William “Bill” Standish Bradford

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William “Bill” Standish Bradford passed away peacefully in his 90th year in Marion Massachusetts. He was the loving father of three children, Laura, Stan and Jamie.

            Born on December 29, 1933, in Hampstead Heath, England to American parents William and Helen Bradford. Bill spent his childhood on Cape Cod and in southern Massachusetts. He attended the Taft School and graduated from Tabor Academy. At Boston University he received a degree in English. Bill was an avid athlete, excelling in wrestling, sailing and football while in prep school. In his later years, he loved tennis, road races, water skiing and most outdoor activities. As a young father, his favorite activity was playing “Roof-Ball” with his children. As he got older, he could be found hiking, jogging on the beach with his beloved dog Jasper or riding his bike around Ocean Drive in Newport.

            As a child, Bill’s summers were often spent with his grandfather (writer Thornton Burgess) at Laughing Brook in Hamden, Massachusetts. It was here that Bill discovered his passion for the natural environment, and perhaps where he began his absolute love of dogs.  Bill enjoyed acting and was involved with the Marion Art Center and the Newport Playhouse where he honed his skills. Bill had a unique ability to connect with people, he was loved by those around him.

            Bill was predeceased by his brother and his three sisters, Robert, Frannie, Rosemary and Jeannie. He was cared for by his daughter Laura Zell and leaves behind two beloved grandchildren Alexa and Will. Bill also leaves behind two sons, Stan and Jamie Bradford of Marion.

            A private memorial service will be held in Marion. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to the Thornton Burgess Society in Sandwich Massachusetts (www.thorntonburgess.org/donate) or the Mass Audubon Society – Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (www.massaudubon.org)

            Arrangements by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham.  To leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com

Ernest J. Davoll, Sr.

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Ernest J. Davoll, Sr., 88, died Sunday, December 10, 2023 at his home in Rochester just a few days prior to his 89th birthday. He was the husband of the late Arabelle (Burns) Davoll.

            Born in Middleboro, he was the son of the late Irving E. Salley and Ruth (Henshaw) Davoll. He moved to Rochester at the age of 15. Mr. Davoll was a general contractor and the owner of Quality Carpentry. After his retirement, he worked full-time operating his hay farm.

            He was a longtime member and former deacon of the First Congregational Church in Rochester, and was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 31.

            Survivors include his children, Monica and her husband Lenny Gillis of Norwood; Ernest J. Davoll, Jr. and his wife Bing of Tiverton; RI and Victor Meservey of Ocala, FL; his sister, Harriet and her husband Robert Sherman of Rochester. Ernest’s numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, will miss his wisdom and companionship greatly. His survivors will look fondly on their memories of his quick wit and warm smile.

            Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Thurs., Dec. 14, 2023 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. (Rt. 28), Wareham from 4 – 7 pm. His funeral service will be held on Fri, Dec. 15th at 10 am in the First Congregational Church, 11 Constitution Way, Rochester. Interment will follow in Rochester Center Cemetery.

            For directions or to leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com

Upcoming Events at the Elizabeth Taber Library

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Indoor Holiday Book Sale through December 23 – Find great gifts for the whole family at our annual holiday book sale at the Elizabeth Taber Library. Get books, puzzles, DVDS, games, library T-shirts, and raffle tickets to an array of prize baskets.

            3D printed holiday ornament kits – Available starting December 4. Convert drawings into 3D printed holiday ornaments. Makes a unique holiday keepsake. Pick up a kit with instructions and materials and return your design to the library to be printed. View the website for more details.

            Dreidel Crafts – Thursday December 7 to Friday December 15 – Learn about Chanukah and make your own dreidel out of clay.

            Krampus Karaoke – Thursday December 14 at 6 pm – Food, fun, and music at the library. Join us to celebrate the season with Krampus Karaoke.

            Nutcracker Storytime – Friday December 15 at 11 am – Go backstage at the Nutcracker with dance educator Kay Hanley Alden. Celebrate the classic holiday tale with dancing, props, and a few surprises.

