State House

Boston woke up on Dec. 8, 1941 a changed, frightened and determined city. With war declared, Boston felt particularly vulnerable, given its position right on the coast. But Boston also rolled up its sleeves to help fend off the Axis. Scores of Leslie Jones photos posted by the BPL this week give a taste of life in wartime.

The State House's golden dome was painted over, to keep Beacon Hill from becoming a, well, beacon for Nazi warships (a skylight at MIT's Great Dome was similarly covered up; MIT only began restoring it last fall):

Steve was in the State House yesterday for the quadrennial convening of our electors. To nobody's surprise, Obama and Biden won - after the grandchildren of the older electors led them and legislators in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Copyright Steve. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Want Governor Romney back? We didn't think so.

Voters in Massachusetts know better than anyone else what a Romney presidency would look like—and we need to let the rest of the country know how terrible it would be.

That's why we're joining with other Massachusetts progressive groups TODAY for a rally to show that Romney was a failure as governor and we certainly don't want him in charge of the country.

Can you join us THIS MORNING at 11:15 on the steps of the State House on Beacon Street to stand up and say that Mitt Romney was wrong for Massachusetts and he is wrong for America?

We're inviting the press, so it's really important that we have a big crowd to show them how fired up we are. MoveOn members all over the country will be on the front lines fighting to keep Mitt Romney out of the White House. Today in Boston, that fight begins.

Thanks for all you do.

Daniel, Levana, and the rest of the team

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/.

Steve Annear at BostInno posts a photo of chained Ride riders across Beacon Street today, protesting fare increases scheduled to go into effect on July 1. Alternatives for Community and Environment has more photos.

State Police have asked the city DPW to send somebody over with a bolt cutter.

Something fishy: State Police detective with recovered Cod.

Late in the evening on April 26, 1933, a call came into the State House press room - the Sacred Cod was gone. The reporter who took the call at first thought it was just a joke, but he alerted security guards, who checked the House of Representatives. And sure enough, the 4'11 pine carving of a cod, which had overseen legislative affairs since 1784, was missing. As the Globe reported at the time:

In advance of a visit by the Brazilian president today, the Secret Service no less ordered Occupy MBTA evicted from the State House steps last night. State Police provided some trucks so the protesters could move their stuff; they'll be allowed back today after the departure of Dilma Rousseff, her eyes protected from the sight of Americans clinging to the quaint idea they have a right to peacefully assemble.

AmberPaw reports from the scene.

Historygradguy photographed the rally for Wisconsin state workers at the State House this afternoon.

Copyright Historygradguy. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Neal Gaffey attended Deval Patrick's inauguration at the State House, a centerpiece of which was a large cake in the shape of the building. Courtney Saccor photographed state Senate President Therese Murray administering the oath of office to Patrick as his wife Diane held a bible and Secretary of State Bill Galvin looked on:

Photos copyright Neal Gaffey and Courtney Sacco, respectively. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Channel 25 rips the covers off this scandal. Or something.

Go teams, go!: Ethan Long took photos today of the newest additions to the State House facade.

Don't worry, they're not zombies - they're extras in an ABC drama being filmed here (the one about the Boston DA destined to become president, yeah, right).

Aaron Donovan photographs the State House at night.

Gnomi wonders about the State House's General Hooker Entrance.