 5 minutes. Size is 3 MB.
Recorded on March 22nd, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a bill introduced by the Canadian Parliament to remunerate those people and businesses that were effected by the Rebellions of 1837. Time is approximately 3 minutes and the size is 4 MB.
Recorded on March 2nd, 2009 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about 2 armed uprisings in Canada in 1837 and 1849. Time is approximately 7 minutes and the size is 7 MB.
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about the Great Harvard Student Blow Up in the Spring of 1834 which escalates out of control after a tutor is attacked. Consequently, the entire Sophomore Class is "dismissed" by schoolmaster Quincy. Old Quincy then called the cops, breaking a long term agreement in place since 1659, that town authorities would not be called if there was ever a disturbance in Harvard Yard. A burning effigy of the faculty was hung from the "Rebellion Tree". Time: 1:41 Size: 1 MB
Recorded on January 14th, 2009 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the fire at the Palace of Westminster, home the British Parliament that was started by "tally sticks". Author Charles Dickens writes about how dangerous these tally sticks were. Time is 2:59; 3 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about two independent witnesses who corroborate a large solar protuberance on December 1st, 1823. 1:36; 2 MB
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about the Great Harvard Student Rebellion of 1823 when members of the rowdy Senior Class gathered underneath the "Rebellion Tree" at Harvard Hall to protest the expulsion of one of their classmates. The faculty responded by expelling 43 of 70 members of the Senior Class. Time: :59 Size: 1 MB
Recorded on January 15th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads two summaries of the Panic of 1819 which resulted in widespread speculation, inflation and overpricing of commodities after the War of 1812. The unemployment rate in Philadelphia was 75%!
Recorded on July 22, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the "Phenomenon of 1819" when on November 8th of that year, a strange greenish tint in the skies over Montreal preceded an anamolous dark day. Time is 4 minutes and 24 seconds; 4 MB
Recorded on January 28th, 2009 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads (for a third time) about a bizarre dark day in Montreal in 1819. Time is 4 minutes and 24 seconds; 4 MB
Recorded on July 9, 2007 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Vermont Weather Book about a strange darkness that enveloped the Vermont daylight from November 9th through the 11th in the year 1819. 4 minutes and 26 seconds; 4 MB
Recorded on February 8th, 2009 at Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about a food rebellion at Harvard University in 1818 when the entire class was expelled. 1:09; 1 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about sailors who witness a bright and vivid aurora borealis in November of 1818 where a compass could be read on deck due to the luminosity. 1:33; 2 MB
Recorded on December 20, 2008 (during a blizzard) at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Winters I and gives the most complete account (by reading the original testimony of John Farrar) ever recorded concerning the Great Luminous Snow Storm of January 17th, 1817. 8 minutes and 35 seconds; 9 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Extreme Weather about a "Luminous" snow storm (i.e. "snow fire") that struck northern New England on January 17th, 1817. 2 minutes and 54 seconds; 3 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about various "luminous" snow storms including one in both January and March of 1817. There is also an account of an electrical thunderstorm in Woburn, Massachusetts in July of 1771 that causes a man to be electrified. 2 minutes and 55 seconds 3 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a spectacular aurora borealis that was closely observed from the Shetland Islands in August of 1817. 3:42 3 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a vivd aurora borealis that was observed and heard from the Shetland Islands on September 6th, 1817. 2:03; 2 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a luminous snowstorm in Scotland that fell in March of 1813. 56 seconds; 1 MB
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads a few accounts regarding the Bread and Butter Rebellion of 1805 and the Great Rebellion of 1818. Time: 1:35 Size: 1 MB
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads a compendium of accounts regarding the Great Harvard Rotten Cabbage Rebellion of 1807 when Harvard students stormed the home of the college's president to protest the bug-infested soup that they were being served in the dining hall. Time: 1:22 Size: 1 MB
Recorded on December 28th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads about a bolide that streaked across Western New England skies just before dawn on December 14th, 1807. Time: 3:54 Size: 4 MB
Recorded on December 18th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads two accounts regarding the Harvard Bread and Butter Rebellion of 1805. Time: 1:12 Size: 2 MB
Recorded on November 2nd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a late-season Atlantic hurricane that struck New England on October 9th, 1804. Time: 3:54 Size: 4 MB
Recorded on November 2nd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Winters, Volume I about a hurricane that struck New England in October of 1804. Time: 7 minutes Size: 8 MB
Recorded on November 2nd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from the Mass Moments website about a 'snowicane' that struck New England in October of 1804. Time: 4 Minutes Size: 4 MB
Recorded on November 2nd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Edward Rowe Snow's Storms and Shipwrecks of New England about a 'white hurricane' that struck New England in October of 1804. Time: 3 Minutes Size: 3 MB
Recorded on November 2nd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about an October hurricane' that struck New England in 1804. Time: 11 Minutes Size: 11 MB
Recorded on November 2nd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from the Cape Cod Today website about a 'snow hurricane' that struck New England in October of 1804. Time: 4 Minutes Size: 4 MB
Recorded on December 30th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about 13 major riots at colleges during the late 18th century and early 19th century including the Yale Riot of 1786, The Harvard Riot of December of 1788, The Princeton Riots of 1800 and 1802 and the William and Mary Riot of 1802. 1 minute and 7 seconds; 2 MB
Recorded on July 1st, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about mirages of ships seen in the sky above the coastal waters of England in 1798. This is known as a "looming". Running Time is 4:33 minute. Size is 5 MB.
