Elizabeth Morse Read, 73, of Fairhaven died peacefully on Friday December 13, 2024. She was born in New Bedford and lived in New York before settling in Fairhaven. She is survived by her sisters and children. A memorial will be held in private at her residence. Arrangements were by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals.
M. Raye (Smith) Sawyer, 90, formerly of Mattapoisett and Rochester, passed away Saturday December 28, 2024 at The Cottages of Dartmouth Villages. She was the wife of the late Walter Judd Sawyer.
Born in Middleborough, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Katherine (Ferguson) Smith. A graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School, she worked as a secretary in Boston for a time, before becoming a full-time Mom after her marriage. She worked at the polls as an election worker for the Town of Mattapoisett for years and also substituted at the library at Old Rochester Regional High School when needed.
Raye was a legendary baker of cookies and treats for all occasions, including scores of individually wrapped and customized ginger-bread men at Christmas for relatives, friends and neighbors. She was well-known as the maker of “crunchy noodle beef bake” that was always popular at family gatherings. She was also a prodigious knitter, sewer, quilter and rug braider.
She was predeceased by her husband Walter and her eldest son, Nathaniel Judd Sawyer.
She is survived by her son, Benjamin Alden Sawyer and his wife, Ellen Terry; her grandsons, Patrick Judd Sawyer, Samuel Alden Sawyer, and Robert Maxwell Hammerton; and her daughter-in-law, Catherine (O’Malley) Sawyer (Nat’s widow) and her husband, Scott Amorin.
A celebration of her life will be held in the Spring. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Coming before the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on December 23 was well known bike path advocate and prime-mover Bonne DaSousa. DaSousa expressed her concerns that memorial benches purchased by donors in support of the town’s bike paths were being undermined at Goodspeed Island by increased pedestrian traffic and environmental impacts from weather events along the coastal dune.
DaSousa said she was bringing this matter before the commission at the suggestion of Town Administrator Mike Lorenco but the commission was unsure of their role in this matter. Member David Nicolosi wondered if Friends of the Bike Path or any town agency had ever filed for permitting of the benches in the jurisdictional beach and surrounding dunes. No one seemed to recall a filing. Nicolosi thought an after-the-fact filing was in order, or a removal of the benches. Chairman Mike King believed the original filing for the bike path construction did not include the installation of benches and that the area in question was environmentally “dynamic” requiring the commission’s oversight.
King stated that the commission would “run it up the flagpole” to the Select Board for further determination. There was hope that the matter would be handled by the town moving forward.
In other matters, a new Notice of Intent filed by the Masson Family Living Trust, 36 Cove Street for beach nourishment and ongoing site maintenance as well as the installation of coir logs, garnered considerable discussion. The Department of Environmental Protection had indicated that the logs were not acceptable for purposes of shoring up eroding shorelines. The commission conditioned the filing taking the DEP comments into consideration.
A continued Notice of Intent filing by Eric Smith represented by John Connel of SITEC Engineering and Environmental Consulting was conditioned, also after lengthy discussion regarding its introduction. The commission added conditions that included a written statement by an engineer that the requested 4-foot elevation will not impact neighboring properties with storm water runoff.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for January 13, 2025.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell
Rochester’s Capital Planning Committee on December 27 recommended all but two of the seven proposed capital improvement fund requests on the January 27 Special Town Meeting warrant.
Committee chair David Arancio began the meeting by noting these recommendations are needed in time for the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on December 30. Committee members Barry Patriko and Rick Monroe hesitated to lend their endorsement votes to the two proposals being advanced by the Police Department. The warrant asks for $120,000 for new, safer sliding cell room doors and $175,000 to renovate the station’s second floor to create additional, needed office, meeting, and storage space. To both spending articles, the two men said they want to see what’s there now first.
Patriko said he wanted first to see the condition of the current cell doors, which open swing open rather than slide open, to see if the expense is necessary. “I’d like to see the cells myself,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable at this point.” He asked if the cell room wall could be retrofitted as a less expensive option. Facilities Manager Andrew Daniels said the station will need to remove the entire wall to install totally new doors.
