Wondering What to Write About

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            I’ve been sitting here for what seems like hours trying to think of something to write about for this week’s column. I considered writing about suspenders, but that idea didn’t hold up. Then belts came to mind, but that story had too many holes.

            Looking into the refrigerator at lunchtime, I thought I might write about leftovers. Perhaps chicken soup, maybe meat loaf or Chinese food, but none of those satisfied my hunger for a proper subject. Glancing at my newsfeed on my phone, I spotted the headline… “Flaco died.”

            In case you have not been paying attention to the news from New York City (and why would you?), Flaco is an owl, a Eurasian eagle-owl to be precise. A rare bird in these parts. The majestic bird had become the talk of the town in the Big Apple recently. It seems that Flaco, a resident of the Central Park Zoo, had escaped a year ago, thanks to a vandal who cut the protective netting surrounding his home of the past 14 years.

            Flaco, wanting freedom but perhaps a bit nervous about venturing from the city he knew from birth, took up residence in and around the park. He – I presume he was a he – became the darling of the city folks and tourists as well. Flaco’s adventure took on a life of its own. TV stations did stories about him. He even made the national news. Newspapers wrote editorials about him. Some people with little else in their lives said he had become a symbol of their own desire to escape the confines of their wretched lives. (Aw, come on!)

            Anyway, upon his untimely demise (he died of severe head trauma from flying into a high-rise building), even the governor and the mayor memorialized him. I’m sure the mayor was particularly upset because of Flaco’s contribution to reducing the rat population, the bird’s primary source of food, in the city. A New Yorker article said that he was “a neighbor they could look up to.”

            I’m sure a statue of Flaco will soon be erected somewhere in Central Park.

            This would not be unprecedented. Some years ago, a cow escaped execution right here in Massachusetts. A slaughterhouse in Hopkinton had plans to turn the bovine into steaks. Emily, as she had come to be known, managed to evade capture for over a month by foraging for food in the backyards of nearby homes.

            Like the New Yorkers, the good people of Hopkinton took a liking to Emily and often helped her to evade the authorities who had been ordered to shoot her on sight. Appalled, a local family purchased Emily from the slaughterhouse and when she was captured, arranged for her to stay at the Peace Abbey in nearby Sherborn.

            Emily became famous and was visited by celebrities and visitors from around the world. Like Flaco, she became a symbol of freedom to many. She was even a bridesmaid at two weddings. Really?

            When she passed on to the great pasture in the sky, a life-size, bronze statue was erected in her memory at the Abbey. It stands between statues of Mahatma Gandi and Mother Teresa. I kid you not.

            Freedom stories about animals abound. Nigel, a parrot who lived with a British man and spoke with an English accent, escaped captivity to seek freedom. Alas, Nigel was captured far, far away and sold at a yard sale to a gentleman named Fernandes.

            After four years, a vet discovered a chip identifying the previous owner. Mr. Fernandes was kind enough to return Nigel, now Morgan, to the original owners who weren’t sure he was their bird. Nigel … er Morgan, now spoke fluent Spanish.

            If one looks hard enough, there is always something to write about. Maybe next week I’ll write about those suspenders.  

            Editor’s note: Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and retired newspaper columnist whose musings are, after some years, back in The Wanderer under the subtitle “Thoughts on ….” Morgado’s opinions have also appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

Rochester Christian Learning Center

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Rochester Christian Learning Center is a homeschool cooperative whose doors will open in September 2024 for Grades K-8 at First Congregational Church of Rochester. Homeschooling is a growing popular option for parents who want to directly educate their children. A Learning Center is an organized group of home-schooled children that meet at a facility sponsored by an organization such as a church. The advantage of a Learning Center is that families can pool their resources to help with their children’s education and activities. Parents remain the primary educators of their children.

            To learn more about Rochester Christian Learning Center, there are two presentations offered to families on Saturday, March 23 and Saturday, April 13, at 10:00 am at First Congregational Church of Rochester.

