VOLUME XLXII NO. 1 OCT-NOV-DEC 2022 Upcoming Events
December 10, 4:00 P.M.- Open House during the Stoughton Holiday Parade. There will be lighted wreaths on the door compliments of Janiece Bruce, Arthur Slate, Matt Cauchon and the Town Beautification Committee. Rick and Linda Woodward contributed the greens and decorations in the large pots. Stop by and see our new exhibits on early photography and the 150th Anniversary of Immaculate Conception and a related exhibit on St. Mary’s parochial school.
January 22, 2:00pm at the Lucious Clapp Memorial, 6 Park St. A Treasury of Early Stoughton Documents: A Presentation for the towns of Stoughton, Canton, and Sharon.
More than a year ago, we received our digital copy of the restored Huntoon manuscript scrapbook Vol I, owned by the Canton Historical Society, containing ancient hand-written Stoughton documents, almost all of them before Sharon and Canton separated from Stoughton. The Towns of Canton and Stoughton were approved both by their respective Community Preservation Committees and Town Meetings to spend the money that it took to restore the physical scrapbook and make digital copies, which will soon be available online. We will have the physically restored and preserved scrapbook on display and presentations by Dwight Mac Kerron, David Lambert and George Comeau on the contents. Members of the Canton and Sharon communities are welcome.
Feb 23, 6:30 P. M. Stoughton Photography Part II. Stoughton Public Library, 84 Park St. – John Carabatsos, who has worked extensively with historically important photographs will present pictures taken by Stoughton photographers between 1900 and 1927, with a special focus on George Gerard, whose pictures grace many of the Town Memorial Booklets, including those for Stoughton’s 200th Anniversary in 1926.
President’s Report
On November 17, we enjoyed a program at the Library, “Early Photographers of Stoughton” presented by Richard Pratt, Curator of the Stoughton
Historical Society, and Stoughton Town Historian David Lambert, who is also our Vice President and author of three Arcadia books of Stoughton images. Rich Pratt has created a display of early Stoughton photography at the Historical Society, which includes daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes. We saw
many pictures of our town, some familiar, some not, as well as a picture of E. A. Jones at age four and our diarist Edward Marden. Other impressive pictures by Mary L. B. Capen Reynolds made the case that one day we will have a presentation of her, alone. A recording of the program is available online if you contact Josh Olshin at the Stoughton Public Library, whom we thank for the use of their facility and equipment.
On October 6, we had our installation of officers, as listed in the previous Newsletter. We enjoyed the food at the Chateau Restaurant on Park St. and were entertained and edified by videos and classic photographs presented by John Carabatsos. Thanks also goes to Dan Mark, who got the appropriate computer and projector set-up working, and Joe Mokrisky, who provided a much better screen than the one we planned to use.
Joan Bryant, as she has for many years, set up the event with the restaurant, collected the money etc. In honor of her many years of distinguished service, she was awarded the Jack Sidebottom Award. Usually, Joan handles the etching of the designees’s name plates
on our large wood plaque at the Society, but this year, Denise Peterson did the honors. On September 24, a number of us contributed to setting up a booth for the Society for Stoughton Day at Halloran Park. Dave Foley and Stew Sterling provided much-needed help in setting up, battening down, and later disassembling our shelter. Joanne Callanan brought many props for us including hale bales, flowers and a variety of decorations. She also took many photos of people using their own cameras. Also present for us and covering the booth were Denise Peterson, Joan Bryant, Richard and Ruthie Fitzpatrick, Dave Lambert, and Dwight Mac Kerron.
On October 16, David Lambert, Richard Fitzpatrick and I represented the Stoughton Historical Society at the Canton Historical Society’s celebration of Canton’s 225th year of being incorporated as a Town. Their incorporation is a loaded historical issue in that they, as the First Precinct withdrew from the larger Town of Stoughton (us) to form their own Town. Ironically, T the current Stoughton, the Second Precinct, had attempted to withdraw to form its own Town a couple decades earlier. Before 1765, the current Canton had been Precinct One, the current Sharon, Precinct Two, and the current Stoughton, Precinct Three, all in the Town of Stoughton. After Sharon (then Stoughtonham left to form its own district (almost a town) in 1765, the Third Precinct (us) became the Second Precinct in the Town of Stoughton. Researching the issues at play in both “secessions” certainly expanded my knowledge of the histories of the two towns. In neither case is there much public information of the causes of either attempt to secede. Those discussions are not in the records I have seen. We do know that Benjamin Bird, who appears to be the driving force in the earlier Stoughton request to secede, had had major disagreements with the popular Rev Danforth of Dorchester. Bird’s rebellion against Danforth failed resoundingly, and he subsequently moved out to Stoughton. Names are suggested for the new Town which never came about were, first Freedom, and later, Danbury.
