Wellesley’s Michael Tobin compiled this video and photo montage of Wellesley’s mostly empty streets and open spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The drone, one of the ultimate social distancing tools at our disposal, flew mostly at an altitude of 150 to 400 feet, though zoomed closer to land for a few close-ups.
“As Wellesley started to shut down, and we were all ordered to work from home and stay home, I couldn’t help be awed by the change in the feel of the town as I did venture out on essential walks and trips to the grocery store.” Tobin says, who took the videos on Sunday April 5 and Monday April 6. “At what should have been the busiest rush hours, there were virtually no cars on the road. The parking lots of shuttered business and the schools were empty. I’d be in the backyard and hear no cars going by on our usually busy cut-through street. No sounds of occasional overhead planes. Even quieter than a Wellesley summer weekend evening! So eerie!”
Tobin’s hopeful that if residents continue to stay at home as much as possible and follow Health Department and state orders “we can get through this to fill those restaurant tables and get our local businesses running again as soon as possible.”
More: Centennial Reservation looks pretty great from above, too (2017)
Great job, Mike!
Michael ….Your drone captured the eerie look of a trip down Washington St which is usually our very congested main street with vehicles in traffic jams and busy pedestrians. Never would I have imagined living through a pandemic! Thx for the aerial!
Absolutely awesome! Thank you.
Stay safe everyone!
Lovely job. So strange to see the town virtually empty and so quiet. Thank you! Mei-Mei
Remarkably moving . If possible, II’d like it to be sent to my kids in Europe: chrisoldcorn@gmail.com and mark_oldcorn@yahoo.co.uk.
Anthony Oldcorn