A Natick Champion: The Inspiring Tale of Jack Starrett, Who Conquered the English Channel & Triumphed Over Cerebral Palsy
John Starrett at London Airport July 24, 1964. Weeks before his successful swim across the English Channel.
When John “Jack” Starrett, Jr. was born with cerebral palsy in 1925, his doctors gave him a few years to live. He quickly proved that he had other plans. Originally a form of physical therapy, long-distance swimming became a passion and way of life for Starrett, and it took him all over the world and across the English Channel.
Starrett’s roots are local. He lived his whole life in Massachusetts and spent the peak of his career in Natick. To fund his passion for swimming, he worked as a game warden and conservation worker with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Coached by Louis Antonellis of Waltham, Starrett spent four to six hours each day training in local bodies of water, including Lake Cochituate in Natick, Dudley Pond in Wayland, and the Atlantic Ocean. He competed in races in Gloucester with other local marathon swimmers from Massachusetts. He taught many children to swim at the Natick Summer Swimming Program, the Y.M.C.A in Natick and at Dudley Pond.
By 1948, Starrett was a professional swimmer competing in Canada, Europe, Africa, and South America races with the World Federation of Marathon Swimmers. He even won a marathon swim at a Canadian Expedition attended by Queen Elizabeth II. In a 1981 interview with the Natick Sun, Starrett described himself as “one of the first few pro marathoners.”
From nearly the outset of his career, Starrett set his sights on completing a solo crossing of the English Channel. Although a professional and accomplished athlete, Starrett frequently shared that he could not make a living solely from long-distance swimming; Starrett needed a sponsor to help raise the $5,000 he needed to cross the English Channel. He found a sponsor in the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of America. The charity used Starrett’s story to raise money and awareness for cerebral palsy. On August 4, 1964, Jack Starrett successfully crossed the English Channel. The 22-mile swim from France to England took him twelve hours and forty-five minutes. He was the first person with a physical disability to complete the swim. Afterward, he stated: “I hope my success will provide inspiration for anyone else who suffers from an affliction.”
Follow this link to read the rest of the article from the Natick Report
President George Washington’s Morning Ride Through Natick
On November 3, 1789, George Washington, the newly-elected and first President of the United States, traveled right through what is now South Natick. He was accompanied by a team of four horses, two advisors (Tobias Lear and William Jackson), a baggage wagon and driver, six servants, at least two of whom were enslaved, and his white charger, Prescott. A celebrated Revolutionary War hero, President Washington and all Americans faced an uncertain future. After all, it had only been five months since the Constitution’s ratification, and many considered the document controversial. As he prepared to lead the new nation, Washington set out on a sixty-town tour of New England. Perhaps a few fortunate Natick residents gained a glimpse of their new President as he passed through. Follow this link to read the rest of the article from the Natick Report
When Natick was Crowned Home of Champions, and Firefighting was an Olympic Sport
One of the original Champions! "Pooch" Donovan, Harvard Trainder. (Undated, NHS Collections)
Even though the summer Olympics have ended, we are still discussing sports at the Natick Historical Society. Inspired, some of us have picked up our old swim caps and goggles or hit the track running!
Many of you know Natick’s nickname, “Home of Champions,” but you may not know its origin story. Although Natick is home to many celebrated athletes, the original moniker dates back to September 3, 1891, specifically to a Hook and Ladder Competition at the New England Fair in Worcester. Hearty local crews from Natick, Westborough, Leominster, and Spencer squared off for what they called “The World’s Hook and Ladder Championship.” The event was based on firefighting skills that were important at that time. Team members had to run 220 yards and get their heavy ladder wagon rolling fast enough to put a man at the top of a 28-foot platform! Sadly, Spencer dropped their ladder and was disqualified immediately. Follow this link to read the rest of the article from the Natick Report.
How Historic Former Firehouse has become the Heartbeat of a Massachusetts Town
WCVB Channel 5 did a feature story on The Center for Arts in Natick, or TCAN, on February 1, 2019. TCAN occupies the space that once housed the Central Fire Station, which was built nearly 150 years ago.
"In the early hours of January 13, 1874, a bitterly cold winter morning, the fire broke out in a shoe factory just across the street," said Niki Lefebvre, executive director of the Natick Historical Society. Water in the fire hoses froze, and despite valiant efforts by firefighters, most of downtown Natick was destroyed six hours later—18 blocks were gone.
