Search Results for: wellesley square clock

Wellesley Square clock won’t be showing its faces around here in a bit

August 27, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Don’t be alarmed if you notice the 2-dial Wellesley Square clock disappearing in coming weeks. It’s getting a facelift and more.

This Wellesley landmark is being completely renovated and hopefully will be back before the holiday season, says the Department of Public Works’ Mike Quinn, who is superintendent of the Park & Highway Division.

The clock will be reworked by Medfield’s Electric Time Co., which has been in operation since the early 1900s and has an electric clock museum at its facility.

Electric Time’s Susan Weisenfeld says the plan is to strip down the clock, sandblast it, paint and replace or upgrade parts as needed. “When complete, it will look brand new,” she says.

Electric Time has been Wellesley’s go-to clock company over the years. It made clocks at Wellesley High, Town Hall, Playhouse Square, Needham Bank & more.

Repair time at Clocktower Park, too

Separately, Wellesley’s Park & Tree Division has been busy with the Isaac Sprague Memorial Tower at Elm (or Clocktower) Park in Wellesley Hills.

The iconic clock tower and park are on the National Register of Historic Places, so they need to keep up appearances like so many in town. The tower was built back in 1928 to house a clock and bell given to the town in 1874.

The town has been repairing the staircase leading up to the bell, and working to fix the bell’s chime equipment in hopes of allowing it to ring by year end. Electric Time provided Wellesley with a new bell hammer.

The town also has been fixing up the wood around the top of the bell tower to make it look great. The copper roof is set for renovation by next summer.

We had the pleasure of going up into the clocktower to visit the bell and clock a few years back, and hope to do so again when it’s all spruced up and COVID-19 rules allow.

Meanwhile, Elm Park is also getting a new look itself with an outdoor dining parklet taking shape thanks to grant funding.

Time out for Wellesley Square’s giant clock

September 3, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Word was that the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant and Department of Public Works would be removing the iconic two-dial street clock in Wellesley Square for renovation at 8AM on Thursday, and the crew didn’t waste any time.

View this post on Instagram

#Wellesley Square’s street clock is headed to the shop for repairs @electrictimecompany (video courtesy of DPW’s Kevin Collins)

A post shared by Swellesley Report (Wellesley) (@theswellesleyreport) on Sep 3, 2020 at 6:45am PDT

With the aid of Medfield’s Electric Time Co., which will be giving the clock a makeover before the holiday season, the clock face and post were up and out of the ground within an hour. The clock, which has stood in Wellesley Square since 1998, stands over 15 feet tall. While Electric Time wasn’t sure how much the clock weighed, its current two-dial clocks weigh 562 pounds.

I stood near town landscape planner Cricket Vlass, who despite her faith in the MLP and DPW couldn’t bear to watch the entire operation carried out within and above her bright flower plantings. Now the flower patch surrounds just the remaining clock innards and base.

DPW’s Kevin Collins said he anticipated the team having to use a backhoe to haul out the clock. But the MLP displayed its bucket truck wizardry in plucking the clock face and post from their stations once assorted fastenings were removed and power was disconnected.

wellesley square clock removal

Time out for #Wellesley Square’s giant clock https://t.co/jJs0c1ftU6 @tower_clocks pic.twitter.com/ejPrncYq2X

— swellesley (@swellesley) September 3, 2020

The plan by Electric Time now is to strip down the clock, sandblast it, paint it, and replace or upgrade parts as needed.

Here’s the original drawing for the clock, shared by Electric Time:

electric clock drawing — Original Wellesley Square street clock drawing (via Electric Time)

Clock fixed: Time no longer standing still in Wellesley Square

February 4, 2016 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

wellesley square clock stuck at night — Wellesley Square’s Central Street clock on Wednesday night

When a Swellesley reader wrote to us last night asking if the powers that be at our esteemed operation knew “who to call to fix the Central Street clock that is only right 2x/day these days” we hopped right on it. After all, if there’s one thing Wellesley doesn’t want to be known for it’s being behind the times.

