The Town of Medfield recently installed delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions as traffic-calming measures designed to improve pedestrian safety in the downtown. Initial public response to this installation has raised a number of critical concerns about its impact on traffic flow through the center of town. This press release is intended to provide background information to answer some of the questions that have been asked, as the town works to address public concerns and adjust installations where appropriate to achieve the intended safety improvements while minimizing avoidable disruptions to traffic flow in the downtown.
The Town of Medfield received a $146,000 Pedestrian Improvement Grant from MassDOT as part of their Shared Safe Streets and Spaces Program. Pedestrian safety, particularly crosswalk safety, was identified as a concern in both the Townwide Master Plan and the Rapid Recovery Plan.
The project was designed by traffic engineers and included two construction phases. The first phase of the project took place in the fall, with the installation of new crosswalks on Main Street and North Street, and the realignment of the crosswalk at North/Janes Avenue. New crosswalk beacons were also installed on Main Street and North Street, as well as new ADA ramps in the downtown.
The second phase of the project was the installation of delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions to serve as traffic-calming measures, slowing vehicles and turning speeds while increasing visibility for crossing pedestrians.
The following are some of the questions that have been raised:
Who approved the Project? The Select Board accepted the grant from MassDOT, and a review and presentation were made at the Select Board meeting on September 17, 2024.
Why did the Town apply for a Pedestrian Improvement Grant?
The 2021 Master Plan cites residents' concerns about pedestrian safety in the downtown area. The Downtown Rapid Recovery Plan cited concerns about the safety of pedestrians in downtown crosswalks and vehicles turning off Main Street.
Are the delineators permanent?
The flexposts are a traffic-calming pilot project and can be moved during this test period. Any of these locations deemed successful can be made permanent, and any that are not can be removed. The flexpost delineators are not permanent installations.
The new crosswalks, ADA ramps, and the flashing beacons on Main Street and North Street are permanent installations.
Were the Handicapped Accessible Spots blocked?
Yes, this was done in error, and those flexposts were removed. A broader discussion is underway regarding our downtown handicapped spaces, as some are not in compliance and need to be upgraded and/or moved to be fully compliant.
How will this impact snowplowing?
The flexposts will be removed for the winter months to allow for snowplow operations.
The new King Philip’s War historic marker dedication occurs this afternoon at 6:00 PM, followed by the opening reception for Medfield History Week at the Dwight-Derby House –
Posted onNovember 19, 2025|Comments Off on Love Medfield. Here are some meaningful ways to support it!
Fueling Medfield:
Your Gift Makes Everything Run.
As the holiday season—the true time of giving—begins, we know you’re looking for meaningful ways to support your town.
You may know us best for our upcoming Angel Run 5K, but the Medfield Foundation is so much more than a race! We are a dedicated engine supporting countless local initiatives right here in Medfield.
The Medfield Foundation has raised $5.5 million since its inception to directly impact the lives of Medfield’s residents.
We have helped over 50 local non-profit initiative through our charitable platform, to support their fundraising efforts, such as Hinkley Helpers most recently.
Raise Funds
We support Medfield residents directly, two examples: our Community Assistance Fund, helps local folks in need via emergency assistance, and our Camp Fund, sending local kids to summer camps.
Make an Impact
Through the foundation’s Legacy Fund, a professionally managed endowment, we support community driven projects, through an annual grant program. Nearly $100,000 has been granted to local organizations like Medfield Outreach, Sustainable Medfield, and The Peak House Heritage Center, to name just a few.
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Zullo Gallery-Center for the Arts Trustee Martha Moon and Executive Director Bill Pope on the gallery rooftop deck with local resident/landlord Tom Nightingale. The historic building is located in the heart of downtown Medfield.
MEDFIELD, Mass. (April 9, 2025) — The Zullo Gallery-Center for the Arts, a nonprofit arts organization in downtown Medfield, is moving toward ownership of its longtime home at 454-456A Main St., thanks to a pending building sale and more than $500,000 in community commitments.
Building owners Tom and Lisa Nightingale have reached an agreement to sell the historic property to the Zullo Gallery. The deal follows months of fundraising and planning by Executive Director Bill Pope, and a group of Zullo trustees, advisory board members and other supporters.
