{{distinguish|Ray Alan|Allan Ray}}{{otherpeople2|Raymond Allen}}{{pp-semi-vandalism|expiry=April 17, 2010|small=yes}}{{distinguish|Ray Alan|Allan Ray}}{{otherpeople2|Raymond Allen}}{{pp-semi-vandalism|expiry=April 17, 2010|small=yes}}
Wellesley is a town in
Norfolk CountyNorfolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 650,308. Its county seat is Dedham. It is the 48th highest income county in the United States with a per capita income of $32,484...
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 26,613 at the 2000 census. It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and
Babson CollegeBabson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
. The Hunnewell Arboretum abuts the Wellesley campus, and the
Elm Bank Horticulture CenterThe Elm Bank Horticulture Center is the home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, located at 900 Washington Street , Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA...
is also located in Wellesley. The public education services of the town are well regarded, especially
Wellesley High SchoolWellesley High School is a public high school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, educating grades 9 through 12. Its current principal is Dr. Andrew Keough, who assumed the position in 2007 after the retirement of Ms. Rena Mirkin . Its two assistant principals are Lynne Novogroski and Jamie Chisum...
; in 2007 it was ranked 70th best public high school in the nation by
U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report is an American newsmagazine published in Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek, it was for many years a leading news weekly, although it focused more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
, earning a Gold Medal.
History
Wellesley was settled in the 1630s as part of
Dedham, MassachusettsDedham /ˈdɛdəm/ is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 23,464 at the 2000 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border...
. It was subsequently a part of
Needham, MassachusettsNeedham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,911 at the 2000 census. The population as of August 10, 2008 is 31,834.- History :...
called West Needham, Massachusetts. Wellesley became independent in 1881.
Historic district
The town designated Cottage Street and its nearby alleys as the historic district in its zoning plan. Most houses in this district were built around the 1860s and qualify as protected buildings certified by the town's historic commission.
Wellesley Square
Wellesley Square (aka Wellesley Center) is in the center of the town. Along Washington Street, Central Street and Church Street major chain stores and privately-owned shops have made a home for themselves in the main shopping hub of Wellesley. Church Square is home to the historic department store E.A. Davis and Co. as well as J. McLaughlin, Crossing Main, Cachet, Triangle Shop, and The Gifted Hand. Central Street features more nation-wide chains, as well as restaurants, a book store, and coffee shops such as
StarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 16,120 stores in 49 countries, including around 11,000 in the United States, followed by nearly 1,000 in Canada and...
and Peets.
Recent construction
According to the
Wellesley Townsman, over 500 houses in Wellesley have been razed to make way for newer dwellings in the last ten years.{{citation needed|date=December 2007}} The town's historic 19th century inn was demolished to make way for condominiums and mixed-use development, and the Wellesley Country Club clubhouse, which is the building where the town was founded, was demolished. The town's pre-World War II high school building is being torn down & replaced, and the entire 1960s-style Linden Street strip-mall has been replaced by "Linden Square" - a shopping district that includes a flagship Roche Brothers supermarket, restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, along with a mixture of national chains and local "mom & pop" shops.
Geography
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the town has a total area of 10.5
square mileThe square mile is an imperial and US unit of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one statute mile.
s (27.2 km²), of which, 10.2 square miles (26.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (2.96%) is water.
Adjacent towns
Wellesley is located in eastern Massachusetts. It is bordered on the east by
NewtonNewton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2000 census, the population of Newton was 83,829, making it the tenth largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, on the north by
WestonWeston is a suburb of Boston located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Boston metro area. The estimated population, according to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is 11,698....
, on the south by
NeedhamNeedham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,911 at the 2000 census. The population as of August 10, 2008 is 31,834.- History :...
and
DoverDover is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,558 at the 2000 census.Located about southwest of downtown Boston, Dover is a residential town nestled on the south banks of the Charles River. Almost all of the residential zoning requires or larger...
and on the west by
NatickNatick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 32,170 at the 2000 census. Only 15 miles west of Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
.
