Memorial Day observed at sites around Natick

May 31, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

A crowd of about 30 gathered under overcast skies in Natick to attend Memorial Day observances that started off with a flag raising ceremony at the Community Center.

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Participants then departed for Glenwood Cemetery via car parade to pay respects at St. Patrick’s Cemeteries. From there it was on to the Indian Burial Grounds, where a prayer service for Native American Revolutionary War Veteran Alexander Quapish was led by The Sons of the American Revolution, with participation by The Daughters of the American Revolution.

Natick Common ceremony marred

Services concluded at Natick Common.

Unfortunately, during that part of the observances an audience member moved to the front of the crowd and displayed a Confederate flag. Local news TV stations have flocked to Natick on this story.

In a statement, State Senator Becca Rausch and Natick Select Board Chair Karen Adelman-Foster said, “We are shocked, dismayed, and horrified that an audience member at this morning’s Memorial Day observance moved to the front of the crowd and displayed a Confederate flag. In doing so, this individual desecrated the Grand Army Civil War Memorial in Natick Center, the memories of all people who have fallen in defense of equality and freedom, and each and every person now fighting for meaningful anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion in our communities. While this individual acted on his own, we apologize to everyone hurt or harmed by this act. We condemn this act outright, and remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing our shared values of justice, equity, and freedom.”

Memorial Day 2021, Natick Community Center

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Natick military veterans and war memorial tour

May 30, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick’s war memorials are largely concentrated within a few blocks downtown, making it easy to take a tour from the Revolutionary War to the present.

Memorial squares are also spread throughout town, and you can find a directory of them thanks to an Eagle Scout project.

(We’re sure we’re missing some. Fill us in by letting us know where they are or feel free to share photos if you have any we can use: natickreport@gmail.com)

Revolutionary War monument at Morse Institute Library

natick praying indian burial ground downtown natick — Monument to Native American veterans of the Revolutionary War, installed in 1900, on Pond Street near Natick Center

Natick Common, Civil War Monument — Civil War monument at Natick Common. Dedicated in 1868, the monument lists the names of 86 servicemen who died in the war.

cannon, Natick Common — Civil War monument on Natick Common

army labs memorial — Memorial at entrance to U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center (aka, Natick Labs)

WW1 monument — WWI monument near Natick Center train station at Dennis J. Moran Square

War Memorial list of names at Morse Institute Library

ww2 — World War II memorial at Moran Square

World War II memorial Cottage Street — World War II memorial, Cottage Street

Women Veterans memorial bench at Morse Institute Library

vietnam veterans memorial bridge — Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge

Fallen soldiersmemorial at VFW Post — Fallen Soldiers Memorial at VFW Post on Rte. 135

memorial square Robert White — Sgt. Robert B. White USMC Memorial Square, one of many such recognitions across town

barber brothers square — Barber Brothers Square on Rte. 135

Memorial Day observances in Natick on Mon., May 31, 2021

May 30, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Town of Natick’s Veterans Services office has announced the program of Memorial Day observances, to take place on Mon., May 31:

Natick Memorial Day ceremony, Natick Common, 2020.

9am, Gather at the Community Center parking lot, 117 E. Central St.

9:10am, Flag raising

9:20am, Cars line up and depart for Glenwood Cemetery (50 Glenwood St.), then St. Patrick’s Cemeteries (Pond St.)

10:30am, Indian Burial Grounds Service, Natick Praying Indians

11am, Prayer Service for Native American Revolutionary War Veteran Alexander Quapish. Service provided by Sons of the American Revolution. The Daughters of the American Revolution will also be participating.

11:30am, Services at Natick Common

12pm, End of Memorial Day services

Flags are available at Community Service Building to decorate the graves of Natick’s 3,500 veterans

For questions or to RSVP:

Paul E Carew
Community Services Department
Veteran Services Director
Town of Natick

pcarew@natickma.org

phone: 508-647-6545

fax: 508-647-6549

One Stop Service Veterans & Dependents

Fourth of July update

For the second year in a row, the Board of Directors of the Friends of the 4th has canceled the traditional Natick Fourth of July parade. A message that appeared last month on the nonprofit’s website said, “There are many factors that led to our decision including the uncertain timeline for the vaccinations, return to larger gatherings, the safety of our parade participants and attendees, and the financial obligations involved in putting on a traditional parade.”

