Just a Thought or Two (Hundred)

A collection of small vignettes shared during the Chronicle years. As always, apologies to Tom Reilly...

January 2018: SPEAKING OF WINTER, and I hate to be the one to bring this up, but how are we still allowing a nativity scene on town property during Christmas in 2017/8? Worse, it is my understanding that the Department of Public Works puts the display up (or at least used to). Do we really want to expose our town to a lawsuit we cannot win? While I am not religious personally, I fully understand how integral the Christian faith is to this town and its history (heck, our original meeting place in the Old Common was “The Lord’s Barn”), but our budget is stretched thin enough as is. It’s time to move the nativity scene off the Common in 2018.

July 2018: DID YOU KNOW that Millbury had another movie theater in town beyond the Elm Draught House? Blink and you would have missed it, because this theater was the subject of multiple bombings during its short lifetime, and the bombings may have had something to do with organized crime. The Millbury Historical Society has a small display dedicated to some photos and newspaper clippings, but I have been fascinated by this little quirk of history in town and I have had very little luck finding anything about the theater itself. Researching this also uncovered the existence of a movie theater that may have existed in the old Town Hall at one point, although I have not yet been able to verify whether or not it was for movies, stage or vaudeville-style shows, or a combination of the two. Still, if you have any information on or memories of this theater, I would love to hear from you.

February 2019: IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE of me not to say a few words about Joe Coggans, who passed away last week after decades of service to Millbury. My first interaction with him happened to be when Brian Ashmankas defeated him in a Board of Selectmen race. As time progressed, however, Joe became less an “opponent of my friend” and more “friendly guy with a lot of good in his heart.” Whether dropping in at the town hall, at a meat raffle, or at the local access studio, Joe was among one of the friendliest people I have ever had the honor of knowing in this town, and my only regret is that I did not get to know him earlier or get to know him better. 

I was at the Millbury Local Cable Access studio to guest on Len Mort’s show “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” last week and everyone there was reminiscing with Joe Coggans stories. Same with some Millbury Historical Society folks a few days before, and even with some of the Selectmen at the road walkthrough Saturday. There are very few people who I can think of that, when they pass, so many stories filled with joy and laughter get shared no matter the audience simply because of the sheer number of people they touched over the years. Joe would say he was a “legend in his own mind,” but we all know that the man was a true legend in this town in every sense of the word. 

I have missed Joe a lot in the last week, and I know so many of us in town have felt the same way.

March 2019: I mentioned ... Abby Kelley Foster and the anti-slavery movement in Millbury. As important as Foster is to the cause, the reality is that her time in Millbury was more of a quick stop on her way to settling in Worcester rather than having a long tenure in town. Still, the abolitionist movement was alive and well in Millbury throughout pre-Civil War times, as multiple letters in the archive demonstrate.

Sent to Maria Weston Chapman (a major player in the abolitionist/anti-slavery movement in her own right), Foster’s letter not only promoted Millbury’s anti-slavery sewing circle, but also requests copies of Chapman’s pamphlet “Right and Wrong in Massachusetts,” which discussed the relationship between anti-slavery movements and the women’s rights movement. 

Digital Commonwealth also has a letter from Margaretta L. Kelley of Upton promoting an anti-slavery fair in Millbury, and a second letter from Foster to Chapman lamenting the illness of Chapman’s husband and hoping it does not deter Chapman from attending another anti-slavery event. In a world where letter writing has become a lost art, it is interesting to read the personal and political intertwined so much in these documents.

Additionally, Digital Commonwealth has a letter from a group of Millbury citizens reaching out to the town “vigilance committee,” an extragovernmental justice organization of the time that existed in countless townships and regions nationally. Digital Commonwealth believes the letter concerns Anthony Burns, a well-known fugitive slave who faced trial under the Fugitive Slave Act in Boston and resulted in protests and riots. In case you were wondering where these citizens sat, the letter refers directly to the “despots of the South.” Good on us, Millbury.

August 2019: Judy O’Connor over at the Senior Center dropped me a line last week in response to my column about Governor Charlie Baker’s visit. She noted that Governor Bill Weld visited Millbury in 1996 to help celebrate the opening of the Senior Center on River Street. Says Judy, he “came by train… had a huge crowd of over 300 people, the high school band played, and a big reception was held inside.” Given the length of time between now and that visit, it is not a surprise that those at the Baker celebration did not recall it when I asked around, but I was personally 15 at the time so at least I have a good excuse.