Neighborhoods
The town is informally divided into several sections or neighborhoods:
- Wellesley Square
- Dana Hall
- Wellesley Hills (broad area of land covered by the zip code 02481,encompassing several neighborhoods)
- Wellesley Farms
- Cliff Estates
- Country Club
- Wellesley Lower Falls
- Northgate, Southgate, Westgate
- Poet's Corner (aka Longfellow Estates)
- College Heights
- Fells
- The General's area
- Sheridan Estates
- Standish Estates
Demographics
The Census Bureau has also defined the town as a
census-designated placeA census-designated place is a type of place identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
with an area exactly equivalent to the town.
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 26,613 people, 8,594 households, and 6,540 families residing in the town. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 2,614.1 people per square mile (1,009.4/km²). There were 8,861 housing units at an average density of 870.4/sq mi (336.1/km²). According to a 2007 Census Bureau estimate, the racial makeup of the town was 84.6% White, 10.0% Asian, 2.2% Black, 0.01% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.
There were 8,594 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.1 males.
In the 2007 estimate, the
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
in the town was $61,332. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $53,007 for females. The median income for a household was $125,814, and the median income for a family was $155,539. About 2.4% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town government has been run by town meeting since the town's founding.
Since
Proposition 2½Proposition 2½ is a Massachusetts statute which limits property tax increases by Massachusetts municipalities. It was passed by ballot initiative, specifically called an initiative petition within Massachusetts state law, in 1980 and went into effect in 1982...
limited
property taxProperty tax, or millage tax, is an ad valorem tax that an owner is required to pay on the value of the property being taxed. Property tax can be defined as "generally, tax imposed by municipalities upon owners of property within their jurisdiction based on the value of such property."There are...
increases to 2.5% per year in 1980, the town has had to ask residents for a number of overrides to maintain funding for certain programs. Although the main 2005 override passed, a simultaneous supplemental override to preserve certain specific programs and services failed by 17 votes. The 2006 override passed with a large majority. Wellesley also receives funding from the state government. Local roads have been repaved several times in the 1990s and 2000s.
Wellesley opened its new Free Library building in 2003, which is part of the
Minuteman Library NetworkThe Minuteman Library Network, founded in 1984, is an organization of 41 public and academic libraries in eastern Massachusetts that share resources, patrons and services. The Network has over 1,171,000 titles and 622,000 members...
. Due to the structure of budget override votes and perhaps the size of the new main branch of the library, the two branch libraries—one in Wellesley Hills, which was purpose-built to be a branch library in the 1920s, another in Wellesley Fells—closed in the summer of 2006. The branch libraries reopened in September, 2008.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/news/x1001333809/Branch-Libraries-reopen-this-week
Services
Wellesley residents receive all major services from their town government, with the exception of residential trash pick-up.
Municipal light plant
Wellesley is serviced by the
Wellesley Municipal Light PlantThe Town of Wellesley Municipal Light Plant is a town department responsible for the transmission and supply of electricity to the residents and businesses in the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts...
(WMLP). It is one of only a handful of municipal light plants in the state of
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
.
Recycling and disposal
Residents of Wellesley cart their own refuse to Wellesley’s Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF), a town-operated multi-use waste recycling site, where items are sorted by type, recyclability and potential reuse. Old books and magazines are available for town residents to take, which have their own shelving section.
The RDF also has a ‘Take it or Leave it’ area where residents leave items they no longer want but that are in good repair. In 2004, the Town had to discontinue the ‘Take it or Leave it’ because of funding cutbacks. However, within six months town residents reinstated it by means of a volunteer system. The section reopened with volunteers on duty at all times to organize the goods and ensure that only usable items were left there.
Politics
Residents of Wellesley have typically voted Democratic. Wellesley is generally a swing community in state level elections.
In 2008 Wellesley voted for Democrat
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office, as well as the first president born in Hawaii...
with 65% of the vote to Republican
John McCainJohn Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
with 34% of the vote.
Wellesley is located in
Norfolk CountyNorfolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 650,308. Its county seat is Dedham. It is the 48th highest income county in the United States with a per capita income of $32,484...
which is one of the more Republican counties in
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
.
