From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

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College and high school graduations that have filled our local news are now in the rearview mirror and schools have closed for summer vacation. The number of “grammar” schools in Rochester have fluctuated over many years, going from the district system to a municipal system and then beginning in 1902 under a superintendency. Through these changes, one thing remained constant. Graduating from Grammar School after completing eight grades was an accomplishment to be celebrated.

            Grammar school graduations were big events. Dave Watling donated the program for the 1926 Graduation Exercises of the Rochester Grammar Schools. A picture of the cover is shown with this article. The event was held at the Grange Hall at 8:00 pm on June 17, 1926. The program was extensive, beginning with the entrance of the class and an Invocation.

            This was followed by songs performed by the Glee Club alternating with essays presented by their authors. The first Honor Essay, “the Honey Bee” was read by Priscilla Gifford. The second Honor Essay, “The Haven of Work” was by Avon Howe Gerrish. There were three additional essays as well as a piano solo by Clara Isabelle Garcia and a song sung by Catherine Teresa Walker.

            The music and essays were followed by a cast of students performing the “Trial Scene” from “The Merchant of Venice” and then the awarding of Reading Certificates and the presenting of diplomas. The evening ended with a Benediction.

            This Grammar School graduation ceremony was for 17 students from four schools: Priscilla Gifford, David Lawrence Hartley and Addie Augusta Shurtleff from the Center School; Clara Isabelle Garcia, Avon Howe Gerrish, Arthur Arnold Reed, Myrtle Olive Reed, Edward John Thomas and Gertrude Louise Thomas from the North Rochester School; Chester Albert Rollins, Catherine Teresa Walker and George Edward Walker from the Pierceville School and finally, from the Stuart School, Albert Oscar Bourgault, Florence Gayorski, Mary Blanche Ouelette, Romeo Theophille Ouelette, Edward Tomasik and Agnes Tavares.

            We have a few other graduation programs in the museum collection. The 1934 program lists all the students (including my mother, Maude Sybil Hartley and Dave’s mother, Louise Spenser Hartley) without referencing their school.

            For many of these graduates, this would be the end of their schooling. Some would be going on to work or training for specific skills and some to family farms or businesses. Those going on to high school would do so outside of Rochester. According to research done by Dorothy Mac Gregor, as of 1901, Rochester students went to high school in Middleboro, Fall River or New Bedford. My grandfather born in 1891 attended Fairhaven High School.

            Starting in 1924, Rochester students were transported to Wareham High and in later years went to New Bedford High. This continued until the opening of Old Rochester Regional High School in 1961.

By Connie Eshbach

MYC Invitation to Ensign Owners

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Own an Ensign? Ever wanted to try your hand at racing? Here is your opportunity. The Mattapoisett Yacht Club holds Ensign races on Tuesday evenings off Ned’s Point. This fleet has been active for many years and MYC members also trail their boats to regional and national Ensign regattas. The Mattapoisett Yacht Club has hosted both the Northeast Regional Ensign Championship and the Ensign National Championship which brought 2 dozen boats to town.

            We are inviting all local Ensign owners to join us for low -key racing on July Tuesday at 6:00 pm. These would be non-spinnaker races on courses about a mile in length. They will take 20 to 40 minutes depending on the wind. We will use just 4 basic rules designed to avoid collisions. Experienced MYC racers from our PHRF fleet will be on hand in powerboats to offer coaching and tips while you are on the course. Friends and family can watch the races for Ned’s Point. All you need is an Ensign, a VHF radio and life jackets for your crew. After the race, enjoy a picturesque sail back to your mooring into the setting sun. Then join the regular ensign crews at the MYC clubhouse for some tall tales of racing washed down with appropriate beverages (BYOB). The top finishers will get a trophy glass and bragging rights for a week.

            If you find you enjoy racing, consider joining our regular fleet. If there is enough on-going interest in the low-key fleet, we will set up a regular Tuesday evening series for August. Contact Race Committee members Mike Dahill (mjdahill@verizon.net) or Ed Normand (ednormand@verizon.net) for more information. We hope to see you on the water.

