With Robert Frost’s “good fences make good neighbors” adage relatively fresh in my mind from Charles Connick’s stained glass interpretation of “The Mending Wall” in the Newton Senior Center, I walked across Echo Bridge last night.
There are no fences to mark the boarder between Newton and Needham here. On the contrary, a mini Pont du Gard spans about five football fields across a naturally jagged, glacier-carved, exceedingly majestic gorge known for its ancient hemlocks. Rising approximately 10 stories above the base of the gorge, Echo Bridge links, rather than divides, Newton and Needham in their joint stewardship of one of The Commonwealth’s most beloved vistas.
I came to Hemlock Gorge as a foreigner from Auburndale last night; but I left with a feeling of home. I had heard about the fabled “Feast in the Falls” and I wanted to experience it for myself. Fortunately, the inimitable Jerry Reilly welcomed my curiosity, and my participation in the non-resident ticket auction, with open arms.
My husband and I parked our car at the appointed hour, grabbed our dinner plates from home and followed the stream of Upper Falls veteran feasters down Chestnut Street and through the narrow right of way access to Echo Bridge. We were single file or at most, two abreast as we traversed this tiny zig-zag path. Upon stepping onto the bridge, my fellow feasters fanned out to walk in friend groups. I stopped for a moment and tried to breathe in the awe around me. I really couldn’t. I felt my breath taking me into this place, bringing me into awe rather than letting me take it for myself. I sensed this experience would change my perception of awe forever.
Event hosts and hostesses greeted us like family on the other side of the bridge and pointed us towards our destination: a lush green corridor with one, long, continuous table dressed in white linen, calling out welcome to its 350 guests. Feasters were preassigned to dining neighborhoods and we made our way to “Cottage Street.” Gradually, the expanse of the table was full and our new friends were happy to have us. Just across the way, Nelson and Sallee shared they were from outside the confines of Upper Falls too; they hailed from far off Waban but were quick to clarify that they breakfast daily at The Upper Falls Depot.
Seana Gaherin, Christopher Osborne and Jerry Reilly hatched the idea for this long refractory table dining experience among the hemlocks for the much beloved Upper Falls community. There are no breaks in the tables to ease the work of serving the meal, and there never will be. Their vision of one table for all brings out the essence of the neighborhood and this lush green corridor turned open-air dining hall. Neighbors breaking bread and communing with one another and nature, side by side, no fences needed or allowed. As the evening drew to a close and we made our way back to the bridge, I declared it was the best event I had ever experienced in Newton. My new friends gently informed me that I was standing in Needham. And so I was.
Here’s a great shot of the middle of the table from the FeastCam. Special thanks to our drone pilot Ed Gardner for this wonderful new addition to the festivities.
Even cooler, check out the video..
Here’s a great shot of chef Christopher Osborne putting the dessert together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBsYctWzxic
Looks like a great night. Kudos to all!
BTW that photo at the top is a stitched together panoramic shot (courtesy of Chris Pitt). It gives the illusion of the table bending back on itself. A wonderful coincidence is that, in the photo, Andy Rogovin and Monique Byrne appear to be sitting at the head of the table.
This is particularly apt since Andy and Monique led the end-of-the-feast music singalong, with various other folks jumping in and out with instruments and vocals – a wonderful finish for the night
Jerry, I wish my wife and I could have been there this year. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, we will see you next year. I will bring my Dobro.
@Ted Hess Mahan – We missed your guitar and voice at the post-feast singalong this year but we did have some great new talent (above).
Our regular local Aldermanic delegation (John Rice & Deb Crossley) to the VIP Server staff were all set to go and then the rain came and they couldn’t make the rain date. They recruited pinch-hitters Susan Albright and Marcia Johnson who did great jobs and jumped right into the spirit of the whole event.
Likewise, Ruth Balser our State House delegate to the VIP Server crew couldn’t make the rain date but first-timer Server Kay Kahn was a wonderful addition.
Thanks so much to Kay Kahn, Susan Albright and Marcia Johnson for your very direct public service last night. The people of Upper Falls thank you.
…can’t wait to hear the dobro
Thanks for the Kudos Jerry. However – the Kudos go to you for providing the opportunity (along with all the rest of the crew) for such an amazing community building event. It was fantastic and I’ll help again in a heartbeat.
Great video–I see why everyone wants a drone! Here’s my quick ground level view: https://www.tout.com/embed/touts/z3f1n5?platform=twcard
You only get a minute with Tout so I ran out of time before the end of the table.
Thanks to Jerry, Chris Osborne, Seanna Gaherin, and all the others who made the Feast a great success. Anyone who wants to enjoy another evening by the Riv in the Gorge should put Tuesday August 4 on their calendars for the Annual Friends of Hemlock Gorge
Concert/picnic. u This time bring your own food. the Friends and the Department of Conservation and Recreation will supply the Grill. An extremely generous donor will supply the music. This will be in the early evening in the meadow in front of the bulletin board off Central Street. Details will be on the friends web site.
Alderman Brian Yates
President
Friends of Hemock Gorge
Kathleen, the awe that you speak of so eloquently when walking along the Echo Bridge Promenade for the first time is an inspiring endorsement for others to follow in your footsteps.
On subsequent visits, however, you might have noticed the “temporary” chain link fence that obscures the historic railings atop this National Registry historic landmark. We’re rallying public support to help the MWRA reconstruct these railings, and those interested in more information might find this recent Needham cable TV clip of interest:
https://youtu.be/hcpycSTc-n8