Ashland localtownpages
Vol. 2 No. 1
Free to Every Home and Business Every Month
The Boimilla Family of Dean Road
rence Herald of October 19, 1961 reports that the Boimilla family had arrived in that city after a “care-free” trip.
(Photo/submitted)
By John Kelley Editor On July 11th, Ashland had three very special visitors from California. John, Marie and Helen Boimilla made the trip east to kindle their childhood memories, because they were born here, and consider Ashland their hometown. When they were 10, 8, and 6, respectively, their lives were altered in a significant way because their father Frank, a
machinist, lost his job at the age of 46, when the firm he was working for went out of business after 27 years. It was 1961, and the job market had an unemployment rate of 6.7%. At his age, and with seven children, Frank and his wife Helen knew they had to go where the work was, and without delay. Helen had a sister living in California, and the prospects for work there were very good. The Tor-
Before the family departed from their small home at 14 Dean Road in Ashland, Frank bought a used school bus, and outfitted it with sleeping accommodations, toilet facilities and a small kitchen. On Saturday, September 16, 1961 the family was packed and ready to depart Ashland. At 10:00 a.m. neighbors gathered and gave gifts of food, and according to the diary of Mrs. Boimilla, one neighbor named Myrna West gave her a bottle of My Sin perfume. The family station wagon followed behind the bus with Mrs. Boimilla at the wheel while her son Frank, Jr. or daughter Janice rode with her for company. The caravan had to stop twice in western Massachusetts on day one, changing three flat tires!! Instead of
BOIMILLA FAMILY
continued on page 2
By Cynthia Whitty A subcommittee of the Ashland Redevelopment Authority (ARA), the Downtown Collaborative, with representatives from the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Open Space, Historic Commission, Design Review, Planning Board, and the downtown business community, is driving improvements to downtown.
Service & Sales
For your next plumbing or air conditioning repair, we’d like to make things easier on your wallet.
Call 508-881-1500 today! Applies during regular business hours only.
Now Offering
AUTO SALES
We Buy, Sell and Trade Cars 508.231.5200 9 Summer Street, Ashland
universalautoashland.com
CREATING BEAUTIFUL, CONFIDENT SMILES ■ Board-Certified Orthodontist ■ Traditional, Ceramic and Incognito Braces
Expires 8/31/14
■ Invisalign Preferred Provider ■ Fun patient areas with iPad bar and 3D TV
License # 15892
License #: 15892
508-881-1500
200 Butterfield Drive, Ashland www.Nicholson-HVAC.com
24/7 Emergency Service
Elizabeth Blake DMD, MDS
August 1, 2014
the downtown signage project to work on right away. “New signage will improve wayfinding for pedestrians and drivers through downtown Ashland. Signs will be easier to read, more consistent with better placement, and new uniform colors and style designed by professionals at Omloop,” Andrea Green, the incoming ARA
The collaborative has been meeting for over a year. In the fall of 2013, they held a public meeting to identify several short-term projects. Enzo Scalora, chair of the ARA and collaborative facilitator The new design for downtown signs will until recently, said enhance resident and visitor experience that after the public going to and from businesses or town hall, meeting, the collabmeeting with friends for a snack or meal, or orative considered all attending events. (Photo/submitted) the proposed project ideas from the public meetings, Wayfinding Signs narrowed them down to four, continued on page 4 and then to one. They selected
$
the Best Service We Can Offer
Postal Customer Local
New Wayfinding Signs First Step In Downtown Improvements
Universal Auto Get 35 OFF
PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Norwood, MA Permit #7
■ M-F and evening appointments available ■ Individualized and personalized care
508.435.0100 77 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA www.elizabethblakeorthodontics.com
Backstage
DANCE • MUSIC • THEATER • VOICE
OPEN HOUSE
FALL REGISTRATION August 2, 9 & 16 • 11:30am August 4 & 18 • 5pm See our website for classes & registration
www.backstagedance-theater.com
B
508.881.8226
300 Eliot Street, Ashland