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A century ago, Hudson’s movie theatre era was in golden age HUDSON | 5
First Church becomes ‘open and affirming’
Hudson forced to delay spending free cash until state certifies total
MARLBOROUGH | 5
HUDSON | 13
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Hudson rail trail progresses, offers economic development opportunities By Paul Hopkins Contributing Writer HUDSON – Hudson planners are gearing up for the next major step in building the town’s section of the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail (MCRT). Planning and Community Development Director Kristina Johnson said the town is preparing a request for proposals for design work on the next segment of the MCRT from Priest Street to Felton Street in Downtown Hudson. Federal transportation funding ($727,780) and funds from Hudson’s Community Preservation Committee ($181,940) will combine to provide $909,720 to complete 100 percent of the design, and position the project for eventual construction funding. The entire remaining segment of the MCRT through Hudson begins at the intersection of Priest Street and Main Street, following a westward route on the north side of Main Street. The path follows MCRT railroad lines that were abandoned by the railroad decades ago, and runs parallel to Coolidge Street to the Berlin line. The completed Hudson trail is expected to cost about $1 million per mile. “We will be working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) on the design process, and there are very specific requirements,” said Johnson. Design work will cover street crossings, a structural analysis, and right-of-way issues, which can be thorny. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority owns the rightof-way. MassDOT requires a public hearing when the design work reaches the 25 percent level. Johnson notes that rail trails aren’t just community assets, but economic-drivers. Rail Trail | 8
Vol. 51 | No. 26 | June 27, 2025
Mary Murphy bids farewell to Marlborough Public Schools By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – More than two decades ago, Mary Murphy stepped into Kane Elementary School to begin her administrative career as an assistant principal. She would’ve been perfectly happy to stay in that role for the remainder of her career, she said. Instead, Murphy became principal at Jaworek Elementary, then the assistant superintendent of Teaching and Learning. When Superintendent Michael Bergeron announced he was stepping down in 2022, Murphy was appointed his successor. Now, after three years, she’s preparing to retire. “Superintendent Murphy’s dedication will truly be missed. Her 20-plus year tenure with the district has had many facets. She has seen so much growth and change in our school system,” said Mayor J. Christian Dumais, the chair of the Marlborough School Committee. “Navigating that change has not been easy, Murphy | 8
Superintendent Mary Murphy gets ready to greet students at Kane Elementary School about to start their last day of classes on June 17. Murphy will be retiring at the end of this month. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
Revolution 250 Committee honors Williams Tavern By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – The city is joining in the celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary with several big events, from a parade to a cemetery tour. On June 20, members of the Marlborough Revolution 250 Committee, along with the mayor and members of the City Council, celebrated the first of two events honoring the Williams Tavern. The group dedicated a restored state tercentenary marker at the corner of Williams Street and Lakeside Avenue. It stands across the street from the site of the tavern, which is now a D’Angelos restaurant. At the dedication, several speakers thanked the city, especially the Department of Public Works, for restoring the sign. “It’s more than restoring a sign, it’s reviving a legacy,” said Adrian Gilbert, a member of the Marlborough
Revolution 250 Committee. Of the tavern itself, Gilbert called it “one of Marlborough’s lost treasures.” The tavern will take center stage on the evening of Nov. 16, when the Marlborough Country Club will be transformed into a colonial-era dining and social experience. The other signature event will be the parade, scheduled for June 27, 2026. On June 12, members of the Revolution 250 Committee welcomed the public to a planning session. According to committee member Stephen LeDuc, the parade is to be “the pinnacle” of the city’s celebration. Current plans call for the parade to step off at 4 p.m. and head to Ward Park. After the parade, there will be a colonial muster, followed by a drone light display at dusk. Although there have been several requests made to the committee for fireworks, LeDuc said that given the current fire regulations, a Revolution 250 | 12