Preserving the Past
I’ve always enjoyed walking by some of the older homes in Ashland, and have had the opportunity to visit a number of them. The Ocean House, which is currently the home of the Ashland Historical Society, is one of my favorites. Walking through the rooms you can almost sense the many lives that made the house a home. There are […]
» Read moreEven though Hopkinton claims to be the home of the starting line of the Boston Marathon, we in Ashland know the real story. “It all started here” as the sign proclaims next to the site on Pleasant St. in Ashland, not Hopkinton. With all the rivalries between Ashland and Hopkinton, this may be just another one, but it is an […]
» Read moreHalloween is almost here and all the lawn trimmings with ghouls, ghosts, and goblins are popping up. It is a great time for the kids and parents to “Trick or Treat” their neighbors on this annual event and for a lot of us it was the only time we saw some of them during the year. We look at this […]
» Read moreAshland High School has its “Wall of Fame” where graduates are honored for making an exceptional contribution to our American way of life. Who knew that so many would emerge from AHS? It is certainly a reflection of the commitment and dedication of our educators and administrators. While the wall honors achievements in academics, there is no mention of excellence […]
» Read moreDiabetes is one of the biggest health challenges today and there are scores of dedicated people working hard to find a cure. While we have made great strides in the treatment, according to the CDC nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes today. According to the former American Diabetes Association President Dr. Francine Kaufman the disease is […]
» Read moreOver the 100 plus years of our existence, the Ashland Historical Society has met at various places in town. Whether it was at a private residence, the library, or the Town Hall, the membership has collected and maintained the story of Ashland. This presented a problem as the Society’s collection grew, and it became clear that a permanent facility was […]
» Read moreThe Owners of Ocean House The Ocean House was built in 1748 by Colonel John Jones (b.1683 known as John Jones Esq.). An addition to the house was built about 1763. This addition is the East side of the house which includes the distinctive “Beverly Jog.” The new portion of the house was most likely occupied by John Jones, Esq. […]
» Read moreDriving around town it is difficult not to notice there are many streets in Ashland named after former landowners, or prominent figures that apparently left an impression worthy of eternal recognition. A few that come to mind are Tilton Ave, James Jackson Way, Homer Ave., and Metcalf Ave. Today’s story is about a member of one of those families: Frank […]
» Read moreMany of our visits to Ashland’s past have involved the various bodies of water within our borders. Whether they are reservoirs, ponds, or rivers, Ashland has its share. We also know from other Stories of Ashland it was not always that way. Near the turn of the 19th century, Ashland was the unwilling host of multiple water storage basins for […]
» Read moreOne of the best parts of living in New England, especially if you love history, is the abundance of historical homes. We all know that Ashland was incorporated in 1846 making us the new kids in the neighborhood but that does not mean we didn’t have our share of stately homes. Today’s remaining homes like the Valentine and Enslin homes […]
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