Town administrator Cameron Durant noted Rochester’s cell doors swing into the room. Someone seated on the bench to the back of the cell could barricade the door shut with his or her feet or a prisoner could be injured by the way the door moves. Litigation against the town has already resulted from the way the doors are designed, he said. “Foremost, it’s needed for safety, of the public and the officers,” he said. “The second reason is professional accreditation that will earn us grants. The current door design is not up to standards. Not at best practices.”
Daniels added the sliding doors will allow the Rochester police to keep a person jailed longer. “To put this off would be more expensive later,” he said. Arancio said he disagreed with Patriko’s and Monroe’s stance on the issue. “This is a necessary evil,” he said. “What’s to be gained by delaying this? It’s been identified as a problem year after year as a top concern, and we are talking public safety.”
Daniels defended the plan to renovate the second floor of the police station as necessary because the facility’s basement is being over-utilized and has water issues. It houses the computer system server, the armory and records. The renovation would allow most of this to move out of the basement. Plus, the officers need more office and interrogation room space that this renovation would provide. The objective is to expand the under-utilized second floor to a habitable space consisting of office, climate control storage, and officer or patrolman desks and workspace and utilize the Facilities Manager as the general contractor.
Ultimately, the board’s vote on both items was No Action but also an appointment to visit the station. Daniels agreed to meet Patriko and Monroe at the station on December 31 at 9:00 am.
The committee then moved more swiftly to approve the warrant’s five other capital items. The Plumb Library requests $3,225 for the town’s share to purchase a new state-of-the-art library book depository with a hydraulic lift; the Friends of the Library donated 50 percent of the $6,500 cost for this item. Durant explained the floor of this new depository will rise up, so the book spines won’t break as they do now when they are dropped to the floor of the current box. The committee approved this item but noted it will be funded through free cash.
Also from available funds, the Council On Aging seeks $30,000 to install new commercial grade kitchen flooring and replace the in-floor grease trap at the senior center. Daniels noted the current grease trap has rotted out from years of use and the current kitchen tile is warping and needs to be replaced by more durable materials, a slip-resistant epoxy of the same kind in the senior center rest room. Durant noted the kitchen’s daily breakfasts raise money for the COA.
The Highway Departments seeks $100,000 to replace the 1999 Highway Department sander truck with a used model that Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge said he will outfit himself to make it more usable. An ask of $26,500 will fund engineering costs related to the landfill’s post-closure engineering and surveying work. Durant clarified these expenses are required of the DEP permit to do this work. Also, engineering funds totaling $55,000 are needed for site work at the former Rochester Country Fair grounds on Pine St. where the new fire station will be built. Durant noted the entire 18-acre parcel will be surveyed as a cost savings even though only a portion of the property will house the new station.
The Capital Planning Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 5:30 pm at 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Capital Planning Committee
By Michael J. DeCicco
The cultural and societal value of history cannot be overstated. Whether it is our family history, national or even global history, and yes, local history. It tells us who we are, where we’ve been, and aids us as we plan our futures.
The Massachusetts Historical Commission, under whose guidance all local historical commissions are charged, provides cities and towns with directives for archiving local history and its importance therein. One of the single most important aspects of work performed by local commissions is documenting a town’s historical assets. The process of collecting data and then formatting it for inclusion on the state’s commission website is no small task. It requires expertise the average person does not possess. Enter Preservation Consultant Lynne Smelidge.
Smiledge’s role is to identify all manner of historical sites, structures, and places of archeological significance in Mattapoisett. In December, the commission announced the following:
“The Mattapoisett Historical Commission is pleased to announce that Phase One of the multi-phase community-wide survey of the Town of Mattapoisett’s historic and cultural resources has been completed by preservation consultant, Lynn Smiledge. The project was funded by a grant from the Community Preservation Act and the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Identification and documentation of historic resources is the foundation of community preservation. The survey identifies buildings and structures that are historically and architecturally significant in the history and development of the community. The goal of the survey was to document representative historic resources from major themes in the development of Mattapoisett including agricultural, maritime, commercial, institutional, and an undocumented resource from an underrepresented community. The survey thoroughly documented 112 properties, which included three area forms and 75 individual resources. Additionally, five properties were recommended as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The inventory forms have been submitted to the Massachusetts Historical Commission where they are in the process of being scanned and placed on an easily accessible database, MACRIS, Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System. The forms will also be available in hard copy at the Mattapoisett Public Library and on the Mattapoisett Historical Commission website.
