Level Up At The Library This Summer

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            Our six-week Summer Yoga Series continues on Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 am on the library’s lawn. Grab your mat and mark your calendars for the remaining classes on Thursday, July 24 and 31 and August 7 and 14 at 10:30 am. Stretch, unwind, and relax with a beginner-friendly yoga flow series. This adaptable experience suits all ability levels and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Class will be held outside, weather permitting – please dress accordingly. No registration required.

            Need a break from the summer chaos? Join us for Sticker and Chill at the library on Wednesday, July 23 at 1:00 pm. Relax, get creative, and build your own 3D sticker scene with one of our soothing sticker kits – yours to customize and keep. Space is limited, and registration is required. Recommended for ages 12 to 16. Please see the library website to sign up.

            ZMakesBeads will be at the library on Tuesday, July 29, at 12:00 pm for an expressive arts workshop that teaches participants the basics of making beaded jewelry. Semi-precious stones and other natural jewelry materials will be used. The workshop atmosphere is a tranquil, meditative, interactive space that encourages participants to be present and at ease while creating. This event is intended for ages 12 and up. Space is limited and registration is required. Please see the library website to sign up.

            Don’t forget to snag your exclusive book BINGO card. Read books you love, complete a few challenges, and explore your beautiful surroundings from now until August 31. Recommended for ages 13 to 17. Please see a librarian for more information.

            As always, program participation is free and open to all teens. Visit, explore, and unwind with us – we can’t wait to see your smiling faces. Sign up in person at 7 Barstow Street, online at www.mattapoisettlibrary.org, or by calling the library at 508-758-4171. Make your summer vacation magical at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

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The 141st. Summer Season of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, located next to the Town Beach in Mattapoisett, will host The Rev. Marc Eames, Priest-in-Charge St. John’s Church, Vernon, CT. on July 20. Services will be held at 8:00 am and 10:00 am using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome.

Mattapoisett Year End Transfers

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“That’s a wrap,” as they say, as Mattapoisett’s fiscal year came to an end. The total amount being shifted from saving realized when employee group health enjoyed a savings of $323,500. The transfers are in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 33B of the Massachusetts General laws.

            The transfers were as follows: $50,000 to cover temporary library director and building inspector. A sum of $30,000 was transferred to cover employee benefits for numerous employee retirements and year end buyouts that were more than anticipated.

            The sum of $23,000 was transferred to cover town building expenses for the repair and painting of Center school including the clock tower which was more than anticipated based on bids received.

            The sum of $750 was transferred for record management expenses for more files held in storage than anticipated.

            A sum of $27,100 was transferred to cover Planning Board salaries. The Town Planner’s salary is split between Acushnet and Mattapoisett. However, that arrangement requires that Mattapoisett pay the full salary and is later reimbursed by Acushnet.

            The sum of $3,000 was transferred to cover police expenses for the electric car charging station located at the Police Department which was unbudgeted for FY25.

            Also being transferred from employee group insurance was $10,000 for salaries for the natural resources department due to an extended absence of an animal control officer.

            $100 was transferred for the natural resources department for unanticipated expenses associated with a rabies shot which was necessary when an employee was bitten.

            $1,250 was transferred to the Bristol Aggie student tuition fund. The original numbers the department had received were lower than the actuals on the final billing.

            The sum of $40,000 was transferred to cover salaries at the fire department for unexpected costs to outfit a new ladder truck.

            $5,000 was transferred to the Council on Aging for vehicle repairs and maintenance costs more than anticipated on the department’s van.

            The sum of $7,000 was transferred to the veterans’ administration salaries for unexpected buyout when an employee left that department.

            $3,800 was transferred to the parks salaries for janitorial expenses that were unanticipated. The sum of $6,500 also went to the parks department expenses for building repairs and Portage John rentals that were more than anticipated.

            The sum of $31,000 was transferred to cover utility expenses due to a rate change and incorrect billing from Eversource for the fire station.

            $10,000 was transferred to the Medicare tax expense due to that expense being due for unexpected employee buyouts.

            And last but not least, $2,000 was needed for the tax collector’s department as billings were required to include seven different languages.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee was not scheduled at adjournment.

