Saturday, October 26, 2013

Framingham, the Mission Church and more

In 1957 from the Golden Jubillee brochure.
Founded by Reverend Pietro Maschi in 1907

This is from the brochure

There was a terrible disaster in Framingham, in July, 1906.  The tragic work of digging out the victims of the disaster, spread thru the area, and one of the first volunteers was Rev. Maschi, who was attached to Sacred Heart Church in the North End, of Boston.   Rev. Maschi had been in Framingham on many occasions visiting relatives, so he knew the area.

When the Amsden building fell he was notified by phone, arriving at the still smoking ruins as a victim was being carried out, Father Maschi bent over the broken body of the victim , for the last rites.

"His face paled as he looked down and discovered the victim was his own brother, Romualdo Maschi, a construction worker and the father of a young family."

From that moment on Father Maschi became determined to bring an Italian Mission Church to Framingham, and that is how we have a Mission Church in Framingham.



From the Framinghan Tribune, May 29, 1902

"Andrew Lepardo, foreman of the construction gang for the Westboro, Hopkinton Street Railway Company leased a house on Winter Street to house 100 Italian laborers, who arrived to the work..."

"The Padrone's were promising jobs and "streets paved with gold."

The Framingham Tribune, March 5, 1903
"An Italian working on the Weston Aquaduct was kicked in the forehead by a mule and died.  He had been working there for a short while, so was known only by a number, thus it was difficult to ascertain his name...."


Tid bits from a  paper I did on The History of the Social Development of the Italian Immigrant in Framingham, Mass., at Framinghan State College, 1967, Madlyn Pizzeri ( Fox) Fafard

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Pancreatic Cancer Survival, treatment a personal story

My friend Juliette, was only married a year....when it happened...take a peek at a wonderful story of love and survival.


 Flip to back
See all 2 images

Friday, October 18, 2013

My Choice 52 - André Rieu - Toselli's Serenade

A tribute to Pear Oliver, whose Dad started the Italian hour on our Framingham radio station in its early days.  Every Sunday this song would announce the show.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Framingham, why not? Haunt the Old Burying Ground

A fun night in Framingham, for those of you who want to search for ghosts of the past!


Do you dare be led among tombstones, summoning
 the ghosts of Framingham's past to tell their legendary tales? 
 
         
 
October 26th, 4:00 pm
Old Burying Ground
 (Main Street) Framingham

You just may hear from the heroic Peter Salem, the quick-thinking Jonathan Maynard, midnight rider Abel Benson, the wealthy Buckminsters, the tragic Mrs. Twitchell, and other specters who may or may not appear.  

This program is in collaboration with Plymouth Church; refreshments will be served at their Parish Hall following the program.  Content is most suitable for persons age 8+. Wear appropriate footwear to accommodate hilly terrain.  Rain date - October 27.Parking information and location for refreshments will be emailed to ticket purchasers

Tickets $5/person, max $15/family.   Guest contingent is limited, so please order tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Framingham History Center
16 Vernon Street
Framingham, Massachusetts 01703
508-872-3780