Back to the future

Welcome back!

This week we’re mixing things up a bit. With few municipal meetings to cover, we’re diving into a slice of Sudbury history with our feature story.

Speaking of history, summer is quickly going to become ancient history. School starts next week. That means you can count on increased traffic on Sudbury’s roads. The intersection at Hudson Road and Peakham Road has been an area of concern for several town committees. It now features blinking lights, new lines and a crossing for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. While it might look like a real-life reenactment of the game Frogger, it’s actually quite dangerous, and the “frogs” are real human beings. (But don’t hurt frogs either!)

In a recent meeting of the Rail Trails Advisory Committee, they discussed how the new traffic lights can’t be turned on until they’re synchronized with the lights at the Town center intersection, and they’re dependent on the State to some degree. That means it could take some time to finish the intersection, but kids are heading back to school next week. Caution is advised.

Here’s what we have for you this week:

1. Primary Election Early Voting Begins

2. Sudbury PMC Kids Ride 2024

3. What’s That Boarded Up Red Building At Haynes and Pantry? 

4. SPS To Roll Out Anonymous Reporting System Via Sandy Hook Promise

5. SudburyWeekly.com News Roundup

Let’s get into it!

Primary Election Early Voting Begins

By the League of Women Voters of Sudbury

Early in-person voting in the state primary election begins Saturday, Aug. 24. That is also the last day to register to vote in that election. You can find information about who is on the ballot here, view a candidates’ forum for the Democratic candidates for Governor’s Council here and watch an informational forum explaining what the Governor’s Council is and does here.

Voters in all six precincts who wish to vote early in person will vote at Town Hall, 322 Concord Rd. The hours for early voting for the primary election are:

Saturday, Aug. 24, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Aug.26, 28 and 29, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. – noon

The last day to register to vote in the primary election is Saturday, Aug. 24. You can check your voter registration status or register online at www.VoteInMA.com.

If you have received a mail ballot, be sure to return it in time for it to be received in the town clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Sept. 3. You can mail it or drop it in the ballot dropbox behind Town Hall, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Be sure to sign the yellow envelope or the ballot will be rejected. You can verify that your ballot has been received at www.TrackMyBallotMA.com.

Answers to frequently asked questions about voting are here.

Sudbury PMC Kids Ride 2024

Submitted by Tyler Steffey

On Sunday, September 8th, Sudbury will host our inaugural Sudbury PMC Kids Bike Ride. Kids aged 2-14 may choose to navigate a 3-mile, 1-mile, or enclosed parking lot loop all starting from Curtis Middle School in Sudbury, MA. (Adults may opt to register as volunteers if they would like to ride with the kids). Before the ride there will be music and bike decorating; during the ride and following there will be an Ice-Cream Truck, Taco Truck, huge bouncy castle, lawn games, music and more. All registered riders will get a free ice cream from our friends at Trombetta’s Farm Ice Cream. Registration takes place from 8:30am-9:45am. The ride is from 10:00am-11:30am, and food and games will be available from 10:00am - 1:00pm.

The Sudbury PMC Kids Bike Ride empowers young participants to contribute to a meaningful cause while enjoying a fun activity. By offering three course options, every child will have the opportunity to participate and make a difference - regardless of age or ability. Each ride distance is carefully planned to be safe and enjoyable, with designated routes through historic Sudbury neighborhoods that are well-marked and closely monitored by volunteers. For the youngest participants, the tot lot loop provides a secure environment where kids can ride in a contained area - strollers, scooters, tricycles are ALL welcome!

Beyond the joy of bike riding, the Sudbury PMC Kids Bike Ride serves as a powerful educational experience for children, teaching them about the impact of collective efforts in fighting cancer. As they pedal for a purpose, they learn about empathy, community involvement, and the importance of supporting breakthroughs in treatment and cures at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This event not only raises crucial funds for cancer research but also instills valuable life lessons in the young riders; collectively we all pedal towards a more cancer-free future. As with all PMC rides, every penny donated goes directly to cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber.

Please join us on September 8th, 2024, for the Sudbury PMC Kids Bike Ride. We are also looking for volunteers of ALL ages to help us host an impactful and safe event. If you would prefer to contribute from a distance, you can donate to the ride by clicking the link below. 

> Register to RIDE here

> Register to VOLUNTEER here

> Donate to the Sudbury PMC Kids Bike Ride here

If you have any questions, please email the event organizer Tyler Steffey at [email protected].

What’s That Boarded Up Red Building At Haynes and Pantry?

By Kevin LaHaise

At the intersection of Haynes Road and Pantry Road, a bit of Sudbury history stares out at residents, as it has for decades. But the red, boarded up building isn’t as well known as other historic landmarks in Sudbury. It has been boarded up for as long as most locals can remember. Only the longest-tenured Sudbury residents and local historians seem to remember what it once was, and what it meant to the community. 