Public schools
Wellesley has a public school system. Wellesley Public Schools are normally among the top scorers for the state's
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment SystemThe Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System commonly called the MCAS, is the Commonwealth's statewide standards-based assessment program developed in response to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993...
testing. The Wellesley Elementary Schools are Fiske, Upham, Sprague, Schofield, Hunnewell, Hardy and Bates. The Middle, and High schools are called Wellesley Middle School, and Wellesley High School, respectively. Wellesley High School is formally known as Gamaliel Bradford High School, but this is barely known & rarely used. The Middle School has recently finished some major renovations of many hallways, the gyms, and many classrooms. The renovated rooms include some of the newer classroom technologies such as the SMARTboard. This is the principal's first year in Wellesley and one of the assistant principal's first year in that capacity.
School sports
Wellesley High SchoolWellesley High School is a public high school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, educating grades 9 through 12. Its current principal is Dr. Andrew Keough, who assumed the position in 2007 after the retirement of Ms. Rena Mirkin . Its two assistant principals are Lynne Novogroski and Jamie Chisum...
maintains the longest-running football game rivalry in the country with neighboring
Needham High SchoolNeedham High School is a public high school in Needham, Massachusetts, educating grades 9 through 12. Its current principal is Mr. Johnathan Pizzi, who was previously the Assistant Academic Superintendent in the Boston Public Schools System. Its two assistant principals are Dr. Hogan and Ms. Bibbo...
. The two teams meet annually on Thanksgiving. Wellesley currently leads the series with 58 wins, 52 losses, and 9 ties. Wellesley is also home to the half-way point of the
Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual...
. It is also home to the 2006 MIAA div.2 Lacrosse State Champions, which boasted a season with only one loss, to the perennial powerhouse Duxbury, who is in Div. 1. It is also home to the 2005-2006 MIAA div. 2 Girls Ice Hockey State Champions, who went undefeated with a regular season record of 15-0-3. Also it is home to the 2006 Massachusetts state sailing champions. In 2008, the girls varsity basketball team won the Div 2 State Championship and was considered to be perhaps the best mid size public school team in New England. Also, in 2008 the boys varsity hockey team finished their best season in recent years at 17-3-2 ranked 11th in the state. The boys tennis and golf teams are consistently among the best in Eastern Massachusetts. The Middle School holds the Mini-Marathon that is 2.6 miles long. It occurs a week before the
Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual...
.
Higher education
In addition to Wellesley College, Wellesley is also home to the main campus of
Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeMassachusetts Bay Community College is a two-year college in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It has three campuses, in Wellesley, Ashland, and Framingham...
,
Babson CollegeBabson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
, Olin College,
Dana Hall SchoolFounded in 1881, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 6-12, emphasizing academics, the arts and athletics. The School's mission places emphasis on integrity, leadership, diversity and service, as well as on respect for self and...
, a preparatory school for girls and
Tenacre Country Day SchoolTenacre Country Day School is a co-educational elementary school in Wellesley, Massachusetts for children in Grades Pre-K through Grade 6.The mission statement of the school is "to nurture and challenge each child, every day." Tenacre works hard to create an environment where each child feels safe,...
. While independent, Dana Hall was at one time considered a feeder school to Wellesley College. According to Boston Magazine's yearly "Best Places To Live," Wellesley ranks first in the United States in percentage of adults who hold at least one college degree. Over 66% of the households have at least one individual holding an advanced degree beyond a Bachelor's Degree. In 2009, Wellesley ranked #2 in "America's Most Educated Small Towns" according to Forbes.
Transportation
Wellesley has had rail service to Boston since 1833. These days rail service is provided through Wellesley’s participation in the MBTA, which offers a total of 17 weekday
Commuter RailThe Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company Co. serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. MBCR is joint partnership of three transportation companies including: Veolia Transportation, Bombardier and Alternate Concepts, Inc...
trains inbound towards
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
& outbound towards Framingham &
WorcesterWorcester is a city in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Having a population of 172,648 in the 2000 census, Worcester is ranked the second or third largest city in New England. It is the county seat of Worcester County....
