The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Fire devastates downtown Natick

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Wellesley firefighters were among first responders from more than a dozen neighboring communities that headed to downtown Natick overnight to battle an 8-alarm fire that left a firefighter injured and wrecked a handful of businesses, according to news crews on the scene.

I’ve been in Natick Center all morning taking pictures and videos, and talking with business owners and residents. about the fire that has destroyed at least eight businesses. Among the ruined storefronts are King Wok Chinese restaurant, which has been a fixture on that block since at least 1997. The basement of that restaurant apparently is where the fire began. One firefighter has been taken to the hospital with reported minor injuries.

Natick fire, near Wellesley
Wellesley Fire Rescue team sprays the roof of Natick Center Graphics, located at the corner of Main and West Central Streets.

That block, which dates from 1900, also has seen the loss of the much-loved Iron Horse, a yarn and fiber arts supply shop that also offered classes and workshops. Owner Deborah Lynne Smith in a Facebook post said, “This morning at 1:22 Natick Fire was notified of smoke coming out of the front side of the building (Rt 27) our store was in (the side) building. By 4:26 the fire went to 7 alarm. Our life dream has been destroyed. Thankfully none of our wonderful staff or customers were in there!”

The Christian Science Reading Room is also ruined, its plate-glass windows smashed in by firefighters, all its literature a total loss.

Nancy Kelley Dance Studio also suffered heavy damages, as has Clip and Dip Dog Grooming. Natick Center Graphics, located on the same side of the complex as King Wok, also is wrecked. At least four other businesses are seriously affected. Just across the street, Common Kitchen & Cafe was closed, as it always is on Mondays, and unscathed. Crowds gathered at the edge of the Natick Commons to watch as smoke, at times acrid and black, poured out of the flat-roofed, one-story building affected by the disaster.

The owner of the 9,479 square foot building on 0.29 acres of land is One South Main St. LLC in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the Natick Assessor’s records, the company bought the property in August 2018 for $2 million.

Natick fire, near Wellesley
The Wellesley fire rescue rig is parked on West Central Street, in front of Buttercup restaurant.

One spot that escaped damage: Robjets d’ Art, which earlier this month moved from its spot adjacent to King Wok to nearby Natick Center location at 5 S. Main Street. Luckiest move ever for the funky shop that carries a collection of cool vintage jewelry, books, music, curios and art.

Some of the towns who sent emergency crews: Wellesley, Hudson, Leicester, Wayland, Sudbury, Acton, Marlborough, Southborough, Milford, Sherborn and Hopkinton. The Salvation Army was on hand, as were Eversource, Boston Sparks Association support services, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Special Operations, and more.

Natick fire, near Wellesley
The Framingham responders are dousing the roof of King Wok. The truck is parked on Pond Street, in front of Common Kitchen & Cafe.

Cosmos Chiropractic Care at 12 West Central Street for 24 years, owned by Doc Cosmos, also lucked out. The 12 West Central Street building did not suffer damage. Cosmos, the self-described “mayor of Natick and proud townie,” said, “I’m from Natick, grew up here, and this is kind of a lot. But we are townies here, and we stick together. I’m glad business owners and customers weren’t hurt. This is bad, but the town will rally and come together.”

Natick fire, near Wellesley
All the big dawg news crews were here, parked in the First Congregational Church on the corner of East Central and Main Streets. I took this shot from the second floor of the Morse Institute Library, on East Central Street.Natick fire, near Wellesley

Another shot from the second floor of the Morse Institute.

A little Natick fire history

This isn’t the first time Natick center has been ravaged by fire. Back on January 13, 1874 the town hub saw an inferno reduce 35 buildings to rubble, in which a Natick firefighter was killed. The town’s newspaper, The Natick Bulletin, lost its headquarters to the fire, as did the Congregational Church, a concert hall, the fire station, a grocers, a dry goods store, clothing stores, and more.

Natick Fire, 1874
Natick Fire, 1874. Photo credit: Morse Institute Library Special Collections.

Despite the loss of its offices in 1874, The Natick Bulletin continued to publish. Under a sub-headline “Natick Will Rise Again” the town’s news source reported, “The business portion of our beautiful town lies in ashes. The fire demon has laid its withering hand upon the home of nearly our whole mercantile, religious, and professional interests, and it is vanished from sight. It is almost too terrible to realize. But though we have suffered fearfully…there is no despondency. The enterprise of our people will overcome the difficulties of the present situation…The burnt district will be rebuilt.”