 Bill Weld, it should be noted, is a Republican primary challenger to President Donald Trump, and was previously a vice presidential candidate under the Libertarian Party ticket in 2016. Weld had a bit of a circuitous political life after leaving Beacon Hill, and I do wonder if his travels might take him back through town as he tries his luck in 2020.  In the meantime, I think I need to add “research a political history of Millbury” to my never-ending to-do list…

March 2020: A persistent national debate with recent local implications, however, popped into my head recently: is a hot dog a sandwich? I posed the question to Millbury Town Manager Jamie Kelley, who held a hot dog social at the Senior Center on 11 February to discuss tax exemptions available to Millbury residents. Kelley, in my mind, dodged the question, responding that “it’s a meal, just like a hamburger, [and] is not a sandwich.” Furthermore, Kelley offered, in comparison, that “a patty melt is a sandwich.”

How a patty melt is a sandwich but a hamburger is not (is it the presence of fries or chips? Baffling.) is a question for the ages. But the correct answer, for those who need to know, is that a hot dog is a sandwich. Why? A hot dog is a taco, and a taco is a wrap, and a wrap is a sandwich. Ergo, a hot dog is a sandwich. Upon hearing this factual information, Kelley shot back that “a taco is a taco, not a wrap, and a wrap is not a sandwich [but] a dieter’s excuse for a sandwich. Just like [how] a sub is a hoagie or a hero or a grinder but not just a sandwich.”

A solution to this quandary is pending.

March 2020: I wrote a few weeks back about my fiction event, and it reminded me this week of an experience I’ve been meaning to write about. I attended the Lovecraft Arts and Sciences Council “Krampusnacht” Arcade Asylum Author event back in December, and one of the writers there was KH Vaughan. He’s a regional author and, in talking before the event, he and the other readers learned that I came down to Providence via “Central Massachusetts,” my usual go-to answer for when I’m not local.

Vaughan got up to read, and held up a book that he had a story in, Nox Pareidolia, and said (paraphrasing) “this actually takes place in a town in the Blackstone Valley, it’s sort of a mashup of a lot of places, but kind of like Millbury.” I said “wait, I’m from Millbury,” and then had to buy the book. 

Vaughan grew up here and has since moved away. The story, “The Past You Have, The Future You Deserve,” is a nice, creepy slice of gothic-style horror, but has a nice little set of Easter eggs for townies. I won’t give them all away, but the setting of the little town of “Millbridge” has the “Bel Fontaine Hotel'' with the “plastic Narragansett Beer sign” attached to the front, if that gives you a taste of the action.

I’m hoping I can maybe invite him to do a reading of it if I host another literary night in the future. Still, the collection was nominated for a Stoker Award and is a great read, so check it out.

April 2020: The good of social media this week: the groundswell of support for the Elm Draught House.

The Elms is one of Millbury’s gems. A historic theater in a renovated church, they’ve got cheap tickets, cold alcohol, and legendary popcorn. Even with the Blackstone Valley Cinema De Lux at the Shoppes, the Elms persists as a nice local entertainment destination between movies, sports, and occasional comedy nights. 

A favorite memory for me was watching the Stanley Cup playoffs back when the Bruins won the Cup at the theater. We went with friends and a full house went nuts as the Bruins clinched for the first time in decades. I have another old friend from college who got married at the Elms a few years back, and a wedding I went to last year had their popcorn as a thank you gift for guests.

Long and short, the Elm Draught House is absolutely part of the fabric of this town, and I don’t think we talk about it enough in terms of how integral the institution is to our community. Losing the Central Diner was one thing, but if we lost the Elms it would be like losing a true institution in the area. So when an article in the Telegram and Gazette came out last week and profiled some local theater owners (including West Boylston and the Elms), Art Martin of Sutton, along with some locals, sprung into action. Quickly, a GoFundMe goal to help prop the business up was easily surpassed, and, as I write this on day four of their campaign, they are roughly $1,200 away from a $15,000 goal. Jim Perry, the owner/proprietor, said in the T&G article that he had roughly $20,000 in payables, so this puts them well on their way.

Kudos to everyone who has stepped up for this institution. Don’t forget the other struggling local businesses in their time of need, though, and don’t forget to hit a movie and grab some popcorn when things are back in business.