Mattapoisett Finance Committee

By Marilou Newell

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Looking through pictures, newspaper articles and scrapbooks, it is apparent that in the past the people of Rochester have always supported the various organizations in town and those organizations have supported each other. The Women’s Club met at the Men’s Club and at the First Rochester Congregational Church before they had their own building. The Boy Scouts and the Brotherhood were also both supported by the Church and the Brotherhood could not have put on its shows and concerts without the Rochester Grange. The Grange for many years was the location for many town events including graduations.

            I am happy to say that this co-operation and collaboration continues today. Last year the Rochester Boy Scout Troop was integral to the success of our Historic Weekend and just this past Saturday, the Rochester Land Trust stepped in to save the day. We had originally planned to be in front of George Church’s Museum, because in addition to the sale, we were kicking off our upcoming exhibit: “The Tools and Industries That Made Rochester.” The museum which George had founded to preserve tools used in early Rochester industry, especially sawmills, seemed like a fitting spot. However, when we had to change our location, the Land Trust instantly offered us the use of George’s Pony Pasture, one of their properties.

            It was a perfect spot, near the sunken garden and in the shade for most of the day. Members of the Land Trust baked and shopped at our bake sale and bought tickets at the raffle. We want to thank them as well as all the others who did the same. I want to thank the Rochester Historical Society members who answered the call with their bake goods and donations. It looks like we have baked our way out of the financial hole caused by recent unavoidable electrical work. Ah, the joys of maintaining an historic building. Fingers crossed that all stays well.

            The Land Trust and the Historical Society share a common goal and that is preservation. They work to preserve open spaces, and we work to preserve our history. Both of these were goals that were of primary importance to both Katherine and George. Working together, we hope to honor their wishes.

            A special thanks to Lorraine Vaughan for the abundant and delicious baked goods that she made for the bake sale. They were greatly appreciated and helped us work toward our financial goal.

By Connie Eshbach

From Jazz to Rock: America’s Popular Music

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On Friday, July 18, the Marion Concert Band continues its Friday evening concert series with a program of American popular music. The program, which features a variety of popular music styles from the 1890’s to the present, is as follows:

            Washington Post March – J.P. Sousa

            Second American Folk Rhapsody – C. Grundman

            The Symphonic Gershwin – G. Gershwin

            Carnival of Melody – arr. R. Hawkins

            Satchmo. – arr. T. Ricketts

            Mary St. Laurent-Sheehan, trumpet

            Sinatra. – arr. S. Bulla

            Pop and Rock Legends: The Beatles – arr. M. Sweeney

            Pop and Rock Legends: The Association – arr. T. Ricketts

            Stevie Wonder in Concert – arr. P. Murtha

            The Best of Miami Sound Machine – arr. P. Murtha

            Blues Brothers Revue – arr. J. Bocook

            Thundercrest March – E. Osterling

            Mary St. Laurent-Sheehan, trumpet, has performed with the Narragansett Bay Symphony, the Tri-County Symphonic Band, the Marion Concert Band, and the Band of America’s Few. She is an alumnus of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (1992) and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where she performed with the Parris Island Marine Band. With the Band of American’s Few, a band comprised of former Marine bandsmen who have either retired or have been honorably discharged, she has performed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, and at the Royal International Nova Scotia Tattoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has been a member of the Marion Concert Band since 2012.

            The concert will be held at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand, Island Wharf off Front Street in Marion. The program, under the direction of Tobias Monte, will begin at 7:00. All concerts are free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.

Getting a Good Taste of Mattapoisett

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On Tuesday, July 15, the big white tent is set up for Harbor Days the coming weekend and food is already filling all available corners for this year’s “Taste the Town” event at Shipyard Park in Mattapoisett. The event, hosted by The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club, saw many local restaurants and food vendors come to one location to allow visitors to get a quick taste of a wide-array of different flavors offered in the area.

            Tables were filled, but within the tent and without, and those with plates had plates of filled with seafood, Chinese food, pizza, burgers, soups, and many other options. Some even sat on the rocks behind the tent, looking out at the harbor. The Showstoppers were also present, singing and showing their prowess with soloists, duos, and full-group performances.

            The event went from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm where many trickled in to munch on local treats, chat, and listen to the music.

By Sam Bishop

Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee

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In an effort to encourage civic participation and ensure every voice is heard, The Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee will hold a Voter Registration Drive during the popular Harbor Days Celebration on Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20.

            Matt Dems will have their tent set up at the Town Wharf General Store and will be staffed during festival hours with volunteers on hand to assist Massachusetts residents with: registering to vote, updating their address and party affiliation, checking their current registration status and learning about key deadlines for upcoming elections.

