Pierrette Corriveau was born in Bellingham, MA at Silver Lake, but says that she and her mother must have been transported to Woonsocket, RI immediately afterwards since her birth was registered in Woonsocket. She has stayed in this area her whole life, raising seven children with her husband, the late Eugene Corriveau, who for many years was the town collector and Treasurer in Bellingham. [As told to Marjorie Turner Hollman] Continue reading
Author Archives: Marjorie
Easy Walking on the paths at Bellingham, MA Town Common
The Bellingham Town Common isn’t what might first come to mind as an “easy walking trail” but it has well-kept walking paths that are ideal for families to enjoy, especially on a fall day when the foliage glows in the sunlight. Skateboards and dogs are prohibited, but there’s no mention of a bike prohibition. I’ve seen lots of young children starting to learn to ride their small bikes along the paths, parents trailing behind, urging encouragement. I’ve pushed a stroller, new grandchild snoozing away, while his big sister enjoyed the compact playground tucked away from the road.
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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Fleeting time for fall foliage
Lookout Rock in Northbridge, MA on Quaker Street always offers a lovely view of the countryside. Lots of “leaf peepers” hit the highways and head north or west from here to see the sights, but miss the sometimes spectacular views right in our backyard. Right now I am hitting the trail as often as I can to capture views such as this before winter sets in. I am keenly aware of the seasons. I also know that spring will return!
Marjorie Turner Hollman
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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Beautiful views of Choate Park, Medway, MA
From the whimsical to the sublime, Choate Park in Medway MA is a fun place to visit. The trail around the pond is easy walking, the trail between the park and Medway High School provides stone walls, minimal poison ivy(!) and more easy walking. The playground, with “Choatie” the turtle, always makes me smile.
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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View from the road, the Charles River in Bellingham
The Charles River appears in unlikely locations in the communities it wends its way through; under busy roads, along small byways, beside and under interstates. Here’s a glimpse of the Charles as it meanders under High Street in Bellingham. In the spring it makes itself known here by flooding the road and making it nearly impassable. In late summer it’s well-behaved, easy to miss unless you make the time to stop and enjoy the view
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Marjorie Turner Hollman is a personal historian who loves the outdoors, and has completed two guides to Easy Walking trails in Massachusetts, “Easy Walks in Massachusetts 2nd edition,” and “More Easy Walks in Massachusetts.” A native Floridian, she came north for college and snow! New England Regional Chair for the Association of Personal Historians, she is a Certified Legacy Planner with LegacyStories.org, and is the producer of numerous veterans interviews for the Bellingham/Mendon Veteran’s History Project. http://www.marjorieturner.com
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walks-Massachusetts-2nd-Northbridge/dp/0989204340
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Exposing the Hidden Charles on the High Street Trail
The High Street Ball fields in Bellingham, MA appear to simply be a recreation area for organized sports in Bellingham. But when you venture to the back of the fields, you’ll find bat boxes and on the far right you’ll discover an opening in the trees that provides access to trails that will take you to a lovely spot along the Charles River. The path is, for the most part, quite easy walking. The biggest challenge is the mosquitoes. Except in late fall and winter, be prepared to use bug repellent!
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a personal historian who loves the outdoors, and has completed two guides to Easy Walking trails in Massachusetts, “Easy Walks in Massachusetts 2nd edition,” and “More Easy Walks in Massachusetts.” A native Floridian, she came north for college and snow! New England Regional Chair for the Association of Personal Historians, she is a Certified Legacy Planner with LegacyStories.org, and is the producer of numerous veterans interviews for the Bellingham/Mendon Veteran’s History Project. http://www.marjorieturner.com
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walks-Massachusetts-2nd-Northbridge/dp/0989204340
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Favorite spots along the trail
As I prepared these local trails book, I took photos along the way, not all of which fit into the book. I’m sharing them here in hopes that people will get excited about these beautiful, local places and get
out for hikes to see these places for themselves. Above is a view of the Charles River as it approaches North Maple Street in Bellingham, MA. Below is the Blackstone River as it flows through the Blackstone Gorge in Blackstone, MA.
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a personal historian who loves the outdoors, and has completed two guides to Easy Walking trails in Massachusetts, “Easy Walks in Massachusetts 2nd edition,” and “More Easy Walks in Massachusetts.” A native Floridian, she came north for college and snow! New England Regional Chair for the Association of Personal Historians, she is a Certified Legacy Planner with LegacyStories.org, and is the producer of numerous veterans interviews for the Bellingham/Mendon Veteran’s History Project. http://www.marjorieturner.com
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walks-Massachusetts-2nd-Northbridge/dp/0989204340
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The Hidden Charles reveals itself in North Bellingham
By Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of Bellingham Bulletin)
The Charles River is relatively small as it wends its way through Bellingham, traveling from Hopkinton (its source) to Boston, where it spills into the sea. But years ago, even these small waterways were viewed as potential sources of power. Thus, when you walk along the conservation land just off North Maple Street in Bellingham that borders the Charles River, you’ll quickly discover the remnants of an old dam. I suspect that many people pass right by, ignorant of this lovely spot as they drive north on Maple Street on their way to Rt. 126 and destinations farther north. Continue reading
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Choate Park, Medway offers quiet walks, and a lovely waterfall
Choate Park
By Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy The Bellingham Bulletin)
Choate [one syllable] Park in Medway, MA is a great place for readers…and walkers, we hope! The crusty snow pack and ice have made woodland treks extremely difficult in the winter. But getting the winter kinks out of our legs with a gentle walk around Choate Pond is just the thing. An additional marked trail through the woods offered promise for new adventures and places to explore when the ground dries out. The fifteen foot waterfall cascading over the dam that created Choate Pond is the first thing you see as you drive into the parking lot. We circled the pond on the packed dirt path, an easy walk for grandmothers and a little girl in a stroller. Along the way we saw a well-equipped playground, and several sandboxes with toys at the ready for children with lots of energy. A charming stone turtle, “Choatie,” rested in the center of one of the sand piles, just the right size for children to climb on to take a slow ride. Tennis courts, a volleyball court and ball fields make Choate Park a center for recreational activities in Medway. Continue reading
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Ambler recalls a time when addresses weren’t necessary
Lee G. Ambler was Bellingham’s town counsel for forty-five years. He was instrumental in obtaining for the town the land on Blackstone Street where the town high school, library, fire department, and senior center are located. He was born and grew up in Bellingham and returned after college and law school to open a law practice and raise a family with his wife, neuropathologist Dr. Mary Ambler. Continue reading
