Photo and story by David Grossman

Pete and Debbie Lincoln, former school employees in the Lunenburg Public Schools, presented their slide show entitled “Purgatory to Podunk” this week to a packed room of society members and friends.

Mr. Lincoln taught English from 1964 to 2002. Mrs. Lincoln worked in Guidance at the High School, ran the Multi-Cultural Program, and directed plays. She also retired in 2002. Together they visited all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts in one year.

The couple’s objective was to take a photo of a sign in every town or city in the Commonwealth. The Lincolns wanted to catalog their journey by taking pictures of one another with a sign “that had to be in the town,” explained Mr. Lincoln. “No state signs.” They embarked on theirmission just after Thanksgiving on November 29, 2007 with a trek to Tyngsboro and finished on July 7 in Pete’s hometown of Ware. Narrating the story by taking turns, they soaked up 7,000 miles. And there were quite a few tales to tell.

The most interesting story was about Boston Corners, a town that was annexed to New York in 1857 after the original Massachusetts boundary was formed.

Mr. Lincoln explained that because of the mountainous terrain the town could not be accessed from Massachusetts, which made if difficult to keep the peace. The town became a magnet for crime.

...

For more on this article, pick up a copy of The Lunenburg Ledger in stores now or call 978-582-8200 and subscribe today!