STOUGHTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED 1895

Volume III, Number -  1 - February 1972

THE ANNUAL MEETING in January brought the installation of our new officers for 1972 and an encouraging report from our treasurer. Mrs. Phyllis Batchelder, outgoing President, opened the meeting and, after a brief word of thanks to the membership for their inspiring cooperation during her two years in office, turned the meeting over to President elect Edward Meserve who stated that he hoped to see the fruition of the program outlined by Mrs. Batchelder in 1970. (For complete slate for 1972, see last NEWSLETTER.)

MR. and MRS EDGAR (GERTRUDE) MALCOLM presented the program for the evening, during which they took us on a delightful halfway-around-the-world tour. Their fine presentation, illustrated with slides taken by Mrs. Malcolm, included the Eastern countries on an offbeat tour which showed much that is not seen in the average travelog. We were impressed with the extreme neatness of most of the East: Japan; Korea (where California oranges were being sold); Formosa, on which island we saw the old and the new in transportation, in fashions, in people and in architecture; on to Hong Kong and to Malaya and Singaopre. Other offbeat scenes were shown of Bali, Thailand, Nepal, India, Africa (where the Malcolms were photographed upon camels). Egypt and Turkey were represented; and, on the way home, London and, finally, interesting air views of Boston. Our thanks to Edgar and Gertrude for their beautiful pictures and witty comments.

THE TRUSTEES and the Historical Commission were represented at an informal meeting with Town Manager Albert Gray in early January. At that time Mr. Gray informed us that his strong recommendation to the Selectmen would be to turn over the entire use of the Lucius Clapp Memorial Building to the Stoughton Historical Society. His proposal included the provision that the town retain ownership of the structure and continue to maintain it, paying for heat and lights, etc.; and that the Historical Society and Historical Commission should establish a museum and cultural center after renovating the interior. Later in January, Mr. Gray presented his recommendation to the Selectmen arid it met with approval with the vote being 4-1.,, Further, meetings will. be necessary and much work lies ahead for us as principal tenants of this fine example of turn-of-the-century architecture. Mr. Gray and the Board, of Selectmen are to be complimented on their foresight and generosity. Where is much mutual benefit to our Society and, in turn, to the Town in such a move. . . and WE WILL WORK.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS: President Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Edison, Sarah Landman, President Abraham Lincoln, Sadie Kasupski, President George Washington, "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was admitted to the Union on February 6, 1788. (Send a card with your birthday...NO YEAR)

WE REGRET the passing recently of Ellen Kelley, who was taken from us suddenly; and we wish speedy and successful recovery to Sadie Kasupski, recently discharged from the hospital, and to Clyde Holmes who is recuperating at home after a serious injury.

NEW MEMBERS since our annual meeting are Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ivaldi (Claire); and Mr. and Mrs. Allan D. Parent (Ruth). We welcome them heartily to our swelling membership which is now more than fifty percent greater than in 1970. Your efforts have rewarded us grandly.

HOSPITALITY HOSTESSES at the annual meeting were Phyllis Batchelder and Helen Ewing Holmes. Their efforts were well received as we enjoyed delicious refreshments from a festive table.

RECENT GIFTS received were an Atlas of Massachusetts bound in leather-covered canvas and dated 1891 brought to us by Mrs. Gertrude Malcolm (this donation was the property of Helen Curtis, well-remembered member and officer of our Society); and a very generous money gift from Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Burt. The Burts' donation has gone into our Birthday Kitty... the birthday to be celebrated, of course, is that of the town of Stoughton.

FROM THE "GLOBE"..."To be sure, everything will die. With most things, even our most treasured objects, death will occur sooner than anyone expects. The time element is quite out of our hands; it is something that will be decided by the next generation. One generation comes to the conclusion that high-buttoned shoes are impractical; another finds the trolley car to be on the vulgar side; still others give up on doilies and antimacassars and tangos. Even now, there is a younger generation eyeing us, our artifacts and entertainments, with the cold calculating eye of a butcher in a stockyard." (Ye ol' Ed says, let us not let the "eye of the butcher" fail to see the value of what we possess and what our heritage has left us. We must, instead, try to instill in the younger generation a much greater interest in that which is their heritage, too.)

FROM THE PRESIDENT. . .I was perhaps remiss in my very short acceptance speech in that I failed through excited, pleasure to thank the nominating committee and all the membership for the honor and trust bestowed upon me. There is ahead of us all a large project in making the Lucius Clapp Memorial Building once again presentable to the public. It should be a place to which our fellow citizens will point with pride. Let us all do whatever is possible to assist in this work. This is public property and belongs to everyone; and we want to make it a pleasant place for them and their visitors, young and old, to enjoy.

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