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The year was 1914. The month was December. Miss Mabel Wilbur of Depot Street received two Black-Hand letters prior to the Christmas holidays. Miss Wilbur was the daughter of one of Easton’s wealthiest citizens, Lemuel K. Wilbur, now deceased. Miss Wilbur lived in the family home and on December 16 received a hand-delivered letter in a plain white envelope instructing her to leave $1000 at Cemetery Gate on Wednesday night. Otherwise, she would “be murdered in cold blood.” It was signed with a skull and crossbones. This was to be done that very night. She tore up the letter.   The next morning her galvanized metal post box and wooden post had been torn from the soil in front of her home, never to be seen again. On December 22 the second letter arrived; it had been mailed from South Boston. This time Miss Wilbur shared the contents with the police. The money was to be left that evening by the Cemetery Gate before 8 o’clock if she valued her life. A letter was placed by the Cemetery Gate by the police but there was a mix-up. One of the policemen arrived late. He was looking about for the others when he saw two ‘women’ run into the woods. He did not chase them. “The policeman, thinking that he had no grounds for detention, did not pursue them.” Unfortunate.   The police though, had suspects in mind. Who they were we don’t know. The Globe writer closed their article with the observation that, “There is a large foreign population in Easton, including Portuguese, Swedes, and other nationalities…..”, though the writer acknowledged they did not know exactly who the authorities had in mind. The policemen were Thomas Downey, Elisha Ellis, and Ellsworth Simpson. Simpson oversaw the case. The Cemetery Gate would have been the gate of the cemetery on South Street. The Black Hand Society or Mafia originally referred to urban organized crime gangs, usually of Italian descent. More than one citizen of Easton attempted a crime in the name of the Black-Hand.  In this case, no one was hurt, no money was lost, and no one was caught. For a short time, the case caused a great deal of excitement in Easton.
Anne Wooster Drury Source: Boston Evening Globe - January 1, 1915  Today’s story about Long Pond was shared by Don Almeida. The subject certainly has resonated with many Easton residents. In his words: “The land on the “Easton-side” of Long Pond was owned by the man who operated “Lakeshore Lunch”. He lived on North Main Street, directly across from the bumpy entrance road to the pond. His name was James (“Jim”) MacInaw (sp). Jim and his brother lived alone together in that house. He opened the lunch stand on weekends and was especially busy on Sundays when the beach was mobbed. Selling hot dogs and hamburgers only, the seductive aroma of fried onions wafted through the air attracting customers like a magnet. Nearby, the usual bell-ringing ice cream man was parked and often surrounded with excited kids yelling out their popsicle flavors. He would then travel to the Stoughton side of the pond, returning later to the Easton side. “If the parking lot was nearly empty, the late Edward “Red” Horan (Horan Oil, Stoughton), a former WW II Army Air Force pilot, would fly his bright yellow Piper Cub low over the water, pull up over the trees, and then land on the grassy parking area. He was married to a Craig from North Easton. “During the week, Elizabeth Donahue, who later became known as “Betty” Barrows after marriage, offered swimming lessons to the town’s children, sponsored by the Red Cross. She was then a student at Bridgewater Normal School (Bridgewater State College). She later taught Math and Physical Education at the high school. I remember we called her “Betty”, and she was our friend at the pond always wearing a bathing suit, and it was briefly difficult to formally address as “Miss Donahue” in a classroom. “The MacInaw brothers were WWI veterans. Jim’s brother came home with a mental health condition that was diagnosed as “shell-shock”, where he appeared, I recall, as far worse than the PTSD we’re familiar with today. He was a worn-out tired old man in his fifties. His face was lined with wrinkles and his full hair was ashen white. Every day, during hot summers and cold winters, he wore his slightly tattered, heavy wool, US Army olive drab topcoat which extended down to his ankles. During late afternoons at the same time, he would get off the Brockton bus across from the Rockery to return home from his job at a shoe factory. He would walk the one-mile home, his shoulders rocking left to right under the strain of a noticeable limp and that heavy coat, heading toward Long Pond while sadly talking to himself.”   It’s great when Easton residents or former residents are inspired to share their memories. Thank you, Don, for reaching out. It would be unfortunate if these memories were lost. Anne Wooster Drury A final note from Don Almeida- “I’m reminded of an obscure blues song about an old war veteran recorded during this period in the early 1950’s. It was not a popular song. It was simply there and then it wasn’t. It was titled Old Folks.* The opening and closing lyrics are: Everybody knows him as Old Folks Like the seasons he come and he go Just as free as a bird Just as good as his word That's why we all love him so But someday there's gonna be No more Old Folks What a lonesome old town this will be Village voices at play Will be still for a day The day they take Old Folks away * Written by Dedette Lee Hill and Willard Robison Many readers had fond memories of swimming at Long Pond so here are a few more pictures shared by volunteer June Bliss whose family grew up near by. One of our Directors, Steve Anderson, provided this collage of pictures taken from his grandfathers (Milton Anderson) photo album of family and friend gatherings at Long Pond thought to be from the 1920's and 1930's.  Easton HuskiesJust a couple of teasers for the September Open House on the Easton Huskies. There were teams for baseball, basketball, and football beginning sometime in the early 1930’s. This clipping from the Easton Bulletin dated July 23, 1931, is referring (I believe) to the Twilight League that preceded the formation of the official Huskies team. The Huskies were very involved in the community and held events for local children. This event was reported in the Easton Bulletin on July 6, 1950. Do you recognize any names? The Open House will be held on September 20th at 12:30.   A reminder: We are still looking for short articles for the 2026 Reminiscences. Please send by September 1st to our email: [email protected]
Anne Wooster Drury |
