Needham vs Wellesley – the Back Story
We think of the Needham-Wellesley rivalry as primarily a football game, but it has always been more than that. It goes back to a time when expressions of the rivalry …
Weekly Stories
Does Rosemary Grow at Rosemary Lake?
Rosemary Pond, Rosemary Meadow, Rosemary Brook …. The name is nearly 400 years old, one of the oldest in Needham. But Rosemary does not grow in Needham. Is it nostalgia, …
A Rite of Passage
“No owner or persons having the care of any grazing animals shall permit or allow them to roam at large…” An old law still on the books used to be …
The Baby Ghost of Cook’s Bridge
The house was described by a former occupant as “quite attractive,” with a white fence, and two large elms in front. What the occupant did not mention – perhaps did …
Healing Runs in the Family
A descendant of Martha Ballard and a cousin of Clara Barton, Hobart’s own work helped to forge new paths for women, beyond the practice of female craft into the full …
The Dedham Avenue Reservoir
Although the pond is now just used for recreation, it was the town’s original water works. At first, many people thought it was not even needed. Before long, it was …
Mystery Photo Challenge!
How well do you know Needham? We took two of our favorite photos to the Harvest Fair on Greene’s Field to test our fellow-Needhamites’ ability to identify (or guess!) the …
An Italianate Palazzo in the Center of Needham
Whatever disagreements attended its conception, the town was united in its belief and desire that the building should represent the best Needham had to offer – to its students, and …
Hidden Secrets
It is truly a beautiful house – well-designed and well cared for. But more important than its lovely appearance, the house played a significant, but secret, role in World War …
Back to School Short Takes
An adventurous Pin meets it tragic demise, and a determined group of children navigate the terrors of the playground. Back to School – and Good Luck (you may need it)! …