Read about some of what's going on at The Winthrop Sun-Transcript. 
Better yet, buy yourself a paper for more complete coverage. It's 
available at stores all around Winthrop, or by subscribing at the
paper's website. Be advised: Weird Winthrop does NOT appear in the 
online edition (or on this website) due to copyright restrictions.

   If you want to read Weird Winthrop  you'll have to shell out four 
bits or check recycle bins on trash day. There's always the library.
If you wish to order back issues, try contacting the paper at their 
website linked above, but sorry, there are no guarantees.

   You may also want to visit a nifty central hub site, Digital Winthrop,
operated by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, that features links to many
Winthrop organizations, including the Winthrop Historical & Preservation 
Society, and more. But you won't find a link to Weird Winthrop on their
site. Don't ask me why, ask them.

   Many excellent historical websites have been used in researching 
past columns. Where do I begin?

Well, for starters, click this link for a site all about early torpedoes that 
helped me out in my Valentine's Day adveture, "Torpedoed Love." As the story 
is so intertwined with the fate on the former Unitarian Chruch on Hermon
Street, if you've ever wondered about Unitarianism, there's a site that'll 
answer your questions, provided by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua.
(Strangely enough, if you dig down, you'll find that one of the first pastors
in the Winthrop Church, Reverend Cary F. Abbott, left to minister at that very
church in Nashua - then "Dunstable"!)

   Websites are great and so convenient, but if it's serious research
you're doing, there's no place like the Winthrop Public Library with 
its expert, friendly and helpful staff. Much of Weird Winthrop's 
historical background investigation has been done at Winthrop's own 
Frost Library, which is part of NOBLE, North Of Boston Library Exchange.

From time to time, I head into Boston, to the Boston Public Library, to use
their excellent and vast Microtext Department. That's where I read all the old
editions of Winthrop's first newspaper, "The Winthrop Visitor". (The Winthrop
Public Library has these papers on microfilm, too, but their reader is down
at the moment.) When you get a sec, check out the BPL's site - you won't
BELIEVE the incredible things they've got squirreled away in that place!

I promised I'd list books here. Well, nearly every column I write requires
a dip into William H. Clark's "History of Winthrop, 1630-1952." This guy covers 
all the angles. It's out of print, but local library networks should have it, or
be able to get it for you.

If there are any other resources you want to get hold of, please drop a line to
weirdwinthrop@gmail.com and I'll try to point you in the right direction.

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