Grab a seat — on Rte. 9 in Wellesley

Stone bench at Rte. 9 and Kingsbury St in Wellesley
You’re going to have a long wait if you’re looking for a streetcar to come by on Rte. 9 east nowadays.

 

While taking photos of the Rte. 9/Kingsbury Street construction recently, I came upon what appeared to be a stone seating area at the intersection on the Rte. 9 East side. I’m sure I’ve driven past it a zillion times and never noticed it, though wondered if it might be affected by the roadwork.

According to Wellesley Planning Director Michael Zehner, this old waiting station for a trolley that used to operate along Worcester Street should not be affected by the Mass Department of Transportation work (see more on this and other in the Route 9 Enhancement Study and Plan issued in December, 2015).

Joshua Dorin, an advisory member of the Wellesley Historical Commission, says the history of this specific bench is a bit fuzzy, but notes that waiting stations in the area of the Middle School (formerly a high school) were not uncommon to support those taking public transportation to and from school. The stone bench at issue was surely used as a waiting area for buses along Worcester Street in the 1930s when the trolley was replaced, he says.

Adds Dorin: “I think this bench is a perfect example of the little historic treasures that are sprinkled throughout the town and give Wellesley such valuable character and charm.”