. Wellesley's stations are (east to west) Wellesley Farms,
Wellesley HillsWellesley Hills is a historic passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located at 339 Washington Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts...
, and
Wellesley SquareWellesley Square is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line.-External links:* *...
. The Wellesley Farms station is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. MWRTA bus service also runs along Walnut Street, Cedar Street, and Route 9.
The highways US-95/Route 128 and Route 9 run through Wellesley.
For elders and people with disabilities there is a specific MBTA-based service,
THE RIDE which offer free or low-cost door-to-door service by appointment.
From nearby
Riverside MBTA StationRiverside is the western terminus of the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch light rail line. It is located at 333 Grove Street, off Exit 22 on Interstate 95 , in Auburndale, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Scheduled travel time to Park Street is 46 minutes. Riverside includes a parking...
in
NewtonNewton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2000 census, the population of Newton was 83,829, making it the tenth largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, commuter express buses run to downtown
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
, Newton Corner and Central Square,
Waltham-Horology:* Waltham Watch Company, American watch manufacturer, pioneer in the industrialisation of the manufacturing of watch movements** Waltham International, Swiss subsidiary-Places:In Canada:*Waltham, QuebecIn England:...
. This is also a station for
Greyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, USA, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States and Canada, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and incorporated...
and
Peter Pan Bus LinesPeter Pan Bus Lines is a long-distance bus carrier that operates in the northeastern states of the United States. Over four million passengers travel on Peter Pan's bus routes every year....
with frequent service to
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
,
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
, and other destinations.
Wellesley’s
Council on Aging contracts out a daily low-cost minibus service offering elderly access to several local medical facilities and the
Woodland MBTA stationWoodland is a street-level station on the "D" branch of the MBTA Green Line. The station is located at 1940 Washington Street in Newton. The station is 42 minutes away from Park Street. The station is located near the Woodland Country Club and Newton-Wellesley Hospital...
. Further afield is the Springwell Senior Medical Escort Program / Busy Bee Transportation Service for rides to medical & non-medical services in the area. There is also a monthly minibus to
Natick CollectionThe Natick Collection, formerly known as the Natick Mall until February 2007, is a large shopping mall owned by General Growth Properties , located between routes 9 and 30 in Natick, Massachusetts and adjacent to Shoppers World in Framingham, Massachusetts...
(formerly Natick Mall).
For Amtrak service the nearest stations are west in
FraminghamFramingham is an MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak station serving the town of Framingham, Massachusetts. The station is a well-patronized stop and former terminus on the Framingham/Worcester Line, served by 21 weekday round trips to South Station, Boston...
, east in
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
at
Back BayBack Bay Station, located at 145 Dartmouth Street, between Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue, is a train station in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston...
and South Station, and south in
Route 128 StationRoute 128 Station is a stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Attleboro/Providence MBTA Commuter Rail line, with inbound service to Back Bay and South Station in Boston. It is also known as "University Park" station...
in
Westwood-Places:Australia*Westwood, QueenslandCanada*Westwood, Asphodel-Norwood, Ontario*Westwood, Edmonton, a neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta*Westwood Plateau, an area of Coquitlam, British Columbia...
.
Those affiliated with Wellesley College can take advantage of their
bus services to
CambridgeCambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, a nexus of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Notably, Cambridge is home to two internationally prominent...
&
NeedhamNeedham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,911 at the 2000 census. The population as of August 10, 2008 is 31,834.- History :...
. Wellesley College &
Babson CollegeBabson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
also both offer discounted
Zipcar service.
Also during the weeks before Christmas is the "Holly Trolley", a free seasonal trolley (a modified bus) sponsored by the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce that has two loops through town, bringing shoppers downtown for holiday shopping & home again.
Religion
The Catholic-organization
Voice of the FaithfulVoice of the Faithful is an organization of liberal Catholics, formed in early 2002 in response to the Roman Catholic sex abuse cases.- Founding, growth and mission :VOTF began when a small group of parishioners met in the basement of St...