In a 2009 Boston Globe story that looked back at the fire, Megan McKee wrote that fire “got its start at about 3am, when it was discovered on the second floor of a building at Summer and Main Streets.”

McKee’s story goes on to say that wind helped the fire jump across Summer Street to J.P. Wolcott’s one-year old, three-story shoe factory and into the rest of the commercial district.

Natick Fire, 1874
Natick Fire, 1874. Photo credit: Morse Institute Library, Special Collections.

The Morse Institute Library at 14 East Central Street, from where I wrote this post, survived the 1874 fire, and now the 2019 fire, despite its close proximity to both. The library, which opened on January 1, 1874, just under two weeks before the devastating fire, escaped with only a slightly damaged roof. Today it never even ceased service, despite the nearby scene of destruction.

Thanks to Natick librarian Karol Bartlett for supplying me with historical documents and pictures from the 1874 fire.

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Take me to church in Wellesley — Milestone

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Part of a series of occasional posts profiling places of worship in Wellesley.

New to Wellesley’s religious landscape is Milestone Church, which is located at 42 Elmwood Road, formally Elmwood Chapel.  Milestone identifies as a life-giving Bible-based Christian church. After giving the interior  of this older structure a fresh coat of paint and some much-needed renovations, Lead Pastor Jay Mudd held the space’s first services on Easter Sunday 2019. Pastor Mudd and his wife Holly were married in 2006 and have five children: Makayla, Adalynn, Louie, Zachary, and Rhett.

Milestone Church, Wellesley

Milestone holds weekly Sunday services at 9am. Adults attend services at the Worship Center, and there are coffee and refreshments available. Kids (babies through grade 5) go to the Milestone Kids program where they participate in Bible-based activities. There are also activities for teenagers outside of Sunday mornings.

Elmwood Christian Preschool is affiliated with the church and operates out of three classrooms and a playground located on church grounds. Starting in Fall 2019 the preschool will offer a transitional kindergarten program in addition to their programs for children from ages 2.9.

There is an additional Milestone campus at 217 West Central Street in Natick.  You can learn more by visiting www.milestoenjourney.org

Summer fun

Milestone on Sunday, August 25, 4pm – 6pm will support the town of Wellesley with a Wellesley Friends and Family BBQ. There will be food, bounces houses, kids activities, and yard games like corn hole and spike ball. All are welcome.

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Wellesley Business Buzz: July Jubilation is on; yard sale permits; ongoing Town job searches

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July Jubilation Sidewalk Sale, Wellesley Square

Come join the fun at one of Wellesley’s most-loved summer traditions, the July Jubilation Sidewalk Sale, sponsored by The Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association.

It’s going to be hot, but the Town of Wellesley, Police and Fire Departments as well as the Wellesley Square merchants, are all in favor of proceeding with the event and are working together to take precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of the animals, shoppers and visitors, workers and entertainers. Here’s more information on how they’re going to accomplish that.

Thinking of going into the yard sale business?

If you’re planning a yard sale or a block party this summer, remember to buy your town permit online, in advance.

In Wellesley, residents are required to have permits for yard sales, estate sales, auctions, block parties and other activities. These permits are issued by the Board of Selectmen; please note the specific guidelines and fees for each activity.

Apply for permits online once you know the date of your activity. You may pay by credit card (preferred) or by bringing a check, payable to Town of Wellesley, to the Treasurer’s Office during regular business hours.

Payment is required before your permit is issued. Please allow for at least five (5) days to process your application.

Help Wellesley plan for success

The Town of Wellesley is looking for a candidate for Planning Director to work on issues related to planning, zoning, economic development, preservation, growth and sustainability.

The Director will manage, direct and administer municipal land use planning, zoning, and subdivision control programs within the Town as delineated by state statute and Town Bylaws and Zoning Bylaws while reporting to the Planning Board.  Will serve as the Town’s principle professional advisor and resource on planning and development issues, providing technical expertise and professional techniques for the Board and the Town.

Salary up to $111,700 with an excellent benefit package. Here’s the full job posting.

Wellesley Public Schools re-opens Director of Diversity search

Some of the responsibilities of the Wellesley Public Schools Director of Diversity will include formulating a strategic plan to support district diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; deepen community awareness, understanding, and respect for diversity, equity and inclusion; oversee the METCO program; and work collaboratively with the A Better Chance program. More information here.

