Points Of Interest
Civil War Memorial, Watch Hill and the Old North Cemetery
The oldest war memorial in the Town Of Weymouth is the Civil War Memorial that is located within the Old North Cemetery. It sits atop the highest point in the cemetery in the east section off of North Street. The hill is known historically as Watch Hill and was the site of the first church (or parish meetinghouse) in Weymouth. The church was later to be built on Church Street, a short distance away, overlooking Weymouth Heights. The memorial contains the names of those from Weymouth who were casualties of the Civil War and is surrounded by four cannons. At one time there were cannon balls stacked in four locations around the monument also. In 1923, the town's Tercentenary Celebration featured a parade that started at the then, new tablet commemorating Myles Standish (who was responsible for killing two famous indians that are, ironically, buried here also) atop Great Hill and culminated at this monument. The North Cemetery is supposedly the second oldest cemetery in Massachusetts, according to their web site. It contains the names of Weymouth's and Massachusett's oldest families as well as some historically prominent individuals such as Thomas Watson, General Benjamin Pratt, General Soloman Lovell and Cotton Tufts.
The Last Alarm
On October 8, 1929, Fire Chief John Quincy Hunt, while responding to a grease fire at a bakery in Jackson Square, died at the scene. At 56 years of age he apparently had a heart attack due to the excessive heat generated by the fire in combination with the chemicals used to extinguish the flames. The Weymouth Gazzette reported that Chief Hunt's father had also been killed in action during the Civil War at the age of 24.
11 years later, in 1940, Captain James J. McCarthy, brother of then Chief Timothy McCarthy would fall from a second story window fighting a blaze on Grant Street in East Weymouth. His collar bone and back would be broken and he suffered internal injuries which he succumbed to. Captain McCarthy left behind a wife and 2 children and is at rest in St. Francis Cemetery in South Weymouth.
There is a Last Alarm Memorial in Jackson Square for both Chief Hunt and Captain McCarthy. It is located on the small green in front of the Post Office.
It would be 33 years before the Weymouth Fire Department would again mourn a brother lost in the line of duty. In 1973 a horrific multi-alarm blaze at 41 Washington Street, Weymouth Landing, Willard M. Frank, age 30, would run out of air while searching for residents trapped in the blinding smoke of the fire. In those days, the air tanks worn by firefighters entering a building were designed to carry a supply of air to last approximately 45 minutes. Lt. Ernest Taylor, short on air himself would attempt to share his supply with Mr. Frank before falling down a flight of stairs. The dazed Lt. Taylor tried to explain the location of Mr. Frank but by the time his brothers found him slumped in the upper stairwell, it was too late. To this day, the fire is recognized as one of the worst in town history. It also claimed the lives of those Mr. Frank tried to save, a blind woman, Mrs. Jean E. Nortonstrough and Mrs. Dorothy Carr Carlson.
The corner of Lane Street and Washington Street is named in Willard Frank's honor. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and left behind a wife and 3 young children.
Sadly, the seventies were bad times for Weymouth's Fire Department as they would fight several large, dangerous blazes such as the East Junior High School in 1971, an old wool scouring mill once located in East Weymouth in 1973, and in the early part of 1975 the former Rhine Lumber complex and the old Weymouth Ice Arena both burnt to the ground.
On August 11, 1974 a large old barn located on the Kramer Dairy Farm in South Weymouth caught fire. The first responders to the multiple alarm fire was Engine Company Five from the Fire House once located in Columbian Square. Upon arrival at the scene, it was reported to the firefighters, led by Lt. Joseph F. Constantino Sr., that there were persons trapped within the now completely engulfed building. Without hesitation Lt. Constantino entered the building to locate those inside and himself became trapped. He was soon rescued by his brother firefighters but not before sustaining injuries that he could not overcome. He passed away a little over a month later on September 27.
Lt. Constantino was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II as well as an Army paratrooper in the Korean War. He is buried at the Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree, MA.
There is a stone tablet located at the intersection of Liberty and Union Streets in South Weymouth not far from the site of the fire that took his life to remind us of the sacrifice he made.
Lt. Joseph F. Constantino Sr. standing on the left with his fellow firefighters.
It would only be 2 years before another tragedy would strike the Weymouth Fire Department. On December 6, 1976, 29 year veteran firefighter Robert G. Clark would die while fighting a fire at a motel complex on Bridge Street in North Weymouth. A "Last Alarm" tablet memorializes that day as well, and can be found at street level directly in front of Abigail Adams State Park on Route 3A. The corner of North Street and Pierce Court in North Weymouth is also named in Robert Clark's honor.
Bronze plaques have been placed on the front of the former Firehouse on Broad Street in East Weymouth that recognize these men. This building also serves as the Adminisrative Offices for the present day Weymouth Fire Department run by Chief Robert Leary.
There is a memorial dedicated to "departed comrades" of the Weymouth Fire Department located at the Village Cemetery on Washington Street. Fireman Sunday ceremonies are held there every year.