            These races will start on July 8 at 6:00 pm. Make sure to check in with Ed or Mike at the RC boat on VHF channel #71 before the race.

Mattapoisett Town Band

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The Mattapoisett Town Band will kick off its 125th season of weekly band concerts on July 2. The concert season runs for eight weeks from July 2 through August 20. All concerts begin at 7:00 pm at Shipyard Park in Mattapoisett.

            The July 2 concert will be in celebration of July 4. The concert program will include: Marches by John Philip Sousa, E.E. Bagley, Jimmie Dodd & Eric Osterling. Other selections will consist of rock and roll favorites from the 50s and 60s, songs from the American Revolution, and other Americana standards.

Ten Successful Harbor Rescues This Month

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The Marion Resources Commission conducted 10 successful harbor rescues in the month of June alone, according to Harbormaster Adam Murphy.

            “Last week we pulled three people out of the water and three people out of the boats,” Murphy said at the June 17 meeting.” He added, “There have been a lot of people who have found themselves stranded out there.”

            He emphasized all missions were successful, including three jet ski-goers who sunk.

            Murphy said that the Marine Resources staff have also been undergoing more rescue training lately.

            The staff conducted a training session with the Buzzards Bay Task Force, which included simulated United States Coast Guard vessels getting people off boats.

            Staff also conducted training with the Coast guard as well.

            The Marine Resources Commission also talked about parking issues at harbor boat yard, which is adjacent to the Marion Village.

            Murphy said that on weekends, 80-percent of the vehicles parked in the boating parking lot do not have boat parking decals. There are 1,200 moorings, creating parking issues for boaters.

            He said many people are attending weddings at the nearby music hall or simply using the shops.

            Commissioners said they have been to the Select Board in the past about the issue and need a tangible plan in place.

            Commissioners said there is an open space area there, but it cannot be used for parking. They mentioned that perhaps the open space in that area could be used for marine parking.  Commissioners mentioned that nearby Mattapoisett built a golf course on land marked as open space.

            Murphy and commissioners also discussed how many boaters have not been removing the winter boating sticks and there are not enough inspectors to enforce the issues.

            Murphy said that he is losing one employee to the police force, which will make enforcement and other issues more difficult. “We need more mooring inspectors outside of the (private) boat house inspectors,” Murphy said.

            They also discussed how the harbor has been overfilled with moorings and there are only 25 boat moorings available.

            One commissioner proposed working with nearby Tabor Academy toward creating more parking for boaters.

            The next meeting of the Marion Marine Resource Commission was not scheduled at meeting adjournment.

Marion Marine Resource Commission

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Coalition Safeguards Water Supply

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This past May, the Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired 33 acres of land in the Mattapoisett River Valley. The plot at 84 New Bedford Road, Rochester sits off the intersection of Cushman Road and Perry Hill Road and stretches inland near Branch Brook and is neighbor to the Mattapoisett Land Trust’s Mattapoisett River Wildlife Management Area. According to Buzzards Bay Coalition Communications Director Scott Lajoie, this land is near several town wells, including 3,000 feet from Marion Town Well #5.

            Not far south of the acquired land is another Marion well, located on Tinkham Lane. On June 12, the Town of Marion put out a warning stating, “On 06/11/2025, we were notified by the Town of Fairhaven that a fecal indicator (E. coli) was detected in a raw water (untreated) sample collected on 06/10/2025 from the Tinkham lane Well.” Following this, five extra samples were tested with none containing E. Coli. bacteria. The town added, “This is not an emergency; you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions.”

            Though there is no emergency, it does highlight the fragility of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester’s water supplies.

            Following the purchase of the New Bedford Road plot, the coalition assisted in the approval of a state grant for $350,000, allowing Marion to purchase a Conservation Restriction on the land. This prevents development of the land, disturbing and endangering the water supply of surrounding aquifers.

