Community Corner
Summer is a Little Cooler in Medfield Thanks to Medfield Resident
Medfield resident Chip Lennon noticed the water bubbler in front of Town Hall wasn't working and vowed to have it reactivated.
The water bubbler in front of Town Hall is working again in large part due to the tenacity of Medfield resident Chip Lennon.
“During my routine walk I noticed the growth of plants and realized [the water bubbler] was no longer in working condition,” said Lennon, 55 who has lived in town since 1968. “I think it's been broken and it wasn't a priority for the DPW … I walked in and asked to have it looked at and within three working days it was fixed and up and running.”
Having been in town for more than four decades, Lennon remembers when the bubbler was working.
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“It was so nice to get a drink on a hot day or to sit on it and watch as the wedding goers unfolded out of the original St. Edward’s Church,” he said of the church that is no longer across the street.
Lennon said he was inspired by “the 800-plus Facebook friends who had fond memories or used to live in Medfield and remember it for various reasons.”
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On July 25, Lennon sent out a Twitter message saying “What's BUBBLING? I hope to get the public bubbler working in front of the Medfield Town Hall by Medfield Day. Thanks Ed Hinkley DPW.”
And a few days later, it was up and running.
"The water bubbler was out for a few years, we had to do some plumbing repairs to it,” said Superintendent of Public Works Ken Feeney, adding it is typically turned off every fall so the pipes do not freeze. “It took four man hours to restore it. They had to put in a new valve, a new head, and new piping.”
Feeney said there was no lead in the pipes and the bubbler was reactivated.
Town Historian Richard DeSorgher said the water fountain was presented to the town by Col. Edwin V. Mitchell in 1891 and it was placed at the junction of North and Main Streets to replace the old town pump. It was later moved directly in front of Town Hall near Main Street and remained at that location until 1976, when the new renovations took place in front of town hall and the old parking lot was turned into the current green area with trees and shrubs. At that time, the fountain was shifted slightly to the west and placed at its current location.
Next, said Lennon, the bubbler should have a plaque indicating its history.
“I'm just surprised there is nothing to identify or commemorate its status considering it's right in front of the Town Hall,” he said.