            For more information on the Elizabeth Taber Library, visit us at www.ElizabethTaberLibrary.org or call us at 508-748-1252

Friends of the Mattapoisett Bicycle and Recreational Path

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Friends of the Mattapoisett Bicycle and Recreational Path ask residents who are enjoying the Shining Tides Mile to consider the “bike path” in their year-end giving plans. We’re now working with the Town on Phase 2 which will extend the Mattapoisett Rail Trail from Depot Street into the Park Street neighborhood and over to Marion. We’ve pledged a $50,000 contribution as the local match to a $200,000 dollar MassTrails Grant which will finalize design for Phase 2A so that construction funding for a “shovel ready” project can be requested. We’re ¼ of the way to our goal using the funds raised by the 2023 Tour de Crème. A generous donor is matching all contributions up to $2500.

            Hopefully, people have read about the significant progress on the Marion Pathway. Friends’ funding match of the last mile in Mattapoisett will keep the safe connection to Marion moving forward without pauses, creating protected road crossings of Route 6 and North Street. Learn more at our website www.mattapoisettrailtrail.org.

            Contributions to the Friends can be mailed to PO Box 1336, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or made through GoFundMe. All funds received will be used to support the completion of the path and path amenities. Thank you.

Mattapoisett to Keep Single Tax Rate

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            The Mattapoisett Select Board met with Administrator of Assessing Mia Robinson to determine whether or not the town should continue with a single tax rate for all forms of real and personal property. The decision was unanimous to stay the course with a single rate.

            In her presentation to the board and the town, Robinson shared that real and personal property assessed value stands at $2,674,199,634 for 2024. The average single-family home is valued at $735,647, an increase of 11.7% over 2023. The average single-family home tax bill is projected to be $7,731.65 with the Community Preservation Act adding 1%.

            Proposed for 2024 the single tax rate is $10.51 per $1,000 assessed value. Robinson noted this equated to a 6.6% decrease over 2023 of $11.25.

            Robinson reported that the amount of revenue to be raised by both tax and non-tax sources in FY24 is $41,585,042.22. This sum includes all enterprise funds. Revenue was and is derived from a tax base of 4,343 units of real property and 702 units of personal property.

            New construction assessed value plus personal property growth taking place between December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022, was $54,448,457, which translates into $612,545 of increased tax-levy capacity over Proposition 2½ and a 40% increase over FY23.

            Robinson calculated that a two-tier tax rate would only impact homeowners some 32 cents, while hitting the commercial side by over $5 per $1,000 of valuation. She estimated that commercial owners would see an increase nearing $3,000.

            In other business, the board voted, approved and signed 2024 annual licenses. They also approved the spending of $5,500 in ARPA funds for the purchase of three laptops, including setup.

            After all that number crunching, the board reminded the public of the annual Holiday in the Park on December 9 between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Events include a buffet of free food and goodies from area vendors, crafts, musical performances, and a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and Elves. The community tree lighting will also take place.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not announced upon adjournment.

Mattapoisett Select Board

By Marilou Newell

Jane Ellen Ford Barker

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Jane Ellen Ford Barker of Marion, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on December 7, 2023. Jane, the daughter of William Blanchard Ford and Elizabeth Castle Ford, was born on December 28, 1929 in Montclair, New Jersey. She graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree, MA in 1947, and attended Connecticut College in New London, CT. Charlie Ford, Jane’s older brother, introduced her to a Tabor friend in 1944. The story is that it was love at first sight for Charlie’s friend, David Bent Barker and Jane Ford. They married in 1950, and had a long happy marriage of 67 years focused on love of family….and lots of sailing. Life in the Barker household in Essex, CT and Duxbury, MA with four children was a happy, noisy, welcoming and loving environment. Jane was a gracious hostess, who delighted in setting a beautiful dinner table with sparkling crystal and silver, not only on special holidays, but also when family and friends gathered. All family gatherings were special for Jane.

            Jane is a descendent of a lineage of Searsport, Maine sea captains, so sailing in Maine and staying at the family camp “Hathorn Point” in St. George, ME on the St. George River was their summer retreat in retirement years. Jane and Dave welcomed a steady stream of family members and guests to enjoy cooked lobster feasts on an open fire or on the soapstone top of a wood stove.

            A talented and resourceful seamstress, Jane sewed boat cushion covers, curtains, awnings, clothes, hats, bedspreads, etc ……anything that would prevent her from shopping or spending money!