            Families can register to attend one of these sessions via email at RochesterChristianLC@gmail.com.

Marion Republican Town Committee

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The Marion Republican Town Committee will conduct its next monthly meeting on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street, Marion. The Public and new members welcome.

Mattapoisett Tree Committee

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To the Editor;

            A sincere “Thanks for Coming” to the February 28th Mattapoisett Tree Committee meeting last week. We estimate around 200 people attended between an overcapacity Fire Station meeting room, a spillover at capacity in Town Hall on Zoom, and 70 connecting from their own homes via Zoom on a night of terrible weather. This demonstrates the interest of our citizens in the current state of the proposed road project and the Tree Committee and other committed citizens were pleased to present a project specific meeting on this topic to all.

            The question I have been asked since last weeks meeting is, “What can we do to help?” and I will recap this.

            We concluded that the road project is needed. We discussed that rules had changed since the project began, decreasing our town’s abilities to use ‘exceptions’ to DOT standards to protect trees and maintain the Village character. This in turn, means the project complexity has increased significantly from when the Select Board and previous Town Administrator began working on the project, and therefore, We concluded that the formation of a steering committee for this project would be a wise move for our Town to take. The Tree Committee should have a seat on this committee. It will be this steering committee that will take up the important issues that we talked about in the meeting; issues that influence the outcome of a final plan which will deliver the things that we want: walkable sidewalks, traffic calming, climate resilency, and shade and beauty provided by trees. We urge the Select Board to address this request as the project moves forward. Your letters to the Select Board will make a difference and insure that they learn that this is of Town Wide importance.

            Our Facebook page, Friends of Mattapoisett Trees will remain open for your comments and concerns as well as the Mattapoisett Tree Committee’s Facebook page, and the Tree Committee’s email, mattapoisetttreecom@gmail.com.

            “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.” Margaret Mead

Sandra Hering

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Fieldstone Abutters Concerned for Future

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The backside abutters living on Olde Sheepfield Road came out to Monday night’s Marion Planning Board meeting to weigh in on Arnie Johnson’s expansion proposal for Fieldstone Market on Route 6.

            Given the floor during the public hearing, some abutters rejected elements of the expansion plan itself, but more abutters seemed to be primarily concerned about what would happen should Johnson someday sell his store. One abutter wondered aloud what would stop 7-Eleven from someday buying Fieldstone.

            (Johnson told the meeting his son is going to graduate this spring from Bentley University and plans to commit to the family business.)

            “Really our concern is process. People make mistakes, and I think this really needs to be looked at,” said Marion resident Jim Albani, 36 Olde Sheepfield Road. “Look, we don’t want to stop this … we just want to make sure the process is done legally and to the fullest extent of the law. We just want to make sure the next guy who’s not an Arnie Johnson … let’s make sure we’re doing this right.”

            Hinting at his role as chairman of the Rochester Planning Board, Johnson insisted he is committed to the public-vetting process but also cautioned Marion residents suggesting he apply for a variance with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

            “ZBA’s set precedent, planning boards don’t. They judge on what’s in front of them,” said Johnson. “If I have to go to the ZBA, I will, but the ZBA sets precedent, and that may make it difficult for the town (to limit a future expansion proposal).”

            The Marion Planning Board had much to digest before voting to continue the case to its March 18 meeting (7:10 pm), at which time Johnson will receive his final answer regarding Town Counsel’s advice on the single zoning issue that would allow him time to apply to the ZBA. The project at large will presumably need multiple sessions of vetting in the continued public hearing.

            The application filed by Johnson Family Investments includes major site-plan review for expansion at Fieldstone Farms, 806 Mill Street (Route 6), Map 17 Lots 12 and 15A (zoned Residence C).

