Preserving the Past
The problem of providing a suitable town farm or almshouse for the poor arose shortly after Ashland was incorporated. For its first few years the town followed the common practice of “letting out” the paupers to the lowest bidders. However, in December, 1855 there appeared in the warrant for the town meeting an article relative to the purchase of a […]
» Read moreYou can’t pick up a newspaper or travel our highways without seeing some reference to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). You have seen the roadside signs proclaiming the rebuilding of America by putting Americans back to work. Just the placement of the signs must have put a lot of Americans back to work. Anyway, the point […]
» Read moreConcerned about the ability to effectively fight fires, Ashland was looking into some form of municipal water system as early as 1875. A committee was appointed to study the needs and resources that existed in town, and this was their recommendation: “The cheapest supply of water for the town, to put out fires, will be obtained by putting a pipe […]
» Read moreAt the Ashland Historical Society one of our main sources of recorded history is the Ashland Advertiser. We have original copies of the publication which gives us a first hand glimpse of what life was like in the 1800’s. It is fun to read how “Officer Tidsbury took four tramps into court for manipulating doors and furniture in the Ashland […]
» 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 moreThere 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 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 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 moreThroughout history, it was not unusual for people to name their children after popular leaders. If you are a boy and your last name happens to be Lincoln, and it’s the middle of the 19th century, then there is a chance that your parents could have named you Abraham. Today we will visit one. The date is February 2, 1861. […]
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