Walpole, Massachusetts 2024

walpole,MassachusettsIn Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, there is a town called Walpole. Boston, Massachusetts, which is 15 miles north of Walpole, is the closest large city. About 20,000 people call Walpole home, according to a 2020 estimate.

Walpole, which has its roots in agriculture, has morphed into a mostly residential area with several commercial and industrial parks.

Walpole is located close to the junction of Interstate 95 and Interstate 93, making it simple to get to nearby towns and cities. The Walpole station on the MBTA Commuter Rail, which goes to Boston, is also located in the community.

Walpole's historical society has relocated the 1750 William Bird House to the public park that bears his name. On the National Register of Historic Places, there are several houses from the 1700s and 1800s that are open to the public. The Bird Observation Area is nearby. The Walpole Historical Society also runs the circa 1870s Oakes-G Oscar Fletcher House, which is currently being restored.

In downtown Walpole, the Lydia Boyce Blaisdell Committee maintains the 1799 Lydia Boydell Blaisdell House. Since its opening in 1981, the house has been available to the public. A number of historical items, including the Hutchinson Family Singers Collection, are on display at the Walpole Public Library.

The Union Congregational Church (Walpole, Massachusetts), established in 1724, is one of the oldest Protestant congregations in the nation. The church's current structure was built in 1876. Two Tiffany stained-glass windows, a bronze plaque detailing the history of the congregation, and several memorial stained glass windows enhance its interior. Since its founding in 1959, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Resurrection has used the former 1887 Franklin Street Methodist Church structure.

Walpole's sports teams are known as the Rebels, and their colors are red and black. The local high school, Walpole High School, which has about 2,100 students, bears the same name. Walpole High's freshman football team has been particularly successful, capturing four consecutive division championships in 2005.

The Rebel Football team competes at Turco Field, which has lights, permanent seating for 500, and a FieldTurf surface. There are several sporting activities and community organizations that take place at the field during the spring, summer, and fall.

During its nearly 30-year existence, the Walpole Express has had several home fields, including Legion Field, Boyce Field, and Kepling Field. The local softball team, the Walpole Express, competes in the Bay State League.

Bird Park is home to the annual Walpole Summer Musical production, which has been produced since 1984. ( exceptions were made in 2020 and 2022 due to Covid) Productions have been held outdoors at the William Bird Playhouse Amphitheater, part of the Walpole Public Library. Previously, the fenced-in space was a swampy area that was home to many large stones and blackberry bushes.

Local residents, actors, artists, and musicians, as well as crew members and stage managers, are all welcome to participate in the entirely volunteer-run Summer Musical. Shows demand at least 30 cast members, and crew. A typical year can feature anywhere from 50 to 100 people. (One year had a cast, and crew of 140) all voluntarily donating their time.

All shows are presented free of charge to the public. Typically, a donation "suggestion" is made at the door.

The production is presented with an old-fashioned "Curtain Call" of all the actors after the show.

In honor of the town's 300th anniversary, David Webber produced and directed "The Walpole Opry" for the 1975 summer show. For the 25th anniversary show in 2009, Webber and music director/composer, John R. B. McNally, created "The Magic of Bird Park," a show that included every local, past and present, who had been involved in any capacity, and wanted to participate.

Due to Covid restrictions/issues, the summer musical was put on the backburner for a couple of years, but "The Walpole Opry" was revisited in 2022 (the 40th anniversary of the production) and was a huge success. It was the 38th year of Summer theatre in Walpole, with over 66 performances over the previous 38 years (some years had more than one show with various casts).

The shows usually run at full capacity - 275 patrons - and are completely free to the public with huge crowds and enthusiasts returning year after year. Over time, local businesses, organizations, and individuals have donated to make the production self-sufficient.

The organization accepts limited-time donations for each show.