Maynard Historical Commission

Maynard Historical Commission Preserving the history of Maynard
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Don't forget to join us this Saturday at 1pm.  We will have cookies!
05/03/2023

Don't forget to join us this Saturday at 1pm. We will have cookies!

Maynard Curfew Bell Dedication Ceremony
Saturday, May 6th at 1pm

Join the Maynard Historical Commission and the Maynard Public Library for the official dedication of the Mill Curfew Bell. Generously donated, this bell has found its permanent home at the library and we will be celebrating everyone who made it possible.

Another great event - Join us for the dedication of Marble Farm Park on Tuesday May 2nd at 4:30.  Special thanks to Butl...
04/19/2023

Another great event - Join us for the dedication of Marble Farm Park on Tuesday May 2nd at 4:30. Special thanks to Butler Lumber Co. inc Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School and Thyme in the Garden for their kind donations for this gorgeous project!

Everyone is welcome!
04/08/2023

Everyone is welcome!

Questions about your house?  Interested in a historic plaque?  Come see us on Saturday March 18th at the library!
03/05/2023

Questions about your house? Interested in a historic plaque? Come see us on Saturday March 18th at the library!

Maynard Community Information Fair
Saturday, March 18 10:30am-12pm

The Maynard Library and the Friends of the Library are hosting a Community Information Fair with local organizations and town committees covering a wide range of topics and issues.

Join us to learn about the groups' services, volunteer opportunities, special events and how to get involved and stay informed.

​There will be tables around the Roosevelt Room and the first floor where organizations will have displays featuring each group's work, including brochures, posters, pictures, maps, sign-up sheets.

​All Maynard residents are invited!

Visit https://www.maynardpubliclibrary.org/community-info to see a list of participating organizations.

Happy Anniversary to us!  March 5th, 1962 was the day that the forming of the Maynard Historical Commission was authoriz...
03/06/2022

Happy Anniversary to us! March 5th, 1962 was the day that the forming of the Maynard Historical Commission was authorized by town meeting . Thank you to all the past and present members that allow us to carry on. If you're interested in joining us, please reach out.

12/02/2021
Maynard's most prominent Shingle style building is the former St. George's Episcopal Church on Summer Street. Built in 1...
11/22/2021

Maynard's most prominent Shingle style building is the former St. George's Episcopal Church on Summer Street. Built in 1895, the building shows several features typical of the Shingle style: hipped roofs, battered (flared) roofs and walls, pyramidal tower, asymmetry -- and of course, shingles covering the walls. After the church closed in 2006, the building was converted to residences.

11/19/2021

The Shingle style of architecture became popular in the late 1800s as a reaction to highly ornamented Victorian styles. Some very famous architects designed in the Shingle style, including Henry Hobson Richardson and Frank Lloyd Wright.

What is Maynard’s most prominent Shingle style building? Tune in Monday for the answer!

The Maynard Historical Commission thanks and congratulates the Maynard Sesquicentennial Committee. Huzzah!
11/13/2021

The Maynard Historical Commission thanks and congratulates the Maynard Sesquicentennial Committee. Huzzah!

10/31/2021
So great when our prominent historical properties are owned by folks who love and share that history.
09/19/2021

So great when our prominent historical properties are owned by folks who love and share that history.

One of the unexpected pleasures of owning the historic, and iconic, former Union Congregational Church, built by Amory Maynard, is being able to help share the story of the building, the church, and the amazing contributions it made to Maynard through the 165 years it watched over the town.

Today as we celebrate Maynard’s 150 anniversary, we invite everyone to Sanctuary, after the parade, to see the church that Amory built, share some of its history, and show you our vision of how we plan on keeping this historic property an active and integral part of the community. We will also be showcasing many historical pictures and documents from Maynard’s past, some which have only been shown once, at the April time capsule opening on April 18th.