That attempt to secede failed in the legislature. The Second Precinct’s Jedediah Southworth who had taken the case to the Great and General Court complained (without naming names) that the proposal was undermined by some who claimed to be in favor. At that time Elijah Dunbar of the First Precinct was the Town’s elected representative to the court, and two decades later, he was instrumental in Canton’s secession. He is the man who is said to have proposed the name Canton. In 1783, his father, the Rev. Samuel Dunbar ended his fifty-year tenure as minister in the first Precinct.
In the twenty-five years between the two secession proposals, the Rev. Jedediah Adams ended his more than thirty-year tenure at the Second Precinct in 1792 and there were a series of proposals and counter proposals relating to the money he would receive in severance. A final payment was finally made to Jedediah Adams of 40 pounds. Payments at the beginning of 1795 were recorded in pounds, but in dollars by the end! That said, accts still appeared in pounds and shillings in 1796, but by 1797 everything was in dollars and cents! During these decades there were ongoing “discussions” on where Town Meetings will be held. One year it was voted that all meetings would be held in the Second Precinct, but the next meeting voted that only one in three meetings would be held in the Second Precinct. In 1783 they voted to confirm a way from Stoughton to Easton, laid out by the selectmen from Timothy Gay’s land to Mr Clapp’s corner, and then one half on McCupply’s and John Clapp’s land and the other half on Jeremiah Vose’s land and on to Hezekiah Gay and Clapp’s land and then all on said Gay’s land, “passing by a ledge of rocks until it comes to a heap of stones on the Colony line.” It seems that this would have established a route to Easton from West St. without using a causeway over Ames Pond. This route may have incorporated the current route of the northern half of Palisades Circle, but more likely the old woods road just north of it, now part of the trail in the Roy Robinson Loop and which once (in my life-time) connected to dirt roads in Easton to the South and the Morse-later Totman Meadow to the East. There are significant stone ledges on both routes. Sorting out this route via the route of the land ownership in 1783 may be a job for Dave Foley.
During this time, Stoughton joined Dedham, Medfield and other Towns from western Suffolk County, to withdraw and form a new county, Norfolk County. The issue of the alewives being blocked by dams on the Neponset River and not reaching Lake Massapoag or Ponkapoag Pond was a major issue. In the Second Precinct, Christopher Wadsworth gave a strip of land, which abutted his land, one rod wide to the meeting house lot, but he and his heirs will have rights to the dung. Of course, there are matters of great national import also transpiring, regarding the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the acceptance of a new Constitution of the United States of America. But on the home front, when the final accounting comes between “old” Stoughton and “new” Canton, there is $2506 to be divided with Canton getting $1435.30 Stoughton $1061.36 and more details on orders to be paid by each Town Canton-$377.05 Stoughton-$353.14. The Towns will confer on the care of the Widow Hodges, and Stoughton will no longer be expected to contribute money to the suits to remove the obstructions impeding the alewives, because the alewives apparently do not migrate to Stoughton’s waters via the Neponset River. They may or may not get to Ames Pond via the Taunton River, coming from the south and Narragansett Bay. In any case, the mill-owners and the Industrial Revolution soon trumped the passage of the alewives and the dams and mills expanded.
