Gardner, MA

365 Things to do in Worcester County - Enjoy a free concert in Gardner.  On Saturday, July 30th, 2011 at 6 pm., there will be a free concert in Gardner at the Monument Park on Central Street.  Southern Rail which excells in Blue Grass will be performing and the admission is free!

The City of Gardner is sponsoring this event.  If there is rain, come see Southern Rail on August 3, 2011.

The Monument Park is one of my favorite concert spots.  There is a beautiful bandstand funded and built completely by volunteers from the town.  Come early to get a good spot on the lawn, bring your own chairs or blanket, or both.

365 Things to do in Worcester County - visit The Gardner museum in Gardner. Did you know that Norther Worcester County was a busy manufacturing mecca? All the lakes and streams in Northern Worcester County allowed for such enterprise. Unfortunately, it polluted the rivers. I heard stories from older residents that they knew exactly what color the factories were dying paper by the color of the river. Pretty nasty, hah?

Well, Gardner museum sprang from that tradition of manufacturing enterprisses. An example is silversmithing. In 1887 Frank W. Smith began manufacturing silverware in Gardner and within a few years the Frank W. Smith Silver Company had one of the finest equipped factories in the country for the manufacture of high grade sterling silverware, both by machine and by hand. The company continued operations until 1958. Those beautiful silver services became the possession of the rich and famous uch as Princess Grace of Monaco and Queen Elizabeth of England.

Arthur Stone, one of the original apprentices, remained in business for thirty-six years, during which time he became known as “The Dean of American Silversmiths.” His works included hand wrought silver products such as toys, bowls, trophies, tankards, tea sets, table silver in all forms, altar sets for churches and often ecclesiastical pieces. A gold monstrance for the Church of the Advent in Boston is a fine example of this craftsmanship. Today, beyond private ownership, Arthur Stone’s workmanship can be found in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum and the Worcester Museum of Fine Arts among many public institution.

Here are a few of the other items you will see in the Gardner museum:

Fire Fighting

The history of fire fighting can be traced back to the incorporation of Gardner in 1876, and one room of the Museum is reserved to preserve the history of Gardner’s fire fighting tradition. Some of the items on display here include:

• a hand drawn hose reel
• the community’s first fire alarm system, circa 1890
• a mechanical truck siren
• a fire house alarm bell
• an apparatus bell used before sirens were mounted on trucks
• an air alarm horn
• an early 1900s foam generator
• a speaking trumpet
• various fire fighting clothing including a chief’s dress helmet
• various nozzles and hose fittings

Other Exhibits

• thirteen appliances manufactured by the Florence Stove Company whose plant in Gardner was in operation between 1899 and 1957. These appliances include such products as old gas space heaters and an oil and gas range.
• old time recorders from the Simplex Recorder Company which was established in 1902. The first practical time recorder was invented in Gardner in 1888 and, because the device was so simple to operate, the firm that was eventually formed to manufacture it was called Simplex.
• religious artifacts from the Ohave-Shalom, Gardner’s first and only synagogue whose congregation has been dissolved.
• a gallery that exceeds over 130 photographs of Gardner’s development.
• paintings by local artists, the most significant of which is Harrison Cady’s “Spanish Cart.” Cady is well known as the illustrator of Thornton Burgess’ children’s books.numerous memorabilia of Gardner’s civic, social, political and ethnic organizations.

Known internationally as "Chair City", Gardner was once home to more than 20 chair factories that produced 4 million chairs per year. It is also referred to as the "Furniture Capital of New England". Gardner is also home to Mount Wachusett Community College and Heywood Hospital. It is in both the 01440 and 01441 zip code and 978 area code.

Founded: 1785

Population: 20,682

Size: 23 sq. miles

Schools:
http://www.city-data.com/school/Gardner-Massachusetts.html

Website:
www.gardner-ma.gov

Looking to buy a home in Gardner? Give me a call!

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