Above: Algonquin fans get ready for the Thanksgiving Day game in 1981 with a parade and pancake breakfast (Southborough Villager)
Each week we take a look back at the top stories reported in the Southborough Villager 10 years, 20 years, and 30 years ago. Here are the stories that were making headlines during the week of December 5. If you have memories about any of these events, please share them in the comments.
10 years ago: Algonquin tensions escalate
As it had for months, the debate about how to solve the space crisis at Algonquin dominated the front page, and the opinion pages, of the Southborough Villager this week in 2001. Just a few days before town-wide votes in Northborough and Southborough, the Villager reported tensions were high. “Finger-pointing and accusations continued this week as residents on both sides of the Algonquin debate say they have had signs stolen from their yards in the final days leading to Tuesday’s special election,” the newspaper wrote. The edition also featured eight letters to the editor, all having to do with Algonquin. (Southborough Villager, December 7, 2001)
20 years ago: Phaneuf named interim fire chief
Peter Phaneuf was appointed interim fire chief by the Board of Selectmen to replace retiring chief Frank Aspinwall. The board appointed an interim chief while they waited for the results of a public safety study that was looking at whether the police and fire departments should be consolidated into one. Phaneuf would later be appointed the permanent chief. (Southborough Villager, December 5, 1991)
30 years ago: Algonquin Thanksgiving Day football festivities
Southborough and Northborough sports fans got psyched for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Algonquin and Westborough with a pancake breakfast and a parade through the streets of Northborough. It’s a tradition that has apparently fallen by the wayside. Anyone know when we stopped having parades before the Thanksgiving Day game? I don’t remember it happening during my years at Algonquin (late 1980’s), but I admittedly have a poor memory for such things. (Southborough Villager, December 4, 1981)
