ABOUT TOWN: Cherished Stoughton Memories Preserved

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: The Stoughton Council on Aging & Youth Commission recently hosted the Mass Memories Road Show, Sunday May 5.   

With the help of over 35 volunteers, over 350 images have been digitized and labeled for future generations to view and explore.  These images, both photos and videos, were scanned or taped on Sunday to record who makes up the Town of Stoughton on this day in history.  Many personal stories and experiences were captured, including 48 video stories. 

About 150 people attended the well-publicized event.

Over the course of that Sunday, people had the chance to archive up to three photos and document their family (or Stoughton) story on a video recording. There was a crew ready to scan photos or transfer them from a flash drive. You could also have your photo taken with the photo(s) you brought to be archived. 

This project began over a year ago, when Ruthie Fitzpatrick, current President of the Stoughton Historical Society sent Stoughton Library Director Pat Basler an email suggesting the town apply for a Mass. Memories Road Show grant.  

This program is administered out of UMass/Boston Archives Dept. and they select 3-4 towns per year to assist with a town wide digitization project.  Over 30 volunteers attended meetings and assisted with advertising the project so that it would be a successful day.

The initial community partners were: Stoughton Public Library and SOLA (Support Our Library Association), Stoughton Historical Society, Stoughton Council on Aging and Youth Commission, SMAC Stoughton Media Access Cable station and staff, Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, Stoughton Clergy Association and the Stoughton School Department.

Basler mentioned to About Town some of the people who were involved: Ruthie Fitzpatrick, Dwight MacKerron, Joan Bryant and Janet Clough from the Stoughton Historical Society and David Lambert from the New England Historic Genealogy Society also assisted with planning and manning tables at the event.  

Steve Innis and Mike Hammond from SMAC videotaped the event and produced a YouTube video and a Community Forum cable program to help advertise the project. Tom Fitzgerald and Jeffrey Pickette photographed the event.  Mark Snyder attended all planning meetings and provided continuous media coverage, and also manned the Welcome Station for most of the day during the event. 

Teresa Tapper and Karen Hall from the Stoughton COA/Youth Commission were really co-chairs in the project and were very instrumental in providing an ideal location for the event and they, along with a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers brought a great enthusiasm to the project. 

Basler said a number of people really were devoted to the six month planning process as well as the event itself, among them: Dolores Cummings, Mary Lou Giordano, Dori Frankel, Teresa Romeiro, Rachel Romeiro, Ana Coghi, Beth McNeill, Charlotte Mullen, Beverly Harris, Theresa Camara, Mary Kelleher, Joanne Callanan, Denise Peterson, Pamela Poillucci, Rhoda Harding, Janet Clough, Fred Yaitanes, Sandy Goverman, Smadar Gekow, Janiece Bruce, Terry Schneider, Irene Walsh, Stephanie Patton, Steve Tapper, Melinda Rios, Jean and Leo Mellyn and Cecelia DeOliveira. 

Basler also sent special thanks to the UMass/Boston Archives staff that help her committee every step of the way: Joanne Riley, Heather Cole and Carolyn Goldstein.

Goldstein, who has coordinated a number of Mass Memories Road Shows, said, “Sunday’s Mass. Memories Road Show in Stoughton was a big success, in no small part due to the hard work, good spirits, and camaraderie of the local planners and volunteers—plus the intrepid “Roadies”—who worked together to make a festive and productive day.  Stoughton’s special character shined through the many unique images and rich stories that contributors shared throughout the day.”

Jack Clancy, who was a “roadie” who videotapes the Mass Memories in all the locations, told Basler, "This was the most interesting town I've done so far, and there were at least three folks I would love to do documentaries on."   

Clancy, who was Director of an award winning documentary, “The Renegades: A Beep Ball Story” tells About Town, “What struck me were the great immigrant stories (those from Brazil mainly) and the great personal story of a young Puerto Rican-American mother.  We were both welled up with tears by the time the videotaping was done.  It’s great to come to these and I’ve had the good fortune of doing many towns throughout the state.  I am constantly reminded that everyone – rich or poor, young or old has a great story to tell. It’s very refreshing and extremely humbling.”

Among the V.I.P’s in the crowd were Stoughton residents UMass Boston Chancellor Dr. Keith Motley from UMass/Boston and Interim U.S. Sen. William “Mo” Cowan. 

The photos will be available for public viewing in two months, according to Goldstein. They can be found at http://openarchives.umb.edu.

Basler adds, “Thanks for the Memories.”

Take a look at pictures from the Road Show's stop in Stoughton in the media gallery of this article. 

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