Hope to see you there

Will Doyle

Looking to get more involved in our beautiful town?  We have openings for members in the Historical Commission.  Message...
09/15/2021

Looking to get more involved in our beautiful town? We have openings for members in the Historical Commission. Message us for details.

This home was built for the private Susan Smith Ladies Boarding School in 1848, when it stood on the other side of the R...
07/26/2021

This home was built for the private Susan Smith Ladies Boarding School in 1848, when it stood on the other side of the Red Fox Inn. The house was moved to its present location and enlarged around 1890.

07/23/2021

There are quite a few surviving buildings that started out as public schools. Can you think of a private home that was first built as a private school?

Up on Maynard's Hill, overlooking his mill, both Amory and his son Lorenzo built mansions in 1877. This handsome Second ...
07/12/2021

Up on Maynard's Hill, overlooking his mill, both Amory and his son Lorenzo built mansions in 1877. This handsome Second Empire style carriage house has been subdivided from Lorenzo's home and is now a double home on its own property. (In the background is the former servants' cottage, under separate ownership.)

07/09/2021

There are several former carriage houses around Maynard; some have been attached to the main building to add to the living space. Can you think of a former carriage house which has been subdivided away from its main house and is now a home in its own right?

The oldest still existing house on Concord Street is the Asa Dexter House. It was built between 1830 and 1857 for Asa De...
06/28/2021

The oldest still existing house on Concord Street is the Asa Dexter House. It was built between 1830 and 1857 for Asa Dexter Smith (1809-1864), son of Haman Smith, descendant of early Sudbury settler John Smith. The building has been changed quite a bit over the years, adding dormer windows and incorporating the attached carriage house.

06/25/2021

Concord Street is one of the most ancient roads in town, used by the Stow Minutemen on their march to the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775. But no structures from that time survive. What is the oldest house on Concord Street?

Architect Charles R. Greco designed two Maynard buildings: the St. Bridget's Rectory on Percival Street (1906), and the ...
06/21/2021

Architect Charles R. Greco designed two Maynard buildings: the St. Bridget's Rectory on Percival Street (1906), and the old Maynard High School/Artspace on Summer Street (1916). Both of these are from fairly early in his career. Fun fact: he also designed the cast iron historical markers issued by the Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary Committee in 1930, like this one in Stow.

06/18/2021

Charles R. Greco was a well-known Boston-area architect in the first half of the 20th century. His buildings include Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, the Central Square Post Office in Cambridge, the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica -- and two buildings in Maynard. What buildings are they?

Besides the Red Brick Schoolhouse on Summer Street, the other 18th-century schoolhouse is the Turnpike School, first ere...
06/07/2021

Besides the Red Brick Schoolhouse on Summer Street, the other 18th-century schoolhouse is the Turnpike School, first erected by the town of Sudbury at the corner of Old Marlboro Road and Parker Street. After Maynard became a town, it was moved farther north on Parker Street, before being sold and moved again to the corner of Acton and Concord Streets to become a private home.

06/04/2021

I posted about the Red Brick Schoolhouse (c.1789) on Summer Street back in March. There is another similar vintage schoolhouse in Maynard; where is it?

The Maynard Hotel was on the southeast corner of Summer and Nason Streets; the property is now Memorial Park. It was fir...
05/31/2021

The Maynard Hotel was on the southeast corner of Summer and Nason Streets; the property is now Memorial Park. It was first dedicated in 1925 and commemorated Maynard's war dead from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. More recent conflicts have been added since, and in addition, all town residents who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam are listed.

Come to Memorial Park today at 11 am for the service; no parade this year.

This is the Maynard Hotel, built in 1867 and destroyed by fire in 1921. Where was it located and what is there now? (Adm...
05/28/2021

This is the Maynard Hotel, built in 1867 and destroyed by fire in 1921. Where was it located and what is there now? (Admittedly, this has nothing to do with Historical Commission markers!)

