Looking back to old Needham, long before Rt. 128, the Industrial Center and before the high school on the hill and antennas dotting our landscape, times where simpler.
The year is 1914 and Needham has a new Town Hall and The Carters Company is one of Needham's largest employers. William H. Carter, Vice President of The Carters Company (he was elected to U.S. Congress in 1915) and some of the leading businessmen and community leaders begin informal meetings to socialize and organize civic and charitable events, within months, this group formally organized under the name of The Village Club. The Village Club never a political group began its long and esteemed contributions to the Town of Needham. Its first meeting place was over Henry Childs store, the old Highland Building (now Starbucks Coffee). Soon the Club grew and moved to the Carter Annex, the site of the original town library until it purchased the property at it current location, 83 Morton Street in 1953. It was the Village Club that built the first playground in Needham Heights .
Today as you drive through Needham you may notice landmarks such as the stone arch of Memorial Park conceived and built by Club members in 1984. Travel a little further and as you pass Greene's field, a wonderful playground was created by many Club members. As you enter Defazio Complex on Dedham Avenue, sits the Asa Small stone monument, built in 1950 in memory of Asa Small, former V.P of the Village Club. The many picnic tables at The Carleton Pavilion were donated and built from scratch by a team of Village Club members.
The Village Club and its Members are a large part of Needham and its history from The Carter Methodist Church (named for V.C. founders Family) to the many fields in town named after its members, The Defazio Complex, Small Field, Claxton Field and John Cusick Park named for former Parks Department Director and long time Village Club member. The Club has long been a champion of youth sports in the town and began the tradition of hosting the Annual Banquet for the High school football team and did so for nearly 65 years when the banquet became so large that it moved to the Needham Sheraton. The Club continues this tradition hosting many Youth Organizations meetings and Banquets as well as donating to most youth sports leagues in Needham. The Club has teamed up with the Needham High School Boosters Club in their annual Christmas tree sale and supports the Touchdown Club with concessions stand help.The Village Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in February of 2014.
Club Projects
Needham Booster Club Christmas Tree Sale
The Touchdown Club
Needham Little League Opening Day
Charles River Arc