Among the 35 individuals who pledged support are the Nightingales themselves. The final piece is coming together with financing from Needham Bank, a longtime supporter of the gallery that previously funded construction of the rooftop deck in 2007.
A Long-Awaited Goal
“We’ve had many twists and turns over the last two months,” said Pope. “And while we still have additional steps to go, we’re excited to have gotten this far with so much community support for the Zullo Gallery to have a permanent home in downtown Medfield.”
Pope said purchasing the building has been a long-term goal for the organization. Ownership will allow for capital improvements that are otherwise out of reach for renters — including handicapped accessibility, which will open up new grant opportunities, as well as a kitchen and deck covering to support expanded programming.
Pope also emphasized that the gallery plans to retain its three downstairs tenants: Casa Bella Pizza, Absi Jeweler, and Medfield Barbershop. “They’re an important part of what makes Main Street special,” he said.
History, Legacy and the Arts
Tom Nightingale, who purchased the building in 2015, said selling to the Zullo is a meaningful decision.
“As someone raised and educated in Medfield, with children who were also involved in the arts, my wife and I have enjoyed seeing the Zullo thrive and grow since its founding in 1988,” he said. “We’re pleased to be part of its future.”
He added, “To shepherd this historical property for a decade while creating opportunities for three first-generation immigrants to live the American dream, and my fourth-grade gym teacher to bring the arts to our community, has been a real privilege.”
The Main Street building lies within the Town Center Historic District. Though the town assessment database lists it as built in 1890, local records and historians — including Medfield Town Historian Richard DeSorgher — indicate the structure was built around 1860 and relocated from North Street to Main Street.
For nearly four decades, the Zullo Gallery has presented art exhibitions, art classes, live music and community events. In addition to Needham Bank, past and present supporters include Medfield Foundation Inc. and Massachusetts Cultural Council via the Medfield Cultural Council.
Community members who want to join the team that is making a significant investment in the future of the gallery are encouraged to contact Bill Pope for details.
Regular donations can be made online at zullogallery.org or mailed to/dropped off at Zullo Gallery, 456A Main St., Medfield, MA 02052.
BELOW IS BILL POPE’S LETTER TO the ZULLO COMMUNITY –
Zullo Poised to Buy Medfield Building;Community Offers $500K of Support
April 9, 2025 Dear Friends, A great landlord is exceedingly rare, but for our non-profit Zullo Gallery-Center for the Arts, it has been a true gem. I’m excited to announce that the Zullo Gallery has entered into an agreement with local residents and building owners Tom and Lisa Nightingale to purchase the 454-456A Main St., Medfield property. Helping to forge this agreement has been a contingent of Zullo Gallery advisory board members and supporters pulling together more than $500,000 in commitments from 35 community members (including the Nightingales themselves) to seal the deal.
We are currently working with Needham Bank to finalize financing for the remaining purchase price. Needham Bank funded the Zullo rooftop deck in 2007, and has supported the gallery with numerous event sponsorships over the years. Navigating the path ahead The process began in late January after the Nightingales let us know they were considering selling the building and would offer the Zullo the right-of-first refusal. While we’ve had many twists and turns since that time, and still have additional steps to go, we’re excited to have gotten this far with so much community support for the Zullo Gallery to have a permanent home in downtown Medfield.
As many long-time supporters know, owning the building has been a goal for decades, but the opportunity always passed us by. Especially important will be making the Zullo handicapped accessible since it will allow us to qualify for more and larger grants. A kitchen and covered rooftop deck are also much-needed building improvements that will in turn, allow for expanded programming. It’s been difficult to do all of this as renters. It’s important to add that the Zullo team intends to retain the three tenant businesses below (Casa Bella Pizza, Absi Jeweler and Medfield Barbershop) which greatly contribute to the small-business landscape and character of Medfield’s Main Street.
Keeping the legacy alive “As someone who was raised and educated in Medfield, and had children who also went through Medfield Public Schools and were involved in the arts, my wife and I have enjoyed seeing the non-profit Zullo Gallery thrive and grow since its founding in 1988. We’re pleased to have reached an agreement to sell the building to the Zullo, and to be a part of its future,” said Tom Nightingale, who purchased the building in 2015.
