What’s up with that arch thingy at Grafton Common?
Something new has sprouted on Grafton Common — and we’re not talking about the recently reseeded lawn (although that is looking rather nice).
Work began this week on the entrance arches into the town’s signature landmark, with the first rising over the west end. The metal arches are part of a $297,119 historical restoration, which will add brick walkways, hide utilities and add lighted metal archways at each entrance. Renovations to the bandstand (or gazebo, if that is your preference), will include the installation of an accessible ramp.
According to the Grafton Historical Society, the arches are a historical touch that was removed from Grafton Common years ago, with the only evidence of their existence sited at the center of the common — two granite columns with sawed-off metal in the centers of the tops.
The arches are also seen in the film “Ah, Wilderness!” filmed in Grafton in 1935. The bandstand/gazebo (the Historical Society has offered up the portmanteau “bandsta-zebo”) was built as a prop for the film and gifted to the town by MGM.
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN: one of the entrance arches was installed today on the Common – this one is on the west end. See the originals in the 1935 film “Ah, Wilderness” filmed in Grafton – the picture below is from the east entrance. The bandsta-zebo was build as a prop for this film. The only surviving original posts are in the center of the common with sawed-off metal in the centers of the tops of the granite columns near the electrical box.
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Ah, you picked up my reply to your question, nice! There’s more to the story if people are interested. And feel free to correct my typos in the future – if I knew this was going to be picked up so formally, I would have proofed it better. 🙂