Acadians in Walpole
History of the Acadians in Walpole (The Walpole Times – May 1966)
Communication Acadian – 1925 (PDF for download)
Bird Park
Renewing Francis William Park : A Master Scheme and Design Guidelines for the Management of Francis William Park : East Walpole, Massachusetts Prepared for the Park Trustees by the Conway School of Landscape Design (June 1989)
Francis William Park – July 24, 1926 (PDF for download)
Blackburn Memorial Hall
History of Blackburn Memorial
In 1929 the Town of Walpole received a legacy of $50,000 from Harriette F. (Blackburn) Nevins (Mrs. David Nevins) of Methuen, for the erection of a public building in memory of her father and mother. Her father at one time lived and carried on business in Walpole. This building is the Blackburn Memorial Building. In addition, Mrs. Nevins left $2500 to build a fountain for horses and dogs. This fountain is erected on School St. nearly opposite the Stone Schoolhouse (same location as the Walpole Public Library).
Blackburn Bequest History (PDF for download) Blackburn Memorial Dedication (PDF for download)
The Boston Post Cane
The Boston Post Cane
The Boston Post presented a cane intended to be “owned and carried” by the oldest citizen of Walpole beginning in 1909. Upon the decease of the present oldest citizen, it is duly transmitted to the then oldest citizen.
The cane itself was manufactured especially for this purpose by J.F. Fradley & Co., of New York, of “carefully selected Gaboon ebony from the Congo, Africa, and the head is made of rolled gold of 14 karat fineness,” as noted by E.A. Grozier, Editor and Publisher of The Boston Post in his letter to the Board of Selectmen of Walpole in August of 1909.
Walpole Recipients
Addison Page, August 30, 1909
Henry G. Scherer,
Henry E. Achorn, September 29, 1920
Porter Boyden, May 23, 1930
Samuel Hannaford, July 13, 1931
John McDavitt, April 5, 1933
George Kingsbury, October 31, 1935
Edmund F. Gay, January 21, 1940, (part 2 of article)
Charles Goodwin, October 26, 1941, (part 2 of article)
Theodore Slafter, February 18, 1943 (part 2 of article)
Henry Hildebrand, September 23, 1943
David Yuill, September 21, 1950
Joseph Greenwood, February 7, 1957
Patrick Broderick, May 8, 1958
LeRoy F. Spear, August, 1970, (photo)
Frank Smith, February 4, 1985 (photo and part 2 of article)
Grace M. Speir, March 20, 1986
Maude Allen, April 8, 1994
Gertrude Nelson, April 8, 1994
Both recipients were born on the same day. (photo and part 2 of article)
Georgie Marie Meyer, December 1, 1995 (part 2 of article)
Cane Retired
Walpole’s Boston Post cane is on display in the Town Hall next to the Town Clerk’s office.
Churches of Walpole
- Churches of Walpole, Mass. – Cottrell, Betty
- United Church of Walpole
- Methodist Church of Walpole
- East Walpole Congregational Church
- United Methodist Church of South Walpole
- Blessed Sacrament & Saint Mary’s Church
- Epiphany Parish of Walpole 1887-1987 A Centennial History
- Evolution of Walpole as a Religious Community by Osterhout, Margaret Jane
Industry in Walpole
- The American Glue Company by Karl H. West, Jr. and Elizabeth M. Cottrell
- “Bird & Son, Inc.: Established 1795” (pages 7-11) in Other industries of New England; their origin, development and accomplishments, illustrated by many old and interesting views by State Street Trust Company, Boston (1924).
- Early Industrial Sites in Walpole, MA by Karl West (1997)
- From Sweatshop to Sweat Stop : A Walpole Family’s Legacy (Fales Company) by Donna M. Byrne (1984?)
- The Kendall Company : 50 years of Yankee Enterprise! by Henry P. Kendall
- Lime Kilns by Karl H. West, Jr.
- Neponset Review – Bird and Son published a magazine especially for its employees from 1920 until the 1960s. At first it was called The Neponset Review and then The Bird Review. It included many details and photos of Walpole families associated with Bird and Son: births, marriages, and deaths and also vacations, excursions, awards, promotions, retirements, new houses and sports teams. Bird sponsored several teams including baseball, basketball, soccer, and bowling. If a family member worked at Bird, his or her name is probably mentioned. Thousands of copies of the review were distributed at Bird plants across the country and in Canada. In theory they are great references to how life was lived in and around Bird and Son in East Walpole in the 20th century. And in theory you could find a family member in an article or photo. Recently, the Walpole Historical Society had the reviews digitized at the Boston Public Library. Now they are key word searchable [e.g. look up a family name].
- One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Bird & Sons, Incorporated by Bird & Son, Inc.
- “A Present State of Technology : Walpole” from Men of useful trades: Craftsmen and mills of the Dedham grant, 1636-1840 by Electa Kane Tritsch (1981)
- The Walpole “Dividents” by Karl West (1982)
- The Walpole Rubber Company (ca.1910)
The Railroad in Walpole
- The Chronology of Railroading in Walpole, Massachusetts
- Walpole and the Kissing Bridge, by Edward J. Sweeney (Model Railroader, September 1967)
- Walpole RR Station Landmark Will Be 85 Years Old Next Week (Walpole Times, June 27, 1968)
- The Coming of the Railroads [Donovan, 1966]
- The New Union Passenger Station at Walpole [Walpole Star, 1883]
Walpole Town Forest
The Town of Walpole Establishes a Communal of 200 Acres by John A. Murphy
Creation of the Walpole Town Forest, 1916 [Town Forest Committee]
A History of the Town Forest : the Early Years [Town Forest Committee]
A History of the Town Forest : Approaching Modern Times [Town Forest Committee]
Walpole Times article, page 1 and page 4, May 6, 1916; Boston Globe article, May 6, 1916; Boston Post article, May 6, 1916.
