Preserving the Past
There is a common misconception as to the duties of the Ashland Historical Commission, and the function of the Ashland Historical Society, and it is not unique to Ashland. All the 357 cities and towns in the Commonwealth that possess both have run into the situation where a resident or other inquiring individual has called Town Hall looking for the […]
» Read moreThe naming of streets in Ashland always intrigued me. Most of the older ones pretty much made sense: Tilton Avenue, Cutler Drive, Homer Avenue, etc. Then there are the ones that the developer must have named after himself or a family member like Donna Lee Lane, Teller Drive, Femia Road, and the like. What better way to make your mark […]
» Read moreEvery town has its local favorite breakfast place where everyone seems to meet at one point or another. It’s 6 AM for the early risers, and 9 AM or 10 AM for the local workers and politicians. Weekends bring the moms and dads with the kids. This is what makes a small town a pleasant place to live, and Ashland […]
» Read moreI would like to start our visit today noting the passing of two Ashland residents who each in their own way contributed selflessly to make Ashland a great place to live. Ben Montenegro was a major contributor in many activities and community projects for as long as I can remember. Whether it was the tennis courts and athletic facilities at […]
» Read moreDepending upon when you were born, not all of us are fortunate enough to have lived through a turn of the century. Moreover, for all of us that remember the change of millennium, it was a special treat. We seem to measure progress in 100 year increments. Even numbers I guess, or maybe for the longest time things really didn’t […]
» Read moreBusinesses 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 […]
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