Presenting on Johnson’s behalf was Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, who summarized the plan for a 2,044 square-foot building expansion, the absorption of a neighboring lot that his attorney Doug Troyer of Pierce Atwood LLP explained would dissolve that 812 Mill Street, a residence, into 806 and automatically rezone the land so that it could play a role in the expansion of the 41,000 square-foot site.

            The building expansion will include 1,500 square feet of additional retail floor space and 500 square feet of additional storage.

            Conditions of major site-plan review as decided by the board in November 2023 granted waivers on an environmental assessment and a traffic study. Madden said he has not issued revisions to the plans submitted on February 7, preferring to get the Planning Boards to minimize the number of revisions.

            “We understand there have been a few comments raised by a few neighborhood groups,” he said, noting the acquisition of 812 Mill Street, adjacent property formerly owned by Carl and Karen Correia.

            The plan is to submit an Approval Not Required application to combine the two lots but not until “we have some certainty that the project is going to meet with Planning Board approval as we think it should and will,” said Madden.

            Madden said original plans to seek a variance from the ZBA to exceed the allowable amount of parking spaces have been changed. “Our feeling was we’re going to have a tough time with that variance so we’re looking at alternatives.”

            As a result, the new parking lot would consist in part of a porous, recycled asphalt product (RAP), providing just under the 40% threshold triggering the need for a variance. This will also alter how drainage from the site is accomplished.

            Madden said a large portion of stormwater will be under that parking lot and that the erosion control barrier will allow no sediment to be washed off the parking lot and into the system.

            Alterations to the original concept, Madden said, has cut down tree-clearing. “We feel that the tree line is substantial and not in need of supplemental plantings,” he said.

            The existing transformer and electrical on the site will be upgraded.

            Planning Board Chairman Tucker Burr struggled with the “merger doctrine” and the ANR scenario and its zoning implications as outlined by Troyer. Calling the nonconformities a “giant elephant in the room,” Burr saw a nonconforming use spreading and asked, “what’s stopping this from every single lot …?”

            Troyer argued that Johnson’s plan will, in the end, be less nonconforming. Alluding to the former restaurant at the Fieldstone site, Troyer described the permit to continue a preexisting legal use.

            “It’s our opinion that the site is operated as a market. They’re not changing that use, they’re not expanding that use,” he said, arguing that the plan actually mitigates the existing nonconformities because the absorption of 812 Mill Street by 806 (Fieldstone) will make the activity more conforming to the space provided.

            “They’re not increasing any nonconformities at all. They’re actually making the nonconformity better,” he said. “It’s basically … legal retail use … not increasing the quality, character or degree. And there’s no adverse effect on the neighborhood.”

            Along with some of the neighbors themselves, board members needed more convincing.

            “Their concern remains, what’s going to stop Mr. Johnson from attaching another lot and turning this Residence C area into commercial property?” asked board member Eileen Marum. “The residents need a reassurance that they’re not going to be living in a commercial area.”

            Acknowledging “two very well-written letters” that Marum had referenced, Troyer asserted that no zoning change is needed to execute the plan as proposed.

            Resident Dina Nichols, while praising Johnson for his store and commitment to the community, told of her consultation with an attorney that she said had served as town counsel in multiple Massachusetts municipalities and gave her a very different interpretation of the law where it concerns the ANR plan and its implication on zoning.

            Member Andrew Daniel asked if Town Counsel had advised the board on the zoning issue. Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee said the board solicited an opinion from Town Counsel.

            Johnson would later speak and inform anyone who hadn’t known that he in fact sought these opinions himself through the town’s Building Department in order to most efficiently set his application in motion.

            Drawing again on his experience serving on the Rochester Planning Board, Johnson added that the Marion Planning Board can condition an approval against further expansion.

            Madden added that Johnson has funded a 53G account for site-plan review.

            The public hearing was continued to March 18 at 7:10 pm.