We shot out emails to the Wellesley Department of Public Works as well as to the Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association. And then this morning at 7:20 we stopped by to inspect the Wellesley Square clock ourselves. To our surprise, the time on the clock was correct, but then we looked back at the photo sent by the reader and saw that the time shown on the clock was 7:20 there, too. So coincidentally, we just happened to show up there during one of the clock’s two most shining moments of the day. When we drove by a little later in the AM, though, we noticed the clock was still at 7:20.

wellesley square clock — Wellesley Square clock at 7:20am Wednesday

After that we reached out to one of the nearby business tenants as well as the area property manager to see if they might have an answer. But as the property manager suspected, this was a job for the town.

Wellesley Deputy Director Terry Connolly got back to us saying that “With a little help from [Wellesley Municipal Light Plant] and Electric Time Company (company we purchased the clock from), I’m happy to report the clock is fixed.”

WELLESLEY EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Sprague Memorial Clock Tower

Wellesley summer round-up, 2020

September 10, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Welcome back to a post-Labor Day Wellesley that looks a lot different than those of years past. We can remember end-of-summer times when our family just barely skidded back into town ahead of the first day of school. Off we sent the kids, practically tracking beach sand into the classroom.

Times have changed. Given that the Wellesley Public Schools, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, has switched over to a hybrid model of learning that doesn’t start until mid-September, many families may have chosen to hunker down at their summer escape spots for a little while longer. And why not? Remote instruction for students starts September 16th. The transition to a hybrid model that includes in-person instruction will begin on October 1st. So those who have reluctantly left their happy places all too early year after year suddenly have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to extend the season.

Here are some other highlights from Wellesley that you might have missed over the summer:

1) Wellesley residents took to the streets

Hundreds of people, many holding signs bearing the names of those killed in recent years while in police custody, lined Washington Street in Wellesley from Reidy Field past the tennis courts in a mostly silent vigil. SEE PICS.

Wellesley demonstration

The somber crowd, facing the road as honking vehicles drove by, urged justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality. Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after being pinned to the ground by a police officer who kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes. READ MORE

2) Wellesley Free Library reopened

We had missed the Wellesley Free Library terribly since it closed in March due to COVID-19 concerns, so you can bet we rushed right in to get a first look at the main branch the second it opened. No matter how many rules we had to follow (and there are a lot of rules) it didn’t matter. We just wanted to drift through one of our old haunts and remember better days. READ MORE.

3) WHS Class of 2020 got its outdoor ceremony

About 200 Wellesley High School graduates took part in a scaled down but still rewarding ceremony to celebrate the Class of 2020’s launch to the future. The entire ceremony clocked in at a bit over an hour and a half. READ MORE. SEE THE VIDEO.

WHS graduation 2020

4) Linden Square art installation refused to go down to coronavirus

Three recent Wellesley High School 2020 graduates took up their paintbrushes and completed a long-planned project for their WHS Art Intensive course. It had been a long time coming. First the public artwork, a 6′ x 27′ mural-style painting on the curved brick wall at the corner of Linden and Everett Streets, faced delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Next, the artists were challenged by 90+ degree temperatures. No matter, they got out there and made it happen. Project mentor Alexander Golob said, “The result is a joyous and playful mural that showcases various animals doing activities that community members told us they were doing during the pandemic, baking, listening to music, playing soccer, going for picnics.” READ MORE

Linden Square mural — Mural title: “A Town At Play – Finding Meaning During Covid-19.” Photo credit, Alexander Golob

5) Diamonds in the rough at the RDF

Wellesley’s Felicity Bortolan used to remove her wedding ring before showering. But that routine is no more after a close call this summer during a dump run.

