Government

Save the Date: Watertown Square Planning Meetings

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Save These Dates for the Watertown Square Area Planning Events. The City will hold a public launch event for the Watertown Square Area Plan on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On November 28 through 30, 2023 the City will hold a Design Charrette for the planning effort. Please save these dates so you can participate in this exciting initiative to reimagine Watertown Square! The Watertown Square Area Plan will address all aspects of how the City’s “downtown” works—including transportation, housing, public spaces and sustainability.

Around Town

Artist Speaks About Inspiration for New Mural in Watertown Square During Celebration

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseArtists Amir Tabatabaei (right) and Niloufar Keyhani spoke about the mural they created in Watertown Square during a celebration of the artwork. Tuesday night, nearly 100 people came out to celebrate a project by a pair of artists that was inspired by their new home: Watertown. Amir Tabatabaei and Niloufar Keyhani emigrated to Watertown from Iran seven years ago. Tabatabaei had created large murals in Iran, and decided he wanted to contribute one in his new hometown. About a year and a half ago, he reached out to Liz Helfer, Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture Planner, who helped him get in touch with the owners of the CVS building in Watertown Square, where the wall that now bears the mural is located.

Around Town

City Seeks Feedback on Watertown Square Cultural District

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Your feedback is vital to the success of the Watertown Square Cultural District! A public meeting will be held on Oct. 3, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. Starting in 2022, Watertown began pursuing a Cultural District designation from the state. A Cultural District is an important civic tool designed to support the economy, the arts, and culture bearers on a local level.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 10)

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Watertown Square

Part 10: Change is Inevitable. Growth is Optional. (John Maxwell)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Soapbox Alert:

There are different definitions for the word “Growth.” In its simplest terms, it means getting bigger. But there are other, less quantitive and more qualitative definitions, more subtle meanings to the word. For instance, if you’re talking about growth in a human being, it’s more than the measure of their height or weight.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 9)

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The Old Bridge, Galen Street Bridge 1906 before its demolition (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 9: There’s a New Bridge in Town

According to Maud Hodges, in Crossroads on the Charles: “The new bridge was designed by Wilbur Learned, the Town engineer, and it combined strength, utility and beauty. The new structure was a broad, wide arch of concrete with a ninety-foot span …. The bridge was faced with granite blocks cut in Deer Isle, Maine. The road bed was 80 feet wide, spreading out at both ends to provide access for vehicles. Mt.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 7 & 8)

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Watertown Baptist Church Members over the age of 50 (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

Part 7: What We’ve Got Here is a Failure to Communicate! More of the 1800’s

The 1800’s were more than just an industrial revolution in Watertown. Many national and localissues were being played out locally to great drama and effect. For instance, the Temperance Movement was in full bloom. In a few words, women had had enough of family beatings and earnings all going to the local tavern and not to feed their children.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square (Part 5 & 6)

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Coolidge Tavern (Photo courtesy of Watertown Free Public Library)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 5: The Roaring 1700’s

By the 1700’s, Watertown was hopping. There were stage coach lines coming through town and a lively lumber business floating up and down the Charles. Besides the mills, there were hotels, stables, blacksmiths, and horse boarding establishments. (Burke)

Situated right in the middle of Watertown Square, Galen Street was proving to be kind of a problem. At this point in time, which was surprising, because Watertown was still mostly a farming community, this square was a lively place, and not always in a good way.

Around Town

LETTER: What the Delta Saw: A (slightly) Irreverent and Rambling History of Watertown Square Parts 3 & 4

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Map of the Original Allotments of of Land and the Ancient Topography of Watertown, By Henry Bond, MD (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 3: Grist for the Mill

So, the Watertown colonists have lots of fish to eat [See Part 2 to read about the fish weir]. What else does any decent English town in the 1600’s need? A grist mill, of course! (If you’d like to see a still functioning grist mill, take a ride out to the Wayside Inn in Sudbury). In 1634, two years after the weir was installed, a mill dam and millrace were constructed.