The oldest thing that has a Maynard Historical Commission marker is the Marble Farm ruin, at the corner of Brown and Act...
05/24/2021

The oldest thing that has a Maynard Historical Commission marker is the Marble Farm ruin, at the corner of Brown and Acton Streets, on the bike path heading to South Acton. The cellar hole, steps, and stone walls are all that remains of the farmhouse, built around 1700. It was occupied by 7 generations of the same family until 1924, when it was destroyed by fire. Recently the area was rehabilitated and Town Meeting voted to create Maynard's newest park.

05/21/2021

What is the oldest thing that has a Maynard Historical Commission marker?

This interpretive panel brought to you by the Maynard Historical Commission, with generous public donations
05/17/2021

This interpretive panel brought to you by the Maynard Historical Commission, with generous public donations

Join the Maynard Historical Commission and the Maynard Sesquicentennial Committee on Saturday, June 5th at 10:15AM for the dedication of the historical marker for the Maynard Mill at Olsen Plaza, on the corner of Main and Walnut Streets.

The oldest Maynard business still owned and operated by descendants of the founder is Erikson's Ice Cream, established i...
05/17/2021

The oldest Maynard business still owned and operated by descendants of the founder is Erikson's Ice Cream, established in 1902, at this location since 1937. As demand changed, Erikson's switched from producing milk to distributing it, to producing and selling ice cream. The fourth generation since Hans Eriksen now manages the business, with the fifth generation among its employees!

05/14/2021

What is the oldest business in Maynard still owned and operated by descendants of the founder?

Have you noticed the new interpretive panel about the mill? Dedication ceremony June 5!
05/10/2021

Have you noticed the new interpretive panel about the mill? Dedication ceremony June 5!

The Levi Smith House started life as a 1700s farmhouse. In 1816 it became a tavern (eating and drinking establishment an...
05/10/2021

The Levi Smith House started life as a 1700s farmhouse. In 1816 it became a tavern (eating and drinking establishment and hotel/hostel) and is now back to being a private home. It is one of only a few pre-Revolutionary homes in Maynard.

05/07/2021

What private home in Maynard used to be a tavern?

The first church building in what would become Maynard was the Union Congregational Church on Main Street. In 1850, a co...
05/03/2021

The first church building in what would become Maynard was the Union Congregational Church on Main Street. In 1850, a committee formed to organize a local Sunday School. They elected Amory Maynard as their superintendent -- just 4 years after his arrival in town. Amory and his business partner donated the land on Main Street, and fundraising began for the building. It was dedicated in 1852.

Today, the building houses Sanctuary (a performance venue), The Community School non-profit preschool, and other businesses.

04/30/2021

What was the first church building in Assabet Villlage, the area that became Maynard?

Mary Gibson Davis, the mother of Captain Isaac Davis of the Acton Minutemen, grew up on the Gibson Farm on Summer Street...
04/26/2021

Mary Gibson Davis, the mother of Captain Isaac Davis of the Acton Minutemen, grew up on the Gibson Farm on Summer Street. The Gibsons sold the farm in 1828 to Lucius Maynard (an unknown, probably distant, relation of Amory Maynard). After the farmhouse burned down in the 1830s, Lucius built the house that now stands. It is notable for having both a carriage house and barn still existing.

04/23/2021

Because of the 100% chance of rain, possibly heavy, I have rescheduled Sunday's Guided Maynard History Tour to TOMORROW, Saturday, 4/24, at 2 pm. Some of the participants cannot make it at the new time, so I have a few openings. If you would like to attend, and can walk 1.5 miles, comment here.

04/23/2021

There is a house in Maynard that has a connection to Isaac Davis, the Acton Minuteman Captain who was the first person killed at the North Bridge, April 19, 1775. Where is the house and what is the connection?

