theemigrantsfromterceiraanddightonrock

The Emigrants From Terceira And Dighton Rock

By Manuel Luciano da Silva, Medical Doctor
September 18 2004

It was with great pleasure that I was the guide, on September 18, 2004, to the “Friends of Terceira” when they visited the Dighton Rock Museum. For a long time I had been looking for this opportunity because I believe that of all the Portuguese immigrants who live in U. S. A., the people from the Island of Terceira have more rights to claim for themselves the historical value of the Portuguese inscriptions on this monument. Besides, the “Community Center of the Friends of the Terceira, Inc”, from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, led by the dynamic Mr. Victor Santos, have demonstrated that they have been the organization most active in New England concerning the social-charitable-cultural and patriotic activities.

It was on Saturday, September 18, 2004, when it was raining copiuosely in New England, that a large bus arrived, at 11 AM, at the parking lot of the Dighton Rock State Park, bringing the Group of Youngsters and the Group of Senior Citizens, all members of the “Community Center of the Friends of the Terceira, Inc”, for the purpose of visiting the Dighton Rock Museum and also enjoy a picnic at the State Park.

Because it was raining so hard, I suggested to Mr. Victor Santos, who was the chief of the group, for the bus to drive to the entrance of the museum, but the large bus making a turn while getting out of the parking lot, got into the mud and became stuck, unable to move!

Under these circumstance everyone – young and old -- had to walk about 200 meters (600 feet) to get to the entrance of the museum. But once all were inside the museum everything went well.

Using both languages, English and Portuguese, I explained to the visitors the history of the panels, the maritime artifacts and then the Portuguese inscriptions engraved on the face of the rock, using drawings of the Portuguese national symbols for comparison. At the end of my presentation, I allowed all the youths to enter into the glass enclosure and touch the rock, as a gesture of gook luck. But some of the old times wanted to do the same!

Because this group was composed of immigrants from the Island of Terceira and their descendents, during my explanation, I emphasized that the historical meaning of the Portuguese inscriptions must have much more value for them, because Gaspar Corte Real and Miguel Corte Real were both born in Angra do Heroism, the capital of the island of Terceira.

Furthermore I told them that from now on, they should consider the Park and the Museum their own, and bring all their members to do picnics and other activities in the future, because the entrance to the park and to the museum are free of charge. They should take pride in these two spots and use them to their benefit.

I took some photographs which in time will become historical. It was really unfortunately that the severe rain did not permit them to have a picnic in the park, because if there was instead a sunny day, all that good people would have had an enjoyable and a memorable day!


Mr. Francisco Santos comparing the drawing of the Portuguese Shield in "V" Shape with a similar one engraved on the face of the rock	Mrs. Maria Herminia Santos with the Portuguese "V" Shape coat of arms of King Manuel I and comparing it with a similar one engraved on the face of the rock	Mr. Victor Santos comparing the Portuguese coat of arms in "V" shape with a similar one engraved on the face of the rock


One group of children inside of the glass enclosure so they could have the satisfaction of touching the rock...	Another group of children in front of the Portuguese panel

After the visit to the Museum, a charted school bus came and took everyone to Fall River, where they were going to have their picnic and also have the boys and girls enjoy the carrousel.

In the mean while the firefighters from Freetown were called to see if they could get the large bus from the mud.

This disproportionate rain was due to the remnants of the terrible hurricane Ivan, that devastated Florida and some other southern states. Fortunately no one of the “Friends of Terceira” got hurt. I just hope that they will return to visit the State Park and the Museum someday in the future, when the weather is nice so they can really enjoy the beauty and the pleasant panorama of that place.

Dighton Rock is a concrete symbol, engraved in hard rock, of the Portuguese discoveries to North America, but is also the icon of the roots of immigration to this country from all parts of the Portuguese speaking world.

Dighton Rock is an American monument that is now preserved inside of a glass enclosure, in a proper museum, in Berkley, Massachusetts, 40 miles south of Boston and 10 miles north of the city of Fall River, route 24, exit 10.

Dighton Rock weighs 40 tons. It has a plain surface of 55 square feet. On this surface we find the inscriptions made by Miguel Corte Real in 1511. It has also engraved the two Portuguese National Symbols in “V” and “U” shape and also 4 Crosses of the Order of Christ.

The Portuguese theory was discovered on December 2^nd, 1918, by Professor Edmund Burke Delabarre of Brown University in Providence, RI. He was the chief of the Psychological Department. The Portuguese theory was discovered 86 years ago and since then no one has challenged it!

Any one of the above dates could serve as the day to bring all the students of the so called Portuguese Official Schools, together with their teachers, parents, family and friends, so that in an simples but historical ceremony, in front of the Dighton Rock Museum, give each student the certificate of passage of class or graduation diploma.

For furthered information we recommend reading the poem by Fernando Pessoa entitled NIGHT.

Why the Azoreans do not become more enthusiastic with the meaning of the Dighton Rock?

Several members of the group left their names registered on the visitor's book.

"It was a pleasure to bring here our group of youngesters and our Senior Citizens. Well done! As emigrants from Terceira we feel truly honored to see this historical monument."