Directions and the AECC

The Ashland Directions you see today is the evolution of a community newsletter published for free, as it still is today, by civic minded Ashland folk in 1974 who wanted to spread the “non-political” word to all our neighbors. I am looking at the March 1974 issue (a bit yellowed by age) that clearly outlines the mission of the newsletter: […]

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HH Richardson

How many times have we heard the phrase “life is too short?” It really can’t be overstated because in the grand scheme of things, life is too short. Today I would like to visit the works of an accomplished architect that who never saw his 48th birthday. Henry Hobson Richardson, or better known as H. H. Richardson, was born on […]

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Sir Harry

There are a lot of streets in Ashland named after prominent citizens. Most were successful businessmen, clergymen, politicians, and the like but occasionally you’ll find one with an interesting story. This one dates back to before the Revolutionary War in the part of Ashland that was originally Hopkinton. We are looking at Frankland Road, and the story of Sir Charles […]

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WPA

You 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 […]

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The Great Sludge Scare

With all the concern over the recent Icelandic volcanic eruption I thought it was appropriate to recall our own brush with the “ash.” Only this one had nothing to do with Mother Nature. It was a little closer to home and goes by the name of M.W.R.A., or if you are not familiar with this locally beloved agency, it’s the […]

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The Sudbury River

I am constantly amazed at the power of Mother Nature. Every New Englander has felt her wrath in one form or another and I’m sure each of us has a story to tell our grandchildren. The Blizzard of ’78, Hurricane Bob, you name it. But the rain event of the last couple of days serves as a reminder of what […]

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The Old Connecticut Path

I have had a lot of requests to do a story on the infamous “Pout Rock,” but in order to do it justice we need to look at the larger picture. Pout Rock is part of the Old Connecticut Path. A trail originally used by the Indians dating back before the early 1600s, Old Connecticut Path, or The Bay Path […]

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311 Pleasant Street

Living in New England we are constantly surrounded by history in one form or another. Often it is a notable individual, or event, but many times it is a place. Ashland is rich with historic places. Pout Rock, the Witches Caves, Magunko Hill, Workmen’s Circle, all these places we have visited and more. We also have had our share of […]

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