Several buildings that started life in secular use, later converted to religious use:The building that now houses St. Ma...
04/19/2021

Several buildings that started life in secular use, later converted to religious use:

The building that now houses St. Mary's Indian Orthodox Church was built as a coal-fired electricity plant for the Concord, Hudson and Maynard Street Railway. After the streetcar line was discontinued in 1923, the building became the Polish St. Casimir Catholic Church. By 1999 St. Casimir was absorbed into St. Bridget's.

In 1921, Eastern European Jewish immigrants purchased an existing residence on Nason Street in the way of commercial development, moved it to Acton Street, and converted it into the Rodoff Shalom Synagogue. In 1980 the Torah scrolls were walked in procession to Beth Elohim in Acton and the building went back to being a private residence.

Then some residents pointed out others that I had overlooked:

Lori Greenaway Byrne mentioned the St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, whose Main Street building was first built as the Finnish Temperance Society, then was the VFW Post 1812.

Lori also mentioned the First Bible Baptist Church, meeting in the former Italian Social Club on Waltham Street.

David Gavin added that the Church of the Nazarene meets in a former DCU building on Parker Street.

Way to go, local historians!

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195 Main Street
Maynard, MA
01754

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A lot of folks know about our efforts to open a locally sourced, community-owned grocery store in Maynard. But did you know that were actually just bringing one back? Huh?

Yep. Along with 7 other community-owned businesses in Maynard, our town was home to the United Cooperative Society of Maynard for more than 70 years. Maynard residents proudly owned and benefited economically from this awesome grocery store. Almost everyone had a relative who worked there. And the grocery store proudly sourced products from local farms - produce, meat, milk and more!

Times have changed, but cooperative businesses are still the most sustainable businesses around. More than 2/3 of co-ops have been open more than 30 years. And more than 70% of startups like ours are still thriving after five years in business!

More than 1,600 local residents have already joined our Assabet Co-op Market. Become a proud Owner today and let's bring back our community-owned grocery store! https://assabetmarket.coop/co-op-owners/become-an-owner/

(Many thanks to the Maynard Historical Society for these awesome archive pics.)

Maynard Business Alliance Green Maynard Revitalize Maynard Collaborative Maynard Family Network Friends of Maynard Seniors Maynard Council on Aging Maynard Historical Commission Maynard ROCKS! - MA Official Page
The latest Life Outdoors column looks at the history of Russian immigrants in Maynard.
Maynard Sesquicentennial
Maynard Historical Commission
Maynard Historical Society
News from the Sesquicentennial Committee ...
TODAY SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21st
10:30 to 12:00
@ the Maynard Public Library
David Mark will be selling his newest book
Maynard Massachusetts a Brief History

The cost is $22 a copy. Proceeds go toward the planning of the upcoming 150th birthday of Maynard in September.

You can purchase via:
Venmo (under Donald James our committee treasurer)
Check
Cash

Delivery and gift wrapping is also available. Please contact me Jen Picorelli via IM, text or call at 978-290-6373 or email picorelli50@comcast.
The Maynard Historical Commission unveiled a new sign to commemorate the mill's history. Find out how you can be part of it.
Digital Equipment Corporation Alumni
The Maynard Historical Commission is looking for donations to create a history marker to commemorate Maynard's 150th anniversary.
Town of Maynard, Massachusetts
Residents of Maynard, Massachusetts and Town of Maynard, Massachusetts, what connections do you have to the old ? Did you or a relative work at the old Co-op? Do you remember running up and down the aisles as a kid? What are your fondest memories?!

We are PSYCHED to be bringing back a full-service, COMMUNITY-OWNED grocery store to Maynard. One that prioritizes LOCAL farms and the LOCAL community that owns us.

More than 1,300 Owners from Maynard and 40 towns are on board and our site announcement is coming soon! Capital Campaign this fall - Grand Opening 2021!