Friends of the Fourth has made alternative plans for the holiday weekend which include a “Go 4th and Explore Natick” initiative. 4th of July festivities will include a city-wide scavenger hunt that will take participants deep into Natick’s history. A patriotic house-decorating contest is also on tap July 1 – 5, with prizes for the top four winners. More details to come.

Local downtown businesses will also likely get into the act by decorating their storefronts.

“As you know, we are a non-profit that depends solely on donations and sponsorships and we believe that it would be irresponsible for us to ask for both during these difficult financial times,” organizers said on the Friends website. “We ask if you are able, please donate to the Natick Service Council to help those in our community who need assistance.”

Teens sought for public reading in Natick of noted Frederick Douglass speech

May 27, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Natick Historical Society invites local teens to take part in a public reading of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

The reading will take place on Sunday, June 27 at 6:00pm on the front steps of the Morse Institute Library in Natick. Each teen will then have the opportunity to read 1-3 paragraphs from the speech, which is about thirty minutes in total. The event will be recorded.

Interested teens should send email to reserve their spot: director@natickhistoricalsociety.org.

This free event is inspired by the Mass Humanities Reading Frederick Douglass program.

Check out our post and video from 2020’s reading.

Frederick Douglass speech — Speech reading from 2020 at Morse Institute Library

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Natick bid farewell to Fairway candlepin bowling lanes 10 year ago

May 3, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

I wouldn’t call myself a closet candlepin bowler, but I never did mention to colleagues at my old job in Framingham when I’d head over to Fairway Bowling in Natick to get in a few strings during my lunch break. That made sure I was ready for our annual company bowling outing, where I was only too happy to trot out my own shoes and balls as an intimidation tactic in advance of inevitable victory.

But all that ended in 2011 when Fairway Bowling closed, and the building wound up as part of Dover Rug’s carpet and squash empire on Rte. 9 west.

Fairway’s demise after around 60 years in business has been one of many among candlepin bowling alleys, with just 18 centers now listed on the Massachusetts Bowling Association website. Perhaps venues like the Level99 one coming to Natick Mall will be the future of entertainment, but I keep hoping against economic reality that somehow candlepin can make a comeback more than 100 years after first appearing on the scene.

The Bowling Browns

I come from something of a hometown bowling dynasty: My parents were perennial champs in their respective leagues, and my brothers and I largely dominated Saturday morning leagues at Milford Candlepin. I don’t ever recall us returning from one of the endless bowling banquets we attended without hardware.

The TV in our house was tuned into locally-produced bowling shows on the weekends, and my Dad did the “rolloff” rounds at regional bowling alleys to try getting on those shows (came sooooo close a number of times). Gifts for my Dad ranged from bowling towels to new bowling bags to bowling gift certificates.

Working at the now-defunct Milford Candlepin as a teen, first as a custodian and later as a pin machine mechanic, gave me no edge against my competitors. My bosses never let me bowl a free string, figuring my minimum wage afforded me the free cash to pay my own way. I’ll chalk that up to a life lesson or something.

bowling trophies — Not sure why I still have these, think I’ll whittle the collection down to 1 keeper.

Bowling returns

I largely abandoned candlepin bowling after high school, though toyed with joining an adult league now and then, coming out of nowhere to once again rule the lanes. Bowling didn’t really return into my life until we had kids, when the alleys became part of the birthday circuit.

We’ll always be thankful to Fairway Bowling for that time we had a birthday party for one of our boys scheduled for the Village Green miniature golf course that got thundered and lightninged out, and Fairway hesitantly worked our crew of 8- and 9-year-olds in at the last second.

fairway bowling party — Last-second Fairway Bowling birthday party

We’d visit the lanes from time to time with the kids outside of birthdays, and always for their spectacular animatronic Christmas decoration display.

While I’ve stopped lugging my candlepin bowling balls in my car’s trunk—just in case I came across an alley in my travels—I will to this day defend the small balls as being more fun than tenpin bowling (nothing against tenpin, just prefer candlepin).

And once the pandemic truly subsides, we will be paying a visit to Norwood, Needham, or one of the other communities that is still home to candlepin lanes, bowling bag in tow.

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