Edward Rowe Snow

“‘What I really like to do,’ he told an interviewer, ‘is to find a story so improbable that no one will believe it, and then prove beyond a doubt that it is true’” (Riley).

“‘I do think that folklore is important and that it should be preserved’” (Riley).

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I came upon each of the stories featured in this project while reading a collection of works by the famous New England storyteller Edward Rowe Snow (1902-1982). Snow was a “local celebrity” of his time and known as a “scholar, athlete, historian, teacher, actor, treasure hunter, writer, newspaperman, and merchant seaman” (Theroux). A member of Harvard University’s class of 1932, Snow held a bachelor’s degree in history and used his vast knowledge to educate the public through his ninety-six books on fascinating stories (both verifiable and not) of murder, mischief, mayhem that he collected throughout the course of his life (Hoagland Hunter). Though he is most commonly recognized as an author, Snow was also known for his numerous and regular radio and television appearances across New England. He was often found on WBZ radio and PBS. Beyond his writings, Snow educated the public through his appearances where he would orally tell the tales and discuss other histories.

A native of Massachusetts, many of Snows stories revolve around the New England area. It is said that he “knew stories of every beach, ruin, and island ghost, and delighted in sharing them” (Hoagland Hunter). Snow was also particularly fond of the Boston Harbor Islands and for many years took on the role of the “Flying Santa” a volunteer position in which a few brave souls would fly in a small plane and drop off Christmas gifts to lighthouse keepers and their families. Snow believed that the Boston Harbor Islands were valuable pieces of land worth preserving in their original state. He is known for his connection to Georges Island and the historic military fort that lies on top of it called Fort Warren. Snow was president of the Society for the Preservation of Fort Warren and he “galvanized others in an effort that saved the fort and laid the groundwork for preserving the 34 islands as a national recreation area. In gratitude, each August, his accomplishments are celebrated during Edward Rowe Snow day on Georges Island…”(Hoagland Hunter). A plaque on the island dedicated to Snow and all of the great work that he did reads,

The Edward Rowe Snow Memorial Pavilion

dedicated to the memory of

Edward Rowe Snow

1902-1982

Author, historian, and “Flying Santa” to lighthouse keepers,

Edward Rowe Snow was the president of the Society for the

Preservation of Fort Warren and led to the fight to save the

fort for future generations. The presence of Edward and his wife

Anna Myrle will always be felt on George’s Island.

September 1999

Metropolitan District Commission

And

the friends of Edward Rowe Snow

Argeo Paul Cellucci, Governor

Jane Swift, Lt. Governor

Bob Durand, Secretary

David B. Balfour, Jr., Commissioner

Snow gave tours of the Harbor Islands for many years and used fascinating stories such as the tale of the “Lady in Black” which is a featured story in this project, to attract the public to the Islands and give them the tourism that they needed to remain standing (Theroux).

Along with the plaque on George’s Island, there are still many other ways in which the memory of Snow lives on today. When looking back through newspapers at the time of his passing, there are many obituaries and accounts of Snow which remember him positively as the man who, “was the first one up the snowy path in Boston Harbor, looking at the history and tradition there an making it accessible to everyone…’” (Knox). And for all the books that Snow wrote, there was even one written about him! Entitled The Lighthouse Santa by Sara Hoagland Hunter, the book which was “based on the Christmas flights of Edward Rowe Snow” to lighthouse keepers and their families, helps Snow’s memory live outside of his own works (Hoagland Hunter).

Snows dedication to the preservation of the history of Massachusetts as well as other locations in the United States and abroad is a testament to his ability to educate the public in a non-traditional way. While not generally known today by members of younger generations, I am confident that there are several generations of New Englanders who know and love Edward Rowe Snow and his stories.

Sources:

Knox, Robert. "CELEBRATING THE MANY SEASONS OF SNOW A HARVARD MAN CREDITED WITH HELPING NEW ENGLAND REDISCOVER ITS CONNECTION TO THE SEA: [THIRD EDITION]." Boston Globe, Jan 05, 2003. http://ezproxy.neu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.neu.edu/docview/405504435?.

Hoagland Hunter, Sara. “Edward Rowe Snow Brief life of a ‘Flying Santa’: 1902-1982.” Harvard Magazine, January-February 2012. https://harvardmagazine.com/2012/01/vita-edward-rowe-snow.

Riley, John Wm (Globe Staff). "EDWARD ROWE SNOW, 79, LECTURER, SEA AUTHOR, FLYING SANTA CLAUS': [FIRST EDITION]." Boston Globe (Pre-1997 Fulltext), Apr 11, 1982. http://ezproxy.neu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.neu.edu/docview/294112364?.

Theroux, Joseph P. “Flying Santa: Edward Rowe Snow and the Romance of History.” Historic Nantucket. Winter 2008. https://nha.org/research/nantucket-history/historic-nantucket-magazine/an-island-of-characters/.