Recorded on July 1st, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a mirage encountered by Napoleon and his army in 1798. Running Time is 2 minutes. Size is 2 MB.
Recorded on July 1st, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a mirage glimpsed in Cumberland, Maine in 1793 classified as an 'extraordinary refraction'. Running Time is 1:28. Size is 2 MB.
Recorded on July 9, 2007 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Vermont Weather Book about several snow storms during the month of May in Vermont during "the cold years" from 1789 through 1817. 2 minutes and 23 seconds; 2 MB
Recorded on December 15th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts about a chronology of luminous electrical snow storms in the 19th century in the Northeastern United States, including the famous "luminous snow storm" of 1817 in Vermont and New Hampshire. Running Time is 5 minutes. Size is 5 MB.
Recorded on December 5th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about a bright bolide that streaked across New England skies on August 30th, 1787. Time: 5:48 Size: 5 MB
Recorded on July 9th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about a tornado that swept across western Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire in June of 1782. Running Time is 3:19. Size is 6 MB.
Recorded on July 15th, 2008 in New London, Connecticut. John interviews New London Town Historian Sally Ryan about the burning of New London during the Revolutionary War on September 6th, 1781 by turncoat Benedict Arnold. This the most comprehensive recording of the New London Fire. Running Time is 52 minutes. Size is 47 MB.
Recorded on February 1st, 2010 at Watertown, Massachusetts by John Horrigan, who tells the story of a storm that helped British fleet escape the wrath of the French Navy. Time is approximately 3:08 and the size is 3 MB.
Recorded on February 2nd, 2010 at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts for the Lincoln Minutemen by historian Jim Hogan, who tells the story of the greatest sniper in Colonial America. Time is approximately 3:41 and the size is 4 MB.
Read on November 3rd, 2009 on the stairs of Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts for the Lincoln Minutemen. Time is approximately 8 minutes and the size is 8 MB.
Recorded on November 3rd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John's first practice read of the Declaration of Independence which he performed that evening (November 3rd, 2009) for the Lincoln Minutemen.
Recorded on November 3rd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John's second practice read of the Declaration of Independence which he performed that evening (November 3rd, 2009) for the Lincoln Minutemen.
Recorded on July 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM in Watertown, Massachusetts. John's first cold practice read of the Declaration of Independence which he performed the following morning (July 4th, 2009) for the town of Lincoln, Massachusetts.
Recorded on July 3, 2007 at 11:45 PM in Watertown, Massachusetts. John's first cold practice read of the Declaration of Independence which he performed the following morning (July 4th, 2007) for the town of Lincoln, Massachusetts.
Recorded on January 2nd, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about Adam Smith's theory of "Laissez-Faire" (government hands-off) which gave birth to modern free capitalism. Running time 5 minutes and 55 seconds.
Recorded on December 30th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the Great Butter Rebellion ("behold our butter doth stinketh") at Harvard on September 9th, 1766 that resulted in the suspension of 155 students. 1 minute and 55 seconds; 3 MB
Recorded on December 19th, 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts about a student uprising in 1766 at Harvard College known as the "Great Butter Rebellion". Running Time 2:14. Size is 2 MB.