(VOTF) was founded at St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley in January 2002.
http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories/041402_mcnamara.htm It was founded by parishioners who were frustrated and angered by what they perceived as the Archdiocese of Boston's unwillingness or inability to address ongoing sexual abuse scandals. VOTF supports victims and opponents of clergy sexual abuse, and advocates for Church governance reform. The group claims 25,000 registered supporters in 40 U.S. states.
http://www.voiceofthefaithful.org/Who_We_Are/faq.html
Cuisine
Ming TsaiMing Tsai is an American fusion cuisine chef and restaurateur who currently hosts two cooking shows – Ming's Quest on the Fine Living television channel and Simply Ming on American Public Television – and formerly hosted East Meets West on the Food Network, for which he won...
, chef and host of
East Meets West on the
Food NetworkFood Network is a television specialty channel that airs specials and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns roughly two thirds of the network, and Tribune Company owns the rest....
, owns the restaurant Blue Ginger in the Wellesley Square neighborhood.
Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend
Each year the weekend before Memorial Day, The Town of Wellesley sponsors the annual Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend which includes the annual Veterans' Parade and Fireworks. The fireworks display is one of the most elaborate and spectacular shows that is done by local or town government in the United States. It is put on by Atlas Fireworks of Jaffrey, NH who also put on the Jaffrey Festival of Fireworks. On Sunday, May 18, 2008 the Beach Boys performed in a concert on the Wellesley High School athletic fields in front of an estimated 10,000 town residents and fans. The funds for the performance, an estimated 250 thousand dollars, were made as a gift by an anonymous donor and life long fan of the band.
The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
The
Wellesley Symphony OrchestraThe Wellesley Symphony Orchestra is an amateur American orchestra based in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It has presented classical, pops, and family concerts for 60 years. The Music Director is Max Hobart....
presents classical, pops, and family concerts at Mass Bay Community College at its Wellesley Campus.
Notable residents
- Danny Ainge
Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American retired professional basketball and baseball player who is currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics of the NBA...
, current executive director of basketball operations of the Boston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a professional basketball club based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team is owned by Wycliffe Grousbeck and coached by Doc Rivers, with Danny Ainge as the President of...
- Ray Allen
{{distinguish|Ray Alan|Allan Ray}}{{otherpeople2|Raymond Allen}}{{pp-semi-vandalism|expiry=April 17, 2010|small=yes}}{{distinguish|Ray Alan|Allan Ray}}{{otherpeople2|Raymond Allen}}{{pp-semi-vandalism|expiry=April 17, 2010|small=yes}}{{infobox NBA Player...
, NBA basketball player for the Boston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a professional basketball club based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team is owned by Wycliffe Grousbeck and coached by Doc Rivers, with Danny Ainge as the President of...
- Roger Nash Baldwin
Roger Nash Baldwin was one of the founders of the American Civil Liberties Union . He served as executive director of the ACLU until 1950....
, co-founder of the ACLU
- Katherine Lee Bates, author of America the Beautiful
- Gamaliel Bradford
Gamaliel Bradford was an American biographer, critic, poet, and dramatist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, the sixth of seven men called Gamaliel Bradford in unbroken succession, of whom the first, Gamaliel Bradford, was a great-grandson of Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Colony...
, poet, biographer
- Dee Brown, former basketball player for the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball club based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team is owned by Wycliffe Grousbeck and coached by Doc Rivers, with Danny Ainge as the President of...
- R. Nicholas Burns
R. Nicholas Burns is a retired American diplomat. He is currently Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a member of the Board of Directors of the school's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs...
, former US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
- Howie Carr
Howard Louis "Howie" Carr, Jr. is an American journalist, author, and conservative radio talk-show host based in Boston with a listening audience rooted in New England.-Radio:...
, journalist and radio personality, describes Wellesley as a "beautiful people" town
- Greg Comella
Gregory F. Comella is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the starting full back for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV against the Baltimore...
, former professional football player with the New York Giants
- Jane Curtin
Jane Therese Curtin is an American actress and comedienne.First coming to prominence as an original cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1975, she would go on to win back-to-back Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series on the 1980s sitcom Kate & Allie. Curtin later starred in the...