            Buzzards Bay Coalition recently acquired 436 acres in Dartmouth’s Paskamansett River Valley for similar initiatives. In the past weeks, it has also finalized the purchase of 1,652 acres on the border of Rochester and Middleboro for natural conservation.

            For an interactive and detailed map of all registered wells in the state of Massachusetts, you can view the Massachusetts Well Location Viewer by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection at: www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=660e5b4cb7af4f4e932c9d5a7b7e82f2.

By Sam Bishop

Shakespeare for Scaredy Cats

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Shakespeare isn’t as scary as you may think, so say the folks who attend the Shakespeare for Scaredy Cats sessions Dr. Karrie Szatek leads on Thursdays at the Mattapoisett COA. This Thursday, however, the group gathered instead at the Shipyard Inn because the COA was closed for the Juneteenth holiday. While socializing, these attendees, many of whom have been coming to explore Shakespeare for two years, read and chatted about the bard’s The Winter’s Tale. These budding Shakespeareans have formed a wonderful community that also extends beyond the COA and the Inn. In the past and again this summer they will be audience members at the Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival in Chatham, MA. Seniors interested in giving Shakespeare one more chance, you may contact the Mattapoisett COA at 508-758-4110. All are welcome to become part of this little community as well as join us at Gould Park in Chatham to see The Taming of the Shrew and Othello.

Marion Concert Band to Begin Season

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Continuing a tradition it established in 1878, the Marion Concert Band will present weekly concerts in July and August.

            On Friday, July 4, the Marion Concert Band will open its 2025 concert season with a program of patriotic music in celebration of Independence Day. The program is as follows:

            National Emblem March – E. E. Bagley

            Star Spangled Spectacular – G. M. Cohan

            American Pageant – T. Knox

            God Bless America – I. Berlin

            Our Glorious Land – J. Olivadoti

            Battle Hymn of the Republic – arr. Peter Wilhousky

            The Homefront: Musical Memories from World War II – arr. J. Christensen

            American Legion – C. Parker

            Armed Forces Salute – arr. B. Lowden

            Americans We – H. Fillmore

            America, the Beautiful – S. Ward

            The Stars and Stripes Forever – J. P. Sousa

            The concert, under the direction of guest conductor Philip Sanborn, will be held at the Robert O. Broomhead Bandstand at Island Wharf and will start at 7:00 pm.

            The Marion Concert Band’s Friday evening concert series will include concerts every Friday evening in July and August. All concerts are free and open to the public. “Like” us on Facebook at “Marion Town Band” for up-to-date announcements and rain cancellation notices.

Academic Achievements

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Katherine Solowey of Mattapoisett received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College on Sunday, May 25. Solowey, an economics major, graduated with departmental honors in economics.

            Vermont State University is proud to congratulate Noah Lapointe of Rochester for being named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2025 semester.

            Emily Kilpatrick of Marion has earned a place on the President’s List for the Spring 2025 semester at Dean College. Students named to the President’s List have demonstrated a serious commitment to their studies while at Dean College.

Cats, Bees and Politics

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            Once upon a time, our quiet little hamlet ran smoothly. Most citizens didn’t know or care about what transpired in the Town Hall’s halls. Registering to vote and attending the Town Meeting, which was held upstairs in the auditorium, was about the only time they entered the place. Elected officials, most part-time, went about their business with ne’er a mention of controversy.

            Unlike today, nobody assumed elected officials were corrupt, up to no good, scoundrels, or were scheming to feather their nest. I can promise you that when I was an elected official, I was not a crook. It appears that is not the case anymore … er, not me, I am still not a crook.

            Unlike state and federal elections, no one runs for office be it selectperson, herring inspector, or fence viewer (do we still have a fence viewer?) on a party platform. No Democrats, no Republicans, no Libertarians, Green Party, or any other label. Just citizen.

            There is a buzz around town that a new controversy is brewing in our seat of government, a regular bee-gate so to speak. It may be a sign of the times but according to published reports one local political party committee has a bee in their bonnet because one town official allegedly utilized the fire department to remove a bee’s nest from high up on a tree on their own property.