The greatly improved Glen Echo Park had its grand opening ceremony on November 5, 2022! There were a number of speakers representing the CPC, the Selectmen, and the Town boards. John Morton was one of the speakers and town history should note that he was a driving force in acquiring this jewel for the Town in his negotiations with Joanna Gibson, promoting the passage of the Community Preservation Act in this Town, and stewarding the article through Town Meeting to purchase Glen Echo, when the Town Manager and a majority of the Board of Selectmen were not in favor. He did not do it alone, but he led the way. In the week before the ceremony, the two signs designed by the Historical Commission had their bases retrieved from the Armory and installed by Public Works and then Chris from COGraphics installed the last two plates. One of the signs is to the right, at the end of the old trolley line and the other is near the picnic tables down on the shore line. It is worth your while to drive up see the beautiful park and check out the signs. We also put together an illustrated, eight-page booklet for the occasion with commentary and pictures, which the Town printed for us, and we have a number of copies still available at the Society. Eagle Scout candidate Aadil Khond has taken on the project of identifying some of the foundations on the Glen Echo property and placing appropriate signage near them.
This year’s Stoughton Community Calendar features the Town owned Gay-McNamara-Hurley barn on West St. John Carabatsos found a picture in the Maoli Collection of several young women posing with their bicycles on the road directly in front of the barn and later, apparently on the same day, down at the Ames Pond swimming beach. In a subsequent walk to the site of former Girl Scout Camp Waluhiyo, we learned that Barbara DeVito Burgoine is one of the young women in that picture. This insight from Barbara led to the identification of the others: Beth Eastman, Leslie Maltman, Robin Vita, Regina Hannon, and (maybe) Linda Doherty. Thanks to Dan Mark for using his sources to come up with these other names. This Community Calendar is available at the Library and at the Historical Society. Consultants have been hired to evaluate the structural integrity and possible uses for the barn, parts of which were constructed as early as 1806.
In follow-up research relating to the “House of Mercy” in Stoughton as mentioned in the last newsletter, we have determined that its location was the large, three-story house at 221 Sumner St. Ruthie Fitzpatrick recalls that the Stillermans lived there in her youth and raised kosher hens. Once, when there was an extra hen that had been “prepared,” Ruthie remembers that her mother sent her over with money to buy that chicken. Poll tax records reveal that that the Stillermans first appeared at that address in 1925. They purchased the property and rented the other apartment(s) to several tenants, including one branch of the Gay family. A big thank you to Dave Foley for digitally searching through MANY deeds over a period of many years. The following is a piece written by Ardis Johnston, one of our Life members, as a tribute to her former neighbors on West Street: The Gurney Family – History
I believe that the house at 991 West St was first owned by two sisters, names unknown to me. Stuart and Jean Gurney bought the house and had owned it for a number of years before we moved across the street from them in 1968. Stuart died about 2 years later. He was born in Brockton, graduated from MIT and had been long retired when I met him. They had a large dog but it died shortly after I met them and they never had any further pets. Jean loved my pets and called them “cunning”!
The Gurney’s owned the house with its attached garage, the woods behind the house, almost all the way to what is now Grace Lane, and the woods and fields along West St. to Plain St. (now there are houses everywhere). Stuart had planted blueberry bushes on his land behind the house. He also grew corn and probably other vegetables in the field along West St. to the corner of Plain St. Neighborhood kids stealing his corn often troubled him! He was no longer gardening by the time we moved to Stoughton. The Gurney’s were not happy when Stoughton took their land for the town well. One of the wells on the land is called the Gurney well. Stuart was a tall, lean man and Jean was a very tiny but strong woman. She was once a redhead but had nearly all white hair by 1968. After Stuart died she would drive herself to church every Sunday. When she drove her large Buick, she needed to sit on cushions in order to peer over the dashboard. She once sideswiped our neighbor, Dorothy Rogers, who was out walking, and broke her arm. Jean was unaware of it and insisted it did not happen. She also had an accident at the corner of West and Plain Streets and then never drove again. She would ride to church with our neighbors, the Crofwells, and ride with me to the grocery store.
Jean was born in Scotland and her maiden name was MacTavish. She had two sisters and a brother, all living in Revere where she continued to live for a number of years. Their mother had brought them to the US as World War I broke out because she feared her son would be drafted and might die. I met her sisters
but I do not remember meeting her brother. I’m quite sure none of them had children so there were no nieces or nephews.
