Hannah Williams
|
History -- Comments
Thanks to Stu Cartwright -- our street reporter -- for this reflection: We don't want to forget to give credit to those who came years before us who selected the design for the Hannah Williams Playground and who cared for it over the years. Much of the work we are doing is to bring the structure up to new, explicit safety guildelines that did not exist years ago. "The structure itself is in remarkably good shape despite its age. This is in large measure due to the efforts of members of the Cochituate Preservation Association (CPA) run by Larry and Jane Stabile. Every few years throughout the 1990's, Larry and the CPA would organize a spring or fall maintenance project. Sue Ponsetto chaired these efforts which included rolling out heavy drums of oil and sealant that was applied to protect the aging wood from the elements of a Massachusetts climate. Additionally, the CPA collected voluntary annual dues from its membership, and shepherded funds from the original fundraising drive for the park. In 1998, CPA turned over maintenance and money totaling nearly $7,500 to the Wayland Park and Recreation Department, closing this vital chapter in the History of Hannah Williams Park." (Note: some of that money turned over to the town was used for the safety audit of the playground by the company that designed and directed the original construction. The balance is being used to fund the current repairs and improvements.) Recollections: Stubby and Dan Bache both played on the playground when they were kids. Dan is now repairing it as a local Wayland contractor, and Stubby has fond memories... John Maccini helped with the original construction in '87. Most people we've talked to fall into two categories... 'those who played here as kids and now are repairing it' and 'alums-who-came-to-work-again'. If you look carefully near the entrance to the playground, you'll notice a special commemorative plaque in addition to the large frame with dozens of acknowledgements. The inscription reads:
Of course the park and playground are widely known to be named after Hannah Williams (more on her is coming later) a local mother of 13 kids. Dr. Reitz -- an eye doctor who practiced in upstate NY -- died of cancer only 4-5 months into the project to build the playground. He was instrumental, along with his daughter Suzanne, in making it happen. The Hannah Williams Park Committee's core committee chose to honor Dr. Reitz when the playground was complete. Suzanne's four kids all have loved playing on the playground -- one's in college and the youngest is 10. Watch for pictures here from her collection. Anyone who has a story, photos, anything related to the history of the park or playground, please share it with us.
There are a lot of blanks to be filled in about the history of the Hannah Williams park and playground. Please send us your recollections, photos, etc. In a brief chat with local historian, and repair supporter George Lewis, we learned that the playground and park site in Cochituate Village once was a series of stores much like the ones across the street. There was a mansion on the corner of Rtes. 27 and 30 where the car dealership is now. And, there were some other houses and buildings in the area. The Williams family owned a lot of the property and gave it to the town. The town purchased some of the other properties adjacent to the park and merged it all. There was a small house or shed build to house equipment for recreation. About 15 years ago, a local group, lead by the Cochituate Preservation Association (CPA) raised more than $30,000 to build the playground. The soaring wood structure was a very popular model all over in many communities, and Wayland's was one of the larger ones. It was built by volunteers using a professional design and construction management firm.
|
|
SCHEDULE-PROJECTS
|| FUNDRAISING
|| NEWS
|| COMMENTS
|
Copyright
© 2000-2006