Korean War Memorial
A memorial dedicated to the Town Of Weymouth's Korean War casualties is located in Jackson Square, East Weymouth at the intersection of Commercial Street and Broad Street. The town's Memorial Day and Veteran's Day Parades have started in Jackson Square for many years, ending at the Ralph Talbot Amphitheater. Since this memorial was constructed, the parades have typically began with a ceremony here. The names on the memorial read as follows:
Ralph Talbot Amphitheater, the Town Hall and The Cross Of Gray
As early as 1921, not long after the end of World War I, the town recognized the need for a Memorial to honor their casualties of war. By 1925, plans had been made for construction of an athletic field just down the street from the high school and this was to be named in honor of World War I veterans. However, other than a decaying Memorial to the Civil War at the Old North Cemetery there was nothing to recognize those that had fought in other wars. Also during this growth period, the town had expanded and added schools, yet didn't have a viable town building in which to conduct the ever increasing demands of town government. The town's only previous "town hall" had been destroyed by fire in 1913 and since that time government business was conducted in various meeting places around town.
So in 1927, Town Meeting by unanimous vote approved moving forward on a committee's recommendations for a new Town Hall and an open air auditorium. This auditorium was to serve as a place to have public functions including graduation exercises for the High School. All this was to take place adjacent to the High School. The town hall was to be replica of the original Massachusetts State House. By 1928, the new Town Hall had been completed and work began on the open air theater. The following year the open air theater was constructed and a tower and wall were built to commemorate "Weymouth's soldiers in all wars in the town's existence". It was named the Ralph Talbot Amphitheater after it's most famous war hero. Tablets were placed on the wall then, and are still placed on the wall, in honor of all those from Weymouth who have served their country in times of conflict. Over 3,500 names are on the wall for World War II alone.
The following excerpt is taken from the Weymouth Town Report of 1928:
The chief reason for placing the Town Hall on its present site was the opportunity offered by the knoll Easterly of the South Wing of the high school to erect to the men of Weymouth who have laid down their lives for their country, a suitable Memorial in a place where it would balance the Town Hall and where coming generations of school children would see it and learn its significance. Without such a structure to balance the Town Hall the entire group of buildings looks one sided.
Thus the cross on the knoll above the Memorial Wall which stands 
"For The Fatherland" and is dedicated "in memory of the soldier and sailor sons of Weymouth who gave their lives for their country". Whereas the Memorial Wall stands for all who served, this Cross Of Sacrifice stands for all who died in service to their country. Originally planned as a tower with a chime of bells, The Cross Of Gray, as it is known locally, was the final portion of the town common plan to be completed and dedicated on April 19, 1930. The cross is constructed of Barre White Granite with a bronze Crusader sword and is designed similar to one located at Arlington National Cemetery and other locations around the world.
Presently, across Middle Street from the Amphitheater and Memorial, there is a temporary wooden structure to recognized all those from Weymouth serving in the Gulf War conflict. Once this conflict is settled, plans for their permanent display will be made.
Shea Memorial Grove
This Grove of trees, walkways and benches, located about a 1/2 mile into the Southfield entrance off of Route 18 in South Weymouth, contains multiple memorials. Most noticeable is the A4B Skyhawk fighter plane that once adorned the main entrance to the South Weymouth Naval Air Station and remains as a reminder of, not only that Air Base, but one that was also located in Squantum section of Quincy, MA. The Grove also memorializes Shea Field and Commander John Joseph Shea, who commanded the Squantum Air Station and died in battle aboard the USS Wasp during World War II. The boulevard where the Grove is located is also named in his honor.
There is a stone dedicated to all those who were stationed at either NAS Squantum from 1923 to 1953 or NAS South Weymouth from 1941 to 1997, and died while serving. Also, there is a dedication to Prisoners Of War as well. The walkway surrounding the Skyhawk contains stone markers commemorating Medal Of Honor recipients from the Norfolk and Plymouth counties.
The Grove was initially thought of by the last commanding officer of the Air Station, Captain Robert A. Duetsch and funding was acquired mostly through the efforts of Captain Paul R. Haley who was the State Representative for Weymouth in 1997. Today, although full development of the former Naval Air Station known as Southfield is incomplete, the Shea Grove is well maintained by the Patriot Squadron and serves as a scenic welcome to visitors.
The Medal Of Honor recipients are as follows:
The South Weymouth World War II Memorial
This memorial, facing Columbian Square, is adjacent to the Fogg Library. It contains the names of men from the southern end of town who were casualties of the Second World War.
The Immaculate Conception Grotto
This memorial is located on the Immaculate Church property directly behind the Recreation Center. One of the tablets there reads- In prayerful tribute to the men from the Immaculate Conception Parish who gave to their country the last full measure of devotion in World War II.