Recorded on January 1st, 2007 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from a diary written by Dr. Nathaniel Ames about an "Earthquake Riot" at Harvard College in 1761 whereby some underclassmen ran about the streets yelling "earthquake!!!" and were subsequently punished and demoted.
Recorded on December 14, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about an aurora borealis that was observed by Celsius and an associate in 1740 where electromagnetic interference was detected on a compass. 3:25; 3 MB
Recorded on December 10th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about a tornado that wiped out Leicester, Massachusetts in 1759. 2 minute and 27 seconds; 3 MB
Recorded on January 2nd, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads a 1729 letter from Rev. Stephen Hosmer about "fearful and dreadful sounds that unnerve locals" in Moodus, Connecticut. Time is 4:21, Size 4 MB
Recorded on December 30th, 2008 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a series of student rebellions at Harvard in 1728, 1766, 1767 and 1768. There is also a cursory mention of student riots at Yale in 1755, 1761, 1762 and 1766. 2 minutes and 35 seconds; 4 MB
Recorded on January 15th, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. John reads from Wikipedia about rampant speculation and unfettered investment in the South Sea Company in 1720 that artificially elevated its value before a sudden drawdown that saw speculators lose their entire investment.
Recorded on January 3rd, 2007 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about a rare and spectacular display of the Northern Lights as glimpsed by residents all over New England in 1719.3:00, 3 MB
Recorded on December 20, 2008, in Watertown, Massachusetts (during a blizzard). John reads the firsthand account as given by the extremely pious Cotton Mather about a series of snowstorms that thumped New England in February of 1717. It was one of the biggest blizzards in the history of New England. The frozen sheep account is most extraordinary! Time: 2 minutes and 8 seconds; 2 MB
Recorded on December 14, 2008, in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a series of four snowstorms that slammed New England in 1717. It was one of the biggest snow wallops in New England history. Time: 1 minute and 23 seconds; 2 MB
Recorded on May 26th, 2008 on the banks of the River Charles in Waltham, Massachusetts. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about an odd "dark day" that enveloped New England on Sunday, October 21st, 1716.
Recorded on February 6th, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. John reads about a massacre in Deerfield, Massachusetts on February 29th, 1704 when French and Indian raiders burned the village, captured 112 men, women and children and marched them to Canada. Time: 6 minutes and 17 seconds Size: 6 MB.
Recorded on August 16th, 2007 at Stricom Productions in Franklin, Massachusetts. John teams up with producer Steve Russo to make an audio track about an arsonist in Boston in the late 17th century. Listen for Cotton Mather as he pleads for God's mercy.
Recorded on May 9th, 2007 at Stricom Productions in Franklin, Massachusetts. John teams up with producer Steve Russo to make an audio track about an earthquake in the late 17th century in Boston, Massachusetts. Listen for Cotton Mather as he pleads for God's mercy.
Recorded on May 4th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Tornados about a tornado that rakes a southern Massachusetts community in 1671.
Recorded on May 4th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Tornados about a "sudden gust" recorded by John Winthrop in his diary that moves on a northern line and scours land from Lynn, Massachusetts to Hampton, New Hampshire in 1643.
Recorded on December 27th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Tornados about a "severe line squall" recorded by John Winthrop in his diary on July 5th, 1643 (O.S.) that hit Newbury, Massachusetts. 2 minutes and :08 seconds, 2 MB
Recorded on May 4th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Hurricanes about a mammoth hurricane that struck New England. William Bradford and John Winthrop record their observations of one of the three most severe hurricanes in the history of New England in August of 1635.
