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THE BOATHOUSE When I was young children had more freedom. I mean physically, in terms of where we could be, unsupervised. We rode our bicycles to lots of places and sometimes parents didn’t know exactly where we were. They were very good parents- times were just different. I remember one time being on the edge of Langwater Pond and exploring the boathouse which even then was not in the finest shape. It was dark and damp and creepy as I recall it. Today the Langwater boathouse is completely gone. I found an article in a “Homebuilder’s Supplement” from 1910. The magazine was called COUNTRY LIFE IN AMERICA and the author was George E. Walsh. The motorboat was increasing in popularity at the time so there was a need for boathouses to protect the engines from rain. The wealthier classes, especially, wanted a structure that was also attractive and fit in with the surroundings. The piece included a caption and a photo, “An attractive boathouse that fits unobtrusively into its environment. The property of Mr. F. L. Ames, North Easton, Mass.”  Boathouse. Property of F. L. Ames Something I don’t personally remember about Langwater is what was called the Ramble Walk. It followed the eastern shore of the pond past the house and continued along the pond’s edge toward Elm Street. Beautiful flowers, including narcissus, bloomed in profusion there and the “Ramble” was open for all to enjoy. I’m not sure when it disappeared. I know in the late seventies beautiful azaleas continued to bloom along the pond edge not far from the old boathouse.  Langwater boathouse I have kayaked and skated on Langwater- we called it Fred’s Pond, and the pond, along with our personal memories of it, are to be treasured. POST CARDS OF BOATHOUSE   Museum News There is a new collection of photographs at the Easton Historical Society. These beautifully framed photographs of the Ames mansions have been hung on newly painted walls in (mostly) the north side of the museum, although one is in the south side of the Museum, and one is in the office. The following mansions are displayed: -Langwater, home of F.L. Ames -Governor Oliver Ames Mansion -Spring Hill, home of William Hadwen Ames -Stone Hill House, home of F.L. Ames Jr. -Queset House, home of Oakes Angier Ames -Sheep Pasture, home of Oliver Ames II -Hobart Ames House at 31 Main Street -Wayside, home of Mary Ames Frothingham & her husband Louis Frothingham -Unity Close, built by Oliver Ames Jr. -Borderland, home of Oakes and Blanche Ames -Oakes Ames House at 25 Main Street -Included also is the Edwin W. Gilmore Mansion, 12 Main Street Edwin W. Gilmore, along with Oliver Ames, Jr., and Oakes Ames, founded the E. W. Gilmore Hinge Factory. This was in 1856. Gilmore later bought out the Ames’s shares. Initially the factory was on The Island; later the factory moved to 25 Elm Street. Following construction of the new factory, Edwin and his wife, Augusta Pool Gilmore designed and built their new house on the southeast corner of Elm and Main Streets.  Photograph of the Governor Oliver Ames house, original house. Of the twelve, seven still stand. Langwater, Stone Hill House, Queset, Borderland, Wayside, Unity Close, and Spring Hill. The others were torn down at various times. Wayside serves as the Easton Town Offices, Stone Hill House is part of Stonehill College, Borderland is a State Park, and the "Learning Commons" at Queset is part of Ames Free Library. Spring Hill, Unity Close, and Langwater remain in private hands and Langwater is the only home still owned by the Ames family. If you have a chance, stop by to view these photographs.   Two of the homes displayed in the “Mansions Gallery”, Spring Hill & Langwater.
Also new at the station are copies of Volume Fifteen of Reminiscences magazine, published yearly by the society, and the fine work of Daniel P. Pare and Hazel L. Varella. Included are articles by Avery Lee Williams, Anne Wooster Drury, Mark C. Bergeron, Frank Meninno, Sharon Baird Graves, Charleton Ames, and several by Daniel Pare including a fascinating and deeply researched article “From the Trenches to Tinseltown: Oliver Ames, Jr., in WWI”. Copies of this year’s volume are $10 and past volumes are just $5. Well worth it! Anne Wooster Drury [email protected] |
Easton Historical Society and Museum
PO Box 3
80 Mechanic Street
North Easton, MA 02356
Tel: 508-238-7774
[email protected]