What’s in a name?
From “Names of Places” by G.L. Wright –
Boylston Historical Series Vol. 1
Other Hills
In the northeasterly part of the Town, on the town line between Boylston
and Berlin, is a high wooded hill, known as “Snake Hill’. The early Deed,
however, gives the name of “Rattlesnake Hill”. On the easterly boundary
of the Town, and lying partly in Boylston, Northborough, and Berlin
in “Ball Hill”, taking its name from John Ball, its earliest settler. Also
in the Northeasterly portion of the Town is “Mile Hill”., formerly, the
Clinton Road near the Worcester Consolidated Railway Car Barn ran up over
the
considerable hill, the grade of which was reduced to its present level
about 1860 when the road to Clinton was rebuilt. This was known as “Potash
Hill” since years ago potash was manufactured near this place. The long
ridge of hills in the southwesterly part of the town has long been known
as “Bond Hill”. The portion
of it which includes the John B. Gough Estate received the designation
of “Hillside” from Mr. Gough. There is also a hill overlooking the Wachusett
Reservoir towards the former site of Sawyers Mills, which used to be called
“Reservoir Hill”, from the fact that the reservoir which was used for fire
purposes at Sawyers Mills was situated there. This hill was also the site
of one of the early records as “Asheus Hill”.
Before the construction of the Wachusett Reservoir, we were accustomed
to speak of the territory above Scar Hill as “Dover”, and the “Dover Pond”.
How this section came to be known thus, I never knew.
My name is Jim Lavallee – lavallee_jim@emc.com. I have been on
the staff of the Boylston Historic Society for about a year and a
half. The reason I joined the staff was to get involved and meet some new
people. I enjoy photography and computers and thought I could lend a hand.
Upon joining the staff, what I encountered at the Boylston Historic Society
museum was not just some new people, but a staff of extremely talented
and hard working folks that have done a lot of wonderful work preserving
and documenting the history of the Town of Boylston and surrounding area.
I am a part-time volunteer on the BHS staff and a member of the Board of
Directors. I am also privileged to be on the Board of the Boylston Historic
Commission, and the treasurer. I am also on the Board of Directors for
Go The Distance, Inc. GTD is a non-profit organization that is raising
funds to complete a documentary exploring a quadriplegics trip across the
United States. The film is about a good friend of mine, Paul Scherdell,
whose positive attitude and zest for life is inspirational. I grew up in
Sterling, MA. I went to college at University of Lowell where I received
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering in 1989, and then Worcester Polytechnic
Institute where I got my Masters in EE in 1992. I work at EMC Corporation
in Hopkinton as a Software Systems Architect.
There is lots to do at the museum. I help out a little with the computers
(although Betty is the guru). I help with events whenever I can and attend
the staff meetings. My main work is on the George Wright project.
If you follow the museum’s work or read the newsletters, George Lawson
Wright is a familiar name. Mr. Wright (1856-1943) is credited as having
been Boylston’s foremost historian. Fortunately Mr. Wright had many writings
and drawings related to his period and the early days of Boylston. Unfortunately,
after his death, a fire that consumed his house destroyed 75% of his work.
Much of the work that survived is in the museum vault and in the basis
of much of the work that we do. My project is two-fold, one to put together
a biographical sketch of Mr. Wright and the other is to publish his works
of art as a Society publication. Stay tuned for this. If any readers have
any information on George Wright, please contact me through the Society.
From Our Readers
From Laura R. Scott Program Manager
Yankee Magazine’s Community Partners
“Great newsletter, as always. What a lot of good work you are all doing.
In your next issue it is time to remind your members that in order for
Boylston to get credit when they renew their subscription, they must subscribe
on your card. The renewal notice they get in the mail won’t work.”
*Ed. Note-subscription cards are available at the BHS, Boylston library,
Boylston Center Store, Baystate Auto on Main St., Boylston, and the Boylston
Post Office (in the lobby)- REMEMBER- THE Hillside Restoration Project
gets $10 for every renewal and new subscription to Yankee Magazine- ONLY
if you use the card!!!
Photo Care Tips
These tips are from Frederick Brown” Pagan-Hawk@worldnet.att.net
Framed photos should never have the glass covering them touch the photo,
especially color prints. Leave a little air space for it to breathe. Do
not hang photos in bright or direct sunlight. This will break down the
chemicals that are present in the photo paper and cause premature fading.