Recorded on June 4th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts at the Charles River. John reads from Sidney Perley's Historic Storms of New England about a tremendous tempest that devastated New England. One of the most severe hurricanes in the history of New England. Running Time 17:52
Recorded on June 14th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a Massacre at Jamestown, Virginia in an attempt by Native Americans to rid Virginia of the English settlers. Running Time 4:32, Size is 5 MB
Recorded on January 16th, 2010 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a Native American who allegedly fell asleep for 14 years on top of Blue Hills in Milton, Massachusetts in the early 1600's. Running Time 7:16, Size is 7 MB
Recorded on December 27th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. Culled from his Classic Weather of the 16th Century series, John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Hurricanes about the relief expedition that arrives at Roanoke Colony in 1590 to find everyone gone. John White, a passenger on the relief ships, recorded that they encountered "much rain, thundering and great spouts" in Albemarle Sound in August of 1590. Running Time: 1 minute and :02 seconds, 1 MB
Recorded on December 27th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. Culled from his Early American Weather of the 16th Century series, John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Hurricanes about a man (Ralph Lane) who served with famous English Explorer (Sir Francis Drake) as the leader of the Roanoke Colony landing party, describes an encounter with hail and waterspouts whilst anchored off Cape Hatteras on June 13-16, 1586 (O.S.). Running Time: 1 minute and :09 seconds, < 1 MB
Recorded on December 27th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. Culled from his Classic American Weather of the 16th Century series, John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Winters, 1604-1820 about the first American Winter that was experienced by the Roanoke Colony of North Carolina in 1585 and 1586. Colonist Thomas Hariot refers to "the temperature of the air there being good at all seasons". Running Time: :46 seconds, < 1 MB
Recorded on December 27th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. Culled from his Early American Weather of the 16th Century series, John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Hurricanes about a French Explorer (Jacques Cartier) who experienced a very mild Winter while camping near Quebec in 1535 and 1536. Cartier mistakenly thinks that the climate of Canada is similar to the climate of France. Running Time: :55 seconds, < 1 MB
Recorded on December 27th, 2006 at Watertown, Massachusetts. Culled from his Classic American Weather of the 16th Century series, John reads from David Ludlum's Early American Hurricanes about a Portuguese explorer (Estevan Gomez) who cruises the waters near Maine in January and February of 1525. Running Time: :49 seconds, < 1 MB
Recorded on December 22, 2008, in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the Price Revolution (inflation) which was a consequence of the Conquistadors pouring gold and silver into a depleted European population's (the Black Death) economy. Time: 7 minutes and 9 seconds; 7 MB
Recorded on March 2nd, 2009, in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the Great English Price Debasement during the reign of Henry VIII that saw inflation take hold while currency lost value. Time: 14 minutes and 8 seconds; 13 MB
Recorded on January 11th, 2010, in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, where the Roman Legions were slaughtered by the Germanic Tribes. Time: 13 minutes and 20 seconds; 14 MB
Recorded on January 11th, 2010, in Watertown, Massachusetts. John plays a recording about the dark day that took place as Jesus Christ was crucified. Time: 1 minutes and 9 seconds; 1 MB
Recorded on October 15th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John's friend Maria relates an eery ghost encounter at a haunted hotel in New Hampshire to paranormal investigators Matt Moniz and Andrew Lake.
On November 26th, 1977 a United Kingdom news broadcast was interrupted by what some consider to be an alien warning from "Vrillon of the Ashtar Command".
Recorded on May 11, 1993 in Dedham, Massachusetts. One of his most popular recordings, John reads from Martin Caidin's book Natural or Supernatural book about an alleged yellow bigfoot that was encountered by American soldiers in Viet Nam.
Recorded from Unsolved Mysteries. A new Air Force recruit named Bob Matthews gets off a bus in front of a grocery store in North Truro, Massachusetts at 8:45 PM On October 1st, 1966. He makes a call from a payphone to the base and asks for a ride. Suddenly, he sees odd lights in the sky and then has a "missing time" experience. Author Budd Hopkins is interviewed extensively in this piece. Time: 13 minutes and 8 seconds Size: 12 MB
Recorded in August and September of 1998, here is a selection of New Hampshire bigfoot yarns as told to John Horrigan by David Smith of Keene, New Hampshire.
Recorded on June 7th, 2008 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts from 9:00 - 11:30 PM. John (along with Spooky Southcoast" reporter Matt Moniz, Greenville Paranormal Society leader Andrew Lake and author Thom D'Agostino appear on a live remote while investigating haunted cemeteries and a haunted schoolhouse in Rehoboth, Massachusetts in the heart of the Bridgewater Triangle.
Recorded on April 21st, 2007 on Springdale Avenue in Dover, Massachusetts at 10:00 PM. John (along with Spooky Southcoast" reporter Matt Moniz) records a live remote recording on the 30th anniversary of the "Dover Demon" encounters.