“I’m completely fanatical about where I put stuff and my ring, I always take off and put in the same place when I shower,” she says of the jewelry, which marks 21 years of marriage to her husband Paul. “However there were tissues and other things that were on the counter and these covered my ring. In the sheer hurriedness of getting to the dump I swept the trash off the counter and tied the bag. Paul took it to the dump.” READ MORE, SEE THE ROCKS

6) Colette Aufranc won Wellesley BOS seat in special election

Colette Aufranc, who cited her financial experience and school volunteer efforts as prepping her for a seat on Wellesley’s Board of Selectmen, won a close Special Election race over two other candidates. Just over half of all registered voters cast ballots. Aufranc’s competition for the position were Gwen Baker and Odessa Sanchez. READ MORE

7) Wellesley Square clock

Don’t be alarmed if you notice the 2-dial Wellesley Square clock disappearing in coming weeks. It’s getting a facelift and more. This Wellesley landmark is being completely renovated and hopefully will be back before the holiday season, says the Department of Public Works’ Mike Quinn, who is superintendent of the Park & Highway Division. YOU’VE GOT TIME TO READ MORE

8) Wellesley police went for gold with Winnie the dog

The Wellesley Police Department has welcomed Winnie, a 10-month old English Cream Golden Retriever, as its community resource service dog. SEE THE CUTE PUP

9) Mrs. Swellesley has a thing for Phil

It’s not what you think. READ MORE

10) Letter from Wayne the postal worker to the Wellesley community

Wayne says, “For approximately the past 10+ years I have had the pleasure & honor of being your “Window #2 postal clerk” at the Wellesley Square Post Office. It has truly been a great & rewarding run! It is time for me, however, to venture on into life’s next adventure as I will be retiring from the United States Postal Service on June 30th after 32 & 1/2 years of employment.” READ MORE

Wellesley hasn’t given up on RDF give-and-take area in 2020

September 4, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Wellesley has been spring cleaning all summer long. With no Recycling & Disposal Facility give-and-take area so far this year, residents are finding their basements, garages, and other parts of their homes overflowing with stuff they’d like to get rid of in a responsible way.

“I have stuff that’s piling up in my basement that I would prefer to be repurposed and reused by other people but at some point if I run out of space I have a hard decision about how I get rid of it,” Jeff Wechsler, a member of the Wellesley Board of Public Works, said during the board’s meeting this week. “I know that’s probably happening across town.”

Some in Wellesley have turned to online groups like Wellesley Give & Take or joined forces to make runs to Savers in Framingham. Sustainable Wellesley distributed a list in July of places accepting donations.

Wellesley RDF reusables

But according to DPW Director Dave Cohen, you might not want to give up on the RDF Reusables area opening in some format by the end of the year.

The area has closed in early December in recent years, so we still have a few months to play with.

One challenge, aside from the obvious COVID-19 social distancing ones within a space that can become a feeding frenzy, is that volunteers are dramatically reduced.

The DPW has put a draft job description together for someone who would manage the area on a day-to-day, hour-to-hour basis, Cohen said.

“Our fear is that if we were to reopen that area as it was before we should expect to have sort of similar results as before, and I don’t think that is good enough,” he said.

In the meantime, you might see the RDF step up promotions of alternate places to donate goods, or even align with efforts such as Wellesley Rotary’s Repair Cafe.

Wellesley Business Buzz: Wellesley Books has an Annex; Winston Flowers is back; Sara Campbell warehouse sale; Clocktower parklet progress; LINX update

August 26, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Wellesley Books Annex pops up

Wellesley Books this week is doing a soft opening for its new Annex, located at 90 Central St., just on the other side of the bank from the main Wellesley Books site.

Wellesley Books’ Gillian Kohli says: “We hope to use the space at 90 Central Street through the fall as a way to offer more merchandise to more customers while still complying with the social distancing and safety measures we have in place at Wellesley Books. Because we lost so many weeks of in-store traffic due to the pandemic, we are starting with a 50% off sale of great gift items that never got a chance to shine. We will gradually be adding bargain books and additional merchandise to the mix.”

Look for fall and holiday items soon at the space, open Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm.