The building is referred to as the Bowker Store, Bowker’s Store, and Bowker’s General Store in documents reviewed by Sudbury Weekly. For a time it also served as a gas station, and as a post office. It was built in the early 1900’s, and was one of several general stores that served the community.

The store is listed as a historical resource in the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) and offers the following information in the historical narrative: “Known as the Bowker Store, this North Sudbury commercial property was built in the early 1900s and served as a general store, post office, and gas station. Everett Bowker, descended from Capt. Daniel Bowker of the Revolution and from Bowkers who are known to have been in Sudbury from 1707.” 

Though Sudbury had several general stores, the MACRIS listing calls out the importance of this one: “Although vacant this building is important as it is the only remaining example of an early twentieth century commercial building in North Sudbury.”

But the MACRIS listing only cites one reference - an oral history provided by a descendant of another prominent Sudbury family; the Bartons. No other references are mentioned. That relationship and the “circa 1910” construction estimate both check out, as we were able to find a transfer of the postmaster to Everett Bowker from Frank P. Barton. But the operation of the store, and the role it played in the community, isn’t as well documented. 

Fading Memories 

A review of the digital archives of the Goodnow Library, the Sudbury Historical Society and a few other sources turned up less than we expected on the Bowker Store, but there were some interesting pieces of information. There are a few pictures of the store, and a couple newspaper articles that mention the store. A June 5, 1975 article in the Sudbury Citizen included a picture and the following description: 

“The small general store on Pantry Road closed in the early 1960’s. At one time it served as the North Sudbury Post Office and served everything from safety pins, clothing and shotguns to a fine piece of steak. Alvin Noyes, of Concord Road, reported that his uncle, Everett Bowker, opened the stores in the ’20’s and operated it for at least four decades. The ex­cellent meat was purchased in the Boston market district. Before opening this store, Bowker had another near the old North Sudbury railroad station and at the same time he was station agent and dispatcher.”

More recently, the Sudbury Historical Society’s Oral History Project captured the sentiments of a resident who reminisced about frequenting the store during his childhood. He noted that North Sudbury had little other commercial businesses at the time. 

In 2019, resident Steve Greene gave a talk for the Sudbury Historical Society on the history of the postal service in Sudbury. During that talk, he discussed the Bowker store and Everett Bowker’s role as postmaster for fifty years. (25:00)

One detail that has faded more recently is that the Bowker Store was also a gas station. In the 1980’s it had a bright orange Gulf sign affixed to a pole on the front-right side of the building. Greene’s presentation exhibits a Socony sign in the same location at an earlier date. 

An obituary published in the Fence Viewer for Everett Bowker’s wife, Eva, claimed the store had the oldest gas license in the town, and that it was issued in 1913. That seems like an unusual detail to put in an otherwise brief obituary, but a detail we appreciated nonetheless. 

A Local Institution 

The Sudbury Enterprise newspaper covered the closing of the store in December, 1965. The article cited the recent passing of Everett Bowker, and that his wife, Eva, had been running the store on her own for some time. 

The article indicates that the store was built in 1913, opposite the North Sudbury Railroad Station (that’s a whole separate story!), and was later moved to the opposite side of the property, where it sits today. The article closes with a fond farewell: 

Indeed, the available records demonstrate that the Bowker Store, and the Bowkers, were a fixture in the community. Bowker advertised in the Sudbury High School Pen-Pointer in 1934:

The Sudbury Citizen newspaper even covered Everett and Eva’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1957.

Decades after closing, the store retained its historical significance even as disuse took its toll. In many ways the store itself is a living testament to the evolution of Sudbury, bridging its agrarian roots to the suburbanization era. Artist Jane E. Brown included the store in a 1989 watercolor painting that featured a “who’s who” of Sudbury’s most iconic structures.  

The store appeared to be in decline in the decades that followed. A Facebook group called “If You Grew Up In Sudbury, MA” features several posts reminiscing about the store, and several comments bemoaning the declining conditions of the structure. 

More recently, the owners appear to have invested in some restoration work. Today, the store has a fresher coat of red paint, and crisp white trim. The sign pole is still there today, albeit without the gasoline signs that featured so prominently in older photos. 

A Store Once More?

The Bowker store sits on the corner of a residential parcel, but it actually retains its business district zoning. The store side of the parcel is zoned as a tiny little business district (BD 10 in teal below). That means certain types of businesses could, in theory, open on that corner of the land. Of course, modern-day zoning requirements for things like vehicle parking could make that difficult. While it seems unlikely that Bowker’s Store will reopen, the zoning detail makes it one of the most unique parcels in any residential area throughout Sudbury. 