A Historic Property Survey Plan, completed in January of 2023, identified approximately 300 high priority resources. The Historical Commission is currently moving forward with Phase Two of the survey and has contracted with Smiledge to document an additional 100 resources. This project is being funded by a grant from the CPA, and it is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.”
The commission has applied for another CPA grant to continue with another phase of research and documentation.
It will take several years for the full scope of Smiledge’s research and documentation of the town of Mattapoisett’s history. Her first efforts have yielded insights into this small New England town long forgotten but now revealed.
Smiledge has identified Homestead Court and Barlow Cemetery as sites of historic significance. Many throughout the community are aware that the cemetery contains the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers. But the military significance of this neighborhood (Barlow Cemetery and Homestead Court are situated close by one another) may not be as evident.
The residential homes were built for the benefit of WWII veterans, and the cemetery is the final resting place for local soldiers who participated in securing independence for our country. Mattapoisett’s history in honoring its service men and women is a story onto itself.
Smiledge notes that while the grounds and fencing of the cemetery are in pretty good condition the grave markers, headstones and such are in seriously poor condition. They need cleaning and conservation. The cemetery was deeded in 1789 to Rochester’s second precinct, aka Mattapoisett. A plaque erected during the town’s bicentennial committee in 1975 notes nine Revolutionary soldiers buried there. They are: Gibeon Barstow, Seth Cowing, Elisha Dexter, Thomas Ellis, Gideon Hammond, James Hammond, Stafford Hammond, Thomas Tobey, and Stephen Wing.
The report goes on to read: “The land that was to become Barlow Cemetery, the oldest burial ground in the town of Mattapoisett, was located north and west of Mattapoisett Village along the Mattapoisett River in what was one of three 18-century settlement nodes. The property was owned in the 18th-century by Elihu Sherman, a shipbuilder. Sherman (1744-1817), who was born in Dartmouth and married Elizabeth Claghorn Sherman (1746-1813) in that town in 1766, came to Mattapoisett with his wife to work in the local shipbuilding industry. On June 8, 1789, Sherman conveyed a one-acre parcel land to Enoch Hammond, Gideon Barstow, and Benjamin Dexter, Jr., members of a committee charged with acquiring land for a burial ground for the inhabitants of the First Precinct of Rochester, also known as Mattapoisett. The deed noted that the piece of land included ‘the graves called Barlow’s burying place.’ In exchange for this parcel, Sherman received six acres of land in the Mattapoisett precinct that were not described in the deed. The burial ground was identified as the ‘Old Cemetery’ on the 1856 and 1879 maps and later reverted in name to its earlier association with the Barlow family.”
Centuries later, the town would strive to help the living veterans of WWII. Homestead Court was built after protracted negotiations with the property owners who were not in total agreement for the sale of the land for a low-income housing project. Suffice it to say, what can be found in Smiledge’s report is a state-mandate to seize the acreage for the benefit of returning soldiers and their families.
“These one-story houses are built to two plans – Cape-form and ranch. Each building has a concrete block foundation, an asphalt shingle roof, and a brick chimney on the rear roof slope. The houses are clad in vinyl shingles in either beige or pale ochre. The main entries front shallow concrete stoops and concrete walkways leading to the street and the driveways. The two-bedroom Cape-form dwellings are three-bays-by-one-bay, 31 feet x 26 feet, and 767 square feet in living area with a slightly set-back block at the outside bay nestled under the roof of the entrance bay. The deeply recessed center entry contains a glass-and-panel door framed at the façade plane by wide, flat, vinyl pilasters. Windows include double-hung, one-over-one sash with molded vinyl surrounds at the façade and mulled one-over-one sash at the side elevations.
The three-bedroom ranch style homes are four-bays-by-one-bay, 41 feet by 23 feet, and 931 square feet in living area. The openings at the façade comprise a shallow recessed center entry, a small one-over-one window abutting the entry surround and mulled one-over-one and single one-over-one windows at the outside bays. The doors and trim match those at the two-bedroom homes. Single one-over-one windows occupy the side elevations.”
