History – Greater Gardner MA Local News

History of Greater Gardner MA

• POEDM Launches (2/9/2024)

  

  Gardner Magazine Publisher Werner Poegel launches POEDM.net. Visit the website, CLICK HERE.

  Gardner Magazine Publisher Launches POEDM.net, Online AUDIO Commentary and Cool Art

  This is a website in which I’ll feature AUDIO commentary which cuts through partisanship, presents solutions with simple common sense, and preserves the dignity of all people. We also feature some cool art for each subject. POE DM is AUDIO that matters. The goal: Present an opinion which contains a common sense solution to an existing problem or issue and provide fun visuals to see along the way.

  Right now, you’ll see some COOL ART in dozens of categories. AUDIO commentary will be added gradually as I write and record it.

  Right now, Enjoy dozens of categories of cool 3D Hologram Art in the categories of all things Government, Human Behavior, People Issues, Economics, the Planet, Policy, Oversight, and much more. Visit the Website, CLICK HERE.

• Gardner Past (1/15/2023)

  

  The Gardner MA of the Past Comes to Life Via Neural Processing

  Through a process known as a neural filter, Gardner Magazine has created color photos from the original black and white. These are all from about 100 years ago. Remember, the people of the time did not live in a black and white world. They lived in color just like all of us.

  Top is a closeup of the Gardner Trolley and the Trolley on its route. Middle photos show the Gardner High Football Team from 1922 and the Gardner Basketball Team from 1933. Note the formal dress code of the time for coaches was suit and tie. Must have been hot sometimes! Bottom is sledding on Kendall Hill in South Gardner in 1923 and the very first Gardner City Council in 1923.

  If you have a black and white photo of Gardner MA you’d like us to colorize and put up on Gardner Magazine for all to see, please email to News@GardnerMagazine.com. Gardner is celebrating its 100^th Centennial as a City this year. Visit our Centennial page, click here.

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• Mr. History (1/15/2023)

  

  

  Gardner MA “Mr. History” Mike Richard Has a New Home – Here’s where it is…

  Beloved Local Columnist Mike Richard has a new home. Due to cutbacks at another publication, Mike Richard is no longer writing fresh material for their pages. However, if you’re looking for him, we know where you can find him.

  Mike Richard has a new website and you can feed your daily history addiction easily by entering your email address. Once you confirm it, you’ll get daily updates. The Gardner Scene by Mike Richard, CLICK HERE. Mike Richard is also contributing daily updates to the Gardner Centennial. Our Centennial page has all the links, click here.

  From “Mr. History” Mike Richard’s website, “Mike Richard’s first professional byline came on Jan. 30, 1978, when he covered Steve Hancock’s Gardner High girls’ basketball team in a game at Fitchburg’s famed “Brickyard.” Over the next four-plus decades he’s had the honor of documenting, reporting on and researching the local sports scene, as well as the Greater Gardner area with hundreds of columns and stories. In 1985, his “The Sporting Goods” column debuted. His “The Gardner Scene” column followed in 2003 and continues here today.” Website.

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• Lessons: Gardner History (1/11/2023)

  

  Gardner MA History has many Lessons for its Future

  Our article covers key dates in Gardner’s history, the business of chairs from 1805 to today, the location of Gardner Government, the Changing Schools, Pride in the Schools including Gardner’s Class Song lyrics of 1923, Recreation, Music in the Community and in the Schools, the Changing Library, the Changing Police Station and Fire Station needs, Getting the mail, Medical in the Community, Transportation, Business, and the Environment. Complete Article, click here.

  Listen to the presentation on any device, Click Play.

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• A Tale of Two Mayors (1/1/2023)

  

  Listen to a reenactment of the Inaugural Address (using AI technology) on any device. CLICK Play.

  The Gardner MA Mayor of the 1^st and 2^nd Centuries as a City

  Inaugurated in 1923, Gardner Mayor Chester Pearson was the Chief Executive of the Chair City of about 17,000 people. 100 years later, Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson serves about 21,500 people.

  100 years ago in his Inaugural Address, CLICK HERE, . Mayor Pearson spoke of the “advancement of the community as a whole.” and that the town had progressed to being “one of the model towns of the Commonwealth. ….it is quickly evidenced that we have not forgotten, in the midst of our labors, the finer and nobler thought of community life and spirit.” Pearson speaks of parks and playground, and the necessity of either an addition to the present high school or a new building. He spoke of the motorization of the Fire Department. He also stated, “Gardner is a fast growing City.”

  Using AI technology, Gardner Magazine has created a reenactment of Chester Pearson’s Inaugural Address which is presented here.