January 2021: REGARDING CHIEF DESORCY, congratulations are in order as he retires after more than 40 years of service to the Town of Millbury. Desorcy was in law enforcement longer than I have been alive, and in a present world where police receive a lot of criticism with plenty of it unwarranted, Donald was one of the good guys. 

I’ve known him my whole life, especially since my mother’s time as a clerk in the police department. He was always kind and friendly with a great family, and generous with his time and effort. He was also one of the first people from town to reach out when my mother passed away, which I haven’t forgotten.

Here’s to a long retirement. Coffee on me when this whole pandemic thing is over.

March 2021: I wanted to take a moment in this space to recognize a work colleague and Millbury resident who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer, Toni Irsfeld. She worked at the University of Massachusetts Medical School for decades, and performed as a chief contributor to a host of public health initiatives throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Her work on the Family Resource Centers and Community of Care initiatives were highlights of her tenure at UMass. When I started at UMass, many described her along the lines of “oh, that’s Toni, she does amazing things with the state,” which is high praise. Before she retired, there was even a ceremony attended by representatives from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services where she received a commendation for her work. Toni Irsfeld made a huge impact on public health in our state, and leaves giant, stylish shoes to fill.

I met Toni close to three years ago, and she was not shy about her struggles with her health. Still, while we were in the office, she remained fairly upbeat and inspirational. When we all went home for COVID, I knew she was a local and I reached out to make sure she had a support network, and she was very effusive about her family and friends and how they stepped up. Any suffering she carried with her was not apparent, to the point that, when I heard about her retirement in January, we were all taken by surprise.

I regret not getting to know Toni better. Her passing, for me, was a stark reminder that there are a lot of people we cross paths with, work alongside, socialize with, and COVID isolation made those interactions disappear. While she wasn’t shy about her cancer, she kept her pain largely hidden from view. While I’m sure her close friends were aware of those struggles, I think again about how we all present ourselves, and the pain or struggles we carry with us and only reveal to a select few. 

I guess I’m just saying to reach out to those you might not have heard from in a while. You never know if it might make a material difference for them.

April 2021: At the beginning of the calendar year, I spruced up my Zoom background with some seasonal photographs of Asa Waters Mansion. There are some absolutely gorgeous pictures out there, and they’ve become a great conversation starter from virtual meeting to virtual meeting.  

My wife is probably tired of hearing me tell people how awesome Millbury is from the other room when work colleagues ask about the image, but, believe it or not, some people are genuinely interested. I’ve learned that there are more than a few secret historians in the remote office, and I’ve heard stories about basement jails in Rutland, famous visitors in Shrewsbury, and multigenerational family tales. I didn’t go into changing my background for any other reason than repping Millbury in my own little way, but it’s ended up as an endearing slice of history and connection with people I haven’t seen in person in over a year. 

My favorite story, however, is from a colleague from Grafton. She saw the mansion and knew what it was immediately, because she lived around the corner on River Street for a number of years. She believes the house she lived in was a tavern or inn of some sort, and I’m looking forward to digging in a bit at the Historical Society museum once it’s safe to do so again. While there’s a lot to look forward to in the post-COVID landscape, getting back to a sense of normalcy for me involves a lot of time at the Asa Waters Mansion, assuming I can keep my head out of the old newspapers long enough to get anything done...

Another friend saw my springtime background and had an even more interesting story for me. He is an integral part of the Mustard Seed in Worcester and of the broader Catholic Worker movement in the area. I am not spiritual, but getting to know him over the last year has been a true bright spot during the pandemic.

Still, he saw my Zoom background photo and began telling the story of Emma Goldman. On one hand, she was a truly interesting historical figure within the anarchist movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, having written many books and presented several lectures over her lifetime. On the other, however, was her involvement in the assassination attempt on Henry Clay Frick by Alexander Berkman during the combative Homestead Steel Strike in 1892. While Berkman was the gunman, Goldman traveled with him and acted as the propaganda arm for the labor cause. The assassination attempt was unsuccessful, Berkman spent decades in jail for the crime, and Goldman would eventually be deported along with nearly 250 others under an expanded Anarchist Exclusion Act in 1919.

“So what does this have to do with Millbury,” you’re probably asking at this point. Well, Goldman and Berkman lived in Worcester for a short time, and famously opened an ice cream shop near/at what is now a tapas bar on Winter Street near I-290. They quickly abandoned the shop to rush to Pennsylvania and join the striking workers, but my friend told me that Goldman, for a time, was a teacher in Millbury.