Today the properties are managed by the Mattapoisett Housing Authority as affordable housing for homeless families.
In her historic narrative, Smiledge wrote, “The end of the Second World War in 1945 returned more than six million members of the armed forces to civilian life. Census records show that 511 men and 40 women from Mattapoisett had served during the war. These veterans married at unprecedented rates – more than 2.3 million weddings took place in 1946. This dramatic spike in the number of new family households brought on a corresponding demand for housing.
Mattapoisett stepped up providing housing for those who had served in WWII and later for those whose need hung in the balance between a home or a state of homelessness. As Mattapoisett Historical Commission Chairman Rachel McGourthy put it, “Learning about this made me feel proud of Mattapoisett.”
While Smiledge’s work is far from complete, the wheels are now in motion thanks in no small part to the efforts undertaken by the town’s historic commission, the townspeople in supporting the work via Town Meeting vote, and the dedication of the commission to archive the town’s full story for generations to come.
Mattapoisett Historical Commission
By Marilou Newell
It’s time to renew or maybe sign up for a new membership in the Rochester Historical Society. The Historical Society which owns and maintains its 1857 church/museum is predominantly member supported, with some help from MA Cultural Council Grants.
Membership forms may be found at the Plumb Library or can be mailed out to new members. Requests can be sent to Sue -sash48@comcast.com or 508 295 8908 or Connie- eshbach2@aol.com or 617-750-2818. If renewing, you may mail your checks to Rochester Historical Society PO Box 322, Rochester, MA 02770. Levels of membership: individual $12, Family $20, Curator $50, Patron $75, or Preservationist $100. Donations in any amount are always gratefully appreciated.
About 78% of U.S. adults, including 68% of adults under 45, reported seeing a doctor in the last year for a wellness check.
Is this a good use of your and your doctor’s time?
Academic studies of the value of the annual physical exam (APE) have focused on whether doing this saves lives. Here the evidence is mixed. An analysis of many large observational studies reported an impressive 45% reduction in mortality comparing those who had vs. those who did not have an APE.
As regular readers know, this type of study is often misleading. People who have an APE are likely to be more health-conscious and have better health habits than those who do not. Smaller randomized trials of APE/no APE found very little mortality benefit.
Why might an APE help you live longer? It is an opportunity for your doctor to review your overall health rather than focusing on a specific problem. It is the ideal time to discuss and perform (immunizations, pap smears) or schedule (colonoscopy, cholesterol blood tests) important preventive health measures.
In a young healthy person, the traditional head-to-toe physical is unlikely to find new conditions, but focused exams may. It is a great time for a skin check looking for cancer and to measure BMI and discuss weight if it is a problem. High blood pressure is generally a symptomless condition until far advanced and blood pressure should be checked annually.
An APE is also a good time to discuss sleep, diet and exercise and mental health. Smoking and alcohol use should also be discussed. Older adults may want to bring up hearing issues.
So, if you are a young adult who feels fine, and you are aware of the importance of good habits, you can probably skip the “routine physical.” If you do, be sure to get your blood pressure checked when you go in for a problem-focused visit and that you have had your cholesterol checked within memory.
If you are at risk for such chronic conditions as hypertension, diabetes or heart disease because of your weight or family history, schedule that visit.
If you are 50+ it is worth doing even if you feel fine; the biggest risk factor for many conditions is simply aging.
An APE is also a good time to be sure you and your doctor get along and review how their office works, including off-hour availability.
For many, a normal physical can also be reassuring.
Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.
What Does The Doctor Say?
By Dr. Edward Hoffer
The Sippican Historical Society will feature Todd Baptista in its SHS Speaker Series on January 11 at 1:00 pm at Marion Music Hall. Join us to discover (or rediscover) the music that captivated the youth of the mid-20th century.
Todd Baptista, renowned author, historian, and concert producer, will transport attendees back in time to the golden age of doo wop. With a special emphasis on the South Coast trends, Todd will share the hitmakers, and enduring legacy of classic doo wop performers. Attendees will be treated to a peek of Baptista’s archive, including rare memorabilia, photographs, and fascinating stories, all while enjoying the iconic harmonies of early rhythm and blues.