Recorded on May 17th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads Edward Rowe Snow's account of an alleged sea monster that washed up on the shore of Mann Hill Beach in Scuituate, Massachusetts in November of 1970. Time is 7:05, Size: 7 MB
Recorded on May 15th, 2009 in Taunton, Massachusetts. John interviews David Downs, who visited the carcass of the Scituate Sea Monster in November of 1970, which later turned out to be a decaying basking shark. Time is 10:47, Size: 12 MB
Recorded on December 17th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about an encounter with an alleged sea serpent off the coast of Marshfield, Massachusetts by a lobsterman in November of 1969. Time is 1:10. Size: 2 MB
Recorded on December 17th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about an encounter with an alleged sea serpent off the coast of Marshfield, Massachusetts in 1962. Time is :44. Size: 1 MB
Recorded on March 3rd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a strange airship ("black mass") seen in the skies of Montana on February 9th, 1915. Time: 38 seconds; Size is 1 MB.
Recorded on March 3rd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a strange object seen in the skies of Connecticut in October of 1906. Time: 43 seconds; Size is 1 MB.
Recorded on December 20th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the odd cloven hoofprints that tracked for 40 miles throughout a district of England on February 8, 1855. Time: 10 minutes and 40 seconds; Size is 10 MB.
Recorded on December 20th, 2008 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about the ghost of Hannah Thomas (the first American female lightkeeper), who some say is still watching for her husband John, who never returned from the Revolutionary War after he left in 1776. Time: 10 minutes and 40 seconds; Size is 10 MB.
Recorded in June of 2007 in Fairhaven, Massachusetts on SPOOKY SOUTHCOAST. John Horrigan debates Matt Moniz as to the authenticity of the Roswell UFO Event. Time is 60 minutes and size is 30 MB.
Recorded on March 23rd, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads about a strange mirage (a ship) seen in the skies of Maine in the early 19th century. Time: 42 seconds; Size is 1 MB.
Player Introductions of the 2nd Annual Boston Bruins Alumni / Maine Mariners Alumni Charity Hockey Game at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine on November 20th, 2008. Running time is 25 seconds (24 MB).
Performed on December 2nd, 2007 at The Edge Sports Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. John had a severe case of the flu when he called this historical game between natural gas giant GAZPROM and ASPENTECH (a team comprised of former Olympians and NHL stars). This is the first period. Running time is 23 minutes 52 seconds (33 MB).
Performed on December 2nd, 2007 at The Edge Sports Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. This is the third period of the aforementioned game. Running time is 33 minutes and 49 seconds (46.5 MB).
Recorded on May 10, 2008 at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington in Arlington, Massachusetts at 7:00 PM. This is part one of the final concert of my wife's choral group known as the Da Varonistas which is conducted by legendary choir director Lorna Cook da Varon. Part one is recorded from about 40 rows back.
Recorded on May 10, 2008 at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington in Arlington, Massachusetts at 8:00 PM. This is part two of the final concert of my wife's choral group known as the Da Varonistas which is conducted by legendary choir director Lorna Cook da Varon. Part two is recorded from the front row.
Recorded on August 3rd, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. John appears on the Midnight Ride podcast with John F. Kennedy impersonator Mike Lowe. Time: 45 minutes; Size is 47 MB
LISTEN TO PART TWO HERE. Time: 90 minutes; Size is 94 MB. Finally, here is the blooper reel from that broadcast.
Recorded on June 9th, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. John appears on the Midnight Ride podcast andtalks about historical and timely weather evetns that helped assist the colonists during the American Revolution. Time: 40 minutes; Size is 40 MB
Recorded on July 24th, 2009 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John appears on Studio 360 on National Public Radio and talks about his New England History Festival. Time: 6 minutes; Size is 4 MB
Recorded on March 11th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads the liner notes from Peter Townshend's album All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes from 1982, a piece that was very influential on his life and helped him find his focus and direction of historical research. Time: 7 minutes and 11 seconds; Size is 7 MB.
Recorded on March 11th, 2009 in Watertown, Massachusetts. John reads the poetry of Monty Python's Scottish poet Ewen McTeagle. Time: 2 minutes and 25 seconds; Size is 3 MB.
Recorded on May 22nd, 2008 at the Charles River in Newton, Massachusetts. John reads a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about the famous Charles River.