  Today, the parallels to 100 years ago are uncanny. Again, the community is advancing. Gardner is being showcased as one of the model cities in the Commonwealth due to its recent progress. Community life and spirit continues to be evident. Parks and playgrounds continue to be constructed. There is discussion once again of needing perhaps a new High School in 10 or 15 years. And once again, the Fire Department is slated to be further modernized. And Mayor Michael Nicholson would also say that with the number of new businesses which have opened in Gardner in the last 2 years, Gardner is a fast growing City.

  That is the tale of two mayors, 100 years apart, dealing with similar issues across the expanse of time.

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• Past and Future (12/31/2022)

  

  Gardner MA City Centennial Compares Past and Future

  In our segments, Gardner ” The Past and The Future”, Gardner Magazine will give you a glimpse of the past with a view to the future.

  What is important in any historical journey is to focus on how the past has steered the City of Gardner into positive future outcomes. For 2023, The Chair City is on a great trajectory of success and that will be our focus and context as we showcase various aspects of Gardner’s history.

  Gardner was first settled in 1764, incorporated as a town in 1785, and became a City in 1923. January 1, 2023 marks Gardner’s Chair City Centennial. For info throughout the year about various upcoming events, visit our Centennial page, CLICK HERE.

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• Typewriters Were (10/18/2022)

  

  Some Things Have Changed Since Gardner MA Actively Used Typewriters

  Just how did the City of Gardner maintain its documents since 1785? Originally, items were handwritten. The typewriter did not become common in offices until the mid 1880s. When Gardner became a City in 1923, the typewriter was an indispensable tool. However, the QWERTY keyboard layout, developed for typewriters 150 years ago remains the standard for computer keyboards.

  While Gardner is celebrating its Centennial as a City on January 1, 2023, it will have used personal computers for less than half that time. And the Internet has been a major influence in the life of its citizens for less than 30 years. HD Television such as what is currently used for the City of Gardner YouTube videos has been widespread in the United States for only the last 15 years. And the use of widespread “streaming” has only been possible since high speed internet has been available.

  Today it is common to type a document on a computer’s keyboard and save it in a variety of ways. For example, the Gardner City Council Agenda is downloadable from the City of Gardner website in pdf format. It can be read via computer without ever printing it. But this would not have been possible without the development of typewriters before Gardner was even a City.

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• Chairs of Gardner (9/19/2022)

  

  Chairs a Big Part of Gardner MA

  Gardner’s Big Chair is certainly part of the Chair City’s history of the past 100 years. The latest version was made in 1976 and refurbished by Maki Corp in 2011. The Big Chair is a tourist attraction for those visiting Gardner.

  Gardner Magazine has an entire page devoted to the Big Chair and Gardner’s furniture heritage. CLICK HERE

  

  There’s another “Chair Attraction” which may not be as well known, but is certainly quite visible. The “Chairs of the Week” are on constant display at the First Congregational Church in Gardner. There is one chair for every day. We are sure they are meant to illustrate the desire of the congregation to SHARE the joy of the gospel with anyone who chooses to enter. Website, CLICK HERE

  

  In Downtown Gardner, the chair on the street sign reminds everyone of Gardner’s furniture-making heritage. The sign is located where Central, Main, and West Lynde Streets meet.

  As you enter Gardner the sign says, “Welcome to Gardner, The Chair City.”

  

  

  The Headquarters of the Gardner Police Department is constructed so that the entrance is in the shape of a chair. The building was finished in 2015.

  

  

  The Gardner Museum showcases the history of the Chair City. View the museum Calendar of Events, CLICK HERE.

  The Gardner Museum, formerly the Library when it was built, has a chair in its design. Video shows part of its historical chair collections. Website, CLICK HERE

  

• History of Gardner (9/6/2022)

  

  History of Gardner MA in 5 minutes

  With Gardner about to celebrate its 100^th anniversary as a City on January 1, 2023, we thought it would be fun to create an AUDIO History of Gardner. Just click Play and learn a little bit about the Chair City of the World from our announcers Joe, Selene, and Kai.

• Mural at Rotary (5/10/2022)

  

  From a grid of letters and symbols, sprouts a beautiful Mural in Gardner MA

  On April 29, 2022 Mayor Nicholson posted this on Facebook, “If you were driving by the rotary behind Hannaford today you may have seen Christopher Luke starting on his new mural as part of our new art initiative. While I believe the artist should be the one to reveal what they’re working on, I can tell you it’s going to look great and is a tribute to our old chair manufacturing past. (The letters and symbols are his version of grid painting to help correlate the wall to the preliminary sketch)”   Now, here is what this beautiful mural looks like today.

  UPDATE: October 2023, see the completed Mural below.

