In My Footsteps: Trip 121: Wellesley, Massachusetts

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 121:  Wellesley, Massachusetts

April 14, 2011

Morses Pond

            One of the most affluent and highly educated towns in the United States, Wellesley might seem to get lost in the shuffle as far as places to see and visit.  That could not be further from the truth as it has many amazing spots that anybody can check out, even if you are not rich.  I will admit that there are seemingly endless streams of lavish homes up and down nearly every street in Wellesley but if you go just below the surface you will find the true soul of this town.

            One such spot I enjoyed was Morses Pond on Turner Road.  Of course when I arrived the gate was closed so driving right up to the edge of the water was not possible.  Still, taking a walk on a warm spring afternoon was not the worst thing in the world.  I chose to stay on the paved road as I walked although there was an intriguing path which led off to the right.  I could not be certain that it led to the pond and did not feel like going way off track so I played it safe.

Wellesley Town Hall

            The pond was a nice scenic spot, there was a narrow land bridge between a small pond and Morses Pond which was cool.  There is a playground area for families but the highlights of my walk to the pond were the little finger of land sticking out into the water with a picnic table at the end as well as a swan that seemed to be unhappy that I was walking by.  The swan got really close to shore and basically kept me from checking out the picnic table at the end of the finger of land.  It was still a great walk and would be worthwhile to any traveler especially if the gates are open.

            Wellesley is also unique in the fact that its Town Hall is as impressive as many historic mansions I have seen.  It reminded me of the beautiful stone buildings I saw in Easton and Fairhaven; the buildings in Easton designed by renowned architect Henry Hobson Richardson.  It was such a cool place with many great photo opportunities from the sloping front lawn of the Town Hall.  A little added bonus is Morton Park which is part of the Town Hall grounds.

Charles River behind the old Eaton-Moulton Mill building.

            I parked at the bottom of the hill where the Town Hall building is located which is right next to a small duck pond at Morton Park.  There are some trails there, one called the Crosstown Trail is about five and a half miles long and goes through Morton Park following the Cochituate Aqueduct.  It continues on until it intersects with the Charles River Path.  I did not follow the trail but did have a good time checking out the ducks waddling around the shore of the pond. 

            I found a cool spot while checking out the building which once housed the Eaton-Moulton Mill on Walnut Street.  The building, built in 1853, is a pretty standard gray stone-faced structure but behind it is what caught my eye.  The sound of rushing water lured me back to a falls area of the Charles River that passed under a footbridge.  There was a walkway which ran along the side of the loud rushing water so close that I was getting splashed.  It is easy to get lost in the rhythmic sound of the nonstop water passing by and if you have the time it is nice to allow yourself to do just that for a bit.

Sprague Memorial Tower

            The last place I visited in Wellesley is a spot I saw on a previous trip as I passed through much like when I saw downtown Natick.  The Sprague Memorial Tower is easy to spot as you travel along Washington Street.  The tower was built in 1928 but the clock and bell which reside inside were given to the town in 1874.  The surrounding area is pretty busy but it seems like when you step onto the grounds where the tower sits that it is in its own world.  The only trouble was that the green around the tower was small which meant that trying to get a photo of the entire height of the tower was difficult.  I found myself bending and kneeling all over trying to fit it in.

            Though it may be one of the most affluent and well educated towns in all of the country Wellesley has so much more for the average person such as me.  Morses Pond was amazing even with its long walk and Sprague Memorial Tower was a spot I knew I needed to see from the time I passed through Wellesley heading home from a previous trip.  Of course there are seemingly endless streams of large expensive homes to see as well but that should not be the only thing that a traveler takes from Wellesley.  Have fun and happy traveling!

            For more In My Footsteps items follow my Twitter Feed, view more photos at the In My Footsteps fan page on Facebook, or visit my homepage at ChristopherSetterlund.com.   Thanks for reading! 

Directions:  Morses Pond:  From Rt. 3 take Exit 20A for I-93S toward I-95, continue onto Rt. 1 S, continue onto I-95 N.  Take Exit 17, turn right onto Rt. 135 W., follow 2 miles take slight left at Great Plain Ave., at rotary take 3^rd exit onto Wellesley Ave.  Follow half mile, turn left onto Washington St., continue onto Central St., slight right onto Weston Rd.  Take 1^st left onto Turner Rd., follow to the pond, where you park depends on whether the gates are opened.

            Sprague Memorial Tower:  From Rt. 3 take Exit 20A for I-93S toward I-95, continue onto Rt. 1 S, continue onto I-95 N.  Take Exit 21, turn left onto Washington St., follow 1.8 miles, tower is on the right.

