from
Framingham
Special thanks to Harvey Chafitz for allowing us to present his personal collection of Framingham post cards. Harvey has collected the post cards over the past 25 years as he and his wife Pepi raised their two children; son James, a 1983 FSH graduate, and daughter Jen, a 1989 FSH graduate.
Harvey and Pepi both served as Town Meeting Members, (Pepi 1982-91, Harvey 1983-91), and, among other issues, were both active in "Save Our Neighborhood" an organization which opposed zoning changes for Macomber
Estate that could have led to dense development and heavy traffic in the historic Salem End area of town.
Introduction
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June 12, 1997
Perhaps you'll find a handwritten message from a relative or ancestor, or get an idea of how your neighborhood looked 100 years ago, or maybe you'll just relax and enjoy spending a little time looking through this internet window on the past.  (view back of card)
The first card shown (above) is of a "View Looking toward Normal Hill and
Nobscot Mountain, So. Framingham, Mass."
The card was postmarked Dec 1, 1911, and appears to have been written by a young man to his friend in Pennsylvania.... "...Nov. 30th. Friend John, I am sorry I cannot come this Saturday as Papa & Mama are going away to butcher will come some sat. soon will let you know before I come. Suther S."...
There are many other views of Framingham's lakes, mountains, and other natural subjects pictured as they were at the turn of the 20th century.
The next card (shown below) is titled "Framingham Mass., Gates Elm".
It shows a view behind the former Timothy's Spirits building, near the recently developed 9/90 project (intersection of Worcester Road and
Massachusetts Turnpike at exit 12).  (view back of card)
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The next card (shown below) is titled "South Framingham, Mass, St. Stephen Church. (Catholic)". It was sent on the 4th of July, 1911 to a Miss M.L. Cooper, Waltham, Mass, and
contains the following handwritten message- "...I am having a grand time. Am going to Sax- onville tonight to see the fire- works. With the best love to all, I am, JCG "...  (view back of card)
Next is a view of Saxonville Square.
Historic restoration of the buildings around the square was done in the 1980's,
and, aside from the dirt roads and trees, the intersection looks pretty much the same today.  (view back of card)
The card is titled "The Square and Town Pump, Saxonville, Mass. - J. F. Eber." and was published as No. 7752 by the The Metropolitan News Co., Boston, Mass, and Germany. Many of the cards were published by J.F. Eber Co., Framingham, Mass. Research by Framingham Town Historian Stephen W. Herring found Jacob F. Eber listed in the Framingham business directories for 1898, 1900, 1906, and 1911 as a stationer. An ad in the 1911 directory says "J.F. Eber - Bookseller and Stationer", and all listings showed the Eber Co. being located in the Nobscot Block. It appears that although Eber published the cards, or sponsored their publication, he was probably not the photographer, (there were only two professional photographers in Framingham at that time; Cokell and Phipps).
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