“I first learned about the South Coast Doo Wop culture of the 1950s and 1960s thanks to the Cape Verdean storytelling sessions that were held at the Cushing Community Center in 2023,” said Executive Director Alanna Nelson. “These are songs my Dad loves. Bringing Todd to Marion has been on my list.”
This event is open to all, whether you’re a lifelong doo wop fan or just love moving to the close harmonies and energizing beat. After Todd’s performance, come kick up your heels at the Music Hall.
SHS looks forward to welcoming all ages to this celebration of musical history. RSVPs are appreciated at: /bit.ly/SHS-Baptista.
The Sippican Historical Society was founded in 1963 to foster interest in the history of Marion, encourage historical research, and preserve artifacts, documents, and artwork related to the town. The society is dedicated to preserving the rich cultural heritage of Marion while providing engaging educational programs to the public.
For more information about the SHS Speaker Series or upcoming events, visit our website at www.sippicanhistoricalsociety.org
In 2024, the Rochester Historical Society Museum has had lots of visitors. Our current exhibit, a social history of how Rochester residents entertained themselves for more than 337 years, has appealed to both young and old.
We introduced “history” to some local children at our June “Historical Fair with a Colonial Flair” and watched as some senior citizens followed different parts of the exhibit down memory lane.
As always, teacher Colin Everett’s Local History class (pictured here) visited as part of their class curriculum. The colonial tops and the 1940’s radio were of interest. Several students were surprised to learn that the original “Mr. Potato Head” came with all the accessories, eyes, ears. mustaches, etc., but no body. The bigger surprise was that you had to provide the body, a real potato.
If you happen by the Rochester Post Office lobby, check out the pictures of additional 2024 activities in the Rochester Historical Society’s glass case.
The Museum at 355 County Rd. will be open only by appointment throughout the winter. To visit or shop there contact Connie at 617-750-2818 or eshbach2@aol.com or Sue at 508-295-8908 or sash48@comcast.net.
We’ll be back with our 1st meeting of 2025 on the 3rd Wednesday of April.
By Connie Eshbach
The first public meeting of the Marion Village Historic District Study Committee was held on Wednesday, January 15. The meeting was primarily to present the Preliminary Study Report to the public as well as leave time or questions.
Chair of the committee, Will Tifft, began the presentation by saying, “The Marion Village is the most intact historic village in the South Coast. The Marion Village Local Historic District Bylaw aims to preserve and protect the distinctive architectural and historic significance of buildings in Marion Village.” He continued, “In fact, over half of the cities and towns in Massachusetts have local historic districts.” Tifft spoke of the bylaw’s ability to protect the town’s distinctiveness and history while also stressing it would not be restrictive and wouldn’t prohibit alterations to homes and businesses.
The central village contains many different historical architectural designs, including Federal style (1780-1840), Greek Revival style (1820-1860), Gothic Revival style (1840-1880), Italianate style (1840-1885), Victorian Eclectic style, being a mix of many, Queen Anne style (1875-1910), Shingle style (1880-1910), Craftsman style (1905-1930), and Colonial Revival style (late-19th to mid-20th century). Included in this are some exceptions and combinations of designs.
Stressed again by Tifft was the bylaw’s general powers, that being “very limited” in scope. As stated in the bylaw: “This bylaw would limit review to additions, new constructions, and demolitions. All other alterations, including siding, roofing, windows, doors, trim, mechanical equipment, maintenance, and paint color are exempt from review. Also, review is limited to work visible from a public way – if it’s not visible, it’s exempt.”
The district would be maintained by the Marion Village Historic District Commission, which would be instated should the bylaw pass. Consisting of five appointed members and two alternatives chosen by the Select Board. The Commission would seek its membership from those with experience in “historic preservation, architecture, land use planning, architectural history, history, law, construction, or engineering.”
The bylaw will be voted on at this year’s town meeting, Monday, May 12, where a 2/3 majority vote is needed to pass. Information such as the proposed bylaw draft, the preliminary study report, as well as a map of the proposed district can all be found on the town website: www.marionma.gov/631/Marion-Historic-District-Study-Committee.
Marion Village Historic District Study Committee
By: Sam Bishop