Negatives should be left in strips (35mm), and individual strips are put
into glassine envelopes that can be purchased at a photo store. Details
in objects can be highlighted and made to stand out by using a light source,
even the sun at a 45-degree or more angles. Experiment for best results.
Next issue a simple storage method.
2nd Annual John B. Gough Day Sunday May 7, 2 to 5 PM at the Gough’s
Hillside Estate, 221 Main Street (Rt. #70), Boylston, MA. (Rain date May
13th)
The Hillside Restoration Project and the Boylston Historical Society
are happy to announce the 2nd Annual John B. Gough Day. The afternoon will
include tours of the Hillside Estate, talks on John B. Gough, the international
temperance leader of the 19th century, and information about future plans
for an extensive renovation project. You will also get a chance to talk
with the Project’s Architect, John Salem. Other activities will include
19th century children’s games, entertainment, refreshments and more.
The games will be led by Senior Girl Scout Troop #94 from South Glens
Falls, N.Y. The girls will be dressed in period costumes that they have
researched and hand made.
If you have photos, memories, stories or knowledge of the Gough Estate,
house, or especially the out buildings (barns, gym, icehouse, hen houses),
please contact the Historical Society and/or bring them to Gough Day.
The Historical Society Museum, 7 Central Street, Boylston will also
be open on Sunday from 2 to 5 PM. Come and see the Gough Exhibit before
or after visiting the Estate at Hillside.
Gough Day is free and open to the public. For more information or directions
to either event, visit our web site: http://www. Ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/
or Email: boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com or phone the Museum at 508-869-2720.
*Ed.note – Hillside is now the home of the Boylston Police and the
town offices (and temporarily the Elementary School). Many of you may also
know it by its other names/owners: The Digital Conference Center or The
Shepard Knapp School.
For more information on Gough and Hillside visit our website: http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gough.htm
Hillside Restoration Project Committee Patrick Healy-Chair. Fred
Brown, Pam Mackenzie, Bill Dupuis, Bruce Symonds, Nel Lazour, Betty Thomas.
Hillside Advisory Council Nel Lazour – Chair. Tina Bilzarian, Tammy
Butler, Ruth Haddon, Pat Cushman Ton, Mike Biancamano, Joe Nedder, Laurie
Davis, Nancy Buckingham, Thomas Buckingham, Mary Beth Litofsky, Anne Barry,
Calvin Hastings.
Friends of Hillside: Ann Rossow, Joanne Cox, Dorothy Lambert, Maureen
Kilcoyne, Bruce Bender, Alice Ericksen.
Book of the Month – Because of Gough Day being in May, we have two
books this month—“John B. Gough – Temperance Crusader” and “The Man From
Hillside” both written by William O. Dupuis. The first 77 pages – indexed,
with photos, etchings and drawings is about the life and times of John
B. Gough, an International Temperance Leader who made his home in Boylston.
The second (60 pages) is also about John Gough, but is written for young
people, through the eyes of a young John Gough and his niece Hannah Sophia
Whitcomb. Both books will be available on Gough Day or anytime at the gift
shop. Both are Old Pot Publications. “John B. Gough – Temperance Crusader”
- $10 + shipping/handling. “The Man From Hillside” - $8 + shipping/handling
For more info go here: http://www.ultranet.com/!boyhisoc/gift.htm
BHS NEWS –
Event - Sunday, May 7 - 2 to 5 pm. John B. Gough Day. See above for
more.
Event – Museum OPEN House, Memorial Day – Monday, May 20 - 10 am to
2
We need a few people to enter data into our computer Genealogy Program
from information now located in a three ring binder. This would involve
a bit more typing than our other data entry projects so if you like to
type, give us a call or drop by 869-2720! JOIN the TEAM!! Drop in any Tuesday
or Thursday, 9 am to noon.
Visit the gift shop – http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift .htm
As we have some new volunteers, board members and staff members I thought
it would be a good idea to let everyone know just who does what at the
Society and the Museum.
Board of Directors – Officers :
President – Fred Brown, Vice President – William O. Dupuis, Treasurer
– Albert Thomas, Rec. Secretary – John Swinerton, Corresponding Secretary
– Judy Haynes
Board Members
James Lavallee, Norman H. French, Betty Thomas, Nel Lazour, Elizabeth
Seymour, Donald Hoffsess, Alice Eriksen, Pamela Mackenzie
Museum Staff – (ALL Volunteers!!)
