Farewell to the South Natick Dam: Honoring the Place That Shaped My Years
For almost 40 years, I’ve called South Natick home. While it’s never been the place where I’ve felt deeply rooted, it’s where I raised my children, built our businesses, and lived a full chapter of life.
Now, as I begin to explore the rich history that surrounds us, there’s no better place to start than the South Natick Dam.
This dam has been a quiet, constant landmark for as long as we’ve lived here. We’ve taken countless photos of its rushing waters, walked our dogs to its banks, launched our canoe from its edge, and watched the seasons shift through the branches of the willows Emmy so beautifully captured with her lens.
But soon, that view will be only a memory.
Our town has voted to remove the dam—a decision made for reasons I do not fully agree with. And yet, I know change is coming. This familiar place, where water has flowed and families have gathered, will one day be gone.
So I begin this journey, of exploring the history of South Natick, with the dam as my starting point. As we look forward to what this landscape will become, I want to honor what it has been. Because even in a place where I never quite felt rooted, the memories made along this river have shaped a life I’ll always cherish.
Read More From Nancy
The Clark Block
In the center of Natick is this prominent commercial building labeled the Clark Block, 1874. Like many buildings constructed during that period, it reflects the growth of Natick as a busy manufacturing and commercial town in the later nineteenth century. During this time Natick was becoming well known for its boot and shoe industry, which helped transform what had once […]
The Squares of Natick: Remembering the Names Behind Our Freedom
On a crisp fall day, walking through Natick is more than just enjoying the foliage — it’s also a journey through history. Scattered across town are memorial squares, quiet markers that carry the names of those who served, sacrificed, and shaped the story of our community. Three in particular stand out: Dennis J. Moran Square, […]
The Peletiah Morse Tavern
Within less than a mile from my home lies the historic heart of South Natick. From the legacy of the Praying Indians to the colonial homes and 19th-century landmarks that still line the streets, this small village holds a deep well of history waiting to be shared Today, I share one of these colonial treasures, the Peletiah […]