Before moving to Stoughton Stuart Gurney had been married and was living in Norwood. He and his first wife had an adopted daughter but his wife died at a very young age, I think of kidney failure. Jean was living in Revere and was a secretary in Boston when she and Stuart Gurney later met. They married and moved to Stoughton. The daughter never respected Jean and would only contact her for money. Jean always obliged and paid her a set amount.
Until the day Jean died, she fixed her own meals, hand washed her laundry, hung it out on the clothesline to dry and did all her other chores. She was a strong woman but she died suddenly at the age of 92. I would check on her every evening after I arrived home from work. The day she died, I found her fully dressed, on the sofa, with her afternoon tea and cookies ready on the kitchen counter. The Gurneys are buried at the Melrose Cemetery in Brockton Massachusetts. -Ardis Johnston The Stoughton Fish and Game Club has agreed to let me study their records for historical purposes. Here are some excerpts of the years I have studied in rough draft form:
The first entry: In 1921, the organization met at Town Hall. It is not clear what their name is yet. Apr 7- 94 members among them: CL Bruce, Wallace Cobb, Walter Robinson, Joseph Zaiger, Joseph Estey, Walter Henry Sec. Chas. Murphy, Duncan Fleming, Rust Robinson, Jas DeWolf, James Austin, Ralph Mann, Hiram Belcher, Alfred Lawrence, Robert Drake, Henry Bostech, Hyman Mann, Walter Robinson, John J Kennedy, James Meade,`Arthur Dykeman.
Morton Bird (Forrest’s father) is the secretary from March 3, 1924 to Feb 2, 1926. One can see the hand-writing change with the new secretary. In March, Leo Green becomes secretary. Move to interview Mr Welch in regards to building a duck stand on his land. May 4th 1926 meeting reports that they had gained permission to do so. Vote to have the next meeting at Welch’s farm. June/July 1932- Field Day held at the Welch Farm July 1932. Vote that a “No bathing without bathing suits: be placed on the boathouse at the Welch Pond. August 1932. Vote that signs will be placed at the boundaries if the Welch Farm Oct. 1932. Motion made that people get in touch with Mr Welch re: fishing in pond and brook. Nov 1932. Welch said yes to brook, no to pond. They will get back to him. Jan 1933- Motion made that inquiries be made regarding stocking Glen Echo Lake with white perch and bass. Report that four or five hundred trout had been released in Connie Sullivan Brook off Sumner St. Rabbits, pheasants, and quail to be liberated in various places: Back of piggery N. Stoughton, Bird’s hill, Bay Rd south. Bay Rd Al Savini, Connie Sullivan’s, land near Frank McNamara’s on West St., Float Meadow, (where is this?) back of Lepro West Stoughton, William Lutted, Cedar St., Back of Elmcroft Pond, Park St., Sawyer Meadow. (Where is this?) Not all of them are released all of the places, but in various combinations. Feb 1933: 63 rabbits have been liberated in various location. March 1939. The places recommended had all been accepted except for McNamara’s pasture. More rabbits liberated at Welch Farm and back of Pollilio’s West Stoughton. Also in back of Kelly’s Factory and high tension line off Pine St. April 1933: voted that Arthur Dykeman see Mr Welch re: having meetings at the barn near the skeet field. May 1933: Welch gives permission to use the barn and sow the fields. Vote to install lights in the barn and sow the fields with buckwheat and clover June 1933 field. Mr Messer (who was quarrying in what is now the Bird St. Conservation Area (as described in recent newsletters)) was in favor of having the club post his lands. The fields were harrowed. July 1933: Report that RR is strict and a forty-foot pole will have to be erected to get lights into the barn. Voted to purchase two gasoline lamps….
(Charles W. Welch apparently died at some point here.)
Dec 5 1938: Herman Starkowsky thanked for printing the No Trespassing signs for the Welch farm. James Lehan, one of the oldest members tells them that he hopes that the club can get control of the Welch farm. Harold McGee and Richard Winroth thanked for repairing the roof at the Welch farm Jan 3, 1939: A verbal agreement has been made with Mrs. Welch to purchase the farm and will be finalized when she returns from the South. Stocked a good number of perch fish in Ames Pond.