"Thirty-seven buildings in all were burned to the ground, and these were critical structures: Town Hall, a police station, a fire station," Lefebvre said.
The first thing the residents of Natick rebuilt was a new firehouse. The Central Fire Station on Summer Street kept the town safe for decades. However, in 2001, it underwent restoration after the town sold the fire station property to TCAN to create a facility dedicated to the arts.
Remembering Marg Balcom
We are saddened to note the passing of Margarita “Marg” Balcom on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. She served the Natick Historical Society (NHS) in myriad ways, and her presence is deeply missed.
Marg joined the board of directors in 2009 and stepped down twelve years later in 2021. She served as vice president during 2013-14; in 2014, she became president. Marg served as president until 2017. Remarkably, at various times, Marg also served as director of the organization in gaps between paid directors. In those moments, she became the glue that held the organization together. Her willingness to step up and keep the NHS going speaks volumes about her commitment to Natick and local history. As she always said: “Sometimes, you just do.” And because she “just did,” the NHS is thriving today.
Marg’s five children and two additional donors have established the Marg Balcom Memorial Archival Fellowship to honor her extraordinary commitment to the NHS. The fellowship supports emerging and aspiring professionals in archives to gain paid experience in the field that Marg embraced here at the NHS. The family has requested any donations made in Marg’s memory be directed toward the Marg Balcom Memorial Archival Fellowship.
Please read the full obituary here.
Marg and her family at the reopening of the Natick History Museum in April 2023.
Natick Historical Society Awarded Staffing Grant from Mass Humanities
The Natick Historical Society (NHS) had been awarded a Staffing Recovery Grant from Mass Humanities. The 2023 Staffing Recovery Grants deliver funding to non-profit organizations to sustain and expand current staff hours or hire new staff to create, restore, and grow humanities programs across the state. Awards range between $16,000 and $40,000 and benefit organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less and five or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
The grant awarded to the Natick Historical Society will expand staff time and create a new part-time Community Engagement Coordinator position for two years. “We’re very excited about the award,” says Executive Director Niki Lefebvre. “The support will make it possible for us to better connect with our community and bring forward stories about Natick’s past—and present.” To read more about the Mass Humanities grant awards, please click here. Mass Humanities receives funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
The Natick Historical Society announces Reopening, Natick History Weekend
At its Annual Meeting, the Natick Historical Society announced plans to reopen its museum amid a weekend filled with local history. Natick History Weekend, April 29 & 30, will feature five events, one of which will be the museum reopening on Sunday, April 30, from 1 pm to 4 pm.
“We cannot wait to welcome the public back into the museum again, and our reopening day will be a lot of fun!” says NHS Executive Director Niki Lefebvre. The reopening will feature new exhibits, including one highlighting Natick High School memorabilia. Gail Coughlin, NHS Research Manager, has been digging into the history of the high school. “What I like about this exhibit is that there’s something for everyone - no matter their age or interests. I look forward to hearing what today’s Natick High School students think about it.” In addition, the reopening will feature 18th-century land documents and 20th-century broadsides from the Natick Theatre. Visitors can also expect a vintage artisan demonstration and a free craft activity for children.
There’s more to Natick History Weekend than the museum reopening, too. The NHS will debut a new walking tour of Natick Center. Local history guide Terri Evans is thrilled to be delivering the tour. “Natick Center has a rich history,” she tells us, “but not everyone thinks of it that way. I’m looking forward to sharing those stories and allowing people to see our town center with fresh eyes.” History enthusiasts can also sign up for Vincent Vittoria’s Walnut Hill Walking Tour, Gail Coughlin’s talk on Natick During King Philips’ War, and Evans’ Oldtown Walking Tour of South Natick.
Details about Natick History Weekend can be found here on the NHS website. “It will be a lot of fun to celebrate our 150th anniversary with great local history programs,” Lefebvre says. “We hope people will sign up and celebrate with us!”
The NHS also released its Review of 2022 at its Annual Meeting. The review illuminates how busy the NHS has been despite being closed to regular visitation. Volunteers and Interns have logged over 1,500 hours, and over 1,100 people have participated in virtual and in-person programs. The full document is available online here.
For more information on the Natick Historical Society and up-to-date details on the April reopening events, follow them on Instagram (@natickhistoricalsociety) or sign up for the e-news at www.natickhistoricalsociety.org.