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Babson College and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company to part ways

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Babson CollegeIt seems like only yesterday that Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) came to Babson College in a partnership designed to sync up the arts with the entrepreneurship education programs at the 4-year private business school. As the college’s resident theater company since 2013, the nonprofit CSC devoted significant resources to Babson’s arts and academic programs. The idea was bolster the College’s efforts to enhance the natural synergies between entrepreneurship and the arts. Steven Maler served as director of Babson’s Sorenson Center for the Arts. The start of the partnership coincided with the naming of new Babson President Kerry Healey in 2013, who at the time had been on CSC’s board for five years. The end of the partnership coincides with Healey’s recent departure from Babson.

The two groups reassessed their partnership from time to time. Back in 2016 Babson and CSC extended their work relationship for three more years, and CSC continued to serve as the school’s resident theater company. Which takes us to 2019, and the recent announcement according to the Boston Globe that as of January 2020, Babson will no longer have CSC around to ensure that the arts and business continue to co-mingle and benefit from one another there. Babson will, however, put up big sponsorship bucks for one more summer of free Shakespeare on the Boston Commons. Mark your calendars for The Tempest, summer 2020.

On a personal note

We’ve greatly appreciated CSC’s cultural additions to Wellesley, and have had the good fortune to attend many performances over the years. Our favorites: Birdy and the athleticism of lead actor Spencer Hamp and the steampunk stage sets; when the 5-time Grammy award-winning jazz collective Maria Schneider Orchestra played to a sold-out house of knowledgeable and appreciative audience members; the tragic history lesson of Our American Hamlet; the time actor Seth Gilliam, who played Father Gabriel on Walking Dead, was in the house; and the magical and contemporary Romeo & Juliet on the Boston Commons.

Thanks for bringing amazing theater and music to Wellesley, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. “If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then, this parting was well made.” — Julius Caesar.

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Wellesley community spotlight: Wellesley Mothers Forum

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The Wellesley Mothers Forum (WMF) kicked off its 2019-2020 membership year at the Wellesley College Club. Co-Presidents Melissa Lacy and Lindsey McCullough are at the helm of the 25-year old member-led social and support group. The group is all about providing opportunities for nearly 400 local mothers to come together with the goal of establishing a long- term support network.

As any one of the 65 dedicated volunteers can tell you, the not-for-profit group is first and foremost about family and community. With membership comes socialization, friendship, and nuts-and-bolts knowledge (where’s the nearest Montessori school? Where’s the best pizza in town?) at a time when connection is essential in helping a family feel like a part of the town. The organization strives to help women maintain their individuality, creativity, confidence, and emotional health while doing the hardest job of all — parenting.

Wellesley Mother's Forum
Wellesley Mother’s Forum is all about moms supporting moms, family, and community.

As the WMF enters a new year, there will be exciting lectures on topics including parenthood in the age of fear, de-cluttering and getting organized, the power of positive thinking, and minimalist parenting, just to name a few. Members benefit from the Merchant Discount Program (over 160 merchants), as well as many events for moms and the whole family such as: the Morses Pond Family Picnic, Fall Carnival, Halloween Party, Cookie Swap, and various Children’s Events and Moms Nights Out throughout the year.

How to join

Members must live in Wellesley or surrounding towns (that would be Natick, Wayland, Newton, or Needham) and have at least one child (or currently be expecting).  Most members have kids between the ages of birth to eight years old. The club’s membership year runs year-round, with most events occurring September through June. New members are welcome at any time of year, and no sponsorship is needed.

Dues/annual registration fee is $165 for the year. That gets you plenty, such as lectures and seminars from parenting experts. A big draw is the group’s monthly Speaker Series starts with a social hour with wine and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a presentation and Q & A session. Previous speakers have included award-winning speaker and author Carl Honoré of In Praise of Slow; Karen Le Billion, author of French Kids Eat Everything and Getting to YUM: The 7 Secrets of Raising Eager Eaters; and Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician, child development specialist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at USC School of Medicine.

Other perks

Weekly playgroups are assembled according to the child’s age and the parent’s availability. Generally, playgroups meet weekly, rotating among members’ homes. The group also offer playgroups specifically for nannies to attend.

The Working Moms Group for full-time or part-time workers, or those interested in returning to the workforce. This group meets monthly for dinners at local restaurants or cocktail parties in members’ homes and is a place to share ideas and best practices about the challenges of balancing career and home life.

Members are encouraged to contribute two volunteer hours per year by volunteering for a committee, staffing an event, or preparing a meal for a family in need.

If you have any questions, contact [email protected].

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