The names listed are:
- Robert G. Baulis
- Louis F. Belcastro
- Lawrence W. Gilligan
- Joseph F. Haynes
- Renie J. Jacobucci
- George T. Kristnofe
- Andrew J. Lambe
- Alfred T. Langevin
- Thomas H. Long
- William J. McCarthy
- William M. McDonough
- Henry T. O'Leary
- Chester A. Rober
- Gilbert Taylor
- James L. Wooten
- Charles W. Workman
The Thin Blue Line
Patrick Butler, after 35 years on the Weymouth Police Department had worked his way through the ranks and become Chief. Not one to shy from his duties, while arriving at his home on the evening of April 15, 1915, Chief Butler noticed a vehicle traveling down Pleasant Street without its headlights on. As he stood in the street to warn the driver, who was also apparently drunk, Chief Butler was struck and killed. He would be the first Policeman to die in the line of duty for Weymouth. Patrick Butler would however leave a lasting legacy of public service as the Town of Weymouth Police, Fire and School Departments have been blessed with the names Butler, Shanahan and Higgins, all of whom share ancestry with the Thin Blue Line.
On the morning of August 24, 2009, while directing traffic for utility workers working at the junction of West and Front Streets, Officer Michael P. Davey was pinned against the utility truck by a small pick-up truck driven by a 79 year old man. The man, apparently confused, had sped through a stop sign striking another vehicle prior to hitting Officer Davey. Officer Davey would die from his injuries. It would be one of a rash of tragedies caused by elderly drivers that would eventually lead to legislation to have anyone over 75 years old periodically tested for competancy to drive a motor vehicle. Michael Davey had served in the Army National Guard in Iraq and had only been on the Police force for 5 years. His father Ernest Davey had served on the Weymouth Police for 32 years. He left behind a wife and 3 children and was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in East Weymouth.
There is a memorial dedicated to Weymouth Police located in the Village Cemetery on Washington Street.
Vietnam, Nurse and Agent Orange Memorial
This memorial is located at the intersection of Bridge Street and Neck Street in North Weymouth. It was erected in memory of all those from Weymouth who were casualties of the Vietnam War including a special dedication to war-time Nurses and also those men that died after the war from injuries sustained during that war, particularly from the use of chemical weapons such as Agent Orange. There is also a separate tablet recognizing P.O.W.'s and M.I.A.'s. The Vietnam Memorial was erected largely through the efforts of former Vietnam Veterans from Weymouth, particularly Paul Shinney, and private donations. It began as a dedication to Paul Quill in 1983, who is listed, and has since expanded to include the others. The extent of the conflict in Vietnam is symbolised at this memorial by containing the first official casualty of this war as well as his son, who was killed in action 9 years later. All Weymouth Vietnam casualties are listed here alphabetically.
Click here for more Vietnam casualty information.
General History
Weymouth Golf Course
A little known historic fact is that in 1930, as Weymouth was completing their new Civic Center, a committee was formed to look into the viability of constructing a golf course on land in and around Weymouth Heights. Unfortunately, due to the recent population explosion and the need for more schools, much of the land ended up being set aside for other development.
Dan Howley Day
In 1927, Ty Cobb came to Weymouth and spoke on behalf of his friend and Weymouth native Dan Howley, who was a professional baseball player and coach. Unfortunately that was the year of the famous 1927 Yankee team that dominated baseball and his St. Louis Browns finished 50 1/2 games behind them in the standings. Coach "Dapper Dan" died in his hometown of Weymouth in 1944 at the age of 58.
First Air Ship Landing
If someone was to ask where the first landing of a blimp occured in Weymouth, no doubt the most common answer would be the South Weymouth Navy Base. The truth however is that the Navy Base wasn't fully constructed and ready for their fleet of dirigibles until 1942. The first landing of a lighter-than-air ship, or blimp occured on October 31, 1930 at Stetson Field, where the Nash School is now located. The blimp was owned by the New England Air Ship Corporation, subsidized by the Bird And Son building materials company. It's name was the Neponset. A picture of the air ship, taken just before landing, can be seen on page 52 of the "Images Of America- Weymouth" book authored by Debbie Sargent Sullivan and Joanne Palmieri Tighe.
Weymouth Football
In the 1920's and 30's high school football barely got any mention in the sports pages of most newspapers. Back in those days semi-pro teams were popular and Weymouth had a few over the course of that period. The Weymouth Celtics usually played their games at Overlook Park in North Weymouth while the Weymouth Legion team often played at Ahern Field located at the Weymouth Fairgrounds. Other fields used in those days were Webb Park and Clapp Memorial Field. The first game played on Legion Memorial Field was held on October 3, 1931, with little fan-fare, between Weymouth High School and Whitman High School, but the high school teams would only play 2 games on the new field that season and the Legion team would also play there. After World War II, high school sports began to become more widely recognized and Legion Field would become exclusive to the high school's use. Popularity for Weymouth High School football peaked in the early 1950's when Harry Arlanson and Jack Fisher coached teams dominated. In 1951, Weymouth High School had the best football team in the entire country and defeated a Florida team in the Gator Bowl.