Sunday, January 10, 2010

Idolatry in Chestnut Hill Reservoir


While walking in the park near the Chestnut Hill Reservoir near Brighton and Brookline MA I noticed something quite inexplicable. I found in the snow an open completely new bottle of Solignac Cognac, the lid to said bottle, two upright and unlit candles, two lit- but not smoked cigars and a pack of matches with only a few missing.
You might think this sort of thing happens not so often, but earlier this winter I saw a similar thing. That time there were two empty martini glasses, a filled a bottle of rum, another filled bottle of some hard liquor, an open a pack of cigarettes with just one or two missing, two ceramic plates filled with sand and again two lit but not smoked cigars. It looked like they had left in a hurry but it may have just been the wind scattering the things.

Anyone have any particular theories about what this is?

10 comments:

  1. It seems to me that you interrupted a secret liaison. Two of everything seems to hint in that direction, as opposed to an abandoned guerrilla camp which generally has much more.

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  2. ah - a fine analysis of the two most probable scenarios!

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  3. yes. it's a fraternity / secret society ritual

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  4. In fact, it is a portable Irish Alter.....referred to as an " O'Bama !!

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  5. Uncle Elliot - how long have you been waiting to use that joke?

    Maybe it's a bizarre dinner ritual? Groucho Marx shrine?

    Either that or Boston homeless people are quite posh compared to NYC's.

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  6. so, you think my comment is a BAMA!!

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  7. yes, Boston homeless are much wealthier, I could see that

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  8. Hi, just ran into your blog.

    Most likely is that someone has placed those there to memorialize Tommy Smith, who was a very well-known and liked homeless guy locally. He died very near there in around 2002, and a candlelight vigil was held near the movie theater; probably 100 or more people attended.

    I suspect his old buddy he used to hang around with may be doing this here and there.

    Hope that helps.

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  9. wow interesting answer Christopher, thanks,

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  10. Happy to oblige. It seems to be just the kind of thing his friend would do; a homeless memorial, as it were.

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