Post Cards
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

June 12, 1997

      Through the miracle of personal computers, and the post card art of the early 1900's we can look back and see how things have changed in Framingham over the past century. (And see how some things have stayed pretty much the same!)

      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)

NOTE:   Thoughout these pages you may click on the small post card images to display a full-screen view of the card.   Although only some of the postcards bear handwriting, addresses, postage, and post marks, we have scanned the backs of all cards since some of the cards were published with interesting text and graphics on the reverse side..

       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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