            This is a fun and festive weekend that brings our community together and it is the perfect opportunity to make sure people are ready to vote in 2026 for our Municipal, State and Federal midterm elections. All are welcome to stop by our tent whether you’re registering to vote for the first time, have recently moved to the area or just want to double-check your voter status.

            Hope to see you there. Our next Matt Dems meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 23 at 6:00 pm in the downstairs public meeting room of the Mattapoisett Free Public Library.

Mattapoisett Historical Commission Installs Informational Panel

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Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Linda Ashley are pleased to share that a panel describing the history of the Center School was recently installed in front of the building by the Mattapoisett Historical Commission.

            The 36-inch-wide, 30-inch-high panel sits on a metal beam planted into the ground, telling the story of the Center School’s founding, including pictures provided by the Mattapoisett Historical Society that depict the building’s early days. The panel, with the title “Historically Speaking… Center School,” also includes an image of a handwritten note from the philanthropist who funded the construction of the building, describing his intentions to provide the property to the town so that “the children are made happier and healthier.”

            The installation of the “Historically Speaking” panel at the Center School was approved by the Mattapoisett School Committee in late March. The Center School panel is similar to another “Historically Speaking” panel installed by the Mattapoisett Historical Commission at the Mattapoisett Wharves.

            The Center School history panel installation was first proposed by the Mattapoisett Historical Commission in January.

            The new panel at the Center School describes how the building opened in 1899, when it was first known as the Mattapoisett School. The property was donated to the town by an industrialist and financier from Fairhaven named Henry Huttleston Rogers.

            “The son of a former sea captain, Henry H. Rogers had spent his early childhood in Mattapoisett,” the panel states. “Rogers made his initial fortune in the oil refining business. Later his financial interests included railroads, steel making, and copper mining. A philanthropist, he was particularly committed to education and provided the funds for a number of public buildings, including a school in Fairhaven.”

            Rogers and his wife Abbie attended the dedication of the new Mattapoisett Town Hall in 1897, when he was approached by a prominent member of the community, who told him that what the community really needed was a school.

            On October 27, 1897, at a special town meeting, attendees voted to purchase a lot on the corner of Barstow and Church streets “to erect a schoolhouse two stories high with a clock and all the modern improvements, and second to none in the state, so far as convenience and sanitation were concerned.”

            The four-acre parcel of land used for the new school was purchased from the estate of Leonard Hammond for $1,500, and the architect selected for the project was Charles Brigham, one of the most important and prolific architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

            Following construction, the Mattapoisett School was dedicated on Jan. 4, 1899, with Rogers in attendance to make an address. The Mattapoisett School then provided an education to students in the first through 12th grade until 1905, when Rogers donated a new high school in Fairhaven, which was also designed by Brigham. The Mattapoisett School then continued to serve elementary grades.

            Two small additions were made to the original Mattapoisett School building, including a six-room addition constructed in 1936, along with a cafeteria and kitchen in 1950. The original building was later renovated, and a large wing was added in 2004 to house kindergarten through the third grade, the panel states.

            The Mattapoisett Historical Commission celebrated the installation of the “Historically Speaking” panel as a way to educate the public about the legacy of such an important institution in the community.

            “The Historical Commission is very pleased to be able to honor the history of Center School with the placement of a panel,” said Rachel McGourthy, chairperson of the commission.

            Superintendent Nelson, Principal Ashley, Mattapoisett School Committee Chairperson Carly Lavin and Town Administrator Michael Lorenco all thanked the Mattapoisett Historical Commission for the valued contribution to the Center School property.

            “It’s amazing to see the history of the Center School acknowledged and celebrated in this new panel,” said Town Administrator Lorenco. “I’d like to thank the Mattapoisett Historical Commission for this contribution, educating all of our students and community members about the history of this beloved building.”

            “This historical panel is a beautiful addition to the Center School property,” said Chairperson Lavin. “It’s awesome to see our history acknowledged in such a way. Thank you to the Mattapoisett Historical Commission for taking the initiative to install this much-appreciated historical panel.”

            “The ‘Historically Speaking’ panel has been a great addition to our Center School property,” said Principal Ashley. “The new installation is already receiving plenty of attention. This is a great way for our students, staff, parents and community members to learn about the history of the Center School.”

