The “Entering Wellesley/Entering Natick” sign on Rte. 16 is now back on its post. As we reported last month, the sign was found on the ground on Christmas morning, and later wound up in the middle of a side street, then up against a neighbor’s bushes.

When we saw the sign we were not tempted at all to grab it and do some interior decorating. But we alerted Wellesley Police, who said they would let the state know.

One other observation, pointed out by a Swellesley reader. A stone marker on the ground is marked with “N N.” I’d noticed this marker on Christmas morning and briefly wondered about it. The reader suggested it might refer to Natick and Needham, which Wellesley was once part of…

Wellesley became a little less welcoming over Christmas on Rte. 16, as the “Entering Wellesley” sign (or “Entering Natick,” if you prefer) could be seen leaning on a stone wall near Hunnewell Farm rather than atop its usual steel pole. (Update: As of the morning of Dec. 26, the sign is now gone.)

If Mr. Swellesley were a more emotional man, he would have shed a tear at the sight. After all, that sign serves as our logo, with the red “S” added via the magic of the web.

We’ve even done some supermodeling in front of that municipal boundary sign.

Our preliminary crime scene investigation showed no evidence that the sign pole had been smashed into by a vehicle. No tire tracks in the mud or snow.

However, there did appear to be missing bolts that would have attached the sign to the pole. We weren’t sure if the downed sign was the result of an accident, mischief or more legitimate activity.

The hefty sign, known by highway officials as a “book leaf” for its shape’s similarity to an open book, is large at 48×60 inches. Not so easy to run off with by a prankster.

We notified the Wellesley Department of Public Works, which has had its hands full in 2019 with missing Old Town Road street signs, as well as the Wellesley Police Department. The police told us they were letting the state’s DPW know.

In the meantime, you’ll just have to take your chances on mistakenly winding up in Wellesley or Natick, depending on which way you might travel along Rte. 16.

A Swellesley reader asked why imminent construction activity regarding a water main project in the Bacon Street/Rte. 135 area of Natick would also impact Wellesley. We reached out to the Wellesley Department of Public Works to find out, and here’s what the DPW’s Bill Shaughnessy shared with us:

“The answer to your question is that the Town of Natick,Department of Public Works contracted with W. Walsh Company to rehabilitate water mains through cleaning and lining along East Central Street and Bacon Street both in Natick and in Wellesley.  The mains in Wellesley are Natick mains and the drinking water is from their wells.  Natick’s engineer contacted both the Natick and Wellesley police to get approval of the detour plan.  Natick also contacted the DPW to make us aware that they would need to close the road to dig access pits to do the work.

The following notification is also being issued today:

NOTIFICATION

EAST CENTRAL & BACON STREET

WATER MAIN CLEANING LINING PROJECT

Bacon Street from Central Street (Route 135) in Wellesley to Oak Street in Natick is closed to through traffic 8:30 am to 3:00 pm this week (August 5 to 9, 2019).

The Town of Natick, Department of Public Works contracted with W. Walsh Company (Contractor), 32 Walton Street, Attleboro, MA 02703, to rehabilitate water mains through cleaning and lining along East Central Street and Bacon Street both in Natick and in Wellesley.

Bacon Street will be open to traffic starting Friday night.  However there may be delays next week as the traffic may be restricted to one lane to complete the project.

The detour routes are as follows:

Vehicles traveling east on Rt 135 intending to turn onto Bacon will be detoured into Natick and directed to turn right onto Mansfield Street, then Marion Street then onto Bacon Street.

Vehicles traveling south on Oak Street in Natick and intending to turn down Bacon to Rt 135 will be detoured through Marion Street and onto Rt 135 in Natick.

We appreciate your forbearance with this important drinking water quality project.  If you have any questions, or concerns throughout the project, please do not hesitate to contact Natick’s Project Manager, Gregory Eldridge from Haley and Ward, Inc. at (978) 648-6025 or email him at [email protected]

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