William O. Dupuis – Director, Fred Brown – Asst. Director/Photography,
Norman H. French – Curator, Betty Thomas – Dir. Of Computer Services, Judy
Haynes – Dir. Of Oral Histories, James Lavallee – Wright Researcher,
Nel Lazour – Dir. Of Special Projects, Al Thomas – Newsletter Editor, Betty
Thomas & Judy Haynes – Email Newsletter Editors – Alice Eriksen – Gift
Shop Manager, Catherine Delnore – Sorting Newspaper Clippings – Florence
Smith and Linda Farmer – Archives Data Entry
Publication Committee – Willaim O. Dupuis – Chair, Fred Brown – Secretary/Treasurer,
Judy Haynes – Manuscript Preparation, Members – Norman French, Pam Mackenzie
On the Web – CARE, HANDLING, AND STORAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHS. HTTP://CWEB.LOC.GOV/PRESERV/CARE/PHOTOLEA.HTML
COST OF MILITARY RECORDS GOING UP (NARA Statement) by Jack Brissee,
Chair, NGS/FGS Records Preservation and Access Committee http://www.ngsgenealogy/org/news/body_frame.html
THE OLD NEWARK, NEW JERSEY BURYING GROUND
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/burying ground
BEHIND THE NAME, The etymology and history of first names.
http://www.behindthename.com/
BIRTH ASSOCIATION OF PAPER HISTORIANS
http://www.baph.freeserve/.co.uk/>
ISLE OF MAN. The Isle of Man is small island (220 square miles) in
the center of the Irish Sea. It is not part of the U.K. It is said that
Capt. Myles Standish came from there? For general Manx family history,
visit the archival site (5,500 pages) at http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Contrib/manx/
OPERATION REUNION. Calling all U.S. military veterans. Join “Operation
Reunion” at http://w3.trib.com/~wrp/locator.htm
RARE BOOK REPRINTS. Rare and out-of-print Indian genealogy
(Five Civilized Tribes), Western, Civil War, Titanic and other genealogy
books. http://members.aol.com/rarebk/booklists.html#journals
TONAWANDA SENECA INDIANS, IROQUOIS COFEDERACY, how they lost their land,
the deed that conveys the Reservation to the Tonawanda Indians, Great Survey
of the Holland Purchase, etc. Web site by the Alabama, New York Historian,
Cindy Amrhein. *ed. Note- this website (the pony express page) also includes
a photo of my Dad standing next to a horse. The Pony Express photos and
first day cover were supplied by your truly- Betty. http://www2.pcom.net/cinjod/historian/Indians.html
Humor – via a relative in New Mexico!
A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller.
He can see from her nameplate that the teller’s name is Patricia Whack.
So I says, “Ms. Whack, I’d like to get a loan to buy a boat and go
on a long vacation.” Patti looks at the frog in disbelief and asks how
much he wants to borrow. The frog says $30,000. The teller asks his name
and the frog says that his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger,
and that it’s okay, he knows the bank manager. atti explains that $30,000
is a substantial amount of money and that he will need to secure some collateral
against the loan. She asks if he has anything he can use as collateral.
The frog says, “Sure, I have this,” and produces a tiny pink porcelain
elephant, about half an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed. Very
confused, Patti explains that she’ll have to consult with the manager and
disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says “There’s
a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants
to borrow $30,000. And he wants to use this as collateral.” She holds up
the tiny pink elephant. “I mean, what the heck is this?” The bank manager
looks back at her and says “It’s a knick knack, Patti Whack. Give the frog
a loan. His old man’s a Rolling Stone.
PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from PotpourrEMAIL is granted unless
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educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of
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Written by <author’s name, e-mail address, and URL, if given> Previously
published by PotpourrEMAIL, PotpurrEMAIL, Vol. 1, No. 11, 1 May 2000. Please
visit Boylston Historical Society and Museum’s main Web page at http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/index.shtml.
This newsletter is distributed monthly, on the first day of the month,
to all Boylston Historical Society members (who have email!), genealogists
and friends who have a special interest in the history of the town of Boylston.