Now, Millbury has its share of brushes with historical fame. Frederick Douglass spoke early on in his lecturing career in Worcester, Abby Kelley Foster lived in town for a year, and we all know about President Taft. But Emma Goldman? I hadn’t heard this one.

I reached out to Jeri Stead, who is involved with the Historical Society in town, and asked if she knew anything. She did not, but found Goldman’s story interesting nonetheless. I’ve also reached out to the historians at the Berkeley Library at the University of California, but have yet to hear back. So if you’re reading this and have any hints, please let me know. This is quickly becoming my white whale of a historical puzzle.

April 2021: At the beginning of the calendar year, I spruced up my Zoom background with some seasonal photographs of Asa Waters Mansion. There are some absolutely gorgeous pictures out there, and they’ve become a great conversation starter from virtual meeting to virtual meeting.  

My wife is probably tired of hearing me tell people how awesome Millbury is from the other room when work colleagues ask about the image, but, believe it or not, some people are genuinely interested. I’ve learned that there are more than a few secret historians in the remote office, and I’ve heard stories about basement jails in Rutland, famous visitors in Shrewsbury, and multigenerational family tales. I didn’t go into changing my background for any other reason than repping Millbury in my own little way, but it’s ended up as an endearing slice of history and connection with people I haven’t seen in person in over a year. 

My favorite story, however, is from a colleague from Grafton. She saw the mansion and knew what it was immediately, because she lived around the corner on River Street for a number of years. She believes the house she lived in was a tavern or inn of some sort, and I’m looking forward to digging in a bit at the Historical Society museum once it’s safe to do so again. While there’s a lot to look forward to in the post-COVID landscape, getting back to a sense of normalcy for me involves a lot of time at the Asa Waters Mansion, assuming I can keep my head out of the old newspapers long enough to get anything done...

Another friend saw my springtime background and had an even more interesting story for me. He is an integral part of the Mustard Seed in Worcester and of the broader Catholic Worker movement in the area. I am not spiritual, but getting to know him over the last year has been a true bright spot during the pandemic.

Still, he saw my Zoom background photo and began telling the story of Emma Goldman. On one hand, she was a truly interesting historical figure within the anarchist movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, having written many books and presented several lectures over her lifetime. On the other, however, was her involvement in the assassination attempt on Henry Clay Frick by Alexander Berkman during the combative Homestead Steel Strike in 1892. While Berkman was the gunman, Goldman traveled with him and acted as the propaganda arm for the labor cause. The assassination attempt was unsuccessful, Berkman spent decades in jail for the crime, and Goldman would eventually be deported along with nearly 250 others under an expanded Anarchist Exclusion Act in 1919.

“So what does this have to do with Millbury,” you’re probably asking at this point. Well, Goldman and Berkman lived in Worcester for a short time, and famously opened an ice cream shop near/at what is now a tapas bar on Winter Street near I-290. They quickly abandoned the shop to rush to Pennsylvania and join the striking workers, but my friend told me that Goldman, for a time, was a teacher in Millbury.

Now, Millbury has its share of brushes with historical fame. Frederick Douglass spoke early on in his lecturing career in Worcester, Abby Kelley Foster lived in town for a year, and we all know about President Taft. But Emma Goldman? I hadn’t heard this one.

I reached out to Jeri Stead, who is involved with the Historical Society in town, and asked if she knew anything. She did not, but found Goldman’s story interesting nonetheless. I’ve also reached out to the historians at the Berkeley Library at the University of California, but have yet to hear back. So if you’re reading this and have any hints, please let me know. This is quickly becoming my white whale of a historical puzzle.

November 2021: Oh, and by the way? The town hasn’t been very public about this, but a source at Millbury town hall told me that there was at least one unhoused person living in a tent in town back in October. Millbury Police, along with the Department of Public Works, addressed the situation and allegedly got the person or persons connected with some resources in Worcester.

I’m not saying that anyone in town needed to pat themselves on the back publicly for the assist, but I think it’s important that we, as residents and as citizens, know that it’s a situation that impacts us directly, not simply when we’re passing through the city. Worcester, in comparison, does toot their own horn in some regards for their response to the homelessness crisis, and talk a big game when it comes to institutional response and support of the unhoused within city limits. When the chips are down, however, should we believe Worcester is prioritizing ending homelessness when they tear down a makeshift neighborhood with next-to-no warning?