Around Town

Civil War Nurses of Mount Auburn Cemetery: Emily Elizabeth Parsons

By |

Emily Elizabeth Parsons

By Bill McEvoy

In honor of National Nurses Week, local historian Bill McEvoy has compiled histories of some of the Civil War nurses who are buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery. This is part two of seven. Emily was the daughter of Professor Theophilus Parsons of the Harvard Law School. She was described as indomitable, heroic, and warm-hearted. 

At the beginning of the Civil War, she trained to be a Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her intent was to go to the War and care for sick and wounded Union Soldiers.

Government

City Manager Seeks Residents to Serve on Stormwater Advisory Committee

By |

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Stormwater Advisory Committee. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to citymgr@watertown-ma.gov or City Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472. Board/Commission/Committee:  Stormwater Advisory Committee

Description: The Stormwater Advisory Committee acts as an advisory body to the Superintendent of Public Works. The Committee will review and make recommendations on a new stormwater ordinance and related regulations being developed by the City; identify and advocate for stormwater funding through grants and other sources; develop educational programs to increase public awareness of stormwater management; and perform any other tasks relevant to assisting the Superintendent of Public Works with the implementation of best practices for stormwater management. The Committee shall also make an annual progress report to the City Council.

Around Town

Our History: Watertown Was Home to Two Dairies

By |

Woodland Dairy wagon (photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

The following story was written by Sigrid Reddy Watson Terman for the April 2010 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.” Sigrid is a former Board member and former President of the Historical Society, as well at a former Director of the Watertown Free Public Library. For several years starting in 1997, she wrote a Watertown history column for the Watertown TAB/Press called “Echoes.”

WATERTOWN’S DAIRIES SUPPLIED SURROUNDING TOWNS

I’m sure many of you Watertown history fans remember the “Echoes” column that Sigrid Reddy Watson wrote for several years for the Watertown TAB/Press beginning in 1997. Ms. Watson was the Director of the Watertown Free Public Library from 1971-1989 and President of the Historical Society of Watertown from 2001-2003. Ms. Watson’s weekly column was about Watertown history. She covered subjects includingWatertown during the Revolution, the Arsenal, women’s suffrage, the Fowles, renowned localpeople and buildings and houses, our many ethnic groups, the industries that made Watertown aplace to settle in during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and many other subjects.

Entertainment

Small Saves Has His Sights on a Goals in This Week’s Cartoon

By |

James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Around Town

Historical Society Showing Video on Armenians of Hood Rubber, Holding Annual Meeting

By |

The Historical Society of Watertown will host its Annual Members Meeting with Election of Board Members on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 2 p.m. Immediately following: Screening and discussion of the documentary, “Destination Watertown: The Armenians of Hood Rubber” by Roger Hagopian. Come join the Historical Society and the Watertown Free Public Library for this compelling program! Watertown Free Public LibraryWatertown Savings Bank Meeting Room123 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472

The 65-minute documentary “is a timeless and universal story of immigrants escaping genocide and persevering through the hard life of factory work in America in the early decades of the 20th century.” The film contains interviews with stories and reflections of former employees of Armenian descent and East Watertown Residents, interspersed with personal and historic photographs, maps, documents, artifacts, and images of remnants of the old factory, once the largest of its kind in the world. A history lover since his youth, Roger is a graduate of the University of Mass. at Boston, where he received his degree in music.

Around Town

OBIT: Tom Neylon, Taught English at WHS, Played Piano in Multiple Bands

By |

Tom Neylon

By Richard Scafaldi

Tribute to a Friend: Tom Neylon, 1943-2023

Those of you who knew me in the Boston area will remember ‘Professor’ Tom Neylon. Tom played piano with me in our band, The RPM’s for about 15 years, which I think is a record for ‘years served’. I can sincerely say that every minute was a pleasure.  

The story of how we came to play together is somewhat amusing. Tom was a voracious record collector who liked to order records from the Down Home catalog, which-back in the 1980’s-had import records that you could not get in the USA. And he had great taste in music, from 50’s Rock & Roll, to straight out Rockabilly, Rhythm & Blues, and Blues of all varieties.

Entertainment

Get Ready for the Watertown Arts Market — Artists, Sponsors & Volunteers Wanted

By |

The 2023 Watertown Arts Market will take place at Filippello Park on Saturday, Aug. 19. The following information was provided by the Watertown Arts Market:

The Watertown Business Coalition is delighted to partner with the City of Watertown to announce the third annual Watertown Arts Market which will take place at Filippello Park on Grove Street on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023 from 12-5 p.m.

This celebratory event brings together the abundance of artists, arts and cultural organizations, and related businesses serving Watertown. The Watertown Arts Market is free to attend.

Entertainment

Art Inspired by Movement and Sound Coming to Mosesian Center

By |

Alena Aniskovich’s
“Dance it Out” is part of the Mosesian Center’s Flow: Art Inspired by Movement and Sound exhibit. The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is excited to present an exhibition that finds inspiration in the world of music/sound and dance/movement. Artists attempt to find answers to questions such as: How do movement and sound translate into visual art? How are movement and sound depicted in visual arts? Artists in the exhibition come up with innovative and wonderfully creative ways to translate into visual arts the ephemeral nature of both sound and movement.