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Weston Scout House Letterbox – Weston 300 LbNA #65946

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 3, 2013
Location: 86 School Street
City:Weston
County:Middlesex
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:halfull
Found by: Honey Bear Clan
Last found:Jul 22, 2015
Status:FOFFFa
Last edited:Dec 15, 2015
One of 3 Letterboxes installed and maintained by Girl Scout Troop 73083, in Honor of Weston’s 300th Celebration
(Historic references: Walks On Conservation Land, Weston, MA by Elmer E. Jones, 1999; and Farm Town to Suburb, The History and Architecture of Weston, MA, 1830-1980 by Pamela W. Fox, 2002.)
The Weston Scout House is located at 86 School Street, Weston, MA. There is paved parking available. Begin your walk here. Let’s take a walk through history. Weston Girl Scouts began during the World War I years, in 1918. By the late 1930s more than 100 girls were participating. Hundreds of girls have wonderful memories of times in this building.
1. Facing School Street, and the Weston library, walk to the sidewalk on School Street. Don’t cross the road. Weston has a history of taking care of its residents, and those that passed through the town. In 1763 the residents voted to build a “work house,” later called a “poor farm,” where residents could help with labor and farming, which was located nearby, across School Street, near where Alphabet Field is today. It was completed in 1767. The farm and house was located there until 1817 when the town built a new home and farm on the north side of town, at 80 acre parcel on Conant Road near Lincoln.
2. Face south and walk along School Street. The stone wall is to your left. Field School, across School Street to the west, was built in 1950 as Weston’s High School. A new Field School is being constructed nearby, and the old building is scheduled to be removed in 2014.
3. Pass by a 3-trunked Hemlock as you walk. Keep going straight on the sidewalk.
4. Reach a break in the rock wall. Turn left.
5. Head to the rock monument. Marker is missing now, but this park is dedicated to the Case Sisters who donated this land to Weston. In 1938 Louisa and Marion Case donated 1 acre to the Weston Scouts for a meeting house, and the adjoining 2 acres where you now stand to the town of Weston as a permanent park in memory of their parents.
6. Turn around so rock is behind you and you’re facing the Scout House. Facing north, walk 65 ft, about 25 steps. You’re now at a bench. Sit and rest facing Wellesley Street.
7. Look toward the Scout House. It was built in 1941. It took 3 years of cookbook sales, a “minstrel show,” a glee club performance, and a rummage sale to raise the $7,500 needed to build the Scout House. Spot something taller than the Scout House that’s white. Walk to it (the tall flagpole) passing large oaks, apple trees, and another bench to your left, near the 3-trunked hemlock.
8. Reach the flagpole with GS symbol at its base. Nearby is one of the tallest trees around: a Tulip Tree. The large tulip tree in front of the Scout House was planted in 1962 to make the 50th anniversary of Girl Scouting USA. At one time, when it was small, the Girl Scouts had to save it from Boy Scouts wanting to use its branches for s’mores at a campfire!
9. Face east and walk away from the parking lot toward the rear of the Scout House. The Scout House will be on your left. You’ll pass basement stairs and a new ramp/stairs on your left. The Scout firepit is in the woods off to your right.
10. Turn left toward School Street walking next to the ramp. Half way along the ramp, to your right you will see an old fire structure, no longer in use. Your treasure is at its base.
Thank you for trying our letterbox walk! Please help us keep it in good condition for the next visitor.