Documenting life in Westford, Massachusetts, 01886.
OK! We got two walks in this past week. The first was in the center starting out from Roudenbush after dropping Emma and Bella off at preschool. With Lily in the stroller we headed down Depot, all the way to Fletcher Rd, back up the hill a bit and turned down Crest Dr., which we took to Cummings Rd., then up to Depot again, which brings us to the question... is the road that goes in front of the Abbot called Academy Dr. or Fisher Way? Google seems to list both names... Fisher Way being just the right hand side of the driveway in front of the Abbot and Academy Dr. being the rest. But there is a house for sale way up at the top of the hill and I am pretty sure the listing claims that it's on Fisher Way. Anyone know the story here? Did the road change names? (Post note: drove by the road today and the street sign at the top of the hill on Depot says Fisher Way! So what's up with Academy Dr. on Google?)
Anyway, after that we did the center proper, including Lincoln St. and Connell Dr. I was thinking maybe we should have saved that for the FINAL walk! To finish in the town center might have been poetic in some way. But I've decided a much better finish line will be Kimballs! Stay tuned... we'll let you know when the big Kimballs finish will be, with any luck the end of this summer! OK, well, not luck exactly, more like, if we get our butts in gear... but honestly the rainy Saturday mornings are not helping us achieve our goal. Although, we DID walk this Saturday and only got drizzled on at the end, my hands were like blocks of ice by then end.
Saturday we walked with my friend Katie. We parked at Norman E. Day School, left two cars there and then headed to Meadow Lane, where we parked and started walking. None of us had ever walked this section of town before, barely having been there much at all. Just a few trips to see plays or soccer matches at Blanchard. We walked to the Groton town line, then down West St. to Stoneview Dr., Maura Circle, and Carver Circle. We were wondering if this last neighborhood was a 40B project or not - the houses were small, close together, and most had no garages. Anyone know? It was very nice... INCREDIBLY well landscaped! Seems like most of the people in the neighborhood have green thumbs.
As we reached North Main St., we turned right past St. Catherine's church, which I attended a few times when I was younger... most notably for my father's funeral 11 years ago. That section of town more often than not reminds me of that time... between the Healy Funeral Home and the Church. It's not all bad though... losing such a close loved one has a way of bringing other people in your life closer together. Also, I recall looking out the window of the car as we drove to the funeral home and seeing some beautiful spring visions... it was May then as it is now.
Just as we reached Daniel Dr. it started to rain, and naturally I left the golf umbrella my husband told me to bring in the car. No biggie, it wasn't a hard rain. Finally, 3.23 miles later, we reached Norman E. Day again, which I attended for 6th through 8th grades - my fondest memories of which were laughing until I fell off my chair with Patrick Lynch and Jimmy Hasseltine. They were great kids. Jimmy moved away softmore year of high school, and Pat died at a horrifyingly young age in college. I think of him every time I drive by his parents house in town, which is actually several times a week since it's very near my mom's house. I always think I ought to knock on their door and say, "Hi. You don't know me, but I thought you should know that I think of your son regularly and how much he made me laugh and even though it was over 20 years ago his memory still brings a smile to my face." But I always chicken out in case having a stranger knock on their door and bring up their dead son isn't high on their list of welcome events. On the off chance that they read this I hope it makes them feel good and not sad.
That's it for this week...
Roads walked: Depot St., Crest Dr., Cummings Rd., Fisher Way/Academy Dr., Connell Dr., Lincoln St., Main St., North Main St., East Prescott St., Daniel Dr., West St., Meadow Lane, Stoneview Dr., Maura Circle, Carver Circle
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1 comments:
I found this because I was looking up info on when the Apple Blossom parade is and thought I would help you out.
I grew up across the street from the entrance to "Academy Drive" as it was always known to us. But, Mr Fisher, who lived down the street passed away and then they changed the name to Fisher Way.
Now, as for the Woolsack Lane mystery (the small road that goes to the multi-milion dollar homes down there. Well, that was my field as a kid and when the house was sold it needed a name for the street. My grandfather was part of a "group" (for lack of a better term) called the Woolsack Society (I think). But, it was an honor, group or organization at the University of Pennsylvania (PENN). The name was in part, in honor of him.
Hope that help. Good luck with your blog.
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