            After hearing from Representative Jennifer Jones during a public hearing, the board voted to send FSJ Holdings LLC’s application for a zoning change from General Business District to Residence E at 207-215 Wareham Road (Route 6) to the warrant for the May13 Annual Town Meeting.

            Citing the last Open Space Plan sustainability and coastal resiliency, Open Space Acquisition Commission Chairman John Rockwell was critical of the plan.

            “I don’t see how that helps to rezone land in the coastal flood plain for high-density housing. It would be better to find spots for high-density housing where there is not flooding now or likely later,” said Rockwell. “You want to create a situation where to manage … that’s not done by increasing the density in these areas.”

            Rockwell’s comments apparently had more influence on the board’s disposition toward the town’s proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment to add Article XX (Chapter 230-20, Stormwater Management) necessary to ensure compliance with the national discharge system. Approval would put the proposal on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting on May 13.

            Rockwell said that while EPA requires towns to have a MS4 plan, including a stormwater bylaw, “it doesn’t have to be this stormwater bylaw,” he said, advising against imposing the bylaw as proposed “on everyone in town.” Rockwell said the bylaw does not address bacteria or control nitrogen. “You have to look at the problems in Marion and craft a bylaw” that addresses those problems.

            The board closed the public hearing and voted to make no recommendation but will put the subject on its next agenda as a discussion item.

            A continued public hearing for the 48-unit, market-rate, housing project proposed at 78 Wareham Road was not attended by developer Matt Zuker.

            “Continuation is probably moot at this point,” said Guey-Lee, indicating he would reach out and referencing “some outstanding issues” and the possibility that Zuker may need to readvertise. At Guey-Lee’s recommendation, the board continued the public hearing beyond Town Meeting, settling on June 3 at 7:05 pm.

            Further discussion on the proposed Short-Term Rental Bylaw being tweaked by the board pushed the meeting to nearly three hours before it was adjourned.

            The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, March 18, at 7:00 pm at the Police Station on Route 6.

Marion Planning Board

By Mick Colageo

Skaters Stymied by Hanover

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            Down 2-0 on the scoreboard, the Old Rochester/Fairhaven coop hockey team got the pushback it was looking for entering the second period of Saturday’s MIAA Division 4 tournament game against Hanover. But an unlucky bounce and an untimely turnover conspired to undermine the Bulldogs’ effort in a season-ending 4-1 defeat at the Hobomock Arena in Pembroke.

            “I think it took a little while for the kids to realize the speed of the game … they dominated the first shift. The second and third lines had some trouble,” said ORR/Fairhaven coach Zach Ledogar, whose team found its rhythm in the second period.

            Hanover senior Myles Joyce scored 8:20 into the game, and just 22 seconds later, Mehki Bryan made it 2-0 when Tucker Roy’s save on Bryan’s original shot caromed off the Hanover senior’s body and fell into the ORR/Fairhaven net.

            Junior forward Caleb Bousquet got ORR/Fairhaven on the board 5:09 into the second period when he stole the puck right off Hanover winger Christopher Doherty’s stick and flung a shot before goalie Thomas Perkins could reset.

            But Doherty made amends for his lapse, capitalizing on an ORR/Fairhaven turnover and scoring with one minute left in the period to restore the Hawks’ two-goal lead. Although they still trailed by two, the second was a better period for the Bulldogs (13-9-1.)

            “We weren’t timid on the puck, we started outskating the other team and outshot them that period as well,” said Ledogar, whose team had advanced with a convincing 7-2 win over Cohasset on February 29 at Tabor Academy.

            Down 3-1 at second intermission thanks in part to Roy’s 34-save performance, the Bulldogs had a revived optimism heading into the third period. Only Henry Phillips scored just 12 seconds after the third-period faceoff to make it a 4-1 game.

            “It was really deflating at that point. … They kept fighting right to the end,” said Ledogar, proud of his team.

            The Bulldogs’ best shift of the third period included sustained pressure in the Hanover zone, but they had trouble getting pucks through to Perkins as three shots were blocked and two others missed their target.