He added, “To shepherd this historical property for a decade while creating opportunities for three first-generation immigrants to live the American dream, and my fourth-grade gym teacher to bring the arts to our community, has been a real privilege. We’re excited to see the Zullo move to the next chapter in its history.” The Main Street building is in the Town Center Historic District. Records and an article by Town Historian Richard DeSorgher indicate that the building was constructed around 1860 on North Street and later moved to Main Street (even though the town assessment database states it was built in 1890). For nearly 40 years, the Zullo Gallery has hosted art exhibits, art classes, live music and community events. In addition to Needham Bank, the Zullo counts Medfield Foundation Inc., and Mass Cultural Council/Medfield Cultural Council among its major past and/or present supporters. On behalf of our Zullo Gallery Board of Trustees, Advisory Board members, and everyone else who has supported the gallery for nearly 40 years, thank you. The building purchase is an exciting milestone for the Zullo Gallery-Center for the Arts, and we hope you’ll continue to be a big part of its continued success.
Sincerely, Bill PopeExecutive Director, Zullo Gallery-Center for the Arts
P.S. You can still be part of the team that is making a significant investment in the future of the Zullo Gallery!
Posted onFebruary 19, 2025|Comments Off on Zullo Information Session 7PM Thursday
Email from the Zullo Gallery –
Zullo Gallery Center of the Arts
Wed, Feb 19 at 3:55 PM
Join Us… The Zullo Gallery is hosting an important information session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 upstairs at the Zullo Gallery, 456A Main St., Medfield.
Please stop in if you’re interested in learning more about the opportunity for the Zullo to purchase the Main Street building it calls home, and how you can help.
Posted onFebruary 16, 2025|Comments Off on Zullo Exploring Building Purchase
Email from the Zullo Gallery –
Sun, Feb 16 at 3:35 PM
February 16, 2025
A $600K goal…
Zullo Seeks to Secure its Future by Exploring Main St. Building Purchase
In 1988, when a group of arts supporters sought to establish the non-profit Zullo Gallery Center for the Arts in the historic building at 456 Main St. in Medfield, it benefited from landlords who believed in the gallery mission to advance and support the arts, and who have supported it themselves with extremely reasonable lease agreements.
Now, more than 35 years later, the local residents who currently own the property are contemplating selling it, and have offered the Zullo Gallery the chance to purchase the building from them after a decade of ownership. (The building in which the Zullo Gallery is located is under separate ownership from Brothers Marketplace.)
For nearly four decades, the Zullo Gallery has realized its mission in countless ways – whether through a variety of exhibits, art classes, live music, or as gathering space for the community. Since the gallery’s inception, we’ve wanted the Zullo to have a true permanent home in its current Main Street location. Ownership of the site provides the security needed to invest in the building, build a long-term vision for the gallery, qualify for significant arts and cultural grants, and possibly receive tax benefits.
After a financial analysis of revenue, expenses and bank loan, the Zullo Gallery has determined it would need to raise $600,000 by March 1 to allow it to move forward with purchase negotiations.
Zullo Gallery trustees and advisory board members are in support of the Zullo exploring the building purchase, but with the realization that a significant amount of funding will be needed in a short amount of time.
We are hoping that between existing Zullo supporters, local community members, and possible ‘Angel Investors,’ we can raise the money needed to keep the gallery in its current location. Doing so would not only allow the Zullo Gallery to continue in downtown Medfield, but hopefully provide some peace of mind to our small business-owner friends below.
Anyone who is interested in supporting Zullo Gallery efforts to purchase the building, either with a financial contribution, pledge or fundraising support, can contact me via e-mail or phone at 508-843-2375. Donations to the Zullo to support overall programming and sustainability can always be made at zullogallery.org/support.
Sincerely, Bill Pope Executive Director
P.S. We are also hosting an information session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Zullo Gallery.
Please stop in if you are interested in learning more.
History of Zullo Gallery building
The building at 456 Main St., Medfield, is located in the Town Center Historic District. Established on the site around 1880, the Zullo Gallery space was once the headquarters for the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R) Moses Ellis Post 117. The G.A.R. was an organization that pledged to care for Civil War veterans, help them find jobs, forge friendships, and foster political unity.
