UCC Senior High Fellowship Helps Fold 5,000 Flyers for Lowell Mason Foundation

The fundraising brochures will arrive in mailboxes this week with the hope of raising money to continue the restoration of the Lowell Mason House, now on Green Street.

  When you open your mailbox this week, you will likely find a card from The 2012 Lowell Mason Foundation Annual Appeal, thanks in large part to the teens of the United Church of Christ. When the LMF found itself in need of some help preparing its 2012 annual fundraising mailer, they reached out to the United Church of Christ and its Senior High Fellowship (grades 9-12). Working with Director of Student Ministries Wendy Ludwig, Rick Abecunas from the Lowell Mason Foundation put together a “folding party” where the students folded, sealed and pre-sorted the Medfield town mailing, which will then be delivered to nearly 5,000 households and businesses in town. “I was very pleased when Rick called me to see if this was something the Senior …

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Old-Fashioned Band Concert on Saturday to Benefit Lowell Mason House

A benefit concert to raise money to help restore the childhood home of Lowell Mason who was born in Medfield.

  An old-fashioned band concert will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hinkley Park to raise money to restore the birthplace of Lowell Mason, the founder of music education in the nation's public school system.  All donations made will go toward the restoration of the Lowell Mason House that was moved in 2011 from Adams Street to Green Street (in eyesight of Saturday's concert). About the Lowell Mason House Foundation The Lowell Mason Foundation was founded in October of 2010 when a group of concerned Medfield citizens and music educators from around the country came together with the desire to preserve the legacy of Lowell Mason the Father of Music Education in America. Lowell Mason's birthplace was in jeopardy of…

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Introducing the Lowell Mason Discount Card

For a $50 donation, the card will give you discounts to area businesses and restaurants, and it will also help fund the restoration of the Lowell Mason House on Green Street.

The Lowell Mason Card has been created to offer discounts at area businesses and restaurants. "It's mostly Medfield-based businesses," said Rick Abecunas, who came up with the idea to raise money for the restoration of the Lowell Mason House which was saved from demolition in 2011 when it was moved from Adams Street to Green Street. Lowell Mason (1792-1872) was born in Medfield and is considered the founder of music education in America's public schools. Fundraising paid for the moving and winterizing of the house, and fundraising is now underway to pay for the restoration of the building. "We have $7,000 in the bank and we need $250,000 to $300,000," said Abecunas. "There's a big gap in where we are and where we need to be."  For a $50 …

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MEMO Makes $1,000 Donation to the Lowell Mason Foundation

The Medfield Employer and Merchants organization recently made a $1,000 Donation to the Lowell Mason Foundation in honor of the former Medfield resident and father of music education in public schools.

MEMO, the Medfield Employer and Merchants Organization, recently honored Lowell Mason (1792-1872), a Medfield son, the father of music education in the schools and composer of many beloved hymns including “Joy to the World.”  President Brandie Morris (Electric Time representative), Tim Borchers, chair of the Joy to the World singing contest and carol singing at the annual tree lighting ceremony (and Borchers Law representative) presented a symbolic $1,000 giant check to Lowell Mason Foundation secretary Cheryl O’Malley at the ceremony. Lowell Mason’s home was divided into three parts years ago. One portion was moved to Adams Street where it was used as a single family residence for many years.  When the owners sold that building to a …

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Lowell Mason House Restoration Advances

The Lowell Mason House is is being cleaned up – it looks somewhat better and smells a lot better, but much work remains to be done. The basement needs to be insulated, and the rotten sills and leaking roof urgently need professional help.

Editor's note: The following article was written by David Temple. In the six months since the Lowell Mason birthplace was moved from Adams Street to Green Street, progress of its restoration has continued, even if not all is visible.    The Lowell Mason Foundation (LMF) has raised close to $120,000. The most recent gift was $10,000 from the Middlesex Savings Bank. Much more is needed and fundraising efforts are being ramped up. The mid-18th century house is being cleaned up – it looks somewhat better and smells a lot better, but much work remains to be done. The basement needs to be insulated, and the rotten sills and leaking roof urgently need professional help. LMF Board Member and Green Street resident, Dan Bibel, has been leading the …

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Lowell Mason House Finally Lowered on Foundation

The Lowell Mason was lowered on the foundation of its 59 Green St. location Wednesday – five months after it moved.