References:  Wellesley - Official Town Site

            Wellesley Historical Society.org

           

In My Footsteps: Trip 120: Marlborough, Massachusetts

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 120:  Marlborough, Massachusetts

April 14, 2011

The John Brown Bell

            With a connection to one of the pivotal events that began the Civil War the city of Marlborough has a rich history that you can reach out and touch.  Founded as a town in 1660, a city in 1890, and named for the market town in Wiltshire, England, Marlborough’s history began with the local Native Americans.  First they were one of seven so-called ‘praying Indian towns’ because the local Natives were converted to Christianity by Rev. John Eliot.  Then the entire settlement was nearly destroyed in 1676 during King Philip’s War.

            The connection to the Civil War that Marlborough has is through the John Brown Bell.  Perhaps the second most well known bell in the country behind Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, the bell named for the famed abolitionist has a good story behind it.  The story has it that there was a company of men from Marlborough assigned to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia on the night that John Brown last battled for the emancipation of the slaves.  The company took the bell from the firehouse where Brown’s last stand took place and then left it in the hands of a local woman for over thirty years; they returned in 1892 to bring the bell back to Marlborough.  It now sits in a tower near the street corner of Main Street and Rt. 85.

            Granted you can’t touch the bell, it is up a good fifteen feet, but it is easier to get to than the Liberty Bell is.  There is a nice park area around where the bell resides with a really nice brick walkway leading off into the distance to the front steps of a church.  On this sunny day with the rows of trees casting shadows it was an awesome photo opportunity. 

A class posing for a photo outside of City Hall.

            I parked further down Main Street in Marlborough so that I would have the chance to walk and see more of the city up close.  I enjoyed stopping in the shadow of City Hall while a class of young children were getting their pictures taken in front.  I did not mind waiting as getting to see the looks of joy on their faces reminded of when I was a child and how much fun field trips were for me.  The huge gray stone building built in 1905, blocked out the sun as I stood below it on this day and is the centerpiece of Downtown Marlborough.  It was a nice walk on a good day but there was more to see in this town turned city.

Peter Rice Homestead

            The home of the Marlborough Historical Society resides in the Peter Rice Homestead on Elm St.  The house is said to have been built in 1688 with many additions made to the large white home in the centuries since.  The Rice family is considered to be one of the most prominent of old Marlborough with Peter being active in civil affairs including serving as a Representative to the General Court of Massachusetts at varying times from 1709-1730.  He also acquired land that stretched deep into neighboring Northborough and Westborough.  Besides the house there were a couple of oddities on the property including the cornerstone from the Grand Army of the Republic building built in 1891 on the front lawn.  There was also a store sign for the Frye Boot Company which manufactured their famous footwear in Marlborough up through the 1970’s.  The sign behind the home says the company was established in 1863 and their center of operations is in Great Neck, New York today.

            The final spot I checked out was to satisfy my love of nature.  The conservation area known as Cider Knoll is located over 105 acres with a few parking areas where you can enter.  I parked at the end of Woodland Drive where there is a sign alerting you to Cider Knoll.  The walk through is easy but there are some nice views and on this day there were some interesting things to see as well.

Looking down on the small river at Cider Knoll.

            Almost immediately the trails cross over a small river and the sound of the rushing water fills the area.  I stopped on a foot bridge and listened while taking photos and hoping to see some wildlife.  With no luck there I kept on walking up a little hill.  Up at the top there was a tractor skeleton partially covered by leaves that was unexpected but made the hike more interesting.  Not to mention the incredible view looking down on that small river I had crossed over, I was able to get a better view standing on a couple of large rocks on the edge of the hill.  I do not recommend that to everyone, you can still get a good view without risking injury like I did!  Cider Knoll is a large area but the trails only make up two miles so you can hike it in short time.  It also ends up behind some houses so don’t trespass.

            Marlborough is a city that grew from a small town in the last century.  It has a city feel when you’re downtown but retains that small town vibe when you are in places like Cider Knoll.  I highly recommend taking a walk on Main Street past City Hall to where the John Brown Bell resides.  Then afterward you can hike Cider Knoll and who knows maybe that tractor skeleton will still be there, or maybe there will be something even more unexpected.  Have fun and happy traveling!

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Directions:  John Brown Bell:  From I-495N take exit 24A for Rt. 20E.  Turn right onto Granger Blvd., follow .6 mi., turn left onto Main St.  Park where the bell is sits on right, parking is along Main St.

            Cider Knoll:  From I-495N take exit 24A for Rt. 20E.  Turn right onto Granger Blvd., take slight left onto E. Main St., turn right to stay on E. Main St.  After .5 mi., turn left onto Concord Rd., follow 1.6 mi., left onto McNeil Cir., take 1^st right onto Vega Rd., take 1^st left onto Juniper Rd.  Turn left onto Woodland Dr., Cider Knoll is all the way at the end. 

References:  Marlborough Historical Society

            Marlborough, Ma. - Official Site

            The Frye Company.com

New Marlborough on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 119: Natick, Massachusetts

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 119:  Natick, Massachusetts

April 14, 2011

            Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States the city of Natick caught my attention the moment I saw it and never let it go.  Ironically I got my first glimpses of Natick while driving through it during a previous trip and was mesmerized by the downtown area that I saw.  I immediately made plans to return as soon as possible.