, comedian, original cast member of Saturday Night Live
- Richard Darman
Richard Gordon Darman , known as Dick Darman, was an American economist and businessman who served under five U.S. presidents but is best remembered as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget during the administration of George H. W. Bush...
, economist and former head of the Office of Management and Budget
- Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck," is a former American Major League Baseball player. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
, Former Pitcher for the Oakland A's
- Carl Everett
Carl Edward Everett III is a former Major League Baseball outfielder currently playing for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. A switch hitter, he played with the Chicago White Sox on their 2005 World Series winning team...
, former center fielderA center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
- Curt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well-known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
, sports commentator
- Michael S. Greco
Michael Spencer Greco is a former President of the American Bar Association . He is currently a partner in the Boston office of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP, and a former partner at the now-defunct Hill and Barlow.-ABA Presidency:As President of the American Bar Association,...
, President of the American, Massachusetts & New England Bar Associations
- Phil Laak
Philip "Phil" Laak is a professional poker player, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Laak was the winner of a World Poker Tour title in 2004 and has appeared on numerous nationally-aired television shows.-Early life:Laak was born in Dublin, raised on the East Coast, and now lives in Los...
, professional pokerPoker is a sport from the family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bets and how many rounds of betting are allowed...
player and winner of the 2004 World Poker TourThe World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments featuring most of the world's professional players. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who now serves as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that controls the World Poker Tour. In...
- Gregory Mankiw, Harvard Economics Professor
- Ossian Everett Mills
Ossian Everett Mills was the founder of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on October 6, 1898.-Ancestry:...
, founder of Phi Mu Alpha SinfoniaPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men who wish to devote themselves to the advancement of music in America and who wish to associate with others who share that interest...
Fraternity of America
- Bill Mueller
William Richard Mueller is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Mueller's playing career was spent with the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , and Los Angeles Dodgers . He won the American League batting title in 2003, and helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series...
, former third baseman for the Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
- Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze medalist.-Early life:...
Pitcher for the Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
- Joseph E. Murray, surgeon, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, 1990
- Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer....
, Russian-American author
- David George Ouellet
David George Ouellet was a US Navy seaman, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
, Medal of Honor recipient (Posthumously)
- Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath was an American poet, novelist, children's author, and short story author.Known primarily for her poetry, Plath also wrote a semi-autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar, under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas...
, poet
- Richard Preston
Richard Preston is a New Yorker writer and bestselling author best-known for his alarming books about infectious disease epidemics and bioterrorism, although he has written other non-fiction works. Whether journalistic or fictional, his writings are based on thorough background research and...
and Douglas PrestonDouglas Preston is an author of seventeen popular techno-thriller and horror novels, four alone and the rest with Lincoln Child...
, best-selling authors
- James St. Clair, defense lawyer for Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States and is the only president to resign the office. He was also the 36th Vice President of the United States ....
during WatergateThe Watergate scandal was a political scandal in the United States in the 1970s. Named for the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., effects of the scandal ultimately led to the resignation of Richard Nixon, President of the United States, on August 9, 1974...
- Jack Sanford
John Stanley Sanford was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, and later in his career a relief pitcher as well, for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and California Angels. He finished his career playing very briefly with the Kansas City...
, former MLB pitcher and 1957 MLB Rookie of the Year AwardIn Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
recipient
- Billy Squier
William Haislip "Billy" Squier is an American rock musician. Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. He is probably best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No...
, rock musician
- Bradford Torrey (1843-1912), nature writer
- Steven Tyler
Steven Victor Tallarico , better known as Steven Tyler, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known for his work as the lead singer and primary songwriter of Boston-based rock band Aerosmith....
, rock musician (Aerosmith)
- Greg Yaitanes
Greg Yaitanes is an American television and film director.-Directing career:*Lost **"He's Our You" **"Special" **"Solitary" *House...
, actor, film director, writer
- Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Abdul Wallace is an American professional basketball player who is currently a member of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association . At 6 ft 11 in and 230 lb , Wallace is a power forward/center...
, NBA Basketball player for the Boston Celtics
Further reading
External links
{{Commons cat|Wellesley, Massachusetts}}
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{{Norfolk County, Massachusetts}}