Archive for the ‘History’ Category
Immovable Objects
For the first time in living memory peddlers in Wakefield, MA are being asked to abide by the town’s regulations. But from the reaction, you’d think that instead of being asked to move 100 feet every two hours they were being forced to run the gauntlet. Contrary to popular belief, local regulations have always indicated […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, History, News, Opinion, Politics, Wakefield | 8 Comments
Tags: Board of Appeals, Board of Selectmen, business, hawkers, hot dog, ice cream, Lake Quannapowitt, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, peddlers, slush, transient vendors, vendor, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield MA, zoning
Memorial Day 2014 in Wakefield, Massachusetts As sun and clouds waged a day-long battle overhead, hundreds of residents turned out yesterday for local ceremonies honoring those who gave their lives in defense of America. “The freedoms we do enjoy,” keynote speaker Victor Santaniello told the crowd at the West Side Social Club’s morning program on […]
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Tags: American Legion, Ann Santos, Anthony Velardo, Brian Falvey, Massachusetts, Memorial Day, Rep. Donald Wong, Rep. Paul Brodeur, Sen. Jason Lewis, Thomas Lyons, veterans, Victor Santaniello, Vietnam War, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield MA, West Side Social Club
May 6 Sweetser Lecture in Wakefield, MA “As a kid, I was drawn to big stories on broad canvasses,” says historical novelist William Martin, who will be at The Savings Bank Theater on Tuesday, May 6 to deliver the final Sweetser Lecture of the season. His talk will focus on Civil War Washington as depicted […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Feature stories, History, Wakefield | 1 Comment
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, book, books, Boston, Civil War, D.C., fiction history, historical, Lincoln Letter, MA, Mark Sardella, novelist, Sweetser Lecture, Wakefield, Wakefield Daily Item, Washington, William Martin, writer
Honoring Veterans
2013 Veterans’ Day Ceremonies in Wakefield, Massachusetts “I’m a kid from Roxbury who grew up to become a soldier and a lawyer,” keynote speaker US Air Force Lt. Col. Enoch Woodhouse told the Veterans’ Day crowd assembled at the Galvin Middle School Auditorium. Yesterday’s ceremonies were presented by Wakefield’s Veterans’ Advisory Board and local American […]
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Tags: American Legion, Brian Falvey, Donald Wong, Enoch Woodhouse, Galvin Middle School, Katherine Clark, Kristina Valenza, Paul Brodeur, veterans, Veterans' Day, Wakefield Choral Society, Wakefield High School Wind Ensemble, Wakefield Massachusetts
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] Suspicious 1940 blaze linked to union activity On the afternoon of July 18, 1940, the Wakefield Fire Department received a frantic call from the caretaker of the former Arthur G. Walton property at 108 Main St. Hans Meyer, who still lived in the caretaker’s house, reported that the old […]
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Tags: A.G. Walton, Arthur G. Walton, fire, Lake Quannapowitt, Mark Sardella, Massachusetts, Pasquale DeCristofaro, unions, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield MA, Walton, Walton Family
[Part 1 of 3] [Part 2] [Part 3] Daring payroll Robbery of Walton shoe factory compared to Sacco & Vanzetti When it comes to Wakefield’s prominent old families, chances are you’ve at least heard of the Hartshornes, the Beebes, the Wakefields and the Eatons. But what do you know about the Walton family of Wakefield, […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Family, Feature stories, History, Profiles, Wakefield | 8 Comments
Tags: AG Walton & Co., Arthur G. Walton, Chelsea, Mark Sardella, Mssachusetts, robbery, Sacco & Vanzetti, shoes, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield MA, Walton, Walton Shoes, Waltons
“The Remarkable Cyrus Wakefield”
A Talk by John Wall Many people know the story of how the town of South Reading, MA came to be renamed after industrialist Cyrus Wakefield. But most people probably don’t realize the extent to which he shaped the town of Wakefield as we know it today. In a talk on Feb. 20, 2013 to […]
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Tags: business, Capt. Henry Bancroft, Cyrus Wakefield, furniture, History, industry, John Wall, Mark Sardella, rattan, South Reading, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Massachusetts
On January 15, 2013, the Wakefield, Massachusetts building now known as the Americal Civic Center will turn 100 years old. Last night, it received an early birthday present. In ceremonies held last night in the Heritage Room, a new portrait of the historic building, painted by local artist Elizabeth O’Neill Lowry, was unveiled.
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Tags: Americal Civic Center, Armory, Art, artist, centennial, Elizabeth Lowry, House Proud Portraits, Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Armory, painting, State Armory, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Massachusetts
With a cast of 15, the Quannapowitt Players‘ “The Diary of Anne Frank” captures the terror, tension and tenderness experienced by two Jewish families being hidden from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II, as told by Anne Frank in her diary of her family’s two years in hiding. The production is directed by […]
Filed under: Art, Columns & Essays, Feature stories, History, Reviews, theater, Wakefield | Leave a Comment
Tags: Anne Frank, Becky Klein, community theater, Daily Item, Diary of Anne Frank, drama, Nancy Curran Willis, play, QP, Quannapowitt Players, Quannapowitt Playhouse, Reading, Reading MA, Reading Massachusetts, stage, theater, theatre, Wakefield, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Massachusetts
In the spring of 1942, as World War II was being fought on two fronts, local soldiers and sailors serving overseas were much on the mind of their hometown. The Wakefield Daily Item ran a regular feature, “With Our Boys in the Service,” complete with photos and updates. Meanwhile back in Wakefield, Factory Field, where […]
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Community, Feature stories, History, Wakefield | 1 Comment
Tags: Daily Item, development, Factory Field, FederalHousing Authority, FHA, Gilbert & Varker, Mark Sardella, Second World War, Victory Village, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Massachusetts, World War 2, World War II
Mark Sardella 