After five months and two days, the Lowell Mason House was lowered onto its new foundation at 59 Green St. Wedensday.  Without all the fanfare and public attention the move received in April, this mission was low-key, but involved precision and accuracy. What looked to be a simple task took over five hours to accomplish.  In April, it was a rainy, chilly day when the house was moved from Adams Street to Green Street and it took over 11 hours to get it placed above its new foundation. Today, the house was lowered approximately 12 inches onto the foundation; that process went quickly, but once lowered it had to be secured and the large I-beams removed.    Cheryl O’Malley, Vice President of the Lowell Mason Foundation and project manager of …

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Summer Concert Series: Shane Wood Jazz Trio to Perform Thursday

MEMO's summer concert series takes place at the Medfield Gazebo Park in front of the Medfield Public Library on Thursdays at 6 p.m.

The weekly Thursday concerts, sponsored by the Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization, MEMO, continues into August with the Shane Wood Jazz Trio making its debut Aug. 4 at the Gazebo. A composer, pianist and vocalist, Shane Wood is a Medfield resident who graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Composition and over 20 years experience in the music industry.  Wood has traveled throughout the United States and Europe playing pop, jazz, funk, and blues in large outdoor concerts, small clubs or private functions. The trio consists of Neil Kruszkowski on saxophone and vocals Bruce Owens, the featured drummer and Wood on piano and vocals.  The trio plays a unique blend of jazz arrangements including original compositions …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Help Renovate the Lowell Mason House

While the Lowell Mason Foundation has some funds to start this work, the more funds available now will expedite the process of renovating the house and preparing it for its next life as a museum, rehearsal space, and offices

Dear Editor, I am writing to inform readers of a matching grant that is about to expire for the Lowell Mason Foundation. An anonymous donor has offered to match up to $5,000 in donations with an end date for the matching grant of June 30th. To date as part of this matching grant proposal, we have raised $2,735. We have been working hard to raise the money to renovate the Lowell Mason House. Currently, we are reviewing proposals for the initial work, which must be completed before the end of the summer. While we have some funds to start this work, the more funds available now will expedite the process of renovating the house and preparing it for its next life as a museum, rehearsal space, and offices. So I ask you, before you head off to …

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Lowell Mason Foundation to Celebrate Successful Move of Lowell Mason House with Concert

A Celebration Concert will be held on Sunday, May 22 at St. Edward the Confessor Church at 2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Lowell Mason Foundation in their efforts to restore the house.

The Lowell Mason Foundation has announced a "Celebration Concert" for the saving of the Lowell Mason House to take place on Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 133 Spring St. The concert will feature the Handel and Haydn Society’s Young Men’s Chorus as well as the Medfield High School Concert Choir.  In addition Boston-based composer and guitarist Mark Small, pianist/singer-songwriter Anne Marie David, Music Director of St. Edward Church, and Medfield High School violinist Stephen Krawec will perform. “We are extremely excited about the participation of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society through their Young Men’s Chorus,” said Karen Scotti, CEO of the Lowell Mason Foundation.  “Lowell Mason compiled the Handel and …

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Delayed Again: Lowell Mason House Won't Move Until April

Lowell Mason Foundation says repairs to historic house and the record amount of snow this winter are reasons for the delay.

The Lowell Mason Foundation confirmed Wednesday what the Medfield Board of Selectmen announced at its Tuesday meeting: The Lowell Mason House will not be moved until April. The Foundation released a written statement Wednesday morning, explaining the delay in the move, which was scheduled for Feb. 22. "The postponement is due to this winter’s extreme snowfall and some additional requirements for the building’s relocation," the statement read. "Delaying the move of this historically significant house, which dates to the 1700’s, allows time for necessary repairs to the house, to permit a smooth transition from the current 25 Adams St. address to its new foundation at 59 Green St." The Foundation said while a date needs to be confirmed with …

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