Around Town

Tour a Watertown Home that Dates Back to 1772 with the Historical Society

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Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House during the re-enactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence which took place in 1776. Tour one of Watertown’s oldest homes during the March Historical Society of Watertown event. The Historical Society of Watertown will be giving its March Sunday tours at the Edmund Fowle House, 28 Marshall Street, Watertown, MA  02472, on the last Sunday of the month  which is March 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. with the last tour at 3:15 p.m.  Admission:  $5 for adults; $2 for students and seniors

Dating back to 1772, the Fowle House was the locations for some historic events. In 1775 it became the seat of government for the Provincial Congress, and was the location of the first treaty signing after the United States gained Independence. Now the Fowle House is the headquarters of the Historical society.

Around Town

Come Tell the City What You Would Like Future Development in Watertown to Look Like

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Thursday night, residents, business owners, and others have the chance to let City officials know what they would like Watertown look like in the future. The new draft of the Comprehensive Plan, along with plans for the City’a open space and recreation assets, will be discussed at an open house where people can leave their input. The open house will be held on Thursday, March 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank in the Watertown Library, 123 Main St. To RSVP click here. See the plans and more information about the Comprehensive Plan and Open Space & Recreation Plan at the website: https://engagestantec.mysocialpinpoint.com/watertown-plan

Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the City Council in 2015.

Around Town

Watertown Non-Profit Matches $100,000 Challenge Grant for Adult Disability Services

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Jay Lupica presents a check to MAB Community Services for the Maxo Joseph Excellence in Direct Care Awards. The following information was provided by MAB Community Services:

MAB Community Services, a leading social service agency supporting over 1,500 individuals with visual impairment, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and acquired brain injuries across Massachusetts, celebrated Wednesday matching a $100,000 challenge grant to fund the continuation of the Maxo Joseph Excellence in Direct Care Awards. Established by Jay Lupica in his position as the trustee of the Patricia W. and Alfred E. Farah Charitable Trust, and in concert with MAB, the Maxo Joseph Excellence in Direct Care Awards recognize dedicated and skilled direct care workers at MAB’s Adult Disability Services group homes. The awards themselves honor Maxo Joseph, a committed caregiver who served at MAB for more than 19 years before passing away from complications after contracting COVID-19. Lupica pledged to match up to $100,000 in donations to the Maxo Joseph Awards to reach a total of $200,000 in funds.

Around Town

Real Estate Networking Event Hosted by Charles River Chamber

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will host a networking event in Watertown for real estate professionals. The Chamber sent out the following information:

Join the Chamber’s Real Estate Committee for a night of in-person networking at Compass Kitchen’s showroom in Watertown. Meet local Investors, residential realtors, commercial brokers, property managers, mortgage brokers, and legal and financial services professionals. Real Estate Networking Event

WHEN: Thurs. March 16, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Compass Kitchen, 110 Arlington St., Watertown

COST: Free for members, $25 for nonmembers

RSVP Here

Around Town

City Seeks Input on Watertown’s Primary Planning Document at Open House

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Residents can give input on the primary planning document that will shape development in Watertown for years to come. An open house will be held on March 9 about the revised Watertown Comprehensive Plan. The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement.:

Please join us on March 9, 2023 to provide your comments on the WATERTOWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. After public comments, the revised draft will go to the City Council for approval. The OPEN HOUSE will be on March 9, 2023 from 6:30 to 8 PM at the Watertown Free Public Library, at 123 Main Street, in the Watertown Savings Bank Room.

Around Town

Our History: Famed Watertown Sculptor Anne Whitney

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The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Historical Society President Marilynne Roach for the April 2006 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.”

MOUNT AUBURN NOTABLES

In celebration of the 375th anniversary of the founding of Watertown, the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Historical Society of Watertown joined together on October 9, 2005 to give a guided tour of the gravesites of several notable people who once resided in Watertown. The lives of our Watertown notables were recalled by members of the Historical Society Council and Historical Society volunteers. The following information was presented by author and illustrator Marilynne Roach, a member of the Historical Society and a Watertown Historical Commission Board Member. Anne Whitney 1821-1915

Born in Watertown on Galen Street (in the Hunt house of Revolutionary fame) in a family active in abolition, education and women’s rights (Lucy Stone was a cousin), Anne Whitney received an excellent education – especially for a woman of her time.

Around Town

Find Out What Tree Fits Your Yard Best at Upcoming Event

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The following information was provided by Trees for Watertown:

THE RIGHT TREE FOR ME:  Trees for Watertown to Offer Free Seminar

Experts Show How to Choose the Perfect Tree for Your Yard

On Saturday, March 11th from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at the Watertown Public Library, Trees for Watertown will present a free seminar titled “The Right Tree for Me”. It will be available both in person and via Zoom. According to TFW President Libby Shaw, the idea for the seminar began with the knowledge that 80 percent of Watertown’s trees are on private land. 

“Our goal is to improve the quality of life for city residents by increasing our city’s population of shade trees and these trees’ longevity,” Shaw said. “It’s trees with big, healthy canopies that provide the strongest infrastructural and ecological services. Watertown is doing great work with street trees, but street trees provide at most about 20 percemt of our city’s protective tree canopy. To succeed we need to help homeowners find ways to add and maintain healthy, long-lived trees in their yards.”

In planning the seminar, the Trees for Watertown team explored what kinds of information homeowners seek when they’re thinking about planting a tree. TFW members found that for some, affordability is a primary concern.  Others want tips on how best to plant a tree and maintain its health. 

One common question Watertown residents have is whether their yard is big enough to support a tree. Some just aren’t sure how to fit a tree into their landscaping.