As ‘Dexter’ comes to town, a look at Grafton’s past starring roles
No one knows what is about to happen at 3 Chestnut Street, a blue clapboard historic home built in 1875.
Given that it will be a filming site for the Showtime series “Dexter,” it might be murder.
“Dexter” is the highest profile production to come to Grafton in the past few years, part of a wave of movies and TV shows that have taken advantage of Massachusetts’ film tax incentives and brought Hollywood stars (and a few homegrown Afflecks and Wahlbergs) to the Bay State. The revival of the series has Grafton, along with Shelburne Falls and Sturbridge, subbing in for the Pacific Northwest.
“Dexter” is scheduled to shoot in Grafton May 17-21 at 3 Chestnut Street, which will be a character’s home, and is renting out Norcross Park, the parking lot at the Grafton Flea Market, and the former DPW facility on Upton Street to store equipment trucks. Night shoots are expected, snow will be flying and a portion of Chestnut Street may be closed off during filming.
Other projects filmed in Grafton include…
“The Society,” Netflix
Inspired by “The Lord of the Flies,” the one-season Netflix series turned Grafton High School into West Ham High School, where students returning from a school trip somehow slip into an alternate universe where all the adults have disappeared. The high school’s Commons area, football field, and auditorium are featured. The series filmed in Grafton in 2018.
“Beacon Hill,” streaming online
Online soap opera “Beacon Hill,” following the dramatic lives of a family of Boston politicians, dropped into the Grafton Country Store in 2019 to film several scenes. The cast, including Louise Sorel, Nadia Bjorlan, and Marem Hassler, was apparently as eager to shop in the store as they were to film there.
“The March Sisters at Christmas,” Lifetime
A summer heat wave isn’t exactly the best time to bundle up in sweaters and coats, but the modern day take on “Little Women” filmed on North Street and at the Grafton Country Store in 2012 was, most decidedly, a Christmas movie. The cast of “The March Sisters at Christmas” had to settle for cooler air pumped in from the outside of the Greek Revival home at 35 North Street.
“Ah, Wilderness!”
Welcome to the birth of the Grafton Common bandstand! Based on the Eugene O’Neill play, “Ah, Wilderness!” was filmed in 1935 on and around Grafton Common, which is prominently featured during a Fourth of July concert scene. The bandstand constructed for the scene was gifted to the town and now is a cherished landmark.
Multiple Grafton residents were used as extras in the film. If you listen closely, you may hear them arguing about whether the structure should be called a bandstand or a gazebo.
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