Around Town

Our History: One of Watertown’s Oldest Houses Now Home to Law Office

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134 Main Street, photo taken in March 2004 (Courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

This 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 April 2004 newsletter, “The Town Crier”. 134 Main Street

Although many of the old houses of Watertown have been demolished to make way for “progress,” a few of these treasures have been saved by caring individuals with a soft spot for days gone by and an interest in what happened in the past.

Around Town

Our History: Miles Pratt — Owned Foundry on Main St., Founded Library

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Miles Pratt (Photo from “Great Little Watertown”)

This is the latest in the series of articles provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. The story was written for the Historical Society’s April 2003 newsletter “The Town Crier” by former Historical Society of Watertown board member Mary Spiers. Mary was our Recording and Corresponding Secretary. Mary retired from the Board in December 2022 but is still a volunteer. MILES PRATT 1825-1882

Miles Pratt was a Watertown industrialist and philanthropist.

Around Town

Our History: Charles Brigham Left an Indelible Impression on Watertown

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Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public LibraryTom Gavin and Charles Brigham in front of Mr. Brigham’s house on Garfield Street

The following article is from the Historical Society of Watertown’s April 2000 newsletter, TheTown Crier. The piece is being republished as part of the series on local history appearing each Saturday on Watertown News. 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. Her well-written columns have helped to educate the community on several historic aspects of Watertown and is sorely missed by history-buffs and newly interested Watertown history-aficionados alike. The author, Sigrid Reddy Watson.

Around Town

Our History: A Look Back at the Flu Pandemic of 1918 in Watertown

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This is the first of a series of stories on Watertown history that originally appeared in the Historical Society of Watertown’s newsletter:

The following story was written by David J. Russo, for the January 2012 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier”. At the time, David was the Historical Society Recording Secretary and Chair of the Watertown Historical Commission. Watertown’s Flu Pandemic of 1918

This fall we’ve been reminded to get our annual flu shot. Our public health officials advise that the minimal inconvenience and pain of the shot is far better than the malady itself. As one who has had both a flu shot and the flu, I would heartily agree.

Around Town

Civil War Veteran Gets Long Awaited Headstone in Time for Memorial Day

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Bill McEvoyThe new grave marker for James Fleming, a Lt. Colonel who served in the Civil War. Local historian Bill McEvoy applied for the long delayed grave marker this year. When the veterans buried in Watertown were honored during Memorial Day week 2022, one of the graves at the Catholic Mount Auburn Cemetery had a gleaming white headstone, but the veteran buried there died more than 150 years ago. The grave belongs to James Fleming, who served in the Civil War and died in 1869. He has been buried in the cemetery, which sits at the end of Cottage Street in East Watertown, but it did not have a marker.

Around Town

Boston Tea Party Participant from Watertown to be Honored

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Boston Tea Party Ships & MuseumA grave marker for participants in the Boston Tea Party will be placed on the burial site of Watertown’s Samuel Barnard. It will look like the one placed at Paul Revere’s grave in Boston’s Granary
Burying Ground in 2018. On Dec. 16, 1773, Watertown’s Samuel Barnard joined the group that took part in one of the key moments leading up to the American Revolution: The Boston Tea Party. He will be honored this month with the placing of a marker at his gravesite commemorating his place in American history.

Around Town

Tour Watertown’s Historic Edmund Fowle House in March

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Edmund Fowle House, home of the Historical Society of Watertown. The Historical Society of Watertown announced that the historic Edmund Fowle House will be open for tours on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Visitors can also view the special exhibit. Tours of the 1772 Edmund Fowle House, 1 to 4 p.m., March 15, 2020 at 28 Marshall St., Watertown. Hosted by the Historical Society of Watertown , with the last tour at 3:15 p.m.

Visitors can also view the exhibit: “Franklin Jones, Watertown Artist.”

Adults: $5; Students/Seniors: $3.

Around Town

Nominations Wanted for 2020 Historic Preservation Awards

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Members of the Historical Commission are pleased to announce the Historic Preservation Awards nomination season is now opened! Over the last year, members of the Historical Commission have modified and simplified the nomination package for the Historic Preservation Awards..  They are pleased to announce it is easier than ever to nominate an individual, group or project, whose actions and efforts have made a contribution that celebrates and enhances the historical and/or architectural fabric of Watertown. Please click on the link below to open the package.New and Improved 2020 HPA Nomination Package

The nomination package is now shorter and much easier to understand, and it takes minimal time to complete the form now. 

Members of the Historical Commission are happy to support anyone in the selection of the category for a nomination, for those who find it challenging to choose.  The awards will be held in May of 2020 at the Commanders Mansion.  The evening will include a delightful visual presentation of all the projects being awarded that were completed between the years of 2018 and 2019.  A delicious reception and social hour will follow.  

The exact date of the ceremony will be announced at the March 12, 2020 Historical Commission meeting, and a notice will be sent out to the public through the Town web site as soon as it is available. AWARD CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS and ELIGIBILITY

Awards are presented bi-annually to preservation projects and individuals that have displayed an outstanding commitment to historic preservation in Watertown. Projects completed in the years 2018 and 2019 are eligible for consideration.