The gorgeous parcel with the seawall and ocean view where the Mattapoisett Land Trust will be celebrating 50 years with a Sunday brunch on June 30 is thanks to a woman named Ruth Munro.

            Among the many things Munro accomplished before she died in 1988 at age 91, she ensured a proper future for the land adjacent to Mattapoisett Wharf on the opposite side from Shipyard Park.

            “It would have been a parking lot,” said Mattapoisett Land Trust member Don Cuddy, a former full-time journalist whose dive into Munro’s history appears in the MLT’s newsletter under the headline “The 1809 House.”

            The reference is to the one-time summer home of Martha H. Munro, which still stands right across the street at the bend where Main Street becomes Water Street in the village. What would eventually become known as Munro Preserve was the home’s front yard.

            In addition to the town looking to expand its shipping area, local boat haulers were also interested in acquiring the property, according to Cuddy’s research. In 1756, the shipyard was opened at the site.

            It was through generations of the passing of the property in various family connections that Munro, born Ruth Bowditch, came to care for it after marrying Willis Munro, a Boston lawyer. For both, it was a second marriage.

            A person of means, Munro did not waste away soaking in the pleasure of her wealth. Cuddy learned that Munro spent time in Labrador teaching people how to farm. She was active in her life in Boston, authoring papers for the Saturday Morning Club (a women’s social club) and made the newspapers when she went on an African safari.

            In 1976, Munro donated the property to the Mattapoisett Land Trust, only three years old at the time, to ensure safekeeping.

            On January 20, 1988, The Presto Press published the following eulogy for “Mrs. Willis Munro (Ruth),” composed by Editor Donald Jason:

            “We will miss this lady who summered here so many years and kept on coming back to her home on the curve above the wharf to enjoy the sweeping view from the porch and the spirited games of croquet in the spacious yard. We certainly will miss the lady herself; however, one thing that we will continue to enjoy is her kindness and foresight.

            “The lot from her house to the harbor full of blooming wild roses and preserving one of the town’s finest views of the harbor and wharf, Mrs. Munro gave to the Mattapoisett Land Trust. In so doing, she preserved that marvelous view of the harbor for every passerby to take in. Progress will not destroy it or corrupt it. It will remain, hopefully, in the wild and natural state that is haphazardly beautiful; framing the blue harbor beyond in green and flowering pink.

            “In most of our nearby scenic places, it is no longer possible to get near to the water just to drink it in with the eye. In Mattapoisett, we have so many opportunities to enjoy this pleasure. Thanks to Mrs. Munro we won’t have to regret the loss of an opportunity at the curve above the wharf. She has left us something beyond price.”

            In the years since Munro passing, the Mattapoisett Land Trust has put significant money into the seawall and beautified the area. Those who visit the Munro Preserve this weekend will find a newly installed sign paying tribute to her donation and offering a glimpse into the land’s history.

Mattapoisett Land Trust 50^th Anniversary

By Mick Colageo

The Old Rochester Regional School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 Superintendent Michael S. Nelson are pleased to announce Gregory Thomas’ appointment as the new assistant principal of Sippican Elementary School, effective July 1. Thomas brings more than 20 years of educational experience and remains committed to fostering connections with students and watching them succeed.

            Gregory Thomas joins Sippican School from Middleborough Public Schools, where he was the assistant principal at Henry B. Burkland Elementary School since 2020. At Burkland, he devoted his time to improving student behavior via restorative practices, collaborative problem solving and mediation.

            From 2018 to 2020, Thomas was the principal of John T. Nichols Middle School in Middleboroughand led a faculty and staff of about 80 people, working to create a culture of inclusion, accountability, and willingness to take risks for the betterment of over 800 students.He was the assistant principal at Nichols from 2015 to 2018.

            Thomas will be replacing Pete Crisafulli at Sippican.

            “On behalf of the entire district, I would like to welcome Gregory Thomas as the new assistant principal of Sippican Elementary School,” said Superintendent Nelson. “He brings a strong background of school leadership and is a skilled collaborator. We are confident that he will be a great addition to the school community and look forward to him joining our administration next school year.”

