Elizabeth Morse Read, 73, of Fairhaven died peacefully on Friday December 13, 2024. She was born in New Bedford and lived in New York before settling in Fairhaven. She is survived by her sisters and children. A memorial will be held in private at her residence. Arrangements were by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals. Read more »
M. Raye (Smith) Sawyer
M. Raye (Smith) Sawyer, 90, formerly of Mattapoisett and Rochester, passed away Saturday December 28, 2024 at The Cottages of Dartmouth Villages. She was the wife of the late Walter Judd Sawyer. Born in Middleborough, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Katherine (Ferguson) Smith. A graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School, […] Read more »
Erosion At Bike Path Benches
Coming before the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on December 23 was well known bike path advocate and prime-mover Bonne DaSousa. DaSousa expressed her concerns that memorial benches purchased by donors in support of the town’s bike paths were being undermined at Goodspeed Island by increased pedestrian traffic and environmental impacts from weather events along the coastal […] Read more »
Jail Cell Door Renovation Talks
Rochester’s Capital Planning Committee on December 27 recommended all but two of the seven proposed capital improvement fund requests on the January 27 Special Town Meeting warrant. Committee chair David Arancio began the meeting by noting these recommendations are needed in time for the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on December 30. Committee members […] Read more »
Documenting the Full History
The cultural and societal value of history cannot be overstated. Whether it is our family history, national or even global history, and yes, local history. It tells us who we are, where we’ve been, and aids us as we plan our futures. The Massachusetts Historical Commission, under whose guidance all local historical commissions […] Read more »
Rochester Historical Society Memberships
It’s time to renew or maybe sign up for a new membership in the Rochester Historical Society. The Historical Society which owns and maintains its 1857 church/museum is predominantly member supported, with some help from MA Cultural Council Grants. Membership forms may be found at the Plumb Library or can be mailed out to […] Read more »
The Annual Physical: Time Well-spent or a Waste of Time?
About 78% of U.S. adults, including 68% of adults under 45, reported seeing a doctor in the last year for a wellness check. Is this a good use of your and your doctor’s time? Academic studies of the value of the annual physical exam (APE) have focused on whether doing this saves […] Read more »
Journey Back to the Sweet Sounds of Doo Wop
The Sippican Historical Society will feature Todd Baptista in its SHS Speaker Series on January 11 at 1:00 pm at Marion Music Hall. Join us to discover (or rediscover) the music that captivated the youth of the mid-20th century. Todd Baptista, renowned author, historian, and concert producer, will transport attendees back in time to […] Read more »
From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society
In 2024, the Rochester Historical Society Museum has had lots of visitors. Our current exhibit, a social history of how Rochester residents entertained themselves for more than 337 years, has appealed to both young and old. We introduced “history” to some local children at our June “Historical Fair with a Colonial Flair” and watched […] Read more »
First Marion Village Historic District Meeting
The first public meeting of the Marion Village Historic District Study Committee was held on Wednesday, January 15. The meeting was primarily to present the Preliminary Study Report to the public as well as leave time or questions. Chair of the committee, Will Tifft, began the presentation by saying, “The Marion Village is the […] Read more »