Glenwood Cemetery
Walking through the Glenwood Cemetery in Natick, there are many of these medallions and flags on the graves of veterans. All of these medallions are a bit different, but I had to look up what GAR stood for. It turns out GAR means the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a national fraternal organization founded in 1866 for Union veterans of the Civil War. For nearly a century, the GAR served as a brotherhood, a political force that ensured that the sacrifices of the war would not fade as years passed.
The first type I noticed was the five-pointed star with small stars in each point and the letters GAR 1861-1865 in the center. This is the standardized GAR grave marker that began appealing in the 1880s. It was placed to identify any Union veteran, and the dates mark the span of the Civil War.
The second type of medallion is still a five-pointed star with the initials GAR but this time stamped Post 63 in the center. This one is more specific and indicates that the veteran was a member of GAR Post 63, Natick’s own chapter of the organization. These post-numbered medallions became common in the 1890s and early 1900s, as local posts took pride in marking graves on their own members. Post 63 in Natick was one of the integrated posts in Massachusetts, welcoming both black and white veterans.
Read More From Nancy
Natick Indian Burial Ground
Each town has something special to share and a story that it holds close. Today, I want to share one of Natick’s most sacred and historic sites: The Natick Praying Indian Burial Ground. Set quietly in the center of town, this grassy enclosure carries a story that predates the town itself. It is one of the […]
Casey’s Diner
Hometown stories would not be complete without sharing Casey’s Diner. Casey’s Diner is tucked along South Avenue in Natick and has been feeding generations for over a century and remains one of the town’s most enduring landmarks. The story of Casey’s begins in 1890, when Fred Casey purchased a horse-drawn lunch wagon and began serving […]
Harwood Baseballs
These Harwood baseballs and their original packaging tell an unexpected story about Natick’s place in the history of America’s national pastime. Beginning in 1858, H. Harwood & Sons manufactured baseballs here at a time when the sport itself was still developing into the organized game we recognize today. What began as a local manufacturing enterprise […]
