The Offi cial Newsletter of Sanderson Lecture Series The Waltham 7:00 p.m., Tuesday Evening Historical Society May 10, 2011 RTN Federal Credit Union WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS Community Room May 2011 600 Main Street Waltham, MA 02453 Board of Directors Term: 2009-2011 The Edmund L. Sanderson Lecture Series Presents Co-Presidents Sheila E. FitzPatrick Wayne T. McCarthy “The Life and Times of Francis Treasurer Mary Selig Cabot Lowell, 1775-1817” Assistant Treasurer Jack Cox Recording Secretary with Mr. Chaim M. Rosenberg Leona Lindsay Corresponding Secretary Joe Vizard Join us for Chaim (Mike) Rosenberg’s story of the life and times of one of Waltham’s most signifi cant men. Fol- Curator Michelle Morello low Francis Cabot Lowell from his birth and early school- Assistant Curator ing to his days as one of the most prominent persons in Winifred W. Kneisel the Country. Membership Carol DiFranco This lecture will explain the background history of the Board Members times, the major players in mercantile New England, and Ruth M. Arena the important undertakings of America’s fi rst Industrialist. Marie Daly Dr. Helene Day Edna L. Dolber Mike Rosenberg’s interest in the 19th century mill build- Maureen Gordon ings led him to speculate on the importance of industry Louise Hamilton Doors open at 6:30. A brief Virginia Hays in the development of Massachusetts. After giving up the Morton Isaacson business meeting will begin at Larry Logan practice of medicine he decided to devote his time to the Barbara Maloney study of the industrialization of Massachusetts. In 2007, 7:00 and the lecture will begin Frank Maloney immediately thereafter. The Lou Nocera the University of Massachusetts Press published Goods for Joan M. Sheridan lecture will be held at the RTN David Smith Sale, a study of the goods made in Massachusetts (textiles, Michael Squillante shoes, pianos etc.) Federal Credit Union, 600 Main Street, (rear) in Waltham. For This research then took him to Francis Cabot Lowell who The Weathervane is an more information please call offi cial publication of the Waltham Historical Society built the Boston Manufacturing Company in Waltham in 190 Moody Street 617-448-6706. Waltham, Massachusetts 02453 1814 and started the industrialization of America, bringing 781-891-5815 www.walthamhistoricalsociety.org the ability to compete in price and quality with the Eu- Mr.Rosenberg will have copies © Copyright 2011, all rights reserved Membership in the Waltham Historical ropeans. Using correspondence of Francis Cabot Lowell of his book, The Life and Times Society includes subscription to this newsletter among other rights and now kept at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston of Francis Cabot Lowell available privileges. Mr. Rosenberg brings to life the story of quite possibly the for purchase at the meeting. Articles and images submitted for publication, unless otherwise specifi ed, become the property of the Waltham most signifi cant man in Waltham’s history. Historical Society. Authors submitting material for publication are requested to sign articles and include name, PLEASE CHECK THE LABEL ON YOUR NEWSLETTER ENVELOPE TO LEARN address, phone number, e-mail if any, and release to print images of any WHETHER YOU ARE CURRENT IN YOUR DUES! individuals depicted. Members of the Historical Society have been given free passes to the Boston Book and Paper Exposition and Sale, Saturday, May 7 from 10am to 5pm at Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington. Your free pass will accom- pany the electronic version of this newsletter or send an email to waltham.historical. [email protected], or call 617-448-6706 and leave a message indicating how many passes you need and how to arrange pick-up. Report on Historical Commission CPA/CPC (Carl Zinnell): submitted by Laura Bernstein - Wellington House renovations Stonehurst (Ann Clifford): Work on fi nancing: Mayor wants already-ap- external renovations is nearly fi nished. proved $180K CPA funding spent, HENRY WHITTEMORE Work on the “water project”, includ- before considering WHC proposal ing new accessible restrooms, is sched- for additional $370K. In effect there Waltham News Tribune, May 6, 1931 uled for Jan-April 2012. Updated are 2 options for applying the $180K, markings for properties--including the which would be spent on more basic Henry Whittemore of 47 Worcester adjacent Coleman property acquired internal renovations: 1/ having Don Lane, who was former Superinten- by the City--are in the works. CPA Cusano taking over much of the dent of Schools here and later prin- and private funding is involved. work, using City labor; 2/ having cipal of the Framingham Normal the existing private architect on the School until his retirement several WHC Activities (Archie Bennett): project & City Purchasing Agent Joe years ago, died suddenly at Ha- - 2 demolition signoffs: 53 Milner Pedulla work together on overseeing nover, N.H., where he had gone last St & Maravista Ave the bids. WHC voted unanimously week to attend a meeting of the class - Wellington House: detailed for 2/, thinking that the end result secretaries. Mr. Whittemore passed WHC proposal for additional $370K would be more in line with the over- away early this morning. He was quartermaster in F.P.H. Rogers Post of CPA funding, was tabled by the all WHC proposal for the project. 