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by Sophia Togneri, Austin Temple, and Elizabeth DiLauro
On March 19, 1866, Governor Alexander H. Bullock established that Hudson, MA, was officially a town. One hundred and fifty years later, on March 19, 2016, Hudson celebrated its sesquicentennial with fireworks. Throughout the rest of the year, there will be many other activities and events to celebrate this historic anniversary. The library and the historical society will host historical workshops throughout the spring and summer. Along the rail trail, students ages 10-18 years will be painting a mural that depicts Hudson over its 150 year existence. To cap off the year, on September 18 there will be a parade for the sesquicentennial. “It will be approximately $50,000,” said co-chairman of the Hudson 150 steering committee, Sarah Cressy. “We will have music and floats. The last time we had a big parade was when Paul Cellucci was governor [in 1997].” A time capsule buried in 1966 will be retrieved on May 6 and opened on May 7. Other events and their dates can be found at the Hudson 150 website.
Hudson has been around for over a century, and because of that it makes the town very different from some of the surrounding towns. “Hudson is incredibly special,” Cressy said. “It has a lovely and intact downtown.” The surrounding towns, including Stow, Bolton, and Berlin, were all agriculturally centered, and there wasn’t much need for a downtown in the middle of farmland. Unlike the surrounding towns, Hudson was a factory town, at one point being home to 17 factories, shoe factories to be exact. After Hudson established the need for a downtown, one was built. In 1894, these plans were halted. There was a fire on July 4 caused by three children playing with firecrackers. The fire that resulted flamed for over two hours and burned down over six acres of land, taking out most of the downtown. This fire led to the reconstruction of Hudson’s downtown, that allowed for the buildings to be reconstructed using bricks, which are longer lasting and sturdier than the previous buildings made of wood. Main Street has remained relatively unchanged for the last 120 years, a constant in the everchanging environment of the rest of the town and the people.
Old Hangout Places
Over time, Hudson’s citizens have spent time all over town. In the past when Hudson was growing, teenagers all over spent their time with their friends at their special places.
“It was all different,” Vic Rimkus, a former Hudson High School football coach, tennis coach, and social studies teacher, states. “Walking to school was something I did.” Around 70 years ago Vic was able to walk to and from school all over town.
“Rosemary [Vic Rimkus’ wife] used to walk to places at night with her friends,” Vic says. “Say if it was for a dance at the town hall, she would walk there at night. It wasn’t a problem because it was safer.”
When both Vic and Rosemary were young, they were able to walk without any worries because there weren’t as many drivers as there are now downtown.
Rosemary Rimkus, a former teacher at Hudson High, has lived in Hudson for 84 years and had a special spot called the Maples.
“When I was little, so about 70 years ago, we used to go to the Maples a lot, which was a swimming area along the Assabet River,” Rosemary says with a laugh. “It’s where the Portuguese Club is now, and my family and I would walk down to it all the time and go swimming.”
John McClellan, a member of the copy center staff at Hudson High School, said that when he was younger his special place was Tripp’s Pond.
“That’s the neighborhood where I grew up, and in spring we fished all day,” McClellan reminisces. “In summer we swam all day, in fall we just hung out there, and in winter we’d skate until the spring thaw.”
Ken DiLauro, a former Hudson native who spent 67 years living in Hudson, remembers his old hangout area.
“Toohey’s Pharmacy,” DiLauro states. “I loved going there. Even though there were tons of pharmacies in Hudson at the time, I loved going there. My siblings worked there, and there was ice cream, and it was a hangout place not only for me but also my friends.”
Toohey’s Pharmacy used to be located where Hudson Appliance currently resides and was not only a place to visit to get what you need but a place for young kids to spend their time away from school.
A Love for Hudson
“I love that it is a small town. I used to know everyone there, so I enjoyed seeing people that I knew,” Vic Rimkus states. Vic’s love for Hudson was for its size and how you knew everyone in town.
For other people it was something completely different.
“I love that Hudson has been hometown to many notable people,” John McClellan states. “Those people still cherish and recognize their upbringing in Hudson.”
Rosemary Rimkus loves “the flavor of it.” She also likes “how much it’s grown in the last 35 to 40 years. We’ve grown in politics and population.”
Old Memories
“What I really remember from back then was the football games,” DiLauro states. “I went to Hudson Catholic and St. Michaels, but I really loved the football games, so did a lot of other kids. I loved it, and games against Hudson High were interesting. It was always under the lights. That’s why I loved it, because it was under the lights.”
Hudson always provided some sort of community for people to become involved in.
“Coaching and teaching,” Vic says. “And being a part of these big organizations that Hudson’s provided.”
John McClellan loved it even before his family moved here.
“My parents would pile all of us into whatever car they had at the time to come see the Christmas lights in Hudson. We’d drive around for hours looking at the beautiful decorations from Main Street to the neighborhoods. As a teenager my best memories were the weekly summer dances held at the tennis courts at Riverside Park and hanging around Main Street all hours of the day,” McClellan said.
Residents reflect on these memories as Hudson celebrates its 150th anniversary.
