I've noticed that there are several members who use the Boston & Maine badge with the "Minuteman" rather than the BM logo. It appears to be very similar to the badge of your National Guard. Is this correct, please, and what are the origins of using this badge (Since I understand National Guard to have been established before the Railroad)? Regards, Pete Davies
Pete, The later logo, the McGinnis BM logo was used in some form from 1957 till Guilford in 1983. Boston and Maine Used the Minuteman logo mainly because of it's location to Revolutionary War. The Minuteman Logo was used a lot throughout the New England area. The logo itself goes back a ways, though I do not know the exact origin. However, you have given me an excuse to look through my B&M books, always a good thing. Jim
They're probably old guys like me who have a great affinity for the B&M pre-McGinnis era. As you can tell from the logo above, it's not my railroad but darn attractive as one non-the less. The "Minutemen" were the local militia that confronted His Brittanic Majesty's army on their way to Concord, Massachusetts at a place called Lexington. MA to seize cannon and gun powder at Concord. They were styled as "Minutemen" because of their ability to react to trouble with their bodies and weapons at a minutes notice. They were alerted by the despatch rider sent out by one Paul Revere. Here, in the former colonies, we refer to this as "the shot heard 'round the world." By the way, at Lexington - H.M. Army = 8, versus Minutemen = 0. The return to Boston was however, quite a different score. We had no National Guard until 1913. The Governor of each state having a state militia, in many (most?) cases, officers being elected by members of the militia. In 1913 American Progressives decided we should advance to the past and adopt the N.G. system as established by Louis (VII, I think) of France in the 1600's. Really hope you wanted that much information.
Jim & Dave, Thank you, gents! I knew somebody would know. On the note about militia, I used to work with a fellow who was English by birth but his father was Swiss, and my workmate was Swiss as well. He would disappear for two weeks every summer to do his stint in the Swiss militia. Regards, Pete Davies