29 GAR in which he was actively in- Mayor (see CPA note, below). Presentation on General Purpose terested, being its youngest member. - Poss MHC Survey & Planning Viewer features of City Website: Born in Hopkinton, MA, July 23, Grant: application submitted; may - will combine data from MACRIS 1843, Mr. Whittemore received his know by May 1. One goal will be to & Natl Reg, GIS/other City maps, degree from Dartmouth College in have 100 additional properties pro- & other sources; will be searchable, 1866. He served as a private in Com- posed for Natl Register: Waltham with helpful links. Will be able to pany C Massachusetts infantry. preservationists and residents should ‘underlay’ historic maps. Mr. Whittemore was the second Su- be thinking about candidates. Ap- - will help WHC & citizens quickly perintendent of Schools in this city, proximate Natl Register criteria for determine characteristics & history of succeeding the late John T. Prince, buildings are: buildings of interest. who was for many years connected - 50 years old Proposal for partial CPA funding with the State Board of Education. - within existing Natl Reg district for specifi c area of Grove Hill Cem- Coming to Waltham from Westboro, or has been found Natl Reg-eligible etery: WHC voted to back a project MA, where he had been Superinten- dent of Schools for nine years, Mr. to restore and improve signage on - associated with historic persons Whittemore served this city most an area including Civil War par- or events....or with architectural, acceptably and effi ciently from 1883 ticipants, notably the Banks family. cultural, political, economic, social to 1898, a period of fi fteen years history......in Waltham or MA WHC, the Mayor & WHS approvals marked by many improvements in - architecturally signifi cant are needed. the school system. continued on page 3 > WHITTEMORE continued Save This Date! Special Request: After retiring from educational On Saturday, work, he returned to Waltham, July 16, 2011, making his home on Worcester the Waltham We need your assistance... Lane and taking an active interest Historical Soci- Recently, in the fl orist business conducted by ety along with the Histori- his son. He was also interested in the Waltham cal Society, in municipal affairs and was a mem- Public Library collaboration ber of F.P.H. Rogers Post 29 GAR, and the Nation- with the Voca- in which organization was adjutant al Archvies and Records Administra- tional Graphic and quartermaster. tion will join together to sponsor The Communica- As Superintendent of Schools Mass. Memories Road Show. tions classes at in this city, Mr. Whittemore was The Road Show will be held between Waltham High School, have begun beloved by every teacher and pupil 10:00 am and 3:00 pm at the National to inventory and document paintings in the community for his unvarying Archives, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham. by Waltham’s own Paul Shea. courtesy and genial manner. Current and former residents are Mr. Shea was a teacher and Direc- In recognition of Mr. Whittemore’s invited to become a part of Massa- tor of Art for the Waltham Public valuable service as head of the chusetts history by sharing 1, 2, or 3 Schools for many years. You have Waltham Public Schools, the School photos; copies of which will become probably seen his work in many of Committee, when the new elemen- part of a statewide archive, along with the local landmarks you frequent tary school was built on the south the stories behind the photos. on a regular basis. His watercol- ors include many subjects, both in side fi ve years ago, decided to name The Mass. Memories Road Show Waltham and beyond. He was often the building the Henry Whittemore is a state wide public history project seen in the process of creating his School. It was the fi rst occasion on that documents Massachusetts histo- works in locations near and far. which a Waltham schoolhouse has ry through family photos and stories. If you know of a Paul Shea paint- been named in honor of a living It is an initiative of the Massachusetts person. ing, you can help us complete this Studies Project at UMass-Boston and survey by sending us the following On receipt of the information of is co-sponsored by Mass. Humani- information: the subject of the image, Mr. Whittemore’s death, Mayor ties. Pre-registration is encouraged. its size, whether it is matted and/or Duane directed that the national Please contact Sheila for further framed, and where it is located.