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Weekly Update

9/26/2020

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Hello fellow history lovers!  The end of September brought with it a bit of late summer, with warm, sunny days and cool evenings!  I spent time this week preparing my kindling for the winter heating season, which will get here soon enough.  Pretty soon these warm days will be replaced by a warm seat near a hot wood stove.


Today's photos from the Belcher album, which we are nearly through, are nice reminders of a much simpler time, but also reminders of one thing that frustrates historians - unidentified photos!  Sometimes we might be able to identify a location from hints in a photo, and on a rare occasion, someone might recognize an ancestor and from there we might be able to identify other people in a photo.  Perhaps someone out there might surprise me with a name or two, so here goes!

The first photo is one full of style and surprises too.  Two older men, looking a bit long in the tooth, stand to the right of a much younger group of people.  All of them appear to be dressed in their "Sunday best" for this photo.  The girls have on their prettiest dresses and except for one who looks like she can't wait for this to get over with, offer slight smiles.  The young boy in the high stockings, knickers and ruffled top seems to be at least tolerating the photo session.  But my two favorites are the men on the right, the grizzled old gentleman in the stovetop hat and pants that may never, ever come clean, and the man on the far right who sports a very Captain Ahab looking wooden leg!  One would wonder if he was a Civil War veteran who suffered a devastating injury.  One name that does come to mind, suggested many years ago by Kippy Grant, is that he might be Ellie Gibbs, who had such a wooden leg, but that has yet to be verified, if indeed it can.

The second portrait is very different.  It depicts a local woman, perhaps a family member, in front of a grapevine with a basket of freshly picked grapes.  In contrast to the previous photo, she appears to be genuinely pleased to have her picture taken, and her relaxed smile adds to the sweet mystery of who she is.  A close look at her face reveals a ruddy complexion, perhaps from years of working outdoors in all kinds of weather as she planted, and later, harvested crops.  Her clothing is well-suited to her needs with layered dresses and petticoats and a shawl to keep her warm, and a brimmed bonnet to protect her from sun exposure.  And then there are the grapes - for jelly, or for wine?  Clearly, her work is not done, although I am grateful that she lives on, albeit anonymously, caught in a moment of time for us to reflect on.

Wishing you health as we continue to work our way through these more complicated times,
Frank
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    Curator: Frank Meninno

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Hello! June closes with a beautiful weekend of sun and warm, summer temperatures. This weekend would be terrific for sunning on the beach, working in the yard, cooking out, or taking in a ball game.

Sixty-five years ago that is exactly what was going on at Frothingham Park. In the summer of 1957, someone took a photo of a baseball game being played at Frothingham. The photo is taken from the hill near the Sheridan Street gate, and overlooks the outfield towards home plate. Though the photo is printed in black and white, one can easily see why playing ball at Frothingham Park is such a special experience! The field is well manicured, the basepaths smooth, the infield and outfield grass short and sturdy. Dozens of people are watching from the concrete stands. Others find the shade of the beautiful trees is the best place to watch from. Since the trees are well leafed out, I think this might be a summer game, perhaps our beloved Easton Huskies. How many of us have trekked to the Park to watch the Huskies, or our Oliver Ames High School teams, or Little League teams play? Even better, how many of us played in any of those games? With its beautiful baseball field, shade trees, natural beauty, and welcoming water fountain, Frothingham Park has no equal when it comes to a great place for sports. Today the Park is still a wonderful place to play in, or watch a baseball game. This photo, taken from approximately the same location as the 1957 photo, looks over that same green outfield towards the area of home plate. The field itself, aptly named for the late Robert "Buddy" Wooster who took such great care of the field, the park, and played games there, is as nicely kept as ever. The trees have matured since that 1957 photo was taken, providing even more beauty and shade. Driving by one can still catch a good ballgame, and certainly catch memories of heroics of years past. Does anyone remember Ken MacAfee hitting a ball onto Sheridan Street, over the iron fence? That must have been a truly Ruthian blast! Today the Park provides a safe playspace for young people, basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts, a track and paths for walking. A new pavilion adds a nice piece to an already inviting area. How many people packed a picnic lunch and escaped to the shady places at the Park to escape the summer heat? The Park is many things to many people, and a true treasure to our town since its establishment in 1930 as a gift from Mrs. Mary Ames Frothingham in memory of her late husband, Congressman Louis A. Frothingham. By the way, Mr. Frothingham was an excellent athlete and one of the best baseball players ever at Harvard. During the Great Depression, the Park was an anchor for so many. During this past pandemic, the Park once again proved its importance to so many people as a place to play, a place to relax, and a center of our community. Until next week, stay well,
Frank
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  • Home
    • Our Story
    • Curators Corner
    • Tours
  • Discover
  • Gallery
    • Richardson Buildings
    • Records
    • Maps
    • Ames Mansions
    • Event Photos
  • Research
    • Cemetery Records Collection
    • Crimes and Disasters Collection
    • Easton Churches Collection
    • Easton Ledger Collection
    • Easton's Neighborhoods
    • Folklore Collection
    • Frank Seymour Hersey Papers
    • George Warren Andrews Collection
    • Hayward Family Collection
    • Morse Family Collection
    • Randall Genealogical Papers
    • TECCOE Collection
    • Unity Church Collection
    • William L. Chaffin Papers
    • Links
    • Newsletters
  • Find Us
  • Books
  • Novelty Items
  • Prints and Maps
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Membership
  • Weekly Update
  • Weekly Update