            “The Center School has been a beloved institution in our community for nearly 130 years. I think the new panel is an excellent way to acknowledge that history and teach our students about the story behind the building,” said Superintendent Nelson. “I’d like to express our gratitude to the Mattapoisett Historical Commission for this valuable contribution. We deeply appreciate this effort to make our shared history accessible to all of our students, teachers and anyone who visits the Center School.”

Island Warf Park Lacks Parking Enforcement

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The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission (OSAC) met briefly via Zoom on July 3 but covered some important topics, mostly regarding use of Island Wharf Park.

            Member Norm Hills said two years ago, the wharf area’s jurisdiction was transferred over to the Marine Commission. However, the use of the wharf has expanded to parking for other activities. Hills also said there is gravel parking and a road in the area with no official plan behind it.

            “It’s unilaterally expanded its (use), Hills said, adding that there is no control over who parks in the area. Some trailers and boats are parked in the open space area, which has recently been banned. Hills said a committee has been formed to decide how parking should be conducted.

            “It’s a situation over time. It has been creeping expansion in the area, and nobody has agreed to that or has approved that,” Hills added.

            “It certainly has been nibbling away at the green space there,” OSAC Chair John Rockwell said. He said since the late 1980s, village parking has not changed much but an influx of activities and visitors have.

            Rockwell said he had served on the Conservation Commission when it was proposed that a permit should be needed when they built a gravel parking lot. Rockwell said there is a storm drain in the area, which is why he argued against more parking expansion when he served on the Conservation Commission.

            Rockwell said the gravel parking area turns into a “mud pit” when it rains.

            Rockwell also said there are waterfront facilities there, but the Marine Resources Commission said it does not have the money to manage the parking area.

            The Chair said there should be a legal determination for how parking in the area should be conducted and what boards or commissions should be responsible. He said some of the area has grass parking as well, which is often by people who attend concerts in the area. He said there should be a fee for that parking for the upkeep of the land.

            Rockwell discussed the idea that police could issue tickets to people who are not permitted to park there, which could also generate revenue. “We need more parking because we are not enforcing the rules we have.”

            Also at the remote July 3 meeting, OSAC Chair John Rockwell said the commission is looking to conduct a site visit for Grassi Bog, Rockwell said the commission plans to visit the site on July 13 at 10:00 am.

            Grassi Bog is a former cranberry bog, just off Route 6, and is now a wildlife sanctuary, used also for walking trails. Some of the land there might be used as part of the South Coast Bike Path.

            The next meeting of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission was not confirmed at adjournment.

Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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George Church was the 9th descendant of the Church family whose American story began with the arrival of Richard Church in Plymouth in 1632 where he became known as a skilled house builder. It wasn’t until the 4th generation of Churches that another Richard came to Rochester in the 1720’s. He purchased 350 acres along the Mattapoisett River in 1725-6. Known as both a house carpenter and boat builder, he found work as a carpenter and owned and worked the 1st sawmill on the Mattapoisett River beginning in 1748.

            The family successfully settled into Rochester with many offspring both building houses and boats, while one was a famous Indian fighter and others led seafaring lives. The owning and working of the sawmill (though several were built in the same spot) through the years, made this stretch of the Mattapoisett an early center of industry.

            The last George Church was born and grew up in Rochester as did Katherine H. Hartley and the two married on February 22, 1958. George ran both the family mill and a building moving service. Katherine was a nurse who worked for 43 years as a public health and school nurse. The couple never had children but left a legacy of service to the town. They both shared a love of nature and open spaces and a concern for their protection.

            George was a canny businessman who wanted none of his land developed. He also wanted money to endow a scholarship for area nursing students. Being land rich, but believing in preservation, he sold land at bargain prices to both the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game and the Rochester Land Trust. He gathered enough money to create the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts which continues to give out scholarships and Rochester is fortunate to have the Haskell Swamp Management Area, both Church’s Field, the Church River Trail and the Pony Pasture. All of these properties are along Mattapoisett Rd. and the last three are Rochester Land Trust Properties, as is the George E. and Katherine H. Church Wildlife Conservation Area off of Rte. 105. Everyone who appreciates Rochester’s fields and wooded spaces owes a debt of gratitude to George and Katherine Church and the organizations that helped them to cement their legacy.

            We hope you will join us at the sunken garden in the Pony Pasture this Saturday, July 12th from 10-2 for a Rochester Historical Society Strawberry/Blueberry Bake sale to help support the Rochester Historical Society, another organization that has been helped out over the years by George.

By Connie Eshbach