Join Us on Heritage Day for Four Fun Events!
Dear Friends,
Just a reminder that we’ll be hosting a whole series of fun events on Heritage Day Monday, October 14th.
Fancy Flea from 9-3 at the Pilgrim Church Hall!
Come hunt down your own private treasure from items donated to the Southborough Historical Society! We’ve received hundreds of fascinating objects, from lovely lamps to rare kitchen items, Limoge plates, Robert Shaw prints, you name it, and priced to move. In fact, so successful has the process been that the Museum will be open one last time this Sunday, October 6th from 11-2 to accept last minute donations. Clean out your attic and come on down or we can arrange to come to you!
Plus the museum will be selling rare duplicates from our Deerfoot Farms collections, not to mention we’ll have numerous private vendors on hand selling their own vintage and antique items!
Classic Car Shown from 10-3 American Muscle vs British Brawn
In a Heritage Day first, we’ve organized 10 or so proud owners of classic British and American automobiles. After participating in the parade, these automotive gems will be parked outside the museum for viewing. It’s the battle of the Brits vs the Americans! Who will win?
Museum Open House 10-3 and New Exhibit: Southborough Through Time
The museum will be open showcasing its new exhibit: Southborough Through Time. Follow the changes of Southborough from 1830-1964 in a serious of spectacular maps.
Plus, don’t forget our friends at the Southborough Arts Council will be hosting an Arts Fair at the Community House with number local artists and craftspeople showing their wares! Visit the field, the Community House and then up the hill!
De-clutter Your Life and Help the Society! Contribute to the Fancy Flea on Heritage Day
Stuff here, stuff there, stuff everywhere! If you need to de-clutter your house, or are downsizing, we have a perfect opportunity for you! Contribute your unwanted possessions to the Southborough Historical Society Fancy Flea on Heritage Day 10/14. We’ll be inside at the Pilgrim Church Hall, selling away., from kitsch to classic!
You have three ways to help the Society: the easiest is to drop off your stuff at the Museum Saturday 9/21 or Sunday 9/29, 10-1.
If you have a lot of material, we’ll also offer free pickups that week. Everything you donate to the society is tax deductible.
Thirdly, if you’d like to pocket the money yourself, we are offering booth space at the church hall for $25. Bring your table, your goods and your sales-craft. We’ll be open 9-3 PM. Application required.
Please note here are some goods we cannot accept:
TV’s, computer monitors or other electronics, unless pre-1950
clothing
large furniture
CD’s or DVD’s
We are particularly interested in vintage material relating to Southborough.
For more information, info@southboroughhistory.org
Under Pressure from Residents, St. Mark’s Withdraws Light Plans
I am extremely pleased to be able to share with you the news that the Planning Board has received a letter from St. Mark’s withdrawing their application to install night lighting on the historic Clark field. The letter went on to state that St Mark’s would take a look at the project over the next several years with an eye to addressing residents concerns. So for now, blessed darkness reigns, thanks again to citizenry advocacy. Next step, getting some hoods on the lights at Woodward and putting a “use only” policy in place that turns off the current automatic timer that illuminates the fields (at taxpayer expense) regardless of whether anyone actually IS on the field, and replacing it with a simple on off switch for use during official activities.
Congratulations to all the residents of Southborough on this one!
Two Victories, And a New Challenge—Clark Field at St. Mark’s Moves to Southborough’s Most Endangered List
We are deeeee-lighted to remove two buildings from Southborough’s Most Endangered List, Fayville Village Hall and the barn at 135 Deerfoot!
Fayville Village hall was purchased by Mr. John Delli Priscolli (who also bought and renovated 84 Main Street). He plans to preserve the facade, and renovate the interior as an antiques mart and auction house. This building had been subject to tremendous debate, with previous BOS members arguing that the town should simply sell the property and let the historic hall be torn down. Thanks to public pressure, and excellent work by members of the Southborough Historical Commission, a conservation plan was conceived, and now the Village Hall looks to be headed for another century of active use!
We are also delighted to announced that the barn at 135 Deerfoot Road has been carefully disassembled and is undergoing restoration in Vermont. There are some plans, yet to be confirmed, that it will reappear as part of Chestnut Hill farm. Regardless, it is not in a thousand splinters in some landfill, and that success can be entirely credited to you, my friends, members of the Southborough Historical Society! The Society kept up constant pressure on the developer to salvage the building, and at the very last minute, I was able to locate several parties interested in preserving the structure. Literally days before the lot was schedule to be cleared, they carefully labelled and stored every beam and rafter, so that this wonderful piece of Southborough’s rural history will live on. So if anyone tries to tell you that public advocacy for preservation doesn’t make a difference, you point them to this barn and advise them to think again.