            Towering Hanover sophomore Cole Hendrickson got caught up trying to joust with burly ORR/Fairhaven junior Justin Marques, who had sent multiple Hanover bodies flying upon impact.

            Bousquet and Connor Galligan had five points each in the win over Cohasset.

            While Hanover advanced to play third-seeded Norwell (17-5-1) in the quarterfinals, ORR/Fairhaven looks to next year.

            The young Bulldogs will lose their all-purpose defense pairing of Barrett Becotte and Austin Branco to graduation, along with forward Jack Finn, who skated second and third-line wing. “He played hard, he’s fast and got to every loose puck, in every dirty area,” said Ledogar.

            Ledogar entered his fifth season behind the ORR/Fairhaven with a goal that goes back to the day he was hired.

            “In five years, I wanted to compete for a championship with Old Rochester,” he said. While admitting Saturday night did not present the result that every team wants, he feels the Bulldogs have shown they can compete outside of the region and have turned the corner as a program.

            “Right from the start when we beat Dartmouth, we beat Stang, we were on a 4-0 run from the start. We had a couple downslopes, but we rallied back and beat all the teams we were supposed to beat,” he said.

            ORR/Fairhaven was only ever over its head against Nantucket and Nauset, and that exposure to higher-pace hockey worked in the Bulldogs’ favor. “I didn’t want to schedule lower opponents, I wanted to schedule tougher opponents for the end of the season,” said Ledogar.

            Five years into the job, he becomes aware of opportunities to climb the coaching ladder but says, “I love coaching in the town I grew up in. … This … has been one of the favorite things in my life.”

ORR/Fairhaven Hockey

By Mick Colageo

Book (re)Marks: What’s up this month at Plumb?

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Welcome to Book (re)Marks, all the info you need about what’s happening at the Library this month. March brings us the start of Spring and most importantly, the beginning of Daylight Savings. Don’t forget to change your clocks.

            Do you love traveling and having adventures? Or maybe you’re more of an armchair traveler? Join us for an author talk with Matt Davis at 12:30 pm, Saturday, March 9 as he presents his book “At Home in the World: reflections of a travel addict.” Matt will share stories from his world travels, as well as photos. Books will be available for purchase ($20 cash or check.)  Space is limited and registration is required. Sign up on the Events Calendar on our website.

            The COA Book club will meet at 1 pm Tuesday March 19 to discuss “The Light Pirate” by Lily Brooks-Dalton. Books & Babble Book club will be discussing “The Ride of Her Life: the true story of a woman, her horse and their last-chance journey across America” by Elizabeth Letts at 6:30 pm, Thursday, March 28. Books for both clubs are available for pick-up at the Library or on the Libby app.

            We also have 4 book clubs for kids. BookBuds meet the first Friday (4 pm and 5 pm) and Saturday (10 am and 11 am) of the month. There are groups for kids from ages 6-teen. See our Events Calendar for more info.

            Do you like to knit, crochet, or cross-stitch? If so, join us on Monday nights from 6-8 pm for a social gathering of handcrafters. Bring your latest project or something from the stash. Maybe your creative outlet involves pen and paper? Join our Writer’s Group the third Thursday of every month to keep those ideas flowing. Open to anyone 18+. Next meeting is 6:30 pm, March 21.

            Do your kids love to doodle? Sign them up for our Doodle and Tranquility Workshop with Cara Bean at 10:30 am, Saturday March 16. This workshop is designed for kids ages 8+. Space is limited and registration is required.

            The Friends of the Library will meet at 6:30 pm, Thursday, March 7. This meeting is open to the public. Join us for discussion of upcoming fundraising effort, including the spring book sale. The Friends will also be holding their semi-annual Savers Clothing Drive on Friday March 22 (2-6 pm) and Saturday March 23 (8 am-noon.)  Bag up your soft household goods and clothing/shoes for donation directly into the truck in our parking lot. Boxed books will also be accepted. All items should be in resale condition.