Cochituate State Park

            My return to Natick took off at the first stop, Cochituate State Park.  A relatively small state park I was not expecting very much in the way of things to see and was pleasantly surprised.  The main part of the park consists of the large Lake Cochituate which is divided into three smaller connected ponds: South, Middle, and North.  I parked at South Pond and took a walk to enjoy the scenery.  There is a boat ramp and swimming area along the shore and a picnic area away from it.  The flowers and trees were in full bloom and the sweet scents coupled with the warm temperatures made me want to spend the entire day there.  There is also a hilly area good for a relatively easy hike, it gives a great view down over South Pond. 

Henry Wilson Shoe Shop on the right.

            There is a little historic spot that can be a bit hard to stop for but I made time for it.  The Henry Wilson Shoe Shop on West Central Street is quite literally a little piece of history.  The tiny red building was where the former Massachusetts Senator and Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant learned to make shoes in the pre-Civil War days.  He was known then as the ‘Natick Cobbler’ but surprisingly not many people today know of who he is or what his significance was to Natick and the United States.

            The building is known as a ‘ten footer’ because that was the dimensions used to create cobbler shops in the 19^th century, ten by ten.  In order to get out and walk on the grounds I had to park across the street at a small plaza but it was worth it as it is an interesting area.  The constant rush of Rt. 135 did not take away from the historic and beautiful scene, the sun and warmth makes everything look great.  An old bell sits just to the left of the little red building and only a few steps further away were a bed of daffodils.  I tried to get some photos from the other side of the daffodils that showcased then entire Henry Wilson site and they did come out all right.  A little inconvenience with parking should not stop you from a walk here.

A wide view of Natick looking toward Natick Center.

            The next spot I visited in Natick was actually what attracted me to the city in the first place, the downtown area.  It is hard for me to describe the feeling I had upon returning here in the bright spring sun and getting to walk Central Street, both the East and West sides.  There are so many really pretty brick buildings with historic meaning that line the street, too many to detail but I will do my best to give you an idea. 

            I parked in a lot off of Central Street near the well known Casey’s Diner.  It is one of the oldest operating diners in the country having been built in 1922.  I wanted lunch there but the line was out the door, obviously I was not the only one who had that idea!  I walked out to Central Street and just took it all in.  Even the police and fire stations had a different feel to them because they were part of historic Natick Center.

The scenery behind the Bacon Free Library.

            Of course as with most town center’s there is a town common and the town hall as well.  The original Town Hall was destroyed by a great fire in 1874 along with an amazing eighteen business blocks.  If I hadn’t known that fact I’d have had little idea that the Natick Center area hadn’t always been the way it appears today.  I walked all the way down to where Main Street intersects Central Street and took it all in, snapping as many photos of as many buildings and scenes as I could so that I could remember why I loved it so.

            The final place I visited was the Bacon Free Library on Eliot Street which also houses the Natick Historical Society.  While I parked in front of the historic building it was what lay behind it that I was actually interested in.  Behind the library there is a river and a falls that takes the water underneath a neat stone bridge on Pleasant Street South.  The constant rush of the waterfall added to the beautiful scenery with flowers in bloom and green grass along the river.

            There are benches along the water as well as the green grass I mentioned which is a perfect spot for a picnic lunch or to just relax to the sound of the water.  I found myself mesmerized by the sights and sounds and believe this was a perfect way to end a trip to a place that had me excited before I had even stepped foot in it.  Natick has been routinely named one of the best places to live in the United States and I can see why.  Even as a visitor I could tell that there was something different about Natick.  Don’t just stick to the places I have seen, I am sure that there are plenty that I missed, but the spots I did see were amazing.  Have fun and happy traveling!

            For more In My Footsteps items follow my Twitter Feed, view more photos at the In My Footsteps fan page on Facebook, or visit my homepage at ChristopherSetterlund.com.   Thanks for reading! 

Directions:  Cochituate State Park:  From Rt. 3 take exit 20A for I-93, continue onto Rt. 1S and I-95N, take exit 23-24-25 for I-90, continue toward I-90W, keep left at fork in road follow signs and merge onto I-90W.  Take exit 13 for Rt. 30E, park is 1.8 miles up on right.  

            Natick Center:  From Rt. 3 take exit 20A for I-93, continue onto Rt. 1S and I-95N, take exit 17 for Rt. 135, turn right onto Rt. 135W, after 2 miles take slight left onto Great Plain Ave.  Take 3^rd exit at rotary for Wellesley Ave., turn left onto Washington St. after .6 mi., continue onto W. Central Street, follow 3 miles and you are in the heart of Natick Center.

References:  Bacon Free Library.org

            Natick Historical Society.org

            Mass.gov - DCR - Cochituate State Park