Unfortunately, this good news is tempered by the arrival of bad. I’ll let my letter to John Warren, the headmaster of St. Mark’s school, speak for itself:
It has come to the attention of the Southborough Historical Society that St. Mark’s has requested permission to install 70’ light pylons to illuminate the field directly behind the historic Burnett Burial Park* and the Southborough Museum. We are heartily opposed to this request and ask you to reconsider it. We have already seen the disastrous results of putting these monstrous light towers in front of the Woodward School: they make the area look like a K-Mart parking lot and completely destroy the approach to the historic town center. I highly doubt that is the effect you wish to create at bucolic St. Mark’s, especially as this field has huge historical significance: it is, in fact, the former colonial muster-grounds, where the militia practiced for over a hundred years, and where our valiant residents gathered before they marched off to fight the Battle of Lexington and Concord.
In addition, there is the environmental damage these lights cause. Let’s forget for a moment the tremendous carbon cost of installing and running night lighting. All over the world, night skies are disappearing, and a majority of the inhabitants of North America can no longer look up from their homes and see the stars. Additionally, this light pollution is adversely affecting numerous species already stressed by the climate crisis.
For hundreds of years, our children, and your students, have grown and matured into productive, hard-working citizens without the nebulous benefit of illuminated playing fields. Given there is no apparent advantage to the human species, and clearly documented harm to many other species caused by these installations—not to mention the aesthetic destruction to our town fabric—I would ask St Mark’s not to make the same mistake the residents of Southborough made in approving the lighting for these fields. Few of us had any idea how ugly and destructive they would be. And since we can’t undo our mistake, why not use our town fields for the occasional night game? I’m sure St Mark’s and the town could come to some agreement. But if, after weighing the environmental damage, you MUST light yet another a field, perhaps the one closest to your solar array and out of public view might be an option.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration,
Michael Weishan
President, Southborough Historical Society
Please consider writing Mr. Warren directly to express your concern at yet another attempt at destroying what remains of our downtown. Also, please comment on My Southborough and help muster support to defeat this proposal. Finally, there will be meetings to determine the status of St Mark’s request on June 17 (ZBA, write here to express your objections to the chair) and June 22 at the Planning Board (write here for the same)
We’ve already seen how public advocacy for preservation works! Once more unto the breach, dear friends!
And thanks, as ever, for your continuing support.
* An earlier edition identified the Burnett Burial Park as St. Mark’s Cemetery. It is in fact the private cemetery of Joseph Burnett’s and his descendants.
GO VOTE TOMORROW 5/14!
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Tomorrow is our Town election. We have four candidates on the ballot for two open Selectman slots. Each has distinct views. Read about them here, and GO VOTE! The election will depend on a handful of ballots, truly! Southborough is at a tipping point in terms of historic preservation, open space and our quality of life. If you care, lend your voice! YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT!
Our thanks to all four candidates for running, and god bless us all, everyone!
Cancelled: Meet Martha Washington, America’s First First Lady
Dear Friends,
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are forced to postpone tomorrow night’s performance till the fall. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Calling All Collectibles and Antiques in Time for Spring Cleaning!
The SHS is delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Fancy Flea and Tag Sale on Heritage Day at the Museum this October, and we are looking for items to sell. So now’s the time to sort through that basement and overstuffed garage you’ve been meaning to clean out, and donate unwanted items to the Society. If you don’t use that old clock, send it to us. Grandma’s china not your favorite pattern? We’ll take it! Have a nice old table or two you don’t need? Donate it! You’ll feel better, and receive a valuable tax deduction to boot. We are looking for both genuine antiques and vintage collectibles.* Items can be dropped off at the Museum most Sunday’s between 12-2; or, for larger items, you can email info@southboroughhistory.org and we can arrange for pickup.
Plus, we are in discussions with a local antique car club to organize a Classic Automobile Show at the Museum as well!
So as you can see, we are pulling out all the stops this Heritage Day, and we need your help. It’s time to start that spring cleaning!
*Items we cannot except: clothing, computers, non-vintage electronics, large furniture. Any items we can not use/sell will be sent to the Town Swap Shop
Come Meet Sally Ride, America’s First Woman in Space 3/9
The Southborough Historical Society is excited to bring Sheryl Faye’s performance of “Sally Ride – America’s First Woman Astronaut” to the Museum and Archives on Saturday, March 9 at 2 pm. Sheryl Faye brings a powerful and inspiring message to anyone interested in space exploration and science.
Since 2003, Sheryl Faye has masterfully brought to life important historical women to both children and adults. In her one-woman shows, she immerses the audience in a multimedia learning experience that captivates viewers and sparks their interested to explore more.
This event is especially suitable for children, but people of all ages will enjoy the show! Sally Ride’s story is the second in a series of three performances the SHS is offering this spring.
New Spring Programming!
Dear Friends,
The Southborough Historical Society is pleased to bring an “Immersive Living History” experience to the Museum and Archives on Thursday, February 28th.
Judith Kalaora, will portray Deborah Sampson, the first woman to fight in and be honorably discharged from the American Military. Deborah enlisted in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army as “Robert Shurtlieff.” Come and learn how and why she disguised herself and fought alongside male soldiers.
Sampson’s story is the first in a series of three performances the SHS is offering this spring. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Click HERE to hold your place. Limited to 30.
