Vine Lake Preservation Work Session on Friday

Anyone interested in learning how to clean and reset gravestones is invited to meet in the cemetery on Friday morning.

The Vine Lake Preservation Trust will hold a work session on Friday at which they will clean and reset gravestones.  Organizers say no experience is necessary and all supplies will be provided. “If you’ve never done this before, training will be provided that day,” says the Vine Lake website. “Come join us, you’ll have a good time, and enjoy the company of other volunteers.”  Vine Lake Cemetery was laid out in 1651 (the year the town was incorporated) and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Aside from a small cemetery on the grounds of the former state hospital, it is the only cemetery in town. The Medfield Historical Commission has described Lake Cemetery as a "working museum of American cemeteries since the European …

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Rob Gregg Receives 2012 Historic Preservation Award

The Historical Commission has given the award to Gregg, president of the Vine Lake Preservation Trust, for his work with the Vine Lake Cemetery.

The Historical Commission awarded its 2012 Historic Preservation Award to Rob Gregg for his work at the Vine Lake Cemetery and the creation of the Vine Lake Preservation Trust.   “We want to honor someone who has done a terrific job revitalizing one of Medfield’s oldest and most important historic assets, Vine Lake Cemetery,” said David Temple, co-chair of the Historical Commission whose charge is to make sure that Medfield’s rich history is considered and protected as town development decisions are made. “I’ve known Rob Gregg for years, and he’s always been very interested in history and genealogy,” said Temple as he presented the award at the July 3 meeting of the Board of Selectmen.  “I have sometimes described Rob, in best possible …

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Selectmen Meeting Notes

Selectmen’s Meeting Notes: Meeting Culminates in Presentation of Historic Preservation Award To Rob Gregg

The Medfield Board of Selectmen met Tuesday at Town Hall to discuss the following town business.

The Board of Selectmen held a brief meeting on Tuesday that culminated with the presentation of the Historical Commission’s 2012 Historic Preservation Award being given to Rob Gregg. Historical Commission co-chair David Temple presented the award to Gregg for his work with the Vine Lake Preservation Trust, a nonprofit charitable corporation promoting appreciation and preservation of the cultural, historical, and natural resources in the town’s Vine Lake Cemetery (founded in 1651). A full board was present including Ann Thompson, Osler "Pete" Peterson, and Mark Fisher; as well as Town Administrator Michael Sullivan and Assistant Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler.  Other business included: Action Items: Medfield State Hospital Update …

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Selectmen to Meet Tonight

Tonight's agenda will include appointment of board, committee and commission members as well as recognition of Rob Gregg and his work with the Vine Lake Preservation Trust.

The Medfield Board of Selectmen will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Town House. The agenda includes : At 7:30 p.m., the Medfield Historical Commission will give its annual Historic Preservation Award to Rob Gregg for his work with the Vine Lake Preservation Trust.

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Uniquely Medfield

DeSorgher: The Curtis Mansion, an Historic Treasure Lost Forever

DeSorgher recalls the history of Medfield's "royal family" and their home at the corner at 50 North Street.

They were the closest thing Medfield had to Royalty and their home, built in 1859, the closest thing to a castle. The demolition of that 50 North Street mansion in 1987, along with the demolition in 1961 of son-in-law Edwin V. Mitchell’s Manor Inn, which was next door, constituted an irreplaceable loss that damaged the appearance and the character of Medfield and which, looking back, produced strong agreement that it should have never taken place. The family was the Curtises. Daniel D. Curtis came to Medfield from the wilds of Maine in 1851, at the age of 21. Here he was employed under Walter Janes, in the manufacturing of straw hats. He rose fast through the ranks and by 1856 he had entered into partnership with Mr. Janes. He married …

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Demo Delay Lifted off South Street Property in Medfield

The Historical Commission voted unanimously last week to lift a demolition delay off a project at 77 South St. that would rehabilitate the current house and add a second house to the rear of the property.

The Medfield Historical Commission has lifted a demolition delay on 77 South St. after reviewing updated plans to preserve much of the current house and construct a complementing second house on the property. “I think this is a good adaptation,” said Commission co-chair David Temple. Of the revised set of plans, town historian Richard DeSorgher said, “I think it is a million percent better than the first one,” from the audience at last Wednesday's meeting. The house on the property was built in the early 1800s but the history of the land goes back to Medfield’s founding fathers. “If you look at the history of this property, it is one of the first 13 land grants issued by the town,” said Cheryl O’Malley, an associate member of the …

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'East Main Street Historic District' Proposed in Medfield

Medfield's Historic District Commission and Historical Commission are again discussing an 'East Main Street Historic District' that would include the Peak House, Clark Tavern, and the Eliakim Morse House to start.

Medfield's Historic District Commission and Historical Commission are again discussing the possibility of an East Main Street Historic District that would include, at least, the Peak House (1711), Clark Tavern (1740) and Eliakim Morse House (1750) because the histories of all three structures are linked.  “About 10 years ago, maybe 2003, we started to explore the concept but we got a lot of opposition,” said Historic District Commission chairman Michael Taylor.  He said one of the homeowners was opposed to the idea in the past but, “we’ve been working behind the scenes trying to get that landowner to be supportive of the district.” Town historian Richard DeSorgher said some people stereotype and think a “historic district” designation …

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Starbucks Reps Meet with Medfield's Historical Commission and Historic District Commission

Starbucks developers held an informal discussion with the Historical District Commission and Historical Commission to learn more about converting the current Mobil gas station at the corner of North and Main Streets into a coffeehouse.

Greg Salvatore and Michael Yanoff of Salvatore Capital Partners LLC met with members of the Historical District Commission and Historical Commission to hear preliminary concerns about converting the current Mobil gas station at the corner of North and Main Streets into a Starbucks Coffeehouse.  "We’re really in the early stages of development," said Salvatore at the start of the 25-minute discussion. “We have the property under agreement with the owners, Global Petroleum, and we have a tenant who is interested in being part of the community. We’re also still in the process of trying to understand what the cost might be involved to put this together." Salvatore listed some key factors the developers and tenant are weighing when looking at …

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Five Things You Need to Know Today

5 Things You Need to Know Today in Medfield, Feb. 15

Here's a look at the day ahead.

Today's Forecast: Wednesday's weather, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for a slight chance of rain and snow showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Light northwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Notable Events: The Medfield Library will host several events today: Medfield High School Warriors' Wednesday: Get Medfield Patch headlines in your Newsfeed on Facebook, search Medfield Patch and click "Like" or follow us on Twitter @MedfieldPatch.

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Medfield History Scoreboard: Living in the Past and Proud of It

Medfield History: Dwight-Derby Committee Focuses on Education and Peak House Pantry Sale

A roundup of news, notes and happenings regarding Medfield's historic houses, landmarks and committees.

Editor's note: This weekly column will keep you up to date minute by minute on the latest happenings concerning Medfield’s rich history, whether it is giving updates or information concerning town institutions like the Peak House, Dwight-Derby House, Lowell Mason House, or Vine Lake Cemetery or whether they are history related events taking place sponsored by the Historical Society, Historical Commission or other town boards. It will keep you informed about any and all historical related events in town. Our town’s history, historical houses, landscape and open space are what makes Medfield, Medfield; that unique quality we have here that makes Medfield so special. This column will be the one-stop shopping place to keep you informed, …

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