Welcome
The Common Restoration Project is a joint undertaking of the Westford Historical Society, Inc. and the town’s Historical Commission.
It began in 1996 when Westford landscape designer Gloria Gilbert was hired to draw up a plan for the Common which would clear the clutter of trees in the center and restore the allée of trees around the perimenter first set out in 1841.
Edwin Hodgman’s address to the Westford Ornamental Tree Association in 1876 tells the history of the original trees on Westford Common:
“In the year 1840 the town passed the following vote: That John Abbot and others may build a fence around the common, provided the town be put to no expense on account of the same.
Accordingly, in the following year, 1841, the fence was built, and the trees planted, and the expense incurred was met by voluntary subscriptions.”
Since the Common Restoration Project began, Westford families have made “voluntary subscriptions” of $39,000 for the planting of twenty-five memorial trees planted on the Common and thirteen memorial benches which have been placed on the Common and at the Fletcher Library, Westford Museum, Town Hall and in the Police Station courtyard.
The Band Stand
June Kennedy’s book Westford Recollections has a wonderful photograph of Westford Academy students on a bandstand around the flagpole on Westford Common. That 1890 picture inspired the Common Restoration Project to look into reconstructing the bandstand in its original location, and in 2006, local woodworker David Fox was asked to give an estimate for the reconstruction.
The $20,000 estimate was more money than we thought we could raise, so the plans were set aside.
Then in the fall of 2007, Westford Rotary president Gary St. Martin contacted Town Manager Steve Ledoux and offered to make a substantial gift toward building a bandstand on Westford Common. Out came Dave Fox’s proposal.
On January 10, 2008, Rotary presented the Historical Society with a check for $7500. The following week, in a front page article in the Westford Eagle residents were asked to support the bandstand project with their own gifts. In less than a week, eight families had pledged $1000 each.
The Time Line
Westford Rotary not only supported the bandstand financially, they got a commitment from Nashoba Valley Technical High School to have their students help build it.
Nashoba Tech will begin building the base in six sections at the school the end of March, and the week after Memorial Day, local contractor Stephen Gauthier’s flatbed will transport the sections to the Common where they will be assembled by the Nashoba Tech students.
“Lend a Hand for the Bandstand” - May 31st on Westford Common
Nashoba Tech Students Start Work
Monday April 28 a Littleton Lumber truck arrived at Nashoba Tech with the lumber needed to build the base of the bandstand.
Soon the carpentry students had the first of the six sections of the base laid out on the shop floor.
Over the next four weeks, all the framing will be completed. The week after Memorial Day the base will be delivered to Westford Common where the students will assemble the six sections.
Nashoba Tech carpentry instructor Paul Jaussaume is overseeing the work.
Donations Continue to Come In
Inspired by the generosity of the Westford Rotary gift of $7500, ten Westford groups and families have jumped on the bandstand wagon and each given gifts of $1000.
Additional donors are needed to pay for a wheelchair lift which is a $4000 expense unanticipated when the project began.
Bandstand Budget: $ 28,000
Gifts to May 1: 20,000
DP Turf & Irrigation Mentors the Westford Academy Community Service Team
Derek Preston has agreed to teach the Westford Academy students how to install an irrigation system on the Common.
Last summer when the very successful Farmers Market began on the Common, the town’s Parks & Recreation director expressed concern that the extra wear and tear on the Common might ruin the grass with no sprinkler system in place.
Farmers Market volunteers talked to Common Restoration Project volunteers, who in turn asked the Westford Academy students if installing the system could be part of their May 31 work day
The answer: Yes!.
State Line Irrigation has drawn up the design, DP will do the initial work on May 27 and 28, and on the May 31 work day, the WA students will finish installing the system with Derek’s guidance.
Just in time for the Farmers Marker to open its 2008 season on Tuesday June 24.
Who Is Making This Happen?
Many people from every corner of Westford have offered to help.
Ed Buckingham took the design for the bandstand that carpenter Dave Fox had made and Ed created the working plans for the Nashoba Tech students to work from.
Contractor Stephen Gauthier then offered his flatbed truck to move the six sections of the bandstand rom the Tech to the Common.
Ann Fragala of State Line Irrigation had her irrigation designer draw up the plan for the sprinkler system on the Common.
All these professionals have donated their time and expertise.
On May 31st, students from the Westford Academy Community Service Team will bring it all together and we will again have a bandstand on the Common.
To Make a Donation
Gifts of all sizes are appreciated.
We have received a dozen $1000 gifts. Donors at this level will be acknowledged with a plaque on one section of the bandstand.
The wheelchair lift required by the state’s Architectural Access Board is an unanticipated expense. We hope to find donors to underwrite the $3000 cost.
Donations may be sent to PO Box 411, Westford, MA, 01886. Please make your check payable to the Common Restoration Project.
Contact common@westford.com for more information.