A few years after my graduation from college in 1986, the Massachusetts economy sputtered and died. I decided to follow in the steps of my grandparents and seek my future […]
Author Archives: Bill Fornaciari - Independent Correspondent
Town Meeting has had an agenda for a long time
Plymouth Town Meeting commences Saturday, April 6, at 8 a.m., at Plymouth North High School. At the meeting, 162 representative members from our town’s 18 voting precincts will gather to […]
Taking stock of a rare roof in Plymouth
With the current effort to draw attention to one of Plymouth’s overlooked Revolutionary heroes – Mercy Otis Warren – perhaps it’s also time to highlight the home she and her […]
A local fish tale about a man with a vision and a rooftop boat
If you’re a long-time resident of Plymouth, you almost certainly remember Mayflower Seafoods on the Plymouth waterfront. For me the restaurant evokes both fond memories of a now deceased business […]
The lowdown on why Plymouth doesn’t have tall buildings
Plymouth is not known for tall buildings, but there are several notable exceptions. The zoning bylaw limits the height of a building to 35 feet in most areas of the […]
Plymouth is full of historical artifacts. But where to store them?
Dostadning. It’s a mashed up Swedish word combining death and cleaning. It was derived by Swedish author Margareta Magnusson who wrote the book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” […]
Hospital’s Brutalist wing is now just brutal
My editor recently suggested I do a column about ugly architecture in Plymouth. Not an easy task, as architecture can be so subjective. Buildings loved by some may be despised […]
All aboard: There was a time when Plymouth had three train stations
There’s a piece of Plymouth history that has forever frustrated me. That’s why I’m seeking assistance from readers of the Plymouth Independent. You have reached out to me for additional […]
Cruising back in time to visit Plymouth’s ‘Gasoline Alley’
I’m an architect, so people always ask me what my favorite building is. That’s akin to asking a parent who their favorite child is. (Confession, for me it’s my daughter […]
Thoughts for food: Savoring the old days of grocery shopping in Plymouth
With the recent snowfall of Jan. 7, no doubt many of you cried out: “We need to go to the store for bread and milk!” Really, have we become so […]