Wellesley, Massachusetts

Submitted by Will on Fri, 10/21/2011 - 18:56
“A Most Attractive Residential Town”
For my examination of the WPA travel guides I examined the section in the Massachusetts guide pertaining to my hometown of Wellesley.  Having spent 18 years growing up and living life in that town I thought it would be interesting to look at how life in suburbia had changed since the depression era and what had stayed the same.
 
The three pages from the guidebook that were dedicated to Wellesley focused mainly on the fact that it was a town where the main attractions were its colleges.  Wellesley, a preeminent women’s college, had been open for some fifteen to twenty years and the Babson Institute (now Babson College), was taking shape with twelve buildings that, “aimed to provide a thorough and practical training in business fundamentals, business ethics, and executive control”(382).  Wellesley certainly embraced its status as a haven for higher education, the town now having four colleges within its borders.
 
Besides the touring of the college campuses, which seemed to be the most exhilarating activity the town had to offer, the guidebook also pointed out notable private homes that they felt visitors would enjoy.  Personally I cant imagine that it would be very stimulating just to look at the outside of a private home just to observe it’s architectural detail, but I guess the writers were looking for anything for visitors to see and do in a small suburban town.
 
The small history offered about Wellesley was also illuminating; this resident never knew that Alexander Graham Bell lived in Wellesley while he invented the Telephone. But again I simply cannot imagine families pulling over on the side of the road on the way to Boston to get out and explore this quiet little town.  But the thoroughness of the guide speaks to how dedicated the writers were to putting all of America down on the written page, from the most exciting to the most mundane.  It was a great way to unify the nation during a time of struggle, and it is extremely valuable that we can look back on these documents now and read very detailed accounts of what was happening in our backyards during a very different time.
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Christian's picture

Well-less-lee

Submitted by Christian on Sun, 10/30/2011 - 23:27.
Trust me, there's definitely worse places to visit in Massachusetts than Wellesley. I could absolutely see a family taking a detour to drive through and get a look at the almost-fictionally idyllic college town. Boring, maybe (obviously I'm not as familiar with the nightlife as you are), but if you want to stop and smell the roses or scout locations for your upcoming remake of The Stepford Wives, there aren't many places better than Wellesley. Plus it's a pretty good microcosm of New England; colleges, trees that change color, colonial architecture. That's basically the essentials of the whole state right there.
Haley's picture

Yet another one repping

Submitted by Haley on Sat, 10/29/2011 - 10:36.
Yet another one repping Massachusetts. I approve wholeheartedly. I think the focus on the college scene is interesting, as even now that is the first thing I associate with Wellesley. That and beautiful houses, but you know what I mean. It's renowed as a safe, pretty place to seek out higher education, with a proximity to Boston that is nothing to scoff at.