Framingham History Center Blog

It may look closed up, but we’re still here.  Our window contractor Kronenberger & Sons came and took 22 windows out over the course of only two days!  The windows are at their shop in Watertown Connecticut getting the attention they need and deserve.  We are so fortunate to have such craftsmen working on this project. 

For those of you who voted for us last year, I hope you take pride in watching this wonderful memorial’s continued restoration. 

This project is supported by a grant from the American Express Partners in Preservation program, a partnership of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Express Foundation.

As I am preparing for my September program, The March to the Vote, which focuses on women’s suffrage in Framingham, I am looking for information on the following women and Suffrage organizations in Framingham.  Any photographs, letters, diaries or family stories you remember about these people or organizations would be very helpful.  Thank you!

1909-1920
Framingham Equal Suffrage League
Framingham Branch of the National Women’s Party:

Mrs. E. Frank Bowditch
Mrs. Jessie D Hodder (Superintendent Sherborn Women’s Reformatory)
Miss Ellen Hyde
Mrs. Sumner B. Pearmain (family owned Nobscot Mountain Tea House in Sudbury, lived on Wayside Inn Rd Framingham)
Miss Abby S. Perry
Miss Olive Mills Belches
Miss Anna M. Murphy
Miss J. A. Collins (Josephine Collins subject of story)
Mrs. A.P. Sherman
Mrs. John G. Bauld,
Mrs. Charles A. Brown,
Mrs. Agnes C. Lummus, (owned Tea Room on Pleasant Street, presumably with Miss Collins)
Miss Ellen Hyde McNair,
Mrs. George M. Smith, (mother of Edmund Ware Smith author of My Tom Sawyer Town)
Mrs. Austin E. St. Clair
Mrs. Harry P. Hastings
Mrs. William I. Mayo  (Louise Mayo subject of story)
Photos of any of Mrs. Mayo’s 7 children as kids or High School Graduates
Mrs. Edwin B. Miles
Ethel Macomber
Meta Warrick Fuller (as member of Suffrage League)

I am particularly interested in a photo of Josephine Collins Dry Goods Store in Framingham Center and the Tea Room at 66 Pleasant Street residence of Agnes Lummus as well as photos of The “Barge”, the horse drawn school bus driven by the Mayo family.

This is an exciting project and I want to cast as wide a net as possible to enrich the program.  Please email info@framinghamhistory.org with any information.
Thank you,
Libby Franck
Storyteller

This week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives will be possibly voting on Amendment 15 to bill # 4825.  This amendment will create a Tourism and Visitors Bureau for the Metrowest area. This would enable hotel taxes from this area to be used toward promoting tourism here in Metrowest.  Right now all of the hotel taxes go right to Boston so this would be a great help to get people to see all that we have out here.

In addition to the Framingham History Center, many arts and cultural organizations in the area have been working with the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce for the past two years to promote the creative economy in the area. 

If you are interested in supporting this amendment, please write to Representative Brian Dempsey at: Rep.BrianDempsey@hou.state.ma.us and Representative Charles Murphy at:  Rep.CharlesMurphy@hwm.state.ma.us

If you would like to cut and paste the message below, please do.  They need to hear from us. 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear        

I am a supporter of the Framingham History Center and other MetroWest arts and cultural organizations.  As you know, the MetroWest area is a vital region of the Commonwealth. It has a vibrant arts and culture community which only a local Tourism and Visitors Bureau can adequately market.  I encourage you to support the establishment of a Metrowest Tourism and Visitors Bureau so that more can learn about cultural offerings and thereby stimulate the creative economy here and in Massachusetts.  

Thank you for your support,

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Annie Murphy
Executive Director