            In addition to working at Middleborough Public Schools, Thomas held positions as the dean of students and the athletic director at Norfolk County Agricultural High School, a master teacher at Stonehill College, both as a special education teacher and an athletic director at Avon Middle-High School, a lecturer at Bridgewater State University and a special education teacher at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School. He holds a Master of Education from Bridgewater State University and a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Communications with a Minor in English from Saint Joseph’s College.

            “I am absolutely thrilled to work alongside Mr. Thomas as the new assistant principal at Sippican Elementary. His exceptional credentials, highlighted during a recent site visit, make it clear that he is highly recommended for our school community,” said new Sippican Elementary School Principal Lynn Dessert. “I look forward to working closely with Mr. Thomas and our dedicated staff to foster a nurturing and inclusive environment. Together, we will collaborate with the entire school community to ignite a passion for learning and create meaningful experiences for all, and we both are committed to supporting every student’s journey toward success.”

            “Mr. Thomas is well respected amongst his colleagues for always putting the students and their needs first and is a valued member of the school community,” said School Committee Chairperson April Nye. “He possesses a sense of humor that both staff, students and families appreciate and welcome. We are excited for the new administrative team that has been put together at Sippican School and appreciate all of the time, work and effort that went into this important process and was done by the various stakeholders within our school community.”

            “I am so excited to be a part of the Sippican family. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m looking forward to starting. I can’t wait to meet all of the faculty, staff, students and families,” said Thomas. “My first impressions have left me very impressed and happy, and I know I am joining an incredibly special school with an outstanding reputation. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

The Mattapoisett Land Trust is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on Sunday, June 30, at the Munro Preserve just immediately adjacent to Mattapoisett Wharf. That said, board member Ellen Flynn recently reflected on the educational programs recently held by MLT, as well as ideas that are in the works.

            Reached recently, Flynn, director and chairwoman of MLT’s Education Committee, outlined a variety of activities that align with STEAM – or science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

            For instance, MLT is brainstorming a story walk where kids write the stories. So instead of laminated signs about nature that students read, they go on their own walk and jot down their own scientific observations.

            Students would also have an opportunity to observe specimens under microscopes before writing about them, Flynn said, adding that she hopes that program can include students of all ages and be ready by the end of the summer or early fall.

            Flynn said the MLT has a great working relationship with Old Rochester Regional School District, so teachers in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester often reach out to the MLT for field trips.

            For the second consecutive year this spring, Marine Biology students for ORR visited Nantucket and observed ocean specimens.

            Sixth grade students from the district visited Cuttyhunk Island, where they received an education in history, science and art. They met up with a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation and learned about native fox and other furs and got to touch, wear and learn all about them.

            The trip took a science and culinary turn as the students observed the lifecycle of oysters and got to taste raw oysters and remove them from their shells. Meanwhile, an artist was on scene and students got a chance to do some watercolor paintings.

            Flynn acknowledged that these activities all tie into the ORR curriculum.

            A group of Grade 7 students this year went on a whale watch. Some students wrote reflections of this experience.

            First students this fall got to plant sunflower seeds at the Dunseith Gardens Property that sits in the shadow of Salty the Seahorse in Mattapoisett. Flynn said students this summer can return to the property and see their seeds bloom into flowers.

            “We chose sunflowers because we had the idea that Ukraine was the largest sunflower importer of the world and in the sense that we wanted the students to know that we are in sympathy with the Ukraine situation,” Flynn said.

            Those same children were treated to a story walk.

            The MLT also awarded two, $1,000 scholarships this year, including an art scholarship.

            “If you look at nature and you’re in nature, it’s all art … everything around you is a natural art,” she said. “People don’t know how to include art in their everyday way of life.”

            Education or students extends to music opportunities as well.

            This past June, special needs students from the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) heard a live jazz concert at Munro Preserve.

            “The children are housed at Old Hammondtown School and all are confined to wheelchairs while in school, yet some are able to walk with a personal caretaker outside. Three local musicians, Neil Sylvia, Don Legge and William Kingsland, performed this time,” she said. “These children do not have live music in the classroom, so we brought the live music to them.”

Mattapoisett Land Trust 50^th Anniversary

By Jeffrey D. Wagner