This Month in Natick History (from Society Newspaper Archives)
May 3, 1905 Issue: Page 1 – advertisement. “Red Cross Hospital – Emergency and General 42 East Central St., Natick…” “$1.00 entitles husband, wife and all their children under 16 years of age to medical advice and surgical treatment for one year.” They were open 24 hours a day – had house surgeons.
May 10, 1905 Issue: Page 4 – “Natick” – The Teamsters are on strike. They demand 9 hours a day!
Page 4 – “Natick” – “Thomas Connolly, the American League umpire was in town a few days last week.” He later became head of American League Umpires. (He lived on Wilson Street in Natick. Many major league players visited him at home.)
May 18, 1904 Issue: Page 4 – “Natick” – “Chas. Coombs has a large Knox auto.”
Page 4 – “Natick” – “Francis Bigelow is the owner of a five seated white touring machine.”
Page 4 – “Natick” – “J.E. Belger has the auto craze and has purchased a double seater.”
Page 4 – “Natick” – “Wm. Pfeiffer of South Natick is the proud owner of a Pierce (Arrow?) automobile.”
May 30, 1900 Issue: Page 5 – “Natick” – “Two miles of track on the new Needham electric line to Natick has been laid and the road will be in operation July 1st. This means new business for Natick with a five cent fare.” (And cheap transportation to the Riverside Ballroom on Water Street, South Natick).
Page 5 – “Natick” – “Whooping cough has full sway in Natick. About nine out of ten children are sick with it.”
Page 5 – “Natick” – “Piper Donovan won the 100 yard dash of Wayside Park Wednesday, doing the distance in 10 seconds. [Remarkable !!]