            Back when the town was that quiet little hamlet, this would not have sparked a hornet’s nest of debate. The political party committee has suggested that this action was “a misuse and abuse of public funds and resources,” and is illegal according to the state’s “Standards of Conduct” statute.

            I wonder if the furry animal were a pussy cat, would there be any uproar. Just recently a resident reported on our local social-network page that their pretty kitty had climbed a tall tree and refused to come down. They called the fire department. Alas, the fuzzball was too high to be rescued. Presumably it climbed down on its own.

            Just where does a bee stand on the hierarchy of the animal kingdom. Is a bee not worthy of the same consideration of a cat? Bees provide valuable service to mankind. They pollinate our plants. Where would we be without bees? What does a cat do? Nothing. They just lay around and pose for all those cat videos on YouTube. As a friend pointed out to me, a dog, for example, has a master, a cat has staff. Where does a bee stand?

            If your precious feline climbed a tree and wouldn’t come down, who would you call? Ghostbusters won’t come. Cat removal from trees has traditionally been a service of the fire department because they have long ladders. According to firedeptfamily.com, some departments carry pet oxygen masks in case the tree is on fire, which I expect is rare. Should bees not get the same courtesy?

            If a town official’s dog went missing (lost dogs seem to be a frequent occurrence in town), would it be an abuse to call animal control and ask for the dog officer to be on the lookout? They’re a town department, too.

            I know what you are thinking. I should buzz off. It is none of my beeswax!

            Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

July Events at the Mattapoisett Library

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The Mattapoisett Free Public Library Artist Series presents Paintings and Prints by Jim Parker. The exhibition, entitled “Ships and Shipbuilding from Mattapoisett and the SouthCoast,” begins on July 1 and is free and open to the public.

            Our six-week Summer Yoga Series continues on Thursday, July 3 at 10:30 am on the library’s lawn. Grab your mat and mark your calendars for the remaining classes on Thursday, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 at 10:30 am. Stretch, unwind, and relax with a beginner-friendly yoga flow series. This adaptable experience suits all ability levels and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Class will be held outside, weather permitting—please dress accordingly. No registration required.

            Join us on Thursday, July 3, at 11:00 am for an Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum presentation hosted by Bob Ainsworth, author of DUPED, a fictional account of the theft. In his library presentation, Bob will review the details of the real-life 1990 robbery at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the suspects, and the motives behind the world’s most valuable art theft, totaling $500 million. This program is recommended for ages 12 and up. Come by and see if you can solve this decades-old mystery. No registration required.

            The library will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. We will reopen on Saturday, July 5, at 10:00 am.

            The next meeting of the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, at 6:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. A Zoom link to the meeting is available upon request. If you have any questions, please contact the library at mfpl@sailsinc.org. We can pass along your message to the Friends.

            The Friends are also still accepting jewelry donations. If you have gently used or unworn jewelry or accessories you’d like to donate, the Friends would love to take them off your hands. Please drop these items off at the circulation desk. Thank you. Your contributions are appreciated and will help support future library events.

            Well-Read Wednesday meets on Wednesday, July 23, at 6:30 pm in the Marine room. The club will discuss Autocracy, Inc. The Dictators Who Want to Rule the World, by Anne Applebaum. Copies of the book are available for pickup at the library. New members are welcome.

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

            Drop by the library on Tuesday, July 29, at 6:00 pm for the next Sippizine writing group. Meredith is stepping up to lead this summer’s sessions in the Marine Room while Alanna Nelson is away. Bring your favorite writing accessories (e.g., paper, pen, computer) and get ready for the spark as ideas pop up in this creative writing session. No registration required.

            Please note that a library card is required at checkout. If your card is missing, we can replace it. To avoid losing it again, download the SAILS mobile app. It’s an excellent alternative to carrying your physical library card. Please see a librarian if you need help or have questions. Your privacy is important to us. Let’s protect it together.

            As always, library events and activities are free and open to all. Visit our website for more information and updates. If you have any questions, please email mfpl@sailsinc.org or call us at 508-758-4171.