Public records indicate that there was at least some effort to do something with the store after the Bowkers closed it. The property changed hands in the 1960’s, but the Selectmen declined a beer and wine license application from the new owner in 1966. (Page 14) 

The Sudbury Historical Commission reached out to the owner in 2019 to open a dialogue about the history of the store and thoughts on preservation and restoration. Those conversations didn’t go much further, and Covid-19 arrived the following year. 

And yet, all around the country there is a growing conversation about neighborhood grocery stores, farm stands and farmer’s markets. Experts point to their impact on community connectedness, reduced carbon emissions, and reduced food waste. 

It appears Sudbury may have retained enough of its history to ensure what’s old still has a chance to become new again. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is mere two doors down on Haynes Road. A once convenient location near the railroad was a useful feature of the original Bowker Store. When the rail trail opens, the corridor will be brought to life with a new type of transportation, and potential foot traffic. 

Sudbury’s agricultural roots are not far from the store either. Land continues to be farmed in all directions in close proximity to the store. That includes farming operations by Siena Farms and Verrill Farm. 

Is it likely that the Bowker Store would one day reopen its doors to the public as a modern-day neighborhood grocer? That seems like a long shot. It’s somewhat remarkable that the property even retained its business district zoning in the first place. A March, 1983 issue of the Sudbury Town Crier and Fence Viewer covered the development of a Town Master Plan, and featured a photo of the store with a caption: “Formerly the site of the Bowker Store this small inactive business district in North Sudbury is an area that the Planning Board would like to see rezoned.” As fate would have it, that didn’t end up happening.

As a result, it’s not impossible to imagine Sudbury’s youth riding their bikes down a rail trail to pick up a candy bar at a historic general store. The store is still standing, and the rail trail will officially open soon. The potential, however latent, remains. 

Perhaps that’s what Everett Bowker saw in Sudbury when he opened the store in the first place: potential.  

[Editor’s Note: This story is published with immense gratitude for assistance provided by the Sudbury Historical Society and several residents familiar with the history of the Bowker Store. Thank you!]

SPS To Roll Out Anonymous Reporting System Via Sandy Hook Promise

By Kevin LaHaise

At the Monday, August 19 meeting of the Sudbury Public Schools School Committee, assistant superintendent Annette Doyle updated the committee on the rollout of a new anonymous reporting system called Say Something and is operated by Sandy Hook Promise.

Doyle explained that students and adults will be able to submit reports regarding “bullying, harassment, heaven forbid the potential of a school catastrophe or something like that, could be suicide ideation, anything that they’re worried about for themselves or some other member of the community they can anonymously report…” The system is free to the district for five years. (16:33)

Students in grades 4-8 will be trained on how to use the system sometime in late October according to Doyle. The district is currently onboarding designated staff teams to the system, including building administrators, guidance counselors, psychologists and other groups.

Doyle explained that anonymous reports submitted via an app, website or phone call will be fielded by a crisis center in Florida. If it’s a life-threatening situation, the crisis center will immediately contact 911 and the district team. If the report is not life-threatening, it is routed to the district team and school-based team.

Once the student training is complete, the system will go live. Prior to student training, the teams will conduct a “tip test" to ensure the response procedures are ironed out and tips are handled properly. Superintendent Brad Crozier indicated the the crisis center is staffed by “highly trained professionals that are basically crisis counselors.”

As of Monday, it was unknown if the student training would be online or school based. Doyle noted that they will receive resources from Sandy Hook Promise to facilitate student training.

Parting Thoughts

If you haven’t clicked through already, you should make a point to watch the League of Women Voters sponsored forum with the two candidates who are on the Democratic September state primary ballot for a Governor’s Council seat. It is available on SudburyTV here.

You don’t need to know much about the Governor’s Council to enjoy this one. What you do need to know is that this is an instant classic, deserving of the biggest chef’s kiss in obscure primary campaign history.

Here’s an amuse bouche:

The incumbent, Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney, faced off with challenger Mara Dolan. About 20 minutes into the debate, Devaney had to be informed that the debate was, in fact, a debate.

After Dolan criticized Devaney’s record on the council, Devaney stated that she thought the forum rules prohibited the candidates from talking about each other. It was then explained that the rule was specific to the closing statements only. Mere moments later, Devaney questioned: “Are we going to go back and forth and debate?” The moderator responded: “That’s the whole point of a debate.” (19:00)

The debate has a little bit of everything. Requests for the questions to be repeated over and over again, complete disregard for time limits on answers by Devaney, a closing statement from Dolan that is just her reading the names of people that endorsed her, enough head shaking to keep every spine specialist in Boston busy for years to come, and an exasperated moderator staring into the abyss at the end. In other words: it is must-see-TV.

Onward!