The original G.A.R headquarters in the historic Main Street building was comprised of two main halls, according to the American Legion Beckwith Post 110 website. The first-floor hall was used for G.A.R banquets and dinners, and the upper hall was used for meetings. The national G.A.R. officially disbanded in 1956. In Medfield, the Main Street building where G.A.R was once housed became retail establishments after its own decline more than a decade earlier.
The Zullo Gallery was named after the Zullo family, which owned downtown businesses and was a pillar of the Medfield community.
Zullo Gallery Center for the Arts | 456A Main Street | Medfield, MA 02052 US
Posted onAugust 2, 2024|Comments Off on Medfield TV’s Scarecrow Spooktacular – 12-4 on 10/19
From Katie Duval, Executive Director of Medfield TV –
Medfield TV’s 2nd Annual Scarecrow Spooktacular festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Medfield TV’s 2nd Annual Scarecrow Spooktacular festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Baxter Park in Medfield, MA. This all-ages event will bring a jack-o-lantern-sized smile to your face this Fall!
Local businesses, crafters, and artisans are encouraged to show off their goods by reserving space for a booth. Now through August 20th, Medfield TV is offering a $60 “Early Bird Special”. Registration increases to $75 on August 21st. Save $15 by registering today at www.medfield.tv/scarecow
Sponsorships are also available until August 20th. Email Katie Duval at scarecrow@medfield.tv if you’re interested in sponsoring this event.
In addition, scarecrow registration is also open on the site. Individuals/families, nonprofits, and businesses can register now through October 12th.
Medfield TV is a non-profit community media center serving the residents of Medfield. All proceeds from the event support the organization’s mission to provide media access and education to Medfield residents, students, and employees. For more information, visit www.medfield.tv
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The last two days I had to walk back and forth to the downtown. Both days I asked the people working on the Starbucks why the place was being renovated, and today I struck paydirt. Today I happened to have asked the store manager for the last five years as he was retrieving things from one of the two massive containers out front.
The answer was that Starbucks started as exclusively a coffee place, without any food at all, but that now half of its business is cold drinks, including many fruit juices. Secondly, they now are also selling lots of foods. Thirdly, this particular store turned out to be a lot busier than it was originally projected to be. So the renovation was done to service both the broader and greater demands of the current customers.
BTW, the first person I asked yesterday had no idea – he was likely one of the workmen for a contractor.
Posted onJuly 5, 2024|Comments Off on More Dwight-Derby House input
The email below and images are from Goeff Sauter, President of the Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. this afternoon –
Hi Pete,
Thanks again for making yourself available this morning. Attached are three pictures as follows:
The sketch by George Horatio Derby, the “father” of satire in the United States. Electa Kane Tritsch uncovered this sketch in the archives on Derby family at West Point. It was probably drawn as a teenager and shows his view of the meeting house from an upstairs bedroom. I interpret this drawing to be showing the Meeting House which is now the Unitarian Church facing North Street. Sometimes when conducting fast-paced tours, we neglect to also point out a drawing that George did on the inside of the door leading to our gift shop. The sketch is clearly the Dwight-Derby House itself, and it is a credit to both the many owners of the house and preservation contractors that the sketch was not inadvertently removed! Please tell your readers to stop in if they missed seeing it on a previous tour.
One of the most expensive rare artifacts on our list for the East Parlor Project is an early 18th century women’s sewing table. These tables are unique because the bottom drawer has a large pouch or bag underneath where a seamstress could easily store an uncompleted project with all of the component pieces in a convenient place. It occurred to me that someone who reads your blog might have one of these tables or know someone who does. We are not expecting a donation of a sewing table but plan to procure one at the best possible price.
In the same vein, we are seaching for an early 18th century cabinet where Mary Derby would have stored, ribbons flowers, and other raw materials for making hats an bonnets. The picture I have enclosed was taken in the general store at Old Sturbridge Village. We will be working with antique dealers, flea markets, Craigslist, Ebay, estate sales, and all possible sources to find something like it.
Best, Geoff
NB, by OLP: I just noticed a couple of more differences in the sketch from the current existing First Parish Meeting House:
there is no front porch in this sketch
the steeple today is flush with the front of the building
today there is no side window that is not rectangular.
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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