Become an Owner TODAY and let's open our locally sourced, community-owned grocery store! https://assabetvillage.coop/co-op-owners/become-an-owner/

Maynard Old House Club Green Maynard Everything Maynard, MA Maynard Family Network Maynard Historical Society Maynard Historical Commission Massachusetts Historical Society Sudbury Historical Society Stow Historical Society Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce Maynard Business Alliance Revitalize Maynard Collaborative Friends of Maynard Seniors Maynard Council on Aging Maynard Cultural Council
Check out this GREAT story about Maynard's proud history of COMMUNITY-owned businesses going back 145 years!

So how 'bout we bring back that pride, eh? The Assabet Village Co-op Market is opening a full-service, community-owned grocery store in Maynard that sources from tons of LOCAL farms. Community-owned, community profits. More than 1,300 proud Owners from 40 towns are already on board and our site announcement is coming soon!

Become an Owner TODAY, get great Owner benefits, and let's open our Co-op!: https://assabetvillage.coop/co-op-owners/become-an-owner/

Maynard Business Alliance Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce Maynard Historical Society Maynard Historical Commission Stow Historical Society Concord Historical Society Sudbury Historical Society Boxborough Historical Society Maynard Old House Club Massachusetts Historical Society Friends of Maynard Seniors Maynard Council on Aging and Senior Center Stow Council on Aging Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council Acton Council on Aging/Senior Center Concord Council on Aging

https://globalboston.bc.edu/index.php/cooperatives-in-maynard/
Published in 1921. We found it in the attic of our house years ago.
We're PSYCHED to bring a food cooperative back to Maynard! A full-service, COMMUNITY-OWNED grocery store that sources from LOCAL food producers.

Check out these awesome historical pics of the old Co-op delivery wagons in Maynard from 1903 through the 70s. Then join our Co-op Community of almost 1,300 proud Owners and become an Owner TODAY!

We plan to bring back delivery options and curbside pickup. And should all go well, we'll announce our Maynard location THIS MONTH and open in July 2021!

Become an Owner by clicking here, and let's open OUR community-owned grocery store!
https://assabetvillage.coop/co-op-owners/become-an-owner/

Maynard Historical Society Maynard Historical Commission Maynard, Massachusetts Maynard Old House Club Beacon-Villager Concord Historical Society Acton Historical Society, Acton MA. Stow Historical Society Massachusetts Historical Society Maynard Family Network
It's been more than 145 years since the first food cooperative opened in Maynard, a town with a deep and proud history of cooperative businesses owned by US, the people. So, we're bringin it back ...

We are in negotiations to PURCHASE a site in Maynard for the Assabet Village Co-op Market, a full-service, 5,000-square-foot grocery store that sources from more than 100 LOCAL farms and producers and is owned by US, more than 1,200 Member-Owners (and counting) from Maynard and 40 neighboring towns.

Should all go as planned, we will launch our capital campaign this fall and by next summer, throw open the doors to to our locally sourced, community-owned grocery store. A full-service grocery store that supports local producers, increases access to local food, and builds a thriving, resilient local economy for decades to come. But we can't do it without you ...

Join more than 1,200 proud friends and neighbors and become a Co-op Member-Owner TODAY by clicking here!: https://assabetvillage.coop/co-op-owners/become-an-owner/

Already a Member-Owner? Thank you! To learn more about investing in our Capital Campaign to open our doors, e-mail [email protected].

It's time. We're ready. Let's open our Assabet Village Co-op Market!

Maynard Historical Society Maynard Historical Commission Town of Maynard, Massachusetts Maynard Business Alliance Revitalize Maynard Collaborative Acton Woman's Business Networking Group Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market The Acton-Boxborough Beacon Stow Conservation Trust Stow Area Parents Network - SAPN Sustainable Sudbury Sudbury Historical Society Concord Historical Society Massachusetts Historical Society
In anticipation for the 150th celebration, we want to see your family pictures. Here we have Ellen Duggan's grandparents on their wedding day, June 2 ,1909.Mr and Mrs Timothy and Ellen Duggan.Both arrived in about 1892 from Fermeuse, Newfoundland and worked in the mill.
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