Preserving the Past
Businesses come and go in Ashland, but there are few that leave an indelible mark on the town or its citizenry. Maybe it’s the era that they existed, a less technological time perhaps, or it may simply be the business owner that made all the difference. In all fairness to the variety of businesses in town, the ones with a […]
» Read moreAs Ashland prepares to begin a new era with the recent appointment of Framingham Deputy Police Chief Craig Davis to the position of Chief of Police in Ashland, it is also interesting to look to our past. We have visited Top Cops in past articles, but this time let’s turn the clock back to 1902. Set aside your image of […]
» Read moreI wish to note the passing of Paul Romeo last week. At 82, Paul was a visible presence in Ashland for well over half a century and I remember him along with his Dad: Santo “Pa” Romeo, Eber Levine, Dr. Morgan, Wally Pearson, Tom Waters, and many others that made Ashland an interesting place to grow up. Paul would constantly […]
» Read moreHave you ever walked into an old house and wondered who lived here? I’m not talking about one of Mr. Bell’s ranches built in the 1950s, but more along the lines of the Valentine or Enslin homes. Even the Ocean House, home of the Historical Society, can pique your curiosity. You can’t help wondering who walked these halls before you. […]
» Read moreThere have been a lot of restaurants in Ashland over the years. Most have either survived by changing hands, “re-inventing” themselves with new names and owners, or simply faded into history. Many remember Carlo’s, the “88,” the “99,” Marconi’s, Wally’s, Mickey’s, and The Riverside Club. I’m sure there were plenty more, and I will be quickly reminded by veteran Ashlanders […]
» Read moreEvery historical society has an interesting story to tell about their beginnings, locations, founding members, and the like. Ashland is certainly no exception. The title of today’s story is the Wilson Room. What does a room’s name have to do with the Ashland Historical Society? At first glance, many would think it was named in honor of a prominent figure […]
» Read moreWhen you hear the word “peddler” what comes to mind? Looking at it from today’s perspective it would probably be someone who sells beverages or hotdogs at a ballgame, or possibly a dealer surrounded by empty boxes displaying his or her wares at a flea market. But over the centuries there were many other varieties of peddlers. One of the […]
» Read moreEvery September, Ashland holds a community day called Ashland Day. It is a day where townsfolk can meet each other and enjoy all the finest that living in New England has to offer. There are food concessions, parades (well, most of the time), information booths, music, games, raffles, and a stage at the gazebo for recognizing the people that contribute […]
» Read moreOne of my favorite late 90s TV shows was “Sliders.” It was based upon a group of space/time travelers who collectively jumped into a “worm hole” only to land in a parallel or alternate world. Everything looked the same, but there was always something different. The blue house on the corner of Main and Elm St. was now white, or […]
» Read moreIt is a local tradition across America to name buildings after people who have made a difference in our way of life, and Ashland is no different. In our community, the elementary schools that were originally named after the streets they were built on changed their names to honor prominent citizens like Henry Warren, David Mindess, and William Pittaway. Growing […]
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