            The Board of Library Trustees is meeting at 6:30 pm, Thursday, March 14. This meeting is open to the public and the agenda is posted here: www.townofrochestermass.com/node/425/agenda

            Questions? Please call (508-763-8600) or email (info@plumblibrary.com). As always, we hope to see you soon at the Library.

ORRJH Students of the Month

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            Silas D. Coellner, Principal of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, announces the following Students of the Month for February, 2024

Green Team: Rebecca A. Schaefer and John P. Ferreira

Orange Team: Caden J. Gonsalves and Claire M. Vergoni

Blue Team: Ava E. Dzerkacz and Oliver A. Hutchison

Red Team: Aurora J. Froes and Richard H. Redsicker

Exploratory Team: Isabella D. Hollis & Rose E. Bouley

OPM Request Met with Scrutiny

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Rochester’s Select Board Monday rejected Public Safety Building Committee Chairman Arnold Johnson’s request to hire an owner project manager with $140,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, preferring to learn first what exactly an OPM would accomplish for them at this stage of the project to combine, replace or rehab the town’s space-challenged police and fire stations.

            Johnson said his committee, which recently received the project’s feasibility study, wants to take the next step by using the ARPA funds for an OPM with the expertise to evaluate design and cost options for the rehab/replace plans being proposed.

            Select Board member Brad Morse did not agree with this plan. He said he wants to recommend putting this expense before town voters for their approval first, noting the town doesn’t even have a specific replace or rehab plan yet. “This is putting the cart before the horse,” said Morse.

            Johnson responded that the committee can’t do any more evaluating of the feasibility study’s conclusions until it gets an OPM’s expertise. However, fellow Select Board member Adam Murphy agreed with Morse. “I think voters will question this,” Murphy said.

            A resident added to the pushback by noting the town has yet to share the feasibility study with the public. “To hire a project manager is way premature,” he said. Very cart before the horse. There has been zero communication with the townspeople.”

            Johnson countered that the feasibility study has been discussed in open meetings, televised on local cable and reported in the press. “We are doing our due diligence,” he said. “To bring a big number to town voters in the past was a waste of time. We just need to get a better next step this time. No one’s disrespecting the voters. I’m not against bringing this to the voters.”

            The Select Board concluded discussion by tabling a decision, after Murphy moved to have Town Administrator Glenn Cannon put together information on what an OPM does and what that person would be doing in this case. “For $140,000?” Murphy said. “We don’t even know what we’d be getting for that.”

            In other action Monday, the board opened the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, which it noted is scheduled for May 13. The warrant will remain open until Friday, March 22.

            The board appointed police officers Connor Leddin and Austin Alves for detail work at the March 5 Presidential Primary election.

            Cannon reported that the transfer station site assignment request should be available for signing at the March 18 Select Board meeting.

            Cannon reported the Massachusetts Cultural Council has received a $5,800 grant for its dispersal this year.

            On February 27, the Select Board met briefly and approved spending $1,300,000 of ARPA funds on town priorities.

            Prior to the vote, Cannon explained to Select Board Chairman Paul Ciaburri and Murphy, who were present in person, and Morse, who was attending via a telephone link, that by March 1 the Plymouth County commissioners need an estimate of what the town wants to spend its ARPA funds on. If those funds aren’t spent by the town by the end of the year, they will be reallocated for other county priorities.

            The board swiftly approved forwarding to Plymouth County the memo that allocates $1,309,227.77 of ARPA funds for the following town needs: new ambulance at $384,000, Revenue Loss Allocation $218,226.35, Technical Upgrades $250,000, Overtime Reimbursement $150,00, Emergency Services Power Stretcher $30,262.46, two Defibrillators $4,938.98, COVID tests $5,000 and Dispatch/jail-cell doors $100,000.