  

  

  

  

• Mayor- Chair (3/12/2022)

  

  Watch the Mayor’s Updates on YouTube or on our Mayor’s Update page. CLICK HERE.

  Gardner MA Mayor Michael Nicholson Shares the Chair, Highlights Gardner Manufacturing, Focuses on Improvements, and Channels Gardner Culture.

  Mayor Nicholson reported on a visit to Vivitide in the Suffolk Industrial Park on the Gardner/Ashburnham line. (previous name: New England Peptide).

  

  Notable Gardner Industry

  The Mayor reports that the company is notably currently working on  targeted chemotherapy for cancer treatments.    Gardner might do a manufacturing month during the month of May to highlight Gardner manufacturers.

  

  Construction/Improvements

  Mayor Nicholson reminded the Chair City that soon construction will be underway again in Gardner. Map of Gardner projects, CLICK HERE.

  There’s various roadway improvements, development starting at Parker and Connors Street, the rear Main Street corridor, and other existing buildings. There will be contractor bids requested for 14 Leamy Street, and a City-owned land sale on April 13th. Should be a busy Spring in Gardner MA.

  

  Ordinances of Note

  Mayor Nicholson reviewed the various ordinances passed by the Gardner City Council at its last meeting including an increase in fees for the Fire and Building Departments, updates to Animal Control, options for Blighted Buildings, Restaurant Outdoor seating, and getting rid of an archaic arcades code.

  He reminded citizens that ordinances are only FINAL after the second printing, which is simply the term for a second vote. The Mayor thanked Acting Chief Alfano, says the investigation is wrapping up, “should have public resolution to everything that’s happening at the Police Department by the end of next week.”

  

  Channeling Gardner MA Culture

  Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson channeled Gardner culture, remarking that the first musical will be held at Gardner High School in 3 years. He mentioned the Community and Culture Festival coming up on March 16th and other events. To view the complete Gardner High School Calendar with details of upcoming events, CLICK HERE.

  

  You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

  The Gardner High School Spring Musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” will be held Thurs. March 17, Fri. March 18, and Saturday March 19, all shows start at 7pm at Landry Auditorium. Tickets at the door: Adults $10, Students and Seniors $8. Advanced tickets: Adults $8, Students and Seniors $5.

• Vinyl? (8/25/2021)

  

  

  

  

  What Happened to Vinyl

  So what  happened to vinyl, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and Hard Drives?   Well, vinyl is still around, albeit sought after by certain collectors.  CDS and DVDs are not even selling well at the flea market.   Hard Drives are increasingly being replaced by Solid State Drives which have no moving parts and are much faster.  

  And flash drives?  They are still around and still popular, along with a few varieties of digital memory cards for phones, digital cameras, and camcorders.

  Gotta love technology!   Oh, could somebody hand me that 8 track tape over there.   Thanks.

     

• Who’s on First? (8/3/2021)

  

  Who’s on First Communication Follies

  Sometimes today’s news feels like the communication follies with many newsmakers seemingly not knowing “Who’s on First”. So, we found the classic routine of Abbott and Costello and have it available for you to enjoy at left.

  The routine reminds me of the rift in true idea exchange which is occurring today with Americans disconcerted over the repeated disparaging comments coming from all political circles. Just like this comedic routine of 83 years ago, people are not listening to one another, creating a frustrating atmosphere for them and the public they serve. Would it be so hard to really listen, learn, reflect, and then better problem solve?

  Listen to this classic sketch and you’ll understand what we mean.

  Maybe by listening to the genuine concerns of others we can better find common ground and then ultimately common solutions.

• The Biggest Chair (8/1/2021)

  

  Gardner’s First Big Chair

  Read the complete article

  History of the “Big Chair”

  The history of the big Gardner Chair dates back over a hundred years, before Gardner MA became a city. At one time Gardner was home to a dozen furniture companies making more than a million chairs a  year and employing almost one thousand workers. 

  The 20 foot iconic chair on Elm Street is testament to the “Chair City of the World.”  In 1977, the chair was designated as the largest in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records and the record was listed in the 1978 edition of the book. 

  It is said the very first “Big Chair” was created by George C. Goodale of the Philander Derby Company in 1905 and was intended to be the company’s float in that year’s Labor Day parade.   Read the complete article.

• Times Have Changed (7/21/2021)

  

  Times Have Changed!

  Times have changed and we should truly be grateful.   There was a time when a couple would go out shopping for a typewriter.  Yes, that clunky thing with keys which we endured before the advent of personal computers made things so much easier.   Now, we can even get a tool which types for us when we speak to the computer through a microphone.    Instead of messy ribbons which only produced one copy of a document at a time (and then only if you typed perfectly or had white out), we now have printers.  So much better!  The manual typewriter is one thing I don’t miss.

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