The return of Winston Flowers

Winston Flowers, which temporarily closed its Wellesley Square site during the pandemic, is coming back in a big way.

Its Wellesley shop at 31 Central St., is set to reopen Sept. 1. But before that, it plans a 3-day-only end-of-summer sale in the former LF store space next door at 25 Central St. On sale are vases, containers, and other vessels (that is plant pots, not ships, though some of the pots are really big). The sale runs Aug. 27-29, 10am-5pm.

Sara Campbell brings warehouse sale to Wellesley

The Sara Campbell shop in Wellesley’s Linden Square is having its semi-warehouse sale on Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 27-30 in the space next to Magic Beans.

Wellesley’s Sara Campbell store is considered the fashion retailer’s flagship location, and carries nearly all of Sara Campbell’s collections seasonally.

The sale items, including dresses and accessories, are being sourced from all 24 Sara Campbell locations.

Clocktower parklet progress

Wellesley continues to make progress on its parklet, an outdoor dining area at Elm (or Clocktower) Park in Wellesley Hills. Expect more than a dozen tables (at first picnic tables, then fancier ones) to be set up for take-out from nearby restaurants (possibly even delivery).

When asked Wednesday about whether Abbott Street, in between Bocado and Juniper in Wellesley Square might be an option for a little outdoor dining area, town Executive Director Meghan Jop said it’s been considered. But since it’s a hill, it would be a challenge.

clocktower parklet progress — Early stages of parklet set-up

LINX Classes update

LINX, coming off a successful summer of day camps, is now readying more outdoor activities for kids.

LINX Classes has begun assembling three outdoor, open-air classrooms at its location at 141 Linden St. Each space will be 33 feet long by 20 feet wide with sprung floors to support students’ growing bodies. Inflatable arched coverings, each 17 feet high at the peak, will protect students from sun, heat, and light rain. Students will only have to mask-up and move to inside classrooms in extreme weather conditions.

LINX is hosting fewer afternoon classes than in previous years. These classes will have a maximum of 12 students to maintain 6 feet of physical distance between them. In the hopes of supporting more students though, the company is in the process of adding morning, session-based classes at the outdoor 141 Linden St. spaces and afternoon, session-based classes—LINX GO—at Elm Bank Reservation. More on classes and registration. Or call 781-235-3210.

Wellesley readies for Clocktower parklet dining area

August 6, 2020 by Bob Brown 5 Comments

Update: 8/26/20: The town is making progress on the parklet and could have it going over the next week or so.

clocktower parklet progress

clocktower park spring Wellesley has received $61K from a state shared streets & spaces program that will allow it to set up outside dining tables alongside Elm Park, where the Wellesley Hills clocktower stands, as soon as mid-September.

(Hey, we’ve been inside that the Sprague Memorial Clocktower!)

The town has worked with Wellesley Square and Linden Square merchants to allow for expanded outdoor seating in light of the pandemic, but has been more challenged to do so for merchants in Wellesley Hills, where space is at more of a premium.

This plan would target that strip that people currently treat as one giant crosswalk, darting blindly across Washington Street to the restaurants and merchants across from the park. Using the grant, Wellesley would secure equipment to cordon off a strip of parking along the park’s eastbound side to accommodate a pick-up/drop-off area for those making purchases across the street. Also envisioned are a bike rack and the aforementioned tables. This could be an option for people who want to pick up food at places such as Coconut Thai, Yama, Comella’s and others, and eat outside.

The set-up, which could include more than a dozen tables, could likely remain in place for 4-6 weeks, weather dependent, and whether people actually use it (it’s loud there). There’s the possibility that customers could order food online and have it delivered there.

The vision for this spot would also be that people walking or biking on the Fuller Brook path could stop for a bite and move along.

The funds will be used in part to pay for a trailer to store the equipment, including barricades and of course lots more street signs. The town could consider other locations to use the materials next year, and will solicit community feedback about that.

“We see a lot of economic potential,” Town Executive Director Meghan Jop told the Board of Selectmen this week.