Frank Converse: two portraits, one poem, an image carved into a gravestone weathered by time and a crime mostly forgotten by history… until now

Editor’s Note (May 31, 2026): This post was originally published on June 24, 2022. Recent coverage of the 1863 Malden Bank Murder in the following Chronicle segment on WCVB has introduced this story to a broader audience. For those seeking additional background, this blog post recounts how a portrait hanging in the Malden Public LibraryContinue reading “Frank Converse: two portraits, one poem, an image carved into a gravestone weathered by time and a crime mostly forgotten by history… until now”

This killer has a historical connection to The Boston Strangler. You may never have heard of him… but his crime was the first of its kind in American history

The Boston Strangler and The Malden Murderer The home at 11 Florence Street Park is long gone as is the parking lot which replaced it, one that I once used as a short cut to Malden Square. The wind stirs in my imagination as those painted yellow lines in my memory lift up fluttering likeContinue reading “This killer has a historical connection to The Boston Strangler. You may never have heard of him… but his crime was the first of its kind in American history”

A WISH AMONGST THE WOODS

These last three autumns have tried my spirit and wrecked my aching heart. First, my developmentally challenged cousin was struck and killed by a speeding driver as she was walking home with her groceries. Working in Television news, I edited the raw footage – unaware until the next day that she was the victim. IContinue reading “A WISH AMONGST THE WOODS”

What if Frank Converse was not killed in the Malden Bank?

On December 15, 1863, Frank Converse became the first murder victim during a bank robbery in American history. This video explores a hypothetical scenario created by an author who’s spent a lot of time thinking about Frank’s murder and its impact on the Converse family. I’ve also considered the importance of the Converse Rubber ShoeContinue reading “What if Frank Converse was not killed in the Malden Bank?”

Malden, MA – the first town in the colonies to support the American Revolution

On this Patriots Day, we remember the shot heard around the world at the Battle of Lexington Green. Lesser known is the unique role Malden played in the formation of our county. For Malden, Massachusetts was the first town in the colonies to declare in a letter to the Second Continent Congress their desire forContinue reading “Malden, MA – the first town in the colonies to support the American Revolution”

“Chalk Outline” Amber Ale author collaboration beer with Bone Up Brewing Company

Frank Eugene Converse, killed at age seventeen by his friend, Postmaster Edward Green, during the first bank robbery/murder in United States history was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery. Buried in Malden, his grave hasn’t moved but it is now located in the City of Everett. For at the time of the events in myContinue reading ““Chalk Outline” Amber Ale author collaboration beer with Bone Up Brewing Company”

Abel Bodied Speech at Converse Family Reunion

June 25, 2022 The Story of my novel, Abel Bodied Part 1Introduction: Page one of fulfilling my childhood dream of writing a novel began in this very building. I just was not aware of it at the time. When I was a boy, I spent hours and hours in this library. I was a studentContinue reading “Abel Bodied Speech at Converse Family Reunion”

Converse Family Reunion

June 24th-June 26th, 2022 It was a great honor to be invited by the Converse family to be a guest and speaker at their family reunion this past weekend in Malden, Massachusetts. The family initially planned to gather in 2020 to mark the two-hundredth birthday of Elisha Converse, but had to reschedule until this year.Continue reading “Converse Family Reunion”

Murder Mystery Pub Crawls!

Today will the first of several Murder at the Malden Bank pub crawls planned this summer in my hometown of Malden, Massachusetts. I am very grateful to the City of Malden for giving this first time novelist such a tremendous platform! My novel, Abel Bodied: Murder at the Malden Bank is based on the DecemberContinue reading “Murder Mystery Pub Crawls!”