Apr 2, 1939: Welch farm purchased. They begin to consider the formation of a corporation Apr 3, 1939: Farm purchased for $3005, because another offer had come in for $3000. They agree to sell bonds. Lennie Whitten wins the “biggest liar” contest over Russ Robinson
May 1, 1939: Lennie Whitten had gone on to win the biggest liar contest of Plymouth, Norfolk, and Bristol counties (or so LW reports).
Nov 4, 1940: The dam at the pond has been completed. (Later we find out that water first flowed over the dam wall on Jan 8th at 4pm. (I had assumed that the concrete dam had been built by C.W. Welch, but it appears that it was built after his death, by the new owners, Stoughton Fish and Game.)
Jan 14,1941: Voted to give legitimate dealers the right to purchase and remove sand and gravel to put plans for a new building on hold, and see if the barn would be worth re-modeling. Feb 10, 1941: Voted to oppose the bill in the legislature that all rifles and pistols must be registered. April 1, 1941. BOD The front sill of the barn will be repaired.
Oct 6, 1941. Mr Wigmore will install a cement cap over the sluiceway at the pond. (More research is upcoming.)
Here are the last two months of Peter McGarvey’s WWI diary, (with the blank dates deleted) as transcribed by Zachary Mandosa. These entries are between the Armistice and the end of the year.
Peter’s brother, John, dies from the flu in the last entries here. November 11 Hostilities were suspended today at 11 o’clock. A very funny coincidence- 11th hour. 11th day. 11th mo. 12 Worked on road all day. Dug out six duds. Met Keller this after didn’t know him at first. 1st time since I’ve been in France. 13 Orders came to move. Hiked three or four kil and camped a Kil from Braw. Camped on hill. Cold weather. Had Bonfires made of bags of powder. 14 Had 1st detail Reported to Regmt Hdgts Loading Trucks. They turned in all extra eqpt. Met co at night. 15 Left at 8.45 and hiked about 20 kil to Flury. Put up in a barrack. Weather cold. Prison camp there Good by M. at Hospital. 16 Cleaned eqpt. Cad & Hill came back. Weather cold. 17 Worked at headqtrs loading trucks. Company marched about 20 Kil to Sigmilles. Rejoined company at night. On guard tonight. Man shot while was posting relief. 18 On guard to left Sigmilles and hiked to Nancois de petite. Hell of a place. Went to Fromwell at night. 19 Hiked to Couverputs. Hell of a place. 20 Hiked to Luyeville. 21 Hiked to Prez la Foche? near our old area. 22 Hiked to Esnoweary made about 25 kil. Wonderful country but poor for marching. Saw a squadron of Bombing planes out for exercise. 23 Hung around all day. had a pair of drawers issued today, got a shirt a week ago. had pair of gloves given to me that disgraced the name. 24 Boiled mess kits today. Went to church this afternoon. 25 Got paid today. Had short arm inspection. 26 Nothing to do. 27 Nothing on my mind but my lot/bot? today. 28 Had a wonderful feast today. Roast pig mashed potatoes squash pudding + sauce creamed onions breads butter. 29 Started in to chill today Reveille 6.30 o’clock Breakfast 6.45 Dull 8.00 Recall 11.30 Dinner 12 Drill 1.30 Ridll? 3.00 Retreat 4.00 Supper 5.00 Taps 10.00. Nov 30 Inspection this morning. Had afternoon off.
Dec 1 Went to church today. Stood Retreat. 2 Drill today. Was night guide of second platoon in guard mint. Had Regt review tonight. Recieved a compliment from Maj Chase for having a good line. 3 Drill today. NonComs had to go to guard mount and then hold meeting. Received barrack bags today. Mine was stripped of most of my personal stuff. 4 John left on seven day pass. Misty weather little rain mixed in.