            The last item became this designation after Murphy noted it is uncertain whether police cell doors, the initial intent for that amount, would qualify for ARPA funding, which must be related to the negative financial impacts of the COVID pandemic and public health and safety needs. Murphy suggested adding dispatch-center costs to this item, as the town will need its own equipment should the regional dispatch center Rochester now relies on ever shuts down. Cannon said he will research further as to whether cell doors will so qualify for these funds.

            The technical-upgrades priority will be spent on new radios and radio repeaters for the Fire Department, said Chief Scott Weigel. Officials previously reported that $216,413 of ARPA funds would be used to acquire digital radios; this amount is in the new $250,000 sum. Overtime Reimbursement will be for the costs paid during COVID for employees who had to work in the office despite the pandemic.

            Rochester was initially awarded $1,021,846.89 in total ARPA funds. Cannon explained in a later interview that the county asked the town to calculate extra funding into its estimate in case a reallocation of funds occurs.

            The Rochester Select Board set its next meeting for Monday, March 18, at 6:00 pm at the Senior Center, 67 Dexter Lane.

Rochester Select Board

By Michael J. DeCicco

From the Rochester Historical Society

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In early New England, the most important man in town was most likely not the owner of the biggest house, the town clerk, or a selectman, but rather the minister of the town’s church. Rochester’s first two ministers, Reverends Arnold and Ruggles, both served for many conflict-free years while growing the size of the congregation to over 300 parishioners.

            Upon the death of Rev. Ruggles, a recently ordained Harvard graduate, Jonathan Moore became his successor. While he had preached at Brattle Street Church Boston prior to his ordination, this was his first official position. He came to the Rochester Center Church during the lead up to the Revolutionary War. When it became time for Rochester men to march off to war, he “shouldered his musket” and joined them as chaplain to one of the companies.

            The first of his ministerial years saw him providing “good services” to his congregation and during his tenure, his recordkeeping and other writing provided valuable information to the historic records.

            Unfortunately, he became a minister at a time of change in the church and society. A new doctrine, the half-way Covenant, caused some disagreement among parishioners and a perceived decline in religion blamed on the French influence from the war made congregational calm less easy to come by. However, in the case of Rev. Moore (most frequently referred to as Mr. Moore in Abraham Holmes memoirs), it was more likely his personality that led to conflicts. Holmes refers to him as an impudent man and an anonymous writer in 1815 said that Moore “was a man of constitutional fearlessness of heart. The face of men in any garb had no terror for him.” This meant he was happy to argue and disagree with just about anyone. As time passed, he was more and more involved in “disputes and lawsuits with his parish”.

            He openly feuded with Justice N. Ruggles. It is obvious in some of Holmes accounts how much the two men disliked each other. When a prayer was proposed for an important meeting, “Ruggles said if there must be prayer, he hoped it would not be by Mr. Moore, for he had heard so much of his praying on Sundays that he could not bear to hear him on a weekday, for that man had done more hurt in Rochester than he ever did, or ever would, or ever could do good”.

            Not to be outdone when called upon to offer a prayer, Moore proceeded to offer a few opinions of Ruggles, referring to his ” depraved and wicket heart” and then led the group in prayer.

            In 1789-90, it became apparent that the Rochester Church’s enrollment was declining. This was blamed on Rev. Moore by a committee studying the situation. This “brot on a violent discussion in the meeting.” Things went from bad to worse and after many, many church and committee meetings, Moore was dismissed in 1792. For quite a while after this, he refused to accept his dismissal and held competing services in his home. He also sued for back salary that he felt was due him. The suit went to court and after a lengthy trial, the jurors decided against him even though the court felt that he was in the right.

            Even though he was removed from the roll of the church at that time, upon his death in 1814, he was taken back into the church. He is buried in the Rochester Center Cemetery beside his first wife.

By Connie Eshbach