            The Barkers’ involvement with Tabor Academy began in 1942 and still continues. They attended almost every sports game for all three seasons, their boys, David Jr. and Charlie played at Tabor during the 1970s. The Barkers always had the biggest crowd and the best tailgating fare. When David, Jr. and Charlie graduated from Tabor, the Barkers followed their children’s college teams. In 1983 Dave and Jane built a house on 15 Ryder Lane in Marion, where Jane lived until her passing. The years in Marion were filled with Dave’s 27-year involvement on the Tabor Board of Trustees with Jane his greatest supporter welcoming alumni to their house. Their bird’s eye view of the Tabor playing fields allowed them to still be spectators of TA sports in their older years. Jane and Dave had an opportunity to join a student crew on the Tabor Boy for a cruise to the Bahamas. They made it clear that they did not want to be treated any differently than the students onboard, and worked alongside the students. It was “all hands on deck” in their roles on boats and also in life with their four children and families.

            On chartered or friends’ vessels Jane and Dave explored the Danish Islands, the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles. During their retirement years they cruised the east coast of North America on one of their vessels named “Barcarolle” exploring Chesapeake Bay to New England, Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Bras D’Or Lakes, the island of St. Pierre (France) and the south coast of Newfoundland.

            Jane was predeceased by her husband, David Bent Barker, Sr. in 2016. She was the loving mother of Hillery Barker Tura (David) of Groton, CT, Wendy Barker of Marstons Mills, MA, David Bent Barker, Jr. (Lynne) of Mattapoisett, MA and Jupiter, FLA, and Charles Ford Barker (Ann) of Kennebunk, ME. Jane was affectionately called Gooney or Nana by her five grandchildren, Hunter (Kathleen), Abby (Mark), Ford (Elizabeth), Tim (Meghan), Kaitlyn (Jon) and her ten great -grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren. Any visit from children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren involved much “cooing” from Jane with the little ones and undivided attention for the older children with total focus and sincere interest in their lives.

            In lieu of flowers contributions in Jane’s memory to The Jane Ford Barker Book Fund would be welcome at Elizabeth Taber Library, 8 Spring Street, Marion MA 02738.

            Private arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Alexander J. Thomson

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Alexander J. Thomson, aka “Slim”, 90, of Rochester, MA passed away November 27, 2023 after a lengthy illness.

            Born in Toronto, Canada, he later moved to Massachusetts and became a citizen of the USA. Alex, aka Slim, was a Local 37 ironworker in Providence, RI. He was a skilled auto body mechanic and fixed up many cars.

            Alex was the married to the late Betty Ann (Weigel) Thomson for over sixty years. He is survived by his seven children and their partners, Deborah and Allan, of Ontario, CA, Kurt and Jennifer of New Brighton, PA, Holly of S. Dartmouth, Nancy and Linda of Tucson, AZ, Betty Jo and Dave of Rochester, Lynne and Michael of S. Dartmouth, and Pearl of Mattapoisett. Alex is also survived by his grandchildren, Kathryn, Kristen, Robyn, Audrey, Olivia, Ivy, Alexandria, Jacquelyn, Brandon, Monique and Erica, Courtney, Rebecca, Benjamin, Jocelyne, Brooke, Nicole, Michelina, Madison, Bryce, several great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and last but not least, by his beloved dog, Buddy.

            Alex was the son of the late Nancy Guy Peopjes Thomson of Toronto, and Fred Peopjes of the Netherlands and was brother of the late Pearl Russell and Hilda Kitchen.

            He and his wife Betty, started Liberty Auto Parts, Inc. in Wareham, MA which became a NAPA auto parts store and expanded into three stores that served Wareham, Acushnet and New Bedford. Alex was a Free Mason and member of the Pythagorean Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Marion, MA. He was also a fast pitch softball coach who won several championships.

            Alex enjoyed spending time with family, swimming in his pool, riding on his lawn tractor, and his dogs. He was an avid New England Patriots fan.

            A service will be held at a later date.

From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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Currently on display at the Rochester Historical Museum on County Road as part of our Maps, Signs and Celebrations exhibit are pictures, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and artifacts that tell the stories of how Rochester celebrated two important anniversaries. In 1976, they joined together to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States and then from 1979-1986, the Tricentennial anniversary of Rochester.

            Like the earlier celebrations of the 200th and the 250th anniversaries of Rochester’s founding, costumes played a big role. In the earlier celebrations, many of the costumes were authentic, colonial clothing stored in ancestor’s attics. By the 1970’s, a lot of that clothing was no longer available or like the historical clothing at our museum was too small for adult wear due to better modern-day nutrition, though there is evidence of a few unfortunate alterations made of historical dresses.

