Save the date: Wellesley Historical Society craft beer tasting event is Sept. 26th
Wellesley 9/11 ceremony marks 20th anniversary
On the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, observances were held at the Wellesley Hills Fire Department Headquarters to honor and remember the 2,977 civilians and first responders who died on that day.
Addressing a crowd of about 80 Wellesley residents, first responders, and town officials, Select Board Chair Tom Ulfelder said, “Today marks the anniversary of the most lethal attack on American soil, when nineteen terrorists from half a world away hijacked four commercial aircraft and turned them into weapons that rained death on New York City, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That terrible day brought changes large and small that effect every facet of American life. Seventy million people living in the United States had not yet been born on September 11, 2001, but there are many living now who are haunted by memories that stalk them in unguarded moments.”
Wellesley residents who lost their lives in the attacks were named: Neilie Casey; Edmund Glaser; Patrick Quigley; and John Cahill.
Select Board members Lise Olney, Beth Sullivan Woods, Tom Ulfelder, and Colette Aufranc also were in attendance at the ceremony.
(We’ll add a link to Wellesley Media’s recording when it’s available.)
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Wellesley 9/11 Memorial Observances
Wellesley Historical Society director departing for Simmons
Wellesley Historical Society Executive Director Amanda Fisher has announced she’s leaving later this month to join Simmons University as its director of donor relations and stewardship.
Fisher has served in her role at the Historical Society since early 2018.
During her tenure, the Society has moved closer to making Stanwood House its permanent home. She’s also spearheaded numerous creative programs, including with the schools, and proved agile in converting in-person events to online ones during the pandemic.
“My time at the Wellesley Historical Society has been invaluable to me and I hope that Wellesley will continue to support the Society and participate in some fantastic programs and events coming this fall,” she wrote.
Upcoming programs include the Society’s 3rd Annual Craft Beer event on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 4-6pm. Tickets will be offered first to members.
We thank Amanda for her Swellesley support and all of the good work she did with the Society.
More: Visit the Society’s Tollhouse Shop online
Beyond Wellesley: The Langham, Boston—restored and reimagined
SPONSORED CONTENT: The Langham, Boston has reopened after two years of a top-to-bottom transformation, ushering in a new era of American warmth and comfort with a reverence for European elegance. Built in 1922 as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and located in the very heart of the city, The Langham is now the place to recommend to visiting guests who want to experience luxury, service, and tradition through a distinctly modern lens.
Think welcoming rooms decorated with a fresh and bright palette, along with innovative amenities (hello, Nespresso machines; Italian marble bathrooms with rainfall showers; and oversized windows that flood guest rooms with natural light). In addition, The Langham’s new collection of iconic artworks bestows the historic landmark with a feeling of grace and permanence.
But why should those from Beyond Wellesley have all the fun? Why not book one of The Langham’s 312 residentially-styled guest rooms and suites for a family getaway or a night on the town and enjoy five-star accommodations along with all that Boston has to offer? The North End, Boston Harbor, the Seaport District, Downtown Crossing, and Faneuil Hall are just a short walk away. A slightly longer walk (or car ride) will get you to Boston Common, Back Bay, Fenway Park, SoWa, and more. As part of its reopening celebration, guests will enjoy special access to many attractions, including Classic Harbor Line cruises and the Museum of Fine Arts.
If a never-to-be-forgotten celebration is what you have in mind, The Langham’s restoration has created glamorous spaces to make memories and celebrate the everyday.
Wellesley Historical Society pays off Stanwood House mortgage
The Wellesley Historical Society is now the envy of many of us: It has raised $400K in a recent fundraising campaign and now can pay off the mortgage for 323 Washington St., the future home of the Society.
The Society acquired the 5,000 sq. ft. Stanwood House on the last day of 2012 for $1M, with the intention of moving its collections and offices to the new location. Its current base at 229 Washington St., the Dadmun-McNamara House, can’t contain its collections, and is too small for the sorts of public activities the Society would like to host.
While the Society is thrilled about paying off its mortgage for the 1916 house, more fundraising is ahead to ensure the new location can safely maintain its collections and meet various regulations. The Society has already invested in significant renovations, including accessible bathrooms and ramps. The property, as of Town Meeting this past fall, is now deemed a single building historic district.
More: Visit the Society’s Tollhouse Shop online
Wellesley Council on Aging, Temple Beth Elohim offer Juneteenth programs
The Commonwealth this year for the first time recognizes June 19, or Juneteenth, as an official state holiday marking slavery’s end in the United States.
How will it be celebrated in Wellesley?
For one, the Wellesley Council on Aging hosts a program on Thursday, June 17th at 2pm titled “Juneteenth: Exploring and Celebrating.
The description for the event reads:
In July of 2020, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a holiday in Massachusetts to be celebrated each year on June 19th. Join Rev. Deborah Clark on Thursday, June 17th at 2:00 PM as she presents about the new role it is playing in our state and our nation today. Juneteenth has a long history, dating back to the day, in 1865, that the Union army rode into Galveston, Texas and told enslaved people about emancipation. It was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In this hour-long virtual conversation, we will delve into the history of Juneteenth, how it has been celebrated in different parts of the country. We will talk about what it means for us to celebrate this holiday in a way that honors a painful history and lifts up courage and hope.
Also offering a Juneteenth program is Temple Beth Elohim on June 18, from 7:30-8:45pm online.
The program, titled “Juneteenth and the Continuing March to Freedom with TBE Online,” will feature “speakers from the Partakers College-Behind-Bars program and the new Partakers Empowerment Program (PEP), a re-entry program for individuals recently released from prison. We will hear how TBE mentors are supporting individuals during their incarceration, and then post-release in rebuilding their lives. We will also learn about efforts to prevent youth-at-risk from getting swept into the cycle of violence and incarceration.”
Other Wellesley Juneteenth programs? [email protected]
Town office and department holiday schedules
Wellesley municipal offices and departments will follow a limited holiday schedule this year in observance of Juneteenth.
Closed on Friday, June 18:
- Wellesley Town Hall
- Wellesley Public Schools (No Students, Buildings will be open for teachers & staff)
Closed on Saturday, June 19:
- Wellesley RDF (Closed all day)
- Wellesley Free Library (All branches)
