Features
Needle at Large: Talking Turkey
By Ann Needle
Growing up in the city, Thanksgiving meant gathering ‘round a freshly thawed Butterball. Looking my food source in the eye would have sent me scurrying for the closest tofu(tu)rkey.
Enter life in the suburbs of what Mom still thinks of as our little town in “Vermont”. Enjoying all that wonderful produce from our local farms, why not check out the source of some fresh meat?
St. Isidore’s Looks To Brighter Future
By Nancy Arsenault
For the past twelve years, the community of St. Isidore’s Parish was led by two pastors, Father Richard Butler and more recently, Father Dave Doucet. In the last thirty days, both priests have passed away. As Father Doucet’s condition worsened over the last year, St. Isidore’s experienced a succession of priests assigned to lead the congregation, many only staying a few months at a time. Today, the parish and parish leadership are looking toward a brighter future for this local congregation.
Past Tense…Streetcar in the Woods
By Lew Halprin
It was in the early 1900s when the Concord, Maynard and Hudson Street Railway Company considered providing service from Hudson, going through Gleasondale, Stow and Maynard, and continuing to Acton and Concord. The tracks were to be in the street so that no special railroad bed or bridges needed to be built. However in Gleasondale, a row of worker’s houses were so close to the road that they all had to be moved back about 30’ to provide room for safe streetcar passage.
Past Tense…Tree No More
by Lew Halprin
The tree was not on our property; it was on the neighbor’s property. But to all of us in the neighborhood, the large pine tree that was in their back yard between their house and the water of Lake Boon always drew our attention and admiration whenever our gaze was drawn to that side of the lake.
It was perfectly organized with sturdy straight branches and its height proudly reached 80’ into the clouds and provided welcome shade to all those sitting under it. The tree had been doing this for over 100 years. In fact, many of the kids in the neighborhood had opportunities to swing on tires attached to the lower branches of the tree, and as they grew older would swing from long ropes tied to the upper branches that allowed them to swing high over the edge of the property into the lake’s waters with lots of squeals and laughter.
Plans in Place to Fight Weekend Traffic
By Nancy Arsenault
Two weekends ago, residents around Honey Pot Orchards reported 45 minute waits to reach their homes in Wildlife Woods while sitting in stopped traffic on Sudbury Road. A resident on Pine Point Road was seen directing traffic to park in a vacant town-owned grass strip, for a fee of $10, and doing a lucrative business as out of town apple pickers chose to park and walk, rather than sit and wait. Stow Police officer Mike Sallese said that at one point, the afternoon traffic had backed up from Honey Pot all the way down Sudbury Road, to State Road, with gridlock in both directions.
Past Tense….Outhouse on the Common
By Lew Halprin
In a previous Past Tense, I talked about Outhouses of Stow and indicated that there didn’t appear to be any outhouses still remaining in Stow. Not so! The day after, several e-mails from at least 4 residents came in describing outhouses on their property. Actually, all but one were ‘in-houses’ since they were actually located in a corner of the house or barn, but there was one that was an actual outside outhouse. I won’t say where to avoid embarrassing anyone, but it is right here in Stow between their barn and chicken coop (see picture).
Past Tense…Outhouses of Stow
By Lew Halprin
I was over at the Town Hall the other day when an older person asked me where the outhouse was. I’m sure he meant toilet and I directed him such, but it got me thinking. Surely in the days before indoor plumbing, when meetings were held at the old Town Hall, there must have been a need for an outhouse or two, but in none of the many pictures the town vault has of the Town Hall, did I see an outhouse.
The Changing Face of Stow
By Nancy Arsenault
With recent tax hikes related to school projects and now looking at multiple proposed building projects potentially driving real estate taxes higher, it seems many longtime Stow residents are choosing to leave town. At the same time, home sales in Stow have risen slightly over the last few years according to real estate market reports. Who is selling and who is buying and how will it effect the town?
New Pest Threat Found in MA Tree
By Nancy Arsenault
While the Asian Long Horned Beetle may have spared your most beloved shade trees, now it’s time to keep an eye out for the next deadly pest– the Emerald Ash Borer.
Past Tense…Hives in Stow
By Lew Halprin It’s no secret that there are many apple farms in Stow, and during their growing and picking season, these farms provide a lot of part time employment to the residents of Stow, especially the younger residents. But there is one group of very young workers that work at the farms only 2-4…