            Not to be deterred, local seamstresses got to work creating period appropriate clothing for all ages. For some events, such as the Women’s Club Bicentennial Ball, costumes were optional, but there is a picture of Katherine Church and Mrs. Thomas Gayorski Jr. and her daughter, Michelle, in colonial dresses and mop caps promoting the dinner and dance.

            Another picture at an outdoor event shows Ronnie Hedges, age 2 and Jenny Taylor, 18 months enjoying the event in their colonial costumes. There are also pictures of similarly attired parade participants. The picture with this article is of Greenwood Hartley’s Bicentennial costume which is currently on display at the museum.

            Costumes (hopefully, they saved the ones from 1976) continued to play a prominent part in the 1979 and 1986 Tricentennial events. On July 7, 8, and 9 of 1979, an encampment of reenactors of the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Artillery & Light Co. was set up on the green in the center of town. On that Sunday, a special “in-costume” service was held at the First Rochester Congregational Church. A picture on display shows Rev. William Fillerbrown and a family of greeters waiting in the doorway of the church to welcome the visiting red-coated artillery who represented the colonial army in 1679. The costumed greeters were the Gayorski family, Deborah, Michelle, Diane, Lisa, Thomas Jr. and Dorothy.

            Just an FYI- we all may need to rev up our sewing machines as it is just two years until the United States turns 250 years old in 2026, and I’m sure Rochester will again rise to the challenge of celebrating in proper style.

By Connie Eshbach

Rochester Women’s Club

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The ladies of the Rochester Women’s Club will be hosting a visit from Santa on December 16 at the Club House located at 37 Marion Road. From 11 to 1, Santa will be available for a chat and a photo. This is an opportunity for parents to bring along their phones or cameras and catch a glimpse of their little one with Santa. Refreshments will be available. This is a completely free event. Donations to benefit our scholarship will be gratefully accepted.

            On Wednesday December 29, you may find the Women’s Club Carolers at your door. We will be out in force starting at 4:30 pm.

Bishop Road House Carefully Conditioned

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            Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday struggled to approve a rather problematic Notice of Intent to construct a single-family home with an on-site well, septic and associated grading within the 25-foot wetland buffer zone at 0 Bishop Road.

            Even the applicant’s representative, Darren Michaelis of Wareham-based Foresight Engineering admitted the plan proposed by the landowner to sell the property to a potential homeowner is not a simple one because of the limited lot space there to work with.

            “I’m planning it the best way I can,” Michaelis said. “The lot is grandfathered, but with your town zoning is not enough.”

            The commission approved the Order of Conditions, but not before placing strict conditions to bar any construction work too close to the wetlands buffer zone.

            “It looks like we’re looking at a mitigation nightmare,” commission member Ben Bailey said. “If we don’t restrict your work now, we’re not doing our job.”

            The commission set the permit condition that there be no cutting of trees or the stumps of trees that did not “die a natural death” within 15 feet of the wetlands buffer zone. Upon Michaelis’ recommendation, the board added the condition that the developer notify the town of any work being done within 15 feet of the buffer, so the Conservation Agent can supervise the work and that any agent of the town can inspect said work without advance notice.

            Next, the commission responded cautiously to a pitch for the town to join a state Farmland of Local Importance designation program. State soil scientist Maggie Payne, a former Conservation Commission member attending the meeting remotely via Zoom, explained this program seeks to create a list of the soils across the state that are the most suitable for farming. The goal, she said, is to identify farmland areas in order to protect and preserve them and allow their landowners to be eligible for certain programs.

             Chair Chris Gerrior asked the following critical questions: Who so designates the farmland? The town? The property owner? What would be the board’s next step?

            Payne said the state consultant creates the list, and each community decides whether to join the program and agree to the list. After Payne’s call ended, the commission agreed its next step is to consult with the Select Board but not because they like the idea behind the program.

            “The Planning Board has rejected this as with any government program,” said Bailey, who is also a member of the Planning Board.

            “I’m dead set against this,” Commission member Matthew Bache said.

            Commissioner Michael Gifford said he needed more information. He said he wasn’t hearing enough details on the program’s plusses and minuses.

            Gerrior agreed with these sentiments but added that consulting with the Select Board remains the best next step.

            The Rochester Conservation Commission scheduled its next public meeting for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco