Our History: The Formation of the Historical Society of Watertown

Dr. Alfred Hosmer (Courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

The following article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Joyce Kelly, Board member of the Historical Society of Watertown. Joyce writes articles for the newsletter and is the newsletter editor. This was published in our February 1999 newsletter, “The Town Crier.” THE FORMING OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WATERTOWN

Many of you have been members of the Historical Society for years, and several of you are new members.

See the Chamber’s Virtual Watertown Business Community Town Hall, Take the City’s Survey

Charles River Regional ChamberA screenshot from the Charles River Regional Chamber’s video featuring Watertown. The Charles River Chamber recently hosted a virtual gathering of the Watertown business community where attendees learned about the Comprehensive Plan update. The City’s survey about the update ends Friday, March 24, so now is your chance to be heard about Watertown’s future. The Charles River Chamber sent out the following information:

Finally this week, my thanks to Watertown Senior Planner Larry Field for joining us at our virtual Watertown Business Community Town Hall for a presentation explaining the city’s draft Comprehensive Plan (as well as his unsolicited “PSA” about this newsletter). No idea what a Comprehensive Plan is?

Gore Place Hosting Used Book Sale This Weekend

Annual Gently Used Book Sale – Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

During this sale, book lovers can buy gently-used books at bargain prices ($1 for most paperbacks, $2 for most hardcovers) Interested in donating? Gore Place is accepting donated books from March 10 to March 24! To arrange a drop-off time, please email events@goreplace.org. No CDs or DVDs, please. The event will be held in the Mansion at Gore Place. Masks or facial coverings are required. See our current COVID-19 policies at this link. Cost: Free

Gore Place is just down the street from the Watertown DPW’s big recycling event taking place Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click below to see more.

City’s Rodent Control Program Using Smart Traps to Eliminate & Track Pests

With the problem of rodents growing around Watertown, and more expected as a result of a pair of major road projects, the Department of Public Works will deploy more robust rodent control methods. The City will use dozens of smart traps that will both take care of rats and other rodents, and also provide information such as where the “hot spots” are, said Tom Watkins, Director of Administration and Finance for the Watertown DPW. “The Anticimix technology does represent a change in the way we are approaching our efforts in addressing rodent control in the City,” Watkins said. “The Anticimix is a SMART technology that provides us real live data for which we will use to strategically locate the traps as the program moves forward.” The City, in partnership with Modern Pest Services, will deploy 40 of the traps on Arsenal Street and 30 on Mt.

Two Watertown Residents Running Marathon on Dana-Farber Team

The following announcement was provided by Dana-Farber:

On April 17, the following Watertown residents are running to defy cancer as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 127th Boston Marathon®:

Emily Schario

Kathryn Healy

Along with more than 500 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the United States and around the world, they will run Massachusetts’ historic marathon route from Hopkinton to Boston to collectively raise $6.5 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This year marks the 34th annual running of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC). One hundred percent of the money raised by the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team benefits Dana-Farber’s Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, which supports promising science research in its earliest stages. The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge has raised more than $115 million for the Barr Program to date. In 1990, Dana-Farber was among the first charity organizations to be recognized by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A), which organizes the Boston Marathon.

Create Your Own Video Announcement at WCA-TV’s Community Production Day

The following information was provided by Watertown Cable:

WCA-TV is hosting another Community Production Day on Friday, April 14th from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. for all non-profit organizations in Watertown! As always, the staff here at WCA-TV will work with you to produce a video announcement free of charge but this time you will also get the chance to collaborate with other community members in the studio! All videos can be up to 90 seconds in length and will be shown across all WCA-TV channels. All we ask is that you come in prepared, and ready with an idea! Content produced on Community Production Day will also be uploaded to our video on demand service so you can share it on your organization’s social media, website, and online outreach efforts!