Volunteers Needed to Repair Foxborough Common's Bandstand

The Foxboro Jaycees are looking for handy and eager volunteers to help fix up the bandstand to get it in shape for our summer concert series and other summer events taking place on the Town Common.

Volunteer work needed includes:

• Cleaning out storage
• Rebuilding/fortification of risers, sanding, and painting, etc.

If you have supplies to donate or tools to bring, contact the chairman of the event, David Fisler, at dfislernec@hotmail.com to let him know. All are welcome to join the Jaycees on the Common on Saturday, April 20th at 9 a.m.

Town Historian Jack Authelet said the bandstand has been maintained by the Jaycees and town volunteers for over 40 years and in many ways is an annual spring tradition.

“The Common had been without a bandstand for many years when, in 1971, the Foxboro Jaycees made an offer to do something about it," Authelet said. "They proposed to build a Music Heptagon (and we promised we would never call it a bandstand). It would be designed by Harry Bowditch and built by the Jaycees as their gift to the town.

Authelet said the timing in 1971 was incredible.

“It was also in 1971 that the grassroots 'Save the Common Fence' effort took place," Authelet said. "It took in so much money we could also install replicas of the original lanterns and cast the WWII tablet in bronze (the temporary plastic nametags were still in place since 1945).

“So as the bandstand rose from the ground, the refurbishing of the Common was well underway and the bandstand and spruced-up Common were dedicated in 1972.”

For over 40 years, accodring to Authelet, the Foxboro Jaycees have been proud to maintain and refurbish that beloved bandstand as needed. The bandstand serves as a stage for the Jaycees Summer Concerts on the Common series, a setting for the Christmas Nativity Scene, movies, memorials, masses of all faiths and other events throughout the year - even weddings.

The bandstand is as iconic - and treasured - as the Common fence, Foxborough town sign, and Common memorials.

The Jaycees invite the community to spruce up the bandstand once again on Saturday, April 20.