When we stopped in the Sudbury Town Hall recently, we noticed a copy of an old map on the wall.
The map was “Saxton’s Map of Suffolk 1575.”
Many names on the map were unfamiliar, or in different locations from where they are now. “Ipswitche” was closer to Rhode Island than to New Hampshire. “Saxted” and “Bedfeld” were east and north of the area labeled “Framlinghm,” which by 1600, dropped the “l” to become “Framingham.”
As we gingerly walked on ice and trudged through snow this week to retrive our newspaper from the front walk, we asked ourselves why.
We can get news online, but not the smaller local stories. And, at least for us, there is nothing like reading and holding a paper or a book.
Two stories that caught our eye today were about Robert Wright, 1973 graduate from Framingham High, and 1977 graduate from Framingham State who has been promoted to Navy Rear Admiral and local comedian Peter Gross who is competing in a comedy festival.
Framingham has and is the home for many talented and worthy people who have made a difference and made a mark in the world.
We invite submission of news about past and present Framingham residents to share with our visitors.
We are having withdrawal symptoms because McAuliffe is closed due to problems with the HVAC compounded by the neighborhood power outage during the recent storm.
We hope that the smoke from the HVAC meltdown doesn’t penetrate the books and materials and the problems are a fairly routine fix.
This is the winter of ice storms and power outages.
The Framingham Police even put out a call urging people not to venture out last night if possible.
Many stores closed early.
During one storm before Christmas, even a sidewalk plow slid off the way and into a gully near the Mass Pike Overpass on Old Conn Path.
We went to return some books tonight about 6 o’clock and noticed that the library was dark as we drove up.
At first we thought the library’s hours had changed because of budget constraints.
There was a sign in the window that stated that the library closed at 5 p.m. due to lack of heat.
Sad to say, the building’s HVAC has had its problems, either being too hot or cold, making it hard for employees and patrons alike. Many’s the time the staff have to resort to fans or heaters to stay comfortable.
At least McAuliffe is still there to serve us, despite occasional efforts to close this very cosy, friendly library.
Predictable news stories around this time of year are: people falling through the ice on a local pond or river, and someone taking the Baby Jesus statue out of the manger in a nativity scene.
This week the Framingham area had both. The kids are OK after being rescued.
But the Nativity scene at St. Jeremiah’s is missing both the baby statue and the manger. At first they thought someone had started to bring in the statues as it is the end of the Christmas season. Hopefully, the statue will be returned soon. It was donated and rather expensive.
What motivates people to take these statues?
Over at sister church, St. George’s, the Nativity Scene is intact, watched over by the large stone statue of who my then four year old son once pointed to and said was “Baby Jesus all grown up!”
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Nobscot area residents and supporters have come together to form “Nobscot Neighbors.”
Nobscot Neighbors is a group of concerned Framingham citizens and other interested parties dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the Nobscot section of the town. Members are residents, elected officials, property owners, parents, and business owners who believe in taking an active role in their chosen community.
Nobscot has a rich heritage as one of Framingham’s distinct villages, one that they feel has the potential to become an even more vibrant, attractive, and welcoming place with the right guidance, promotion and encouragement. Nobscot is located in north Framingham, with its economic center located around the Edgell Road and Water Street intersection.
The goals of Nobscot Neighbors are:
Care to join? Visit their new website at: nobscot.org and sign up for their mailing list and keep up to date with their activities and discussions.
Currently meetings are held at Annie’s Book Stop/Espresso Paulo Coffee Shop in the Nobscot Shopping Center.
Related Link: <http://www.nobscot.org>
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Fabricplace was one of those businesses that you took for granted would be there if you needed anything in the way of sewing, window treatments, or uphoulstery. Oh what a fabric selection, and wouldn’t you like to dress as a bride again when seeing the bridal accessories?
After recently celebrating its 60th year in business, it was a shock to hear that it was closing.
When we visited at the end of October, most of the shelves were bare and many of the fixtures were sold.
At least some small area businesses may have benefited by being able to buy some display racks at discounted prices.
Now there is an empty parking lot, locked doors, and “Going Out of Business Signs” in the windows.
The MetroWest Daily News published an Associated Press article about a method for bureaucracies to become more efficient. The process, from Japan, is called kaizen, and is about working on continuous improvement.
Kaisen involves the workers and looks at why things are done a certain way, mapping and breaking down each step, and eliminating and reducing as much as possible to streamline processes. Kaisen helps to save time, increase task turnaround time, use resources wisely, and reduce government waste. It engages employees and empowers them to make suggestions to improve their workplace and efficiency.
The article put us in mind of the Town of Framingham Recycling Drop-Off Center, which has been evolving and showing continuous improvement. It seems as though the DPW folks have taken the time to analyze what needs to be done to handle waste and keep tweeking the process.
A few weeks ago a friendly greeter told us we could buy our 2009 permit stickers early as well as directed us into the best line for our drop-offs.
At the December 2008 meeting of the Framingham Downtown Renaissance group, mention was made of a new permit that would be available for businesses as well as individuals. Many small businesses will be glad to make use of that.
The Framingham DPW may not know what “kaizen” is, but they seem to be practicing it.
One thing we would like to see is a “put and take” or swap center so that usable items can be passed along to new owners instead of being scrapped. In these tight times, it might really help residents as well as reducing waste removal costs.
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, who was known as “The Angel of the Battlefield” due to her extraordinary work in providing medical supplies to wounded Civil War soldiers, has Framingham connections.
As Massachusetts celebrates “Clara Barton Days” from December 25 – 31th, Framingham can claim Clara as a local heroine, even though she was born in Oxford, Mass.
Clara was the daughter of Samuel Barton and Hannah Clayes Barton who moved from Framingham to North Oxford. Hannah was the daughter of Sarah Clayes, one of the lucky women who escaped execution during the Salem Witch Trials. Sarah’s story has been dramatized in the film “Three Sovereigns for Sarah.”
As a result of the witch hysteria and perhaps some undocumented help from Thomas Danforth, who was a judge in the witch trials and owned the land that they settled on, several families from Salem relocated to what became known as “Salem End” and then Salem End Road. (The Clayes House stands in disrepair on Salem End Road in Framingham.)
As a result of Clara’s work to help Civil War soldiers, in 1883 she was invited by the Governor Butler of Massachusetts, a former Union Army General, to return to Massachusetts and head up the Massachusetts Reformatory Prison for Women (now MCI-Framingham), the nation’s first women’s prison.
She accepted a temporary assignment of six months and stayed for nine, making a very positive impact and proving that females could run the institution.
There is a Clara Barton Museum, located on Barton Road, off Rt 12, in N. Oxford. She is also honored with a plaque next to the statue of the Civil War Nurse in the Nurses Hall at the Massachusetts State House.