Drilled all day 5 Drilled all day and had charge of a squad. Received a paper sent by J.W. Weather Cloudy. 6 Cloudy and cold this morning. Picked for detail today and cleaned up streets at hdqtrs. Got out of drill and regt Review. 7 Had inspection this morning and the afternoon off. Good day. Stood at attention for a half an hour with packs on. 8 Nothing to do today. Was over to Force to U.M. Bought cheese and candles at french store. Missed lunch formation 9 Our General Hale gave us a short speech today. Practised review with one company li??? to be color escort. Officers got hell from Col. Had a map/nap this after. Fairly good day little rain later part of afternoon. 10 No reveille from Europeans at
2.30 p.m. and laughed? in Nowgent? at 5 o’clock. 5th Army Corp headqtrs is ??? here. Some town. weather rotten. 11. Fill in for work today at 8 o’clock. Worked on barracks. had detail putting in panels. Rained like hell all day. Received some mail today. This is a swell place. It was a swell place to fight a war. 12 Working on barracks today, rained all day and was wading around in the mud uptown tonight and went to a dance but nothing stirring. 13 Working on barracks. Rained this morning but cleared up later. Putting in plates.
14 Good day. Working on barracks. Put in charge of a squad today. Letter from Aly it? also a copy of the shuttle. 15 A wonderful day. Took a bath today and washed up clothes and aired my blankets. 16 Worked on barracks. Signed classification cards this afternoon. Rained like hell this afternoon. 17 Worked on barracks. Had a short arm inspect this afternoon. Rained today. There was an Corp officers meeting today beacoup cars around. Had collar ornaments issued today. 18 Worked in barracks today. Rain as usual. Learned that John went to hospital. Fellow came back from leave. 19 On barrack first of morn? ON a stone wall later. Was over to Foulair this afternoon for lumber. Had a small snowstorm this time afore? Rain this morning. 20 Was on detail today At Foulair unloading lumber. 21 Worked on barracks this morning. Had inspection this after. Met Keller today first time in a year. 22 Was on a detail in Sange? unloading Pontoon bridges. Hauled them up to bridge school. Slept in a casual camp. 23 Unloading boats today. Rained like hell nearly all the time. 24 Had a cootie bath today. Worked a short while. Got paid today. 25 No reveille today. Saw Wilson today. Had a turkey dinner chocolate a
& hard candy given out. 26 Had the day off for working Sunday. Fairly good day. 27 Worked today on a stone wall. Cold day. Had a great feed of eggs for supper. 28 Worked around barracks today rained all day. Was uptown at night. 29 Had day off. Hung around billet all day. Reading book. Played trail. 30 (In different color, blue ink) Dec 30 John died today at r. sur Tille. Lobar pneumonia Sept/left? 12.450 (Usual color ink resumes) Was putting stoves in barracks today. Rained this after. Received Xmas box today also John’s. Write home tonight. (blue ink) John died today from pneumonia. (John McGarvey Jr. was his brother.) 31 Was putting stoves in Barracks. Fairly good day but a little rain. Received barrack bags today. Wrote home tonight. John buried today at C/r sur Tille. A.E.F cemetery #5 Grave #191 Full military honors.
We continue to share many informative and detailed posts regarding Stoughton history on Facebook at “Stoughton, Massachusetts Historical Society,” “The Stoughton Time Machine,” and “Stoughton Massachusetts, Scrapbook-Photos & Memories.” We address many aspects of Stoughton history for which there is not space in the Newsletter, and we usually cover two or three new topics each day.
Archivists Report
Dan Mark donated a Framed Postcard Picture of the west side of Stoughton Square, c. 1939 – 42. Dan has also completed the sorting of the Bob Parsons collection. Two large, overflowing boxes of newspaper clippings and scrapbooks have been considerably reduced in bulk.
-Stephen Kelley, of Boston donated several items as follows: 1. An Old Home Week Program for 1908. 2. Two – Stoughton, Two Hundredth Anniversary Programs from 1926. 3. Stoughton High School Yearbook “Semaphore 1938’. John Kelley’s Copy. 4. Stoughton High School Yearbook “Semaphore 1941’. 5. An album containing a collection of 98 Stoughton Postcards. 6. A 1913 St. John Chambre, GAR Post 72, 45th Anniversary Roster Booklet. -Lois E. Conley of Stoughton, Daughter in Law of Helen (Simmons) Conley, donated a packet of letters written by Mabel Simmons during her years teaching in Winn, Eliot and Burwick, Maine. During the period, September 8, 1923, and December 31, 1924.
-Bob Zeph, of Canton donated a large number of items that had belonged to the late Joanna Gibson, who was the last private owner of the Glen Echo Park Property, before the Town of Stoughton purchase. I will not attempt to list every item, as some have not been looked at yet. However, a few have been posted on Facebook including: a group of complementary tickets to ride the “Bristol and Norfolk Street RR” to the park, wallet size cards advertising
the Park with a map on the back, another card advertising the “Business Men’s Hideaway, 3:00 to 8:00 pm.” and one more, advertising the First Annual Banquet of the CURLEY for Governor Club, Wednesday February 13, 19??. Note: This year date, could have been 1924 when he ran and lost. He ran again in 1934 when he won and lost again in 1951. (1935, 1946 or 1952 are the only other years with Wednesday, February 13th dates.)
-Tony Marchesiani, of Norwell, MA, donated a “Poster” or “Hand Bill” advertising the Stoughton Dramatic Co., Entertainment at ATWOOD’S HALL, Friday Evening, Sept. 28, 1877 (five years before any of our current documents re: this company). “Overture,” by the Orchestra, Under the direction of Mace Gay, Jr. Followed by the Drama “Above the Clouds” Concluding with the Laughable Farce in one act “Don’t Judge by Appearances”
Admission – – 25 Cents.
Reserved Seats – 35 Cents.
Doors Open at 7 1- 4 ; Overture at 8 o’clock.
Tickets for sale at H. E. Wilkins drug store, where a plan of the Hall can be seen. FYI, Mrs. H. E. Wilkins, had a part in the production. -Richard Fitzpatrick
Curator’s Report
Acquisitions: From Rick and Linda Woodward: A parasol with bamboo handle. From Vincie Ramoska: A Polaroid “Impulse” camera. From Ruth O’Day: A brown one-quart Duraglas soda bottle and a clear Duraglas half pint liquor bottle. Thank you to everyone who donated these items. We have completed a display about 19th Century Stoughton Photographers, which includes examples of their work and brief biographies, info about Civil War-related Revenue Stamps on the back of photos, and the various card sizes of photos they printed from negatives. This display is next to the display about three early photographic processes.
On November 17th at the Stoughton Public Library, David Lambert and I made a presentation about Photography in 19th Century Stoughton. The PowerPoint presentation included 123 slides. I presented: an overview of the types of photos which have been donated to the Society over the past 125 years; early
important photo processes, including the Daguerreotype, the Ambrotype, the Tintype, and Albumen print-mounted photographs, including Cartes de Visite (CDV), Cabinet Cards and larger mounted prints. David Lambert’s presentation covered 19th Century Stoughton commercial photographers with brief biographies & examples of their work. These photographers included: Orange H. Venner, William F. Carpenter, Isaiah N. Packard, Frederick A. Chadband, and Frederick B. Savels. A more extensive presentation was made about the life and work of Mary L.B. Capen Reynolds, an amateur photographer who began photographing people and places in Stoughton with a stereoscopic camera in 1873. David finished the program by providing commentary while showing pictures of Stoughton taken in the latter half of the 19th Century. -Richard Pratt Clothing Curator’s Report
We are half way through the 24 boxes of collected clothing stored in our building. We have been able to re-organize the boxes, move items that had been mis-filed, labeled most of the boxes with the name of the type of clothing in each box, set aside items needing repair and changing locations of many items. Many items have been relabeled but many more need to be done. Dan Mark has been most helpful in moving
the very heavy boxes from one high shelf to our work table and then back again to its correct location. Once all the items are properly placed in their new location it will be time to decide if we are over stocked with any one type of clothing and if so, what we should do with duplicates. For that step, I would like several opinions as to what should be done. If you have an interest in any part of this program, please let us know. All hands and heads are welcome. -Janet Clough
We are pleased that we have picked up a number of new members in the last year. Whether you are a new member, or a seasoned veteran, even if you cannot come to the Society every week, but have a sincere interest in the Stoughton Historical Society, we welcome volunteers with their fresh ideas to join us on any Tuesday from 10:00 to 3:00 or a Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00.
Memberships
New members: Ann Flynn, Kate Sawyer, Barbara DeVito Burgoine, Ed McNamara